Varsity Roundup: Beacon

BOYS’ BASKETBALL — After defeating Haldane in the Battle of the Tunnel on Feb. 7, the Bulldogs closed their regular season with a 66-32 win over Liberty on Monday (Feb. 10). Before the game, the team honored seniors Derrick Heaton, Ryan Smith and Jazziah Whitted. Beacon (16-4; 6-0 league) awaits its seeding and opponent in the Section IX, Class A tournament. 

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL — Beacon knocked off Marlboro, 51-39, on Feb. 8 behind 16 points from Lila Burke and 15 from Reilly Landisi. The Bulldogs trailed, 22-18, at halftime. Beacon followed that with a 74-17 blowout at Liberty on Monday (Feb. 10); Burke had a career-high 21 points. The Bulldogs, who started the year 3-5, have rattled off 10 straight wins to get to 13-5 (5-0 league). They host Liberty on Wednesday (Feb. 19) before wrapping up the season at home on Thursday against Wallkill. Both games start at 4:30 p.m. 

WRESTLING — In its final regular-season match on Feb. 5, Beacon dominated Monticello, 63-6. Nixon Salinas (215 pounds), Brody Timm (190), Avery Davis (170), Connor Murphy (160), Jude Betancourt (152), Mason Alencastro (138), William Flynn (131) and Benjamin Betancourt (116) all won by pin. The team finished 6-2 overall and 5-0 in the league. Four wrestlers will compete in the 16-team Section IX tournament today (Feb. 14) and tomorrow at Monroe-Woodbury High School. Each weight class among larger schools has eight competitors: Jude Betancourt (33-2) is seeded No. 2 at 152 pounds; Murphy (16-15) No. 7 at 160 pounds; Davis (17-4) No. 4 at 170 pounds; and Timm (21-3) No. 5 at 190 pounds. 

WINTER TRACK — Beacon competed on Feb. 8 in the Section IX, Class A Championship hosted by West Point. The top finishers for the boys were Jayden Mihalchik, who was fifth in the pole vault (10-6) and Caellum Tripaldi, who was eighth in the 1,000 meters (2:44.66). For the girls, Katherine Ruffy placed third in the weight throw (33-7) and Lily Mack was 11th in the high jump (4-6). The Bulldogs will send runners to The Armory in New York City today (Feb. 14) for a meet hosted by North Shore High School on Long Island. 

BOYS’ SWIMMING — Beacon competed at the OCIAA Division I Championship at Newburgh on Feb. 7, placing seventh of 13 teams. Alistair Cunningham was seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.6) and Alejandro Herrera was ninth in the 200-yard medley (2:24.88). The Bulldogs will compete in the Section IX tournament Feb. 20-22 at Montgomery. 

BOWLING — The boys’ and girls’ squads each lost, 5-0, to Saugerties, Highland and Kingston, both ending their seasons at 1-13.

GIRLS’ SOCCER — Gabriela Del Castillo, a 2021 Beacon graduate who played for the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York City, was named to the Skyline Conference Honor Roll for the fall semester. A senior, Del Castillo played in 52 games for the Dolphins over four years.