Re-alignments separates Dukes and Huskies

By Mike Zummo
Posted 12/7/22

Things are going to look a bit different in the Mid Hudson Athletic League this season.

Both the Marlboro Iron Dukes and Highland Huskies, previously MHAL Division II rivals, have been separated …

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Re-alignments separates Dukes and Huskies

Posted

Things are going to look a bit different in the Mid Hudson Athletic League this season.

Both the Marlboro Iron Dukes and Highland Huskies, previously MHAL Division II rivals, have been separated into two different divisions with the addition of Our Lady of Lourdes into the league.

The Marlboro Iron Dukes will remain in Division II with Our Lady of Lourdes and their familiar opponents, New Paltz, Red Hook and Rondout Valley. The Huskies meanwhile have been sent to a five-team Division III, where they will compete with the Ellenville Blue Devils, Spackenkill, Spartans, Onteora and Rhinebeck Hawks.

“It’s a new division, new opponents and we’re looking to compete for a division title,” said Highland coach Mike Milliman, who is entering his 22nd season.

The Huskies will compete without graduated seniors, Aden Wiser, Dominic Valente and Osie Adoma, III.

However, there is plenty of returning talent in Jeremy Angelone, Dylan Durandis, Jakob Bishop, and Matt Dubois. They will be joined by newcomers Joshua Bishop, Reid Berean, A.J. Grant and George Simmons.

“Players are working very well together,” Milliman said. “Practices are very competitive for playing time. It’s a great group of guys.”

The Marlboro Iron Dukes were one of several teams that were stunned by an amazing run by an eighth-seeded Rondout Valley Ganders team that ran a surprise run to a Section 9 Class B championship.

The Iron Dukes finished 12-6 last season, but were gutted by graduation, losing nine players, leaving the Iron Dukes light on experience.

Returning are Miles Brooks, a junior guard and forward, senior guard Prince Owens, senior forward Devin Dirago, and senior forward Seth Torres.

The rest of the team is new, and with that lack of experience comes more tempered goals. Marlboro coach Mike Koehler, who has coached the team since 2005, said the Iron Dukes’ goal is to improve every day and compete for a spot in the sectional playoffs.

“We are young and relatively inexperienced, so we will be learning as we go,” Koehler said. “This group has the ability to be tough and competitive and surprise a lot of people by the end of the season. We have to make sure we work hard every day and improve, and by February we can be a different and better team.”