Varsity fall athletes kick off preseason

The 2025 fall preseason began Aug. 18 with perfect weather and enthusiasm for Webutuck student-athletes.

After a warm and humid weekend, athletes took the field in the morning with temperatures in the 60s and little humidity.

“I’ve been really looking forward to practicing with the team again, getting better and hopefully getting farther than last year,” said Sebastian Melchor-Agustin, senior varsity boys soccer player.

Webutuck is offering varsity boys soccer, varsity golf and varsity girls volleyball. Varsity girls soccer and varsity football student-athletes are competing on merged teams at Millbrook. All teams began their preseason practices Aug. 18 except for varsity golf, which will begin its preseason Aug. 25 at Undermountain Golf Course in Copake.

The boys soccer team, which qualified for the 2024 Section IX Class C playoffs, will open the regular season at next week’s Rondout Valley Tournament, while the 

remaining Wildcat teams will start their season after Labor Day.

Marco Reyes, a 2008 Webutuck graduate, begins his third season as varsity boys soccer coach and said he is working to condition his players this week for this season. “The most important thing is for them to get their conditioning in and get them ready for the start of the league matches,” he said.

Reyes added about the first day of practice, “It’s nice. I think we have a great atmosphere today. I think we’re off to a great start.”

The varsity girls soccer team held a morning practice at Millbrook. The girls finished 4-7-1 in 2024.

“We had great weather for our first day and I think the girls were really excited to get back on the field together,” said Shea Olszewski, second-year coach and English teacher at Webutuck.

“We have lots of returners and some new faces that I’m looking forward to joining our roster.”