GUILDERLAND — Three Guilderland athletes had their dreams come true last week.

On Nov. 15, Nikki Branchini, Ben Henderson, and Nick Polsinelli all signed letters of intent to play college sports. Branchini will play Division I lacrosse at the University at Albany; Henderson will play baseball at Division I Jacksonville University in Florida; and Polsinelli will play baseball at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, a Division II school.
"It’s definitely a relief to get the decision out of the way," Henderson said. "We have unfinished business as a team. Me and Nick have been lucky that we had coaches that supported us over the years and helped us get to where we are now."

All three athletes said that they felt comfortable at their chosen schools — for the academics as well as athletics.
"I feel that I was taught all those things when I was young," Polsinelli said. "My parents and coaches always said that academics come first. You can’t be playing on the ball field if you don’t keep on top of that."

Henderson has been on the varsity since his freshman year and Polsinelli has been on the varsity for three years. Both gave credit to head coach Doug LaValley for his help in developing their skills.

Henderson also played for the South Troy Dodgers baseball program in the high school off-season and Polsinelli played for the Capital District Knights and for the Adirondack Team at the Empire State Games the past two summers. He also played for South Troy this past fall.

Branchini has been a club lacrosse player and a member of the varsity girls team for three years. She has also been on the varsity field hockey and basketball teams and had to leave Wednesday’s press conference early to go to basketball practice.

Reaching their goal

It had been a goal of all three players to participate in a high level of competition. And all three have accomplished those goals.
"I just like playing the game," Henderson said. "I work on getting better every day. I got better and had an opportunity to get seen by colleges."
"Having two older brothers," Polsinelli said, "I felt like I had to be better than both of them. I would try to be the best. I knew I could be playing at the college level and I’m excited to be attending The College of Saint Rose."

Saint Rose is a power on the Division II level and has sent some players to the professional ranks. Jacksonville is a small program in a talent-laden state, but plays Division I against much larger schools, such as Florida State University and the University of Florida.
"I definitely took some time," Henderson said. "I’ll be far away from home and what I know. Competition-wise, I’m looking forward to the schedule and playing Florida and Florida State and the other teams in their conference. They are a top-notch team."

Both ball players will be playing in front of professional scouts, though that isn’t anything new.
"I have wanted to play in the Major Leagues or any higher level of baseball since I was in Little League," Henderson said. "I’ll play in front of pro scouts, but you just have to play your game and try not to think about them. You just go and do what you know how to do and go with it."
"We play in front of pro scouts in high school," Polsinelli said. "We played in front of pro scouts all fall. We just play the game like we know how to play it and we’ll be alright."

But before college and pro scouts comes one final high school season for the two Dutchmen. Both are among the top pitchers in Section II. Polsinelli is a talented middle infielder and Henderson will see time at first base when not on the mound. Both can also hit the ball hard.

Guilderland will be considered one of the top teams in the Suburban Council this spring.
"Coach LaValley said that we might be paper champions," Polsinelli said. "But that doesn’t mean anything. We have to get on the playing field and get the job done."

Super seniors

Branchini, Henderson, and Polsinelli are just three Guilderland High School athletes who will be receiving some sort of athletic scholarship or playing at a Division I or Division II level.

Athletic Director Wayne Bertrand envisions a possibility of nine or 10 athletes moving on to top notch competition in college.

Running star Brian Rhodes-Devey will be heading to the University of Texas next fall to run cross-country and track. Rhodes-Devey is one of the top runners in the state and showed that by finishing second at the New York Federation meet in Wappingers Falls on Saturday.

Football lineman Kyle Hussey is being looked at by Division I and I-AA schools and is looking hard at the University at Albany.

Scott Raffensperger is heading to Albany to play lacrosse for Coach Scott Marr. The long-stick defender has been on the varsity for three years and played at the Empire State Games this summer.

Track star Mark Domaracki is also being recruited heavily by Division I colleges to run. He is in the midst of basketball season but was a state qualifier in the 400-meter run last spring.
"We can have eight or nine scholarship athletes," Bertrand said. "It could be as many as 10. I’m proud of that. That shows the program has come along from top to bottom. And that makes me the most proud."