Winter sports roundup
It was a growing winter sports season for the Rockland Wolves, highlighted by the boys varsity basketball team, which made it to the post-season. The home teams also had good showings in our annual basketball tournaments with the boys coming in first in the Coach Fred Ahart basketball tournament, and the girls taking second in the Audra Sipple Spath Basketball Tournament.
Below are season wrap ups by the coaches:
Boys Varsity Basketball
We had one of the best seasons of recent memory. We finished the season with 14 wins and six losses. One of our highlights was winning the Coach Ahart Tournament. We made sectionals and unfortunately lost a heartbreaker to Eldred. Though our season ended before we had hoped, I am super proud of all my athletes. Their hard work, commitment to our school, our team and family had paid off.
—Coach Charles Hicks
Girls Varsity Basketball
The Rockland Varsity Girls Basketball team finished the season with six wins and a number of tough battles against many good schools this season. Although the team did not qualify for the Section 9 playoffs this season, their hard work and determination showed up on the court in many ways as the girls kept themselves competitive all season long. The highlight of the season for the Wolves was a down-to-the wire victory over Sullivan West in the BCANY vs Cancer event despite already being eliminated from post-season contention. Other notable games were a scrappy shorthanded effort at Stamford-Jefferson in which the Wolves frustrated and battled with the Class D NYS semifinalists.
Lead performers for the season featured Grace Darder, who led the Wolves in scoring and rebounding this season as she anchored the front court on offense and defense. Seniors Olivia Stickle, Leah Ladenhauf and Kelsey Ryder provided the Wolves with tons of defensive energy and shooting throughout the year. Guard play from Alexandra Potosek and Anastasia Niforatos kept the Wolves poised and under control while creating chaos and pressure for the other team. Gia Ibarra, Allison Froehlich and Emily Froehlich provided dynamic depth at the forward spots that helped provide both offense and defensive effort throughout the year.
In all, the Girls Varsity Basketball team grew tremendously this year in spite of injuries and some bad breaks. They showed great effort throughout the season and left the program ready to strive for more in the upcoming seasons.
— Coach Joseph Clarke
Varsity Cheer
The first season as the Rockland Varsity Cheerleading team was a great success! While the team experienced a setback when their main flyer needed surgery, it allowed the team to start training new flyers for even more variety in future years. The varsity girls also welcomed their future teammates to join them in the second annual "Cheerleader For A Day" event where students in Grades 4-6 join the team to learn and perform a halftime routine during a Senior Night Basketball Game. The team ended the season on a high note by debuting a brand new halftime show to a Bruno Mars medley mixed by their very own Senior Aliya Anderson. The team will be graduating Seniors Taliah Aguayo and Aliya Anderson, two key team members who were a great influence on their teammates. The Rockland Varsity Cheerleading team wishes them all the best in their future endeavors and will miss them greatly next year!
— Coach Jan LeMyre
Boys JV Basketball
JV Boys Basketball finished the season with an impressive 12-4 record. Starting the year with uncertainty and key roles to fill, this group rose to the challenge in an exceptional way. Their progress, commitment, trust and grit set them apart, as we truly got better every single day. While the record reflects a successful season, it was their growth and development that truly defined it. I'm incredibly proud of this team and can't wait to see what the future holds for them.
— Coach Chris Bitjeman
Girls JV Basketball
The 2025–2026 Rockland JV Girls Basketball team, made up of just nine dedicated athletes, showed incredible growth and determination all season long. From day one to the final buzzer, this group improved tremendously and finished with an impressive 13–2 record. Their only losses came in close matchups against GCR in the tournament and Stamford Jefferson—games that could have gone either way.
The team brought home a first-place finish in the Afton Tournament and earned second place in the Roxbury Winter Tournament, proving their consistency and competitiveness. Averaging 30 points per game at the JV level is no small feat, and having three players surpass the 100-point mark on the season speaks volumes about their effort and teamwork.
I couldn’t be more proud of the commitment, hustle and heart these girls showed all season. Excited to see what the future holds for this group!
— Coach Nate Juron
Boys Modified Basketball
Modified boys basketball enjoyed a solid season of growth. They finished the season with a record of 6-4. The whole team showed great improvement in all aspects of the game.
— Coach Kevin Clifford
Girls Modified Basketball
The first Girls Modified Rockland Wolves Basketball season was a success. There were 16 girls on the team. It was a very competitive season and we were able to finish the season 5-4-1. We were able to beat Eldred and Liberty twice. We beat Fallsburg once and the second time we played Tri-Valley we tied. The girls worked on many different skills throughout the season: Dribbling, shooting, rip throughs, and closeouts. Also, the girls practiced countless hours on transition full court fastbreak drills that involved layups. The girls worked very hard and kept the coach and the fans on their toes all season. Thank you for all of your hard work and time this season. Good luck the rest of the school year.
— Coach Evan Bowers
Boys and Girls Modified Indoor Track and Field
The 2025-2026 Modified Indoor Track and Field season saw the successful reintroduction of the program to the students of Rockland Central School community. The team participated in four regular season meets and one championship meet against schools across Sullivan County. The team saw impressive results and improvement throughout the season. During the championship meet, the Rockland Wolves placed in numerous events, including the 1500m, 55m dash, 4x1 Lap Relay, Shot Put and the 800m.
— Coach Matthew Bertollo
*All photos by Jeanne Sager Photography*
