The Saratoga-Shen rivalry in 2019 pic.twitter.com/69lYBcm6EQ
— Only In The 518 (@OnlyInThe518) February 2, 2019
CLIFTON PARK — One of the area’s fiercest rivalries took a violent turn Wednesday night following an annual charity basketball game between Saratoga Springs High School and Shenendehowa High School.
A video posted to social media showing a group of Saratoga students pushing and shoving a Shenendehowa student made its way around the internet. The video, which has since been deleted, was originally posted to Twitter by an account under the name of Shenendehowa senior soccer player Kelsey Smith.
School officials have not identified the students involved in the altercation. The original post tagged an account associated with Devin McArthur, a senior on the Saratoga football team.
McArthur later self-identified himself as a participant in the fight.
“In no way were my actions justified or right,” McArthur said. “I accept full responsibility for everything that has happened.”
McArthur, who has committed to play football at SUNY Cortland, said the short video did not show the entire situation.
“Prior to the altercation, the individual that was pushed in the video was in the parking lot attempting to instigate a fight, verbally and physically, with multiple Saratoga students,” he said. “After seeing our close friends being threatened by this individual, increasingly me and others approached him then, the events shown in the occurred.”
Officials at SUNY Cortland said they had been made aware of the video and are investigating the situation.
Saratoga Springs City School District Director of Community Outreach and Communications Maura Manny said the district was notified of the confrontation between students from both schools.
“The Saratoga Springs High School School District has high expectations for all students and does not tolerate violence in any form,” Manny said. “The district has worked closely with Shenendehowa administrators to investigate the situation and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken towards all students involved in accordance with the school Code of Conduct.”
Saratoga won the boys’ basketball game 48-44. Proceeds from the night benefited the Shenendehowa Unified Sports Program, which brings people with disabilities and those without disabilities together for athletic competition.
