Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Club

12/14/2025

Fernando Mendoza's Heisman speech..Every young athlete should watch.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=961475970374378

11/16/2025

Congratulations Sawyers! 2025 Section IX Class B Champs!

GOSHEN – Saugerties pulled off the biggest football upset locally in more than two decades on Saturday, taking out defending Class B state champion Port Jervis 22-21 in the Section 9 championship game at Goshen High. Port Jervis, which had its sights set on a state title repeat, beat Saugerties....

11/14/2025

We stumbled into this article regarding the recent Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame Induction (which included Kingston HS grad and former NY Yankee Joe Ausanio). Also inducted were Arlington HS baseball greats Jeff and Gerry Seagar. The Seagars were part of a talented Arlington team between 1975 and 1977 which faced Saugerties HS in the DCSL (Saugerties was Region IX Class A Champ and DCSL runnerup in 1976 behind Class AA John Jay). On the 1976 Saugerties squad were Saugerties Sports Hall of Famers: Mark Becker, Tim Cole, Lenny Hackett, Jay Harris, Karl Lezette, Iggy Maines, and Einer Martin. An interesting note: Jeff Seagar, the lefthanded hitting and throwing second baseman for Arlington (pic below) is the father of major leagers Corey and Kyle Seagar! One more interesting tidbit, the picture below was taken around 1982 or 1983 when Jeff Seagar played sumer ball with the Poughkeepsie Lasers of the Hudson Valley Rookie league...(and oh yeah..the catcher in the picture is Dutchmen and Saugerties Hall of Famer John Dodig!

Join us on Sunday November 9th as we induct SEVEN new members into the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame including Jeff Seager.

Jeff played baseball at Arlington High School from 1975-77. He was all county and captain his senior year. He was privileged to play with his older brother Gerry and against elite players such as Rick Horton and Tim Cole. Jeff was scouted by several major league teams, including ironically the Texas Rangers which is the current team for his youngest son Corey. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University along with his brother Gerry receiving several conference player awards.

Jeff and Jody raised 3 sons; Kyle, Justin, and Corey. All three were extremely privileged to play professional baseball. Jeff and Jody have enjoyed countless times watching and supporting each of their sons. On two very special occasions, Jeff was there not only to support but actually participated. Corey asked Jeff to pitched to him in 2 All-star HR derby events (2016 – San Diego; 2022 – Los Angeles).

The Induction Ceremony be held on Sunday November 9th, 1PM at the Doubletree by Hilton in Poughkeepsie (discounted room rates through October 9th). Tickets are now on sale (NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH) at a discounted $50/adults, $20 children 12-under and you can register at www.dcbbhof.com and pay credit card, Paypal, Venmo or check by our October 15th deadline. Please register early as it helps us plan.

Other inductees include: Steve Aurigemma, Joe Ausanio, Gerry Seager, Frank Cimorelli, Carl Sitler, Gerry Seager as well as celebrating two 2025 High School Players of the Year: Alex Jendras (John Jay) and Bryan Hoyt (Spackenkill).

PLEASE share on social media to help us spread the word.

10/10/2025

The Saugerties Sawyers captured the 2025 MHAL Golf Championship, earning their first golf championship at Saugerties High in nearly four decades, since 1987. Congratulations to all!

07/14/2025

How Ethan Conrad's mom and dad felt last night: (Congrats Kristen and Keven!)

07/14/2025

Congratulations to Ethan Conrad for being the 17th pick in the 1st round of the 2025 MLB Draft and being selected by the Chicago Cubs. Ethan joins a select club of (2) Saugerties HS baseball players to be selected in the first round of the MLB draft. The other being Tim Cole in 1977 ( #4).

CHICAGO -- The Cubs’ recent track record in the MLB Draft has been identifying players who have the potential to climb quickly to the big leagues. That is a trend that had outfielder Ethan Conrad excited after he heard Chicago call his name in the first round on Sunday night.

