Ballston Spa, New York — Mayor Frank Rossi has urged that the scheduled September 11 high school football matchup between Ballston Spa High School and Queensbury High School be rescheduled, arguing that the date coincides with the community’s 9/11 remembrance activities.
A Timing Dilemma
The contest had been locked in by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association back in February, but school officials now say the game will go on, embedding a series of commemorative events throughout the day.
Dr. Gianleo Duca, superintendent of Ballston Spa schools, confirmed that the kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., the same hour the town traditionally observes its annual tribute, creating a direct scheduling conflict.
Rossi’s proposal centers on giving adults the freedom to choose between attending the game and participating in the memorial, a stance informed by his own memories of being stranded at LaGuardia Airport on the morning of the attacks and by the historic role firefighters from Ballston Spa played in the post‑9/11 search efforts.
While the game’s location — roughly 200 miles from lower Manhattan — underscores the geographic distance, Rossi emphasizes that the emotional tie to the day remains strong, and that the timing decision should respect both athletic tradition and the solemnity of the anniversary.
The controversy reflects a broader conversation about how schools navigate the intersection of sports, community rituals, and national remembrance. Whether the board will reconsider the schedule remains to be seen, but the debate underscores the weight of September 11 in local calendars.