FOOTBALL — Coach Jim Phelan, who stepped down during the offseason after the Bulldogs finished with a 2-7 record and a first-round playoff exit, was succeeded by the junior varsity coach, Gerald Ryan, whose squad finished 3-5. Phelan had coached the Bulldogs since 2018.

Richie Omira makes a catch for Beacon during an Aug. 12 workout.
Richie Omira makes a catch for Beacon during an Aug. 12 workout. (Photo by Cadence Heeter)

Ryan will have talent to work with on both sides of the ball, including quarterback Jazziah Whitted and linebacker Mercer Jordan, both seniors. Whitted, who has a strong throwing arm and good field vision as a runner, will rely on wide receivers Giovanni Bowley and Jadon Jones as targets. He will share the backfield with running back Elijah Epps, who jumps up from junior varsity. 

On defense, Jordan will be joined at linebacker by Kevin Beal at defensive tackle. 

Beacon opens its season with three road games — at Red Hook, New Paltz and Kingston — before its home opener on Sept. 27 against five-time Section IV, Class B champions Port Jervis. Port Jervis defeated the Bulldogs last season, 61-20. 

After visiting Saugerties on Oct. 5, Beacon will close its season with three home games, hosting O’Neill (Oct. 10), Liberty (Oct. 18) and Marlboro Central (Oct. 25). 

GIRLS’ TENNIS — Beacon went 5-5 last year but returns a strong squad. Bethany Rudolph, Addison Miller and Willa Freedman are back at singles and Isabella Baffuto, Ave Marie Gianna, Brenna Rudolph, SaraLynn Jaafar and Megan Nicholson return at doubles. 

The team adds four seniors who will make their varsity debut in doubles play: Mehr Sangri, Angelina Bottiglieri, Sally Betterbid and Fallon Groza. 

The Bulldogs open the season on Wednesday (Sept. 4) at Monroe-Woodbury before hosting Valley Central on Friday. 

GIRLS’ SWIMMING — Beacon returns nine swimmers, including seniors Christine Robinson and Holly Whittemore. Robinson will compete in freestyle and backstroke and Whittemore in butterfly, backstroke and freestyle. 

They are joined by juniors Mira Bagriyanik and Sofia Domanski and sophomores Lakota Newman, Abigail Haydt, Madison Flagler, Charlotte Bowen and Lauren Antonucci. Beacon kicks off the season by hosting Lourdes and Spackenkill on Sept. 9. 

Related stories:

Championship Play

Varsity Roundup

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Nick Robbins, a 2023 graduate of the University of Alabama, where he majored in news media with a concentration in sports journalism, covers Beacon athletics. Most recently, he covered high school football for the Alabama Media Group and was a sports writer for the Crimson and White, the university’s student newspaper.