Posted on Dec 10, 2005

Tom Arcidiacono's fifth 200+ yard game of 2005 came in the NCAA playoffs vs. Ithaca.

Along with these major awards, the Dutchmen featured five additional players on both the ECAC and D3Football.com regional all-star teams. Arcidiacono will be honored at the annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet presented by FieldTurf at the Pegasus Restaurant at the Meadowland Sports Complex in East Rutherford, NJ on Tues., February 6, 2006. D3Football.com selected all-star teams for the first time.

Audino led Union to the Liberty League Championship with a perfect 10-0 record,  including a 7-0 mark in league play, and 11 wins as the team advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs with a first round home win over Ithaca. The undefeated regular season was the first for Union since 1993 and ninth in the program's illustrious history. He had also led his staff to the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honor.

The Liberty League leader in rushing and the league's Offensive Player of the Year, Arcidiacono ran for a school record 1,954 yards, and a school regular season record of 1,616 yards. He rushed for 20 touchdowns on the year. Arcidiacono ranked fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game in the latest NCAA Division III statistics, which continue to include the NCAA playoffs. Arcidicano was a two-time selection as Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week and was also twice named to the D3football.com National Team of the Week. He led the nation in rushing for two weeks in October, and had five 200+ yard rushing games in 2005.

Joining Arcidiacono on the ECAC Northwest Team were five Union teammates. WR Steve Angiletta (Plantsville, CT/Southington) had 1,612 yards on 99 catches with 11 touchdowns, and is the first receiver in Union history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season. He ranked fourth in receiving yards per game and fifth in receptions per game in the latest NCAA stats. Jim Masso (Pontre Verde Beach, FL/Episcopal) and Elliot Silverstein (Ft. Lauderdale, FL/Peddie) were both named to the team on the offensive line. Union allowed only six sacks in 10 regular season games and the team ranked 17th in total offense and 31th in passing offense in the playoffs. Both players were key contributors to Arcidiacono's record breaking season. The defense featured DL Dylan Walton-Yedlin (Seattle, WA/Lakeside) and DB Chris Nappi (Scotia, NY/Niskayuna), while LB Vito Pellerito (Pompano Beach, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas) received honorable mention honors. All of these players had also received Liberty League all-star team awards.

Walton-Yedlin had 16 of the team's 72 tackles for losses, and had 59 tackles and nine sacks. He was named to D3football.com National Team of the Week and won back-to-back Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week honors in October. Pellerito led the team in tackles with 81 and solo tackles with 65. He was a two-time Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week and two-time D3football National Team of the Week. Nappi had 69 tackles and 54 primary hits, and led the Dutchmen with five interceptions (for 24 yards) and nine pass deflections.

On the D3football.com All-East Region Team, Arcidiacono, Angiletta, Masso and Nappi were first team selections, and Silverstein and Walton-Yedlin were named to the second team.

Posted on Dec 10, 2005

Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/ Mohawk) joined forward Cassandra Mariani (Boonton, NJ/ Morris Catholic), midfielder Molly Flanagan (Simsbury, CT/ Loomis Chaffee) and goalkeeper Julie Gawronski (Dunkirk, NY/Dunkirk) as Union's representatives on the NSCAA/adidas Northeast Region team. Eisenhut's first team all-region selection earned her honors as a national All-American on the third team. Mariani and Flanagan both received Second Team All-Region recognition while Gawronski was the goalkeeper on the third team.

Eisenhut was a two-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week. In the 22 games this season, she had 13 goals, 10 assists, 36 points, 77 shots and a .169 shot percentage. Mariani led the team in goals with 17. She was also named Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week twice this season. Mariani had seven assists, 41 points, 105 shots and a .162 shot percentage. Flanagan, the 2005 Liberty League Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year, led the Dutchwomen with 12 assists in the season. All three players had also earned Liberty League First Team honors. Gawronski, a Liberty League Second Team recipient, was a two-time Liberty League Defensive Player of the Week. She started all 22 games and posted a 0.51 goals against average. She had 55 saves and allowed only 11 goals all season. 

The NYSWCAA (New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association) named five players to the all-state team. Eisenhut and Mariani were the forwards, while Flanagan was joined on the midfield list with senior teammate Marissa VanWoeart (Schenectady, NY/ Schalmont). Union senior defender Lindsay Capecalatro (Orange, CT/ Loomis Chaffee) was also selected to the NYSWCAA team. VanWoeart started 21 of the 22 games at midfield this season. She had five goals, four assists, 14 points, and 33 shots. Capecalatro helped lead the backfield that had allowed just 129 shots in the 22 games.

Posted on Dec 8, 2005

John Cagianello (Wethersfield, CT/Loomis Chaffee) had a big week in leading Union to two victories in three games. He averaged 29 points, shot 56% from the floor, 92% from the line (23-25) and had 15 rebounds and six steals on the week. He scored 30 points in a season-opening 86-69 win at NYC Tech, and had 24 in an 82-71 home win over Utica. Cagianello scored 33 at Middlebury Saturday.