04/02/2025

Congrats to Maddy Dodig and Lady Bearcats!

03/24/2025

Greg DeCelle

Greg was born, raised, and still resides in Saugerties. His parents, Arthur and Isabel, were the proud parents of 12 children. Born on November 18, 1970, Greg grew up around sports, playing Little League baseball from 1980-1983, youth soccer from 1979-1981, and Junior League SAA basketball from 1984-1986.
After two years on the Sawyer Varsity wrestling team, Greg headed to SUNY Oswego, where he earned a B.A. degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications in 1992. On May 13, 2000, Greg married Moira Moran, and they have raised two athletic children, Allyson and Casey.
In his adult athletic career, Greg played nearly 30 years of SAA softball as an outfielder and has been playing in the SAA volleyball league since 1994, over three decades. He has spent many years coaching youth basketball and baseball, spending 30-plus years coaching Junior League basketball and 10 years in the Saugerties Little League. He has multiple championships in both sports to his credit, including a District 15 Little League title in 2015.

Greg’s contributions to the local sports scene, continuing to his present-day activities, are varied and impressive. He has served Little League in many capacities, beginning in 2008 and including Vice President, President, Player Agent, and Division Coordinator positions. In SAA Basketball he has served as Commissioner, Information Officer, and Website Administrator for the past 31 years in various positions.

Greg was the Founder and Commissioner of Saugerties Flag Football, as well as coordinating referees. He is the PA announcer for the Sawyer football, basketball, and baseball games. He has officiated in a variety of leagues over the years.
Greg’s biggest thrills were watching his daughter’s cheer team take 6th out of 70 teams at the Summit National in Orlando in 2018, and seeing Casey’s first little league homerun as the team won the District title.

A lifetime in and around sports as an athlete, volunteer, official, coach, and administrator has led to the Hall of Fame Club welcoming Greg DeCelle as a new inductee into the Class of 2025. Congratulations on this honor. So deserved and fitting for one of the classiest gentlemen ever to come into the local sports community.

03/24/2025

Jill Dodig Cohan

It seems that every other year or so a member of the Dodig family, a pillar of local sports, is inducted into the Hall of Fame. This year it is Jill, who joins her dad, John Sr., and three brothers, John Jr, Jeff and Jay in the club. She was born on April 1, 1967, and her parents, John Sr. and Dorothy, raised the family in the Blue Mountain area of Saugerties. Jill, her brothers, and her many cousins were all into the local sports scene from an early age.
Jill started in Little League softball, rising up through the ranks and being brought up early to the Senior League. Her coach, Andrea Ungvarsky, was a dedicated coach who pushed her players to be great and is a Hall of Famer in her own right. Jill then went on to play three years as a catcher on the Sawyer Varsity girls softball team. The team won the MHAL title in 1984, with Jill catching and occasionally being summoned to the circle to pitch. She was a captain in her junior and senior seasons. A great memory was when she made a diving catch of a pop up to save a game, sending the Sawyers to the MHAL playoffs.

Jill also starred as a setter on the Sawyer volleyball team and was captain for two years on this team as well. She won the SHS Female Athlete of the Year award in 1985.

After graduating in 1985, Jill went to South Carolina for a tryout for the Winthrop Eagles softball team. Her Uncle Mike got her the tryout, and her brother Jeff, as well as cousins Randy and Mike were playing there also. Jill was offered a scholarship and played there for two years. During this time, she was also given a volleyball scholarship and played in two Big South Conference Division 1 sports at Winthrop.

Jill has been an avid skier, both alpine and x-country, and has volunteered in the concession stand at Little League and Dutchmen games, as well as helped her dad during games.

Jill was married to Brendan Cohan on October 16, 1999 and they have two children, Rory and Eva. Jill was a well-rounded athlete, as her playing two Division 1 sports demonstrates. She is taking her rightful place in the Hall of Fame for her outstanding achievements in athletics. As the newest member of the Dodig family to be enshrined, she joins her dad, brothers, Uncle Mike, Aunt Irene, and several cousins in the Class of 2025. Congratulations Jill!

