SARATOGA SPRINGS – This is a squad that lets nothing deter them from reaching top form for its season opener at Mayfield / Northville on April 5. Coach Tonya Pellegrini Lawrence noted, “A great part of ‘our story’ is that we don’t have a conventional track and field area to practice.”
“In fact,” she continued, “We don’t even have a track- period! All this forces us to be resourceful. We use what we have: the stairs in school, Congress Park and the Downtown Saratoga sidewalks.”
The implication is that the Spa Catholic Track and Field team members are always “road warriors” – having no home track of their own means they are always venturing out to compete. In addition to the opener at Mayfield / Northville, the Saints’ track team will trek to Fort Plain and Canajoharie, among other distant places for meets. Galway is one of their shorter trips.
While next year’s move to the Wasaren Conference will greatly alleviate some of the travel distances (see story – page 43), this team will still be “road warriors” for the foreseeable future.
Coach Tonya Pellegrini Lawrence started the track and field program at Spa Catholic four years ago with her husband, and for the last three seasons her “co-coach” has been Damian Fantauzzi, who brings a wealth of experience (as well as being Saratoga TODAY’s sports columnist at large!) to the team, which this year will have 33 members between grades nine to 12.
Coach Pellegrini Lawrence was justifiably proud of the team, its members and the effort they put into their sport, “Our kids work hard and hold their own at meets without the conventional track and field.”