On Tuesday at Williams, he led the Dutchmen with 20 points and six rebounds, as he became the fourth player in Union history to break the 1500-point plateau. Cagianello was named the Liberty League Guard of the Week and also the ECAC Division III Upstate Player of the Week.

“John's play this week is a fine example of his continued growth as a player,” stated head coach Bob Montana. “Not only did he provide us with consistent scoring from his position, his floor game gave us an opportunity to win in each game.”

Union, 3-1, returns home to the Viniar Saturday for a date with Carnegie Mellon, a team that enters Friday's game at Skidmore with a 7-0 record. The contest vs. the Tartans Saturday afternoon (3 p.m.) will be a unique match-up featuring two of this week's ECAC players of the week, Cagianello and Nate Maurer (the ECAC Southern Player of the Week).

The Union women's basketball team, like their male counterparts, have had a solid pre-conference schedule. The Dutchwomen, after playing three straight road games to open the season, have the home opener Friday night at the Viniar, with a 6 p.m. contest against 6-1 Rochester. Through three games, sophomore guard Devon Ciliberto (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) has a team-high 8.3 rebounding average and senior guard Erika Eisenhut (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) is averaging a team leading 13.0 points per game and has 11 assists. Another home contest is on tap next week, as Springfield comes to Union for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday night, December 13.

Head Coach Scott Felix had high expectations entering the Liberty League Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend. His teams did not disappoint, as the Dutchwomen and Dutchmen heated up the water as much as Cagianello warmed up the gym. The Dutchwomen won the Liberty League Championship at RPI, earning 710 points to win their first title since 1997, ending Hamilton's reign as the seven-time consecutive league champions dating back to 1998. Union won the 400 medley relay with a time of 4:06.7, led by Amy Nestlerode (Endicott, NY/Union-Endicott), Brianne Phillips (West Hartford, CT/Conard), Sydnie Wells (Bolton Landing, NY/Bolton Central) and Christa White (Washington, DC/Choate Rosemary Hall). Union also won the 200 medley relay, with Nestlerode, Phillips and White joined by Mary Larkin (Conklin, NY/Susquehanna Valley) with a meet record time of 1:52.79. Larkin won the 100 fly at 59.96, and Phillips took the 100 breast at 1:09.90 and 200 breast at 2:32.65.

Felix was impressed.

“Breaking the 200 IM mark really excited me, with the new meet record,” said Felix. “It was the first swim on Saturday morning, and we got on a roll from there. That time was four seconds faster then a year ago. Our divers stepped up too. The final swim that really helped us was the 200 fly, where we were 1-2-3 and had four of the top seven in that event. This was a team effort all the way.”

On the men's side, Union's Kevin Kewin (Brockport, NY/Brockport) was named Co-Rookie of the Meet. Kewin finished third in the 200 IM with a time of 1:69.59, and helped Union to a second place finish in the 400 medley relay. He was joined by D.J. Hogenkamp (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora), Pat Caniff (Latham, NY/Shaker), and Adam Bisogni (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) for a time of 3:43.18. Hogenkamp was second in the 100 fly at 53.29 and Kewin was third at 54.42. Union had 732 points for a second place finish in the men's meet.

“Kevin swam four events for us and he was in the top five of virtually every swim,” said Felix. “He played a pretty big roll in the team score.”

The teams are idle until January 7 when Union hosts Hartwick and Springfield.

Posted on Dec 8, 2005

Boston Camerata and Joel Cohen, director, will perform at Union College's Memorial Chapel on Sunday, Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. as part of the Union College Chamber Concert Series.

The Boston Camerata, directed by Joel Cohen

The Boston Camerata's performance entitled “An American Christmas” will include: carols, hymns and spirituals. This marks their 18th annual appearance for one of the most well-know American early music ensembles.

Founded in 1954, The Boston Camerata was associated until 1974 with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Since 1968, Joel Cohen has directed the ensemble's teaching, research, recording and concert activities.

Camerata began touring overseas in 1974, and has maintained an international presence ever since. In recent seasons, Camerata has been heard in Canada, England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Singapore, Israel, Mexico, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Japan.

Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students; at the door one hour before the performance or available at the College Facilities Building, call 388-6080. For further information, call 372-3651 or visit the Union College website:

http://www.union.edu/concertseries

Posted on Dec 8, 2005

Although he was elected Tuesday, Thursday was Jim Tedisco's first day on the job as New York State Assembly minority leader, and he was still working out of his old office near the Capitol.

The staffers there were people who have been with him for years, such as executive secretary Shirley DeMartino and Howard Becker, the former staff director and newly minted counselor to the minority leader, who was taking bites out of DeMartino's chicken salad sandwich.