03/24/2025

Joe Sheehan

Joe was born on April 14, 1975 in Kingston, New York. His parents, former MLB scout Dennis and teacher Kathy, also have a daughter, Lizabeth. Joe grew up in Glasco playing youth baseball and basketball. In the Glasco-East Kingston Little League, Joe was an All-Star in 1985-86, capturing the league’s MVP Award in 1986. He played SAA Biddy Basketball from 1983-87. From 1987-89, Joe was a three-time Babe Ruth Baseball All-Star.

Joe compiled a long list of accomplishments at SHS. He competed in football, track, x-country running and x-country skiing. He was a six-year Varsity cross-country skier, winning four consecutive All-Section 9 awards. During his junior year he participated in the Lillehammer Olympic Development Ski Team, as well as the AAU Skiing Championships in 1992-93. In outdoor track at SHS, Joe ran the 800, 1600, and 3200m races, as well as the 4 x 800 relay. In 1992, this relay team ranked #5 in New York State, as was the x-country running team in 1993.

Joe then went on to run track and x-country at UConn, where he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees. In 1994, he was 7th in steeplechase in the Big East.

Joe played on the Saugerties Dutchmen baseball team, and a highlight for him was knocking in the winning run in Dennis’s 100th Dutchmen victory. In 1997, he was a student assistant coach for defensive backs at UConn.

On July 7, 2002, Joe married Lisa Sheehan. Together they have three children, Rachel, Brendan and Kelsey. Joe’s career in athletic training and player development fields is outstanding. 28 years have been spent in the NFL in various positions. At Jacksonville, Joe was in charge of Player Rehabilitation for 11 years, followed by a year at Arkansas where he became Head of Athletic Training Certification. Joe then moved on to Cleveland where he spent 16 years with the Browns as Head Trainer and working his way up to Senior Vice President in charge of Heath and Player Development.
Joe has had a long and varied sports career, both as an athlete, father, husband, professional trainer and health administrator.
From the fields of Saugerties to the lofty heights of the National Football League, his accomplishments in the sporting world are far-reaching, as well as locally celebrated with his induction into the Saugerties Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

03/24/2025

Tom Miron

Transplanted Saugerties star athlete and 2025 inductee, Tom Miron, was born in Detroit, Michigan on December 26, 1961 to Raymond and Patricia Miron, whose family of 10 children became one of the most popular families in Saugerties.

Tom’s sports career started with youth baseball in Little League and Babe Ruth, as well as soccer. His career would branch out into multiple sports at SHS. Tom captained three teams: soccer, wrestling and track. He played two years of Varsity football, as well as a kicker-punter.

In his senior soccer season, Tom scored five goals and had 12 assists from his forward position. He won the Contributed Most to the team award. As a wrestler in the 126-132 classes, Tom went 21-7-1 to take third in Section 9. Tom held the Sawyer pole vault record of 13 feet for 24 years, qualifying for the State track meet. He also competed in long jump and triple jump. For his athletic achievements for the four Varsity teams he played on, Tom was selected as SHS Male Athlete of the Year in 1980.

Tom went on to earn a B.S. in Earth Science from SUNY Brockport, then completed his M.S. in Curriculum Development at SUNY New Paltz. While at Brockport, Tom played a year on the Golden Eagles soccer team, but it was on the track where he excelled. He became a decathlete, and in his four years finished 8th, 6th and 3rd at the SUNY Decathlon Championships, missing out with an injury his sophomore year. His personal records, including 11.9 seconds in the 100m, 20’1” in long jump, 32’5” in shot putt, 5’10 ½” in high jump, 55.5 seconds in the 400m, 17.5 seconds in 100m high hurdles, 101’5” in discus, 14’1” in pole vault, 179’8” in javelin, and 4:44 in 1500m, are indicative of how diverse his all-around athletic talent was.

