Sports of all Sorts: From High School Dreams to College Teams

For many high school athletes, going on to take their skills to a college team is a common goal. But it's not often realized.

After all, it's a whole new level competition and being a standout varsity athlete does not necessarily translate into enjoying similar success at the next level.

Then there's the time commitment. It can often result in some who start out their college careers as student-athletes winding up as solely students before obtaining their degrees.

But Allaire Primiano is one of the exceptions.

The former all-section infielder for Sleepy Hollow has started her sophomore season on the softball team at Fairleigh Dickinson University, a Division I program that awards scholarships located in Teaneck, N.J.

The 5-foot-5 Primiano, who bats and throws right-handed, is coming off a freshman season in which she started 30 of the 39 games in which she appeared.

The Knights, who went 11-39 and 4-14 in the Northeast Conference last year, are off to a 4-4 start and Primiano is once again one the team's key players.

On Sunday, FDU started a week-long series of games in Kissimmee, Fla., that will include contests against Army, Brown, Colgate, Manhattan, Rider, Columbia, Tennessee-Martin,  Lafayette and Cleveland State. The Knights' home opener is March 21 when they play a doubleheader against Army.

The 19-year-old Primiano, who batted .400 at Sleepy Hollow, was named the Headless Horsemen's athlete of the year her senior year and recipient of the Phyllis Procano Fontana Softball Award. She was also an all-section standout in soccer.

Here's a quick look at some other former Sleepy Hollow athletes who are now on college teams:

• Connor Tompkins, football, Cortland State: The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Tompkins just completed his sophomore season as a defensive tackle for the Red Dragons, appearing in nine games. Cortland State finished the year 7-4.
• Spencer White, football, Ithaca College: The 5-foot-9, 175-pound sophomore cornerback tied for the team lead in interceptions with four and was sixth in tackles with 50 last season, helping the Bombers finish 7-3 and beat rival Cortland State in the Cortaca Jug game for the second straight season.
• Clarence Sharrock, wrestling, Morrisville State: The 285-pounder just wrapped up his freshman season. He went 1-2 at the Oneonta Invitational in late November.
• Ron Bencosme, lacrosse, Ithaca: The 6-foot senior has started his senior year as a midfielder for the Bombers, who went 14-2, ending the season with a 13-12 loss to Nazareth in the Empire 8 Tournament semifinals. He scored one goal in four games played last season. Bencosme was a two-time all-league selection at Sleepy Hollow, where he also wrestled and was a member of the football team.
• Dennis Bencosme, wrestling, Ithaca: Ron Bencosme's brother, Dennis wrapped up his junior season with the Bombers, helping the team finish 20-1. The 165-pound Bencosme picked up three wins on the season.