They both go as far back as James N. Tedisco's first campaign for the Assembly in 1982, when he beat three other Republicans (Betty Bean, Mugsy Buhrmaster and Paul Tocker) in the primary and then bested his fellow Schenectady City Council member Dave Roberts in the general election. He succeeded Republican Clark Wemple, who retired.

Tedisco was fond of pointing out last week that he is Schenectady County's first Republican leader in the Legislature since O.D. Heck, who served as speaker from 1937 to 1951.

But he won't have anything like the power of Heck, or the current speaker, Democrat Sheldon Silver of Manhattan, or Tedisco's fellow Republican and Capital Region resident, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.

The Assembly Republicans can only muster 42 seats at the moment, although they may pick up a few that are currently vacant. They have been losing ground in recent years in this heavily Democratic state, and Silver's ranks have grown to 105, giving him a vetoproof majority.

Tedisco, though, is full of his customary fire. “Finally, I've been validated,” he said about last week's unanimous vote by “the 42 people who know me best” to make him minority leader.

Tedisco sees the new post as vindicating his career, his long advocacy of governmental reform and his success – even as a minority member – in getting some version of legislation he has advocated adopted. The pay delay for legislators when budgets are late, and the “Buster bill” toughening animal cruelty penalties, both owe something to Tedisco.

As a leader, he aims to use some of the same techniques, “being imaginative in all our approaches.”

Jack McEneny, a Democratic assemblyman representing Albany, said, “It's always good for the Capital Region to have your people rise.”

Tedisco, obviously, has the same opinion. “As one of the leaders,” he said, “I'll have access to others, and members,” to get support for funding and measures to benefit his constituents.

The minority leader's job became available when Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt announced his resignation the day before Thanksgiving to take a post in the Pataki administration. That day and evening, working the phones in a Republican Party conference room below his district office at 12 Jay St. in Schenectady, Tedisco lined up enough votes from his colleagues to ensure his election.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Nov. 24 that Nesbitt, during his tenure, worked “behind the scenes . . . to get Republicans a bigger share of money for pet projects in their districts.” However, majority members still get much more.

As an assemblyman, McEneny said, “Jim plays to the gallery quite a bit,” noting that the two of them disagree on criminal justice issues.

For a leader, McEneny said, the interests of his members could suffer “if the cordiality of the house is torn apart because of headlines.”

Tedisco, McEneny predicts, will adapt as his predecessors as minority leader adapted. “Jim's a smart guy, a political survivor. . . . He's going to want to be effective.”

Some might question the effectiveness of prior leaders who have presided over the loss of Republican seats. And some conservatives question what New York Republican leaders stand for. But Tedisco sees plenty of distinctions between the parties, and regards the current GOP debate about next year's statewide candidates as healthy.

But haven't Republicans been running up the state's debt? Only because the Assembly's Democratic majority has insisted on more spending, Tedisco said, holding up budgets until they get what they want.

Yet Tedisco said he himself gave credit to Silver earlier this year for adopting legislative reforms, some of which had long been advocated by the Republican assemblyman. And he wants more of them.

Nor is he afraid that the “more aggressive” approach he envisages the Assembly minority adopting will hurt its members. “I think we'll do better if we let the speaker know exactly where we stand,” he said.

Still, the new minority leader realizes that even if he grows the minority, it will not soon become a majority. But New York could turn, he says, “a lighter shade of blue.”

The speaker's office put out a statement warmly praising Nesbitt after he announced his resignation. Eileen Larrabee, a spokeswoman for Silver, said the speaker called Tedisco to congratulate him on his election. She said “there has been significant bipartisan cooperation in the past couple of years. Among the most notable achievements were the joint efforts to reform the rules and operations of the Assembly.”

Republican Assemblyman Marc Butler got a bill through the Assembly this summer regarding Fulton County assessments, despite opposition from the Office of Real Property Services. It also passed the Senate and was signed into law, and at that time Butler said the legislative environment in the Assembly has been a productive one recently.

Tedisco noted that he and Silver shared a youthful dream of becoming professional basketball players. A picture of Tedisco shooting a basketball in a Union College uniform is prominently displayed behind his desk. A short man, Tedisco was nonetheless a star for Union, and went on to get a graduate degree from the College of Saint Rose, then becoming a guidance counselor, teacher and coach.

Tedisco grew up in Rotterdam, where his 90-year-old mother still lives. He went first to Draper High School and then to Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons in Schenectady, where he graduated in 1968.

He was renting apartments until 1985, when he bought a house on Guilderland Avenue in the Bellevue neighborhood of Schenectady. Engaged twice, for the past several years he has dated Mary Song. A few years ago, she ran for mayor of Saratoga Springs, which is in Tedisco's district .

His new job will mean a raise. Assembly members make a base salary of $79,500, and the $18,000 “lulu” Tedisco was making as an assistant minority leader under Nesbitt had brought him up to $97,500. Now he will make $114,000 per year, according to Josh Hills, communications director for the Assembly minority.