On July 12, 1997, Tom married Roseann in Kingston and they have two dogs, Haley and Bryson, that Tom calls his children. He spent his career teaching and coaching here at SHS, leading various Sawyer teams in wrestling, track and soccer. Ten years of wrestling, 13 years of track, and 20 years of girls’ soccer, including two league championships in track and 18 years as head girls’ soccer Varsity coach. He has played many years of soccer, softball and volleyball in local adult leagues.

Tom’s biggest thrills in sports were clearing 13 feet at the Section 9 track in 1979, which qualified him for States, and coaching the 2006 girls’ soccer team to the Division I title and a top 20 State ranking. In 1990, his MHAL champion track team placed athletes in all 17 events, 10 in multiple events, very rare and showing the depth and ability of the Sawyer team.

His inspirations in sports involve Bob Seagren, who won silver at the 1972 Munich Games in pole vault, and Coach Bud Smith, whose class and mentoring inspired Tom to want to be a coach. All in all, as one of the kindest, classiest men to grace Sawyertown as a player, coach, and teacher, Tom Miron has earned his place among the Class of 2025.

03/24/2025

Kristin Leahy

Kristin was born on July 25, 1974, in Kingston, NY to William and Kathleen Leahy. She has a brother, Kevin, and is the proud mother of her two children, Keegan and Emma Simonsen. She resides in Stratford, CT.

Her youth sports career included both softball and soccer, having played both from 1979-1985 in Saugerties. But her mark as an athlete would be made at SHS on the basketball court and, especially, as an elite runner for the Sawyer cross-country and track squads.

Kristin was consistently the top runner from junior high through her Varsity career, as well as a starting point guard for the Sawyer girls’ JV and Varsity basketball teams, in 1990-91 and 1991-92. Her exploits as a runner are well-documented. She still holds five Sawyer track records. Her 59.1 second 400m, 2:14 800m, 4:35 1500m, 5:13 1600m, and 10:12 3000m records, made more outstanding by their standing the test of time from 1991 to today, is the stuff of athletic excellence. Her five years of Varsity track mid-distance and distance domination resulted in 10 MHAL Championships at various distances, as well as four trips to States, and winning three team MVP awards.

Kristin also ran Varsity cross-country for five years, winning the MHAL title three times after a runner-up finish as a freshman. She was team MVP all five years and placed in the States top 25 each season. The Sawyers were undefeated in MHAL meets in 1991, as well.

Continuing her career at UConn was next for this gifted track star. She competed in cross-country, indoor and outdoor track for the Huskies. In cross-country she was the #2 ranked runner all four years. On the indoor track team, she again ran middle distance and set a UConn record in the Sprint Medley relay in 1994. She was awarded the Women in Sport Character Award as a senior. She set a school record in the 4 x 800m relay in outdoor track in 1994 and that year the team was Big East Champions.

After graduating from UConn with a B.A. in Exercise Science, an M.A. in Science Education, as well as an M.A. in Science Curriculum Specialist from Southern Connecticut State University, Kristin played soccer in Fairfield on the traveling country club team. She also ran for the New Balance Running Team from 2002-2005. She still competes in local races. She has coached cross-country and track at Norwalk and Staples High Schools, helping her runners prepare for and getting in to college programs.

Kristin’s most vivid memories are of her many triumphs as a Sawyer and UConn Huskies runner, the many victories along the way, and the thrill of having her parents as her biggest supporters. Also, being invited to the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center Camp in 1992 was a big eye-opener, as well as exciting and humbling. She thanks John Lombardo, her Sawyer track coach, for always being there, pushing her to be great, and mentoring her in all aspects, physical and mental.

The Hall of Fame is proud to welcome this exceptional standout runner, Kristin Leahy, as a 2025 inductee.