Coaches Stahler, Mancini Step Down After Illustrious Careers – Section II News And Notes

Canajoharie High School girls varsity basketball coach Marie Stahler has stepped down after 10 years and two Western Athletic Conference championships.

Stahler began her career at Broadalbin-Perth and coached for eight years. She put together three Tri-Valley League championships.

Throughout the years, she has collected 226 wins. She also had the fortune of coaching her daughter, Mackenzie for four years at Canajoharie.

The past two seasons saw Stahler and the Cougars finish 11-1 and share the WAC Northern Division title with Fort Plain (2011-12) and 10-2 the year before and tieing Berne-Knox-Westerlo for the South crown.

Canajoharie enjoyed a big 2010-11 season winning the WAC crown en route to going 16-3 overall.

Stahler had the pleasure of coaching one of the greatest players (Katrina Springer) to come out of Section II.

Springer graduated in 1988 and is the second highest scorer in Section II with 2,704 points. She was an integral part in the Patriots reaching the sectional final twice.

Springer eventually went to Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma and contributed to that women's basketball program.

Stahler has experienced plenty of memories from coaching both schools, but promises to be available. As she puts it, "It's hard to walk away."

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Another veteran of Section II announced his resignation this week.

Alex Mancini handed in his letter to the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District as athletic director after 20 years. This will end a remarkable run at the school including 32 years as a social studies teacher.

Mancini graduated from F-F in 1975 and Colgate four years later. After a short stint at Mohawk High School (Section III), he returned to the Braves for a brilliant tenure.

Mancini coached football for 21 years and operated a very successful program, nothing new to the school district. He won 149 games and 11 league championships.

Mancini also coached his two sons, Matt and Mike (both quarterbacks) at F-F.

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The Capital District Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will hold its third annual Capital Region Football Hall of Fame Induction Class on August 4 at Michael's Banquet House in Latham starting at 6 p.m.

This year's class features 21 members:

Players

Ralph Barone (Mohonasen), Ron DeBendetti (Guilderland), Justin DeMagistris (Gloversville), Richard Foglia (Watervliet), Sakima Grimes (Cambridge), David Jakob (Shenendehowa), Ted Jornov (Hudson), Adam Lord (Troy), Alex Mancini (Fonda-Fultonville), Jim Manning (Watervliet), Jerry Mirro (Saint Peters), Ron Page (Mont Pleasant), John Reagan (Bethlehem), Rudy Vido (Albany).

Coaches

Cliff Lehman (CBA), Larry Mulvaney (Mont Pleasant), John Taglione (Mechanicville).

Officials

Jack Cramer (Capital District), Morris Nassivera (Adirondack), Thomas Brennan (Capital District).

Service to Football

John Audino (Union College).

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Fifteen players, four coaches and three officials are headlined in the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2012.

The players are Babe Baldwin (Mayfield), Michelle Blot-Karangwa (Colonie/Siena), Barry Cavanaugh (Rensselaer/UAlbany), Andre Cook (Watervliet/Skidmore), Josh Duell (CBA/Vermont/Siena), Will Foley (Albany/Boston College), Danielle Galarneau Donohue (Catholic Central, Marist), Joe Girard (St. Mary's/Shenendehowa/LeMoyne), Val Klopfer (Bishop Maginn/Wake Forest), Byron Miller (Gloversville/UAlbany), Carm Maciariello (Shenendehowa/New Hampshire/Siena), Mac Supronowicz (Mont Pleasant/Michigan), Howie Tucker (Ravena/Siena), Troy Turner (Albany/Siena/Potsdam) and Jack Weaver (LaSalle/Siena).

Coaches include Mike Deane (Siena/Marquette/Lamar/Wagner), Dave Doemel (CBA), Bill Kalbaugh (Mechanicville/RPI) and John Quattrocchi (UAlbany/Skidmore).

Bill Bernardo, Sandy Brousseau and Willard Dorn are officials.

The induction date is July 1 at the Hilton Inn in Troy with a reception from 4:30-6 p.m. and the ceremony until 9 p.m.

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Mike Deane (coach), Jim Burr and John Cahill (both officials) were selected to the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame recently at the Glens Falls Civic Center.