I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate our area's Section 9 champions.

From teams like Kingston, Red Hook and Pine Plains in field hockey; Ellenville in football and Red Hook and Rhinebeck in volleyball, Onteora and Rhinebeck girls and New Paltz boys in cross country to runners Gabby Mancuso and Brian Busby of New Paltz and Annabel Clarke of Rhinebeck, it's always great to see area competitors do well.

There's much work ahead as each team and individual work toward the ultimate goal of a state title, but for now we can appreciate the efforts to get this far.

Good luck the rest of the way.