Saratoga Girls Program Lawsuit

I've been keeping an eye on the recent talk about the stuff happening at Saratoga Springs High School, and it's pretty concerning. But there's another situation right in our backyard at [Nearby "S" High School] that needs our attention too.
So, here's the deal: one of the coaches at a nearby "S" High School has been involved in some seriously troubling stuff. This coach's actions have been off the charts, and it seems like the administration hasn't been doing much about it.
If you know anything about what's been going down, don't stay silent. Let the right people know what's happening. We've got to get this sorted out, making sure our community stays safe and respectful for everyone.
Let's make some noise about this, and ensure these serious issues don't get swept under the rug. Our athletes, students, and the entire community deserve better. This person shouldn't be around our children children.

Awwwwwww.

Keep it vague enough to apply to any high school in the country?

Shen?

There are lots of programs around the country which focus on many of the same things and achieve great success. They tend to disappear from the state and regional championship podiums once the coaches leave the program.

Yeah.

It's surprising because I knew a lot of runners from that school and none of them had negative things to say about the coaches there. They all seemed fine.

You want everybody to "make some noise", but give zero specifics. That's BS. Post what you know, or have heard, and let people react. Otherwise STFU.

I'm curious who you are and where you got this information from? This is complete and utter BS. I am a former Saratoga runner, graduated in the early 2000s and have kept in contact with the Kranicks since. They have never had any rules about birth control, nor is this even a subject they'd get involved in at all with any of their runners. Many of the girls on the team, myself included, were on birth control just like many high school girls. Also, you clearly don't understand how birth control works...it has absolutely nothing to do with stopping or delaying puberty my friend. Turns out that happens when it happens and there's nothing you (or the Kranicks) can do to stop it.

I'd love to know who you are and where you are getting this information from? I am an actual former Saratoga runner. I graduated in the early 2000s and not one single thing here is true. There were never mandatory doubles. There was one practice a day after school with a strict end time so everyone could get home in time for dinner and to get homework done. At the peak of my high school career the most I ever ran was 40-50 miles/week during prep for XC season, less during track season. People love to make up stories and exaggerate the truth to bring other people down.

Here's the truth about what happened on the Saratoga XC and track team. We worked hard, we took running seriously, but we also had a lot of fun. Were the Kranicks strict coaches who were hard on us and pushed us hard- absolutely! Were they abusive and did they create a toxic culture- absolutely not. I was never a top performer, but I worked my butt off and I was part of the team by choice, just like every other person there. The Kranicks have devoted their entire lives to coaching, and I for one am grateful for the time I spent with them and the positive impact they've had on my life.

Saratoga girls team will be down next year. They are losing 3 scorers

Thank you for this! I too am a former Saratoga runner who graduated in the early 2000s, so I'm sure we ran together, although I'm not sure who you are. I'd say I agree with everything written here, and I'd like to add a few more things.

Myth: The Kranicks controlled food, encouraged disordered eating, or engaged in body shaming of any sort. This is flat out false. In fact, the Kranicks encouraged healthy eating, looking at food as fuel, and careful attention to giving your body the fuel it needed to perform. During weekend long runs Mrs. Kranick would go out and buy bagels and cream cheese for us to come back to. They'd bring in blenders, fruit, yogurt, and carboplex and have smoothie days after hard workouts. They'd provide healthy breakfast like oatmeal and fruit at away meets, and always had boxes of cliff bars for practices and meets. In the summer they'd buy us watermelons and popsicles and ice cream after practice. When we'd travel overnight for meets we'd go out for big pasta dinners and the Kranicks would pay out of their own pocket for any kids who couldn't afford it. Nobody was ever body shamed, weight was never a point of discussion, and I never remember anyone I ran with having any sort of eating disorder in high school. I'd say compared to most teenage girls, we all had pretty darn healthy eating habits and body images.

Myth: We were forced to practice 365 days a year. As the poster above confirmed, this was not the case. Sundays, between seasons (although limited), and summer practices were optional, as well as many other holidays. Optional practices were, of course, strongly encouraged, but most kids showed up because we wanted to be there. I lived a few streets away from the Kranicks and I may, in fact, have been the only kid who practiced with them 365 days/year because I would run to their house every Christmas morning and insist on going for a run with them, usually dressed in a silly costume. Well beyond my high school years I continued that tradition and looked forward to it every year.
Myth: The Kranicks didn't allow girls to date. This one is just silly... think about this realistically for just a second....do you think anyone (parents included) can actually stop a high schooler from dating/talking to boys if they truly want to do that? Some of the girls on the team (myself included) didn't date- mostly because we were so focused on running and school there wasn't a whole lot of time to be messing around and we had different priorities. I wasn't interested in dating, partying, screwing around, or getting into trouble because I was so busy with practice in the evenings and getting homework done, and we were often traveling on the weekends to meets. Did the Kranicks talk to us about dating/partying/doing all the crazy things high schoolers do? Of course- that's part of being an involved coach/mentor- you talk to kids about their lives beyond running. They of course advised us not to get involved in drinking/partying/getting intro trouble, and as many adults do they warned us that boys could be a distraction and often nothing good came from middle school/high school girls dating, but they never expressly forbid it, nor did they get involved in people's personal lives. Many girls were dating, some were dating boys on the team....some girls I ran with married boys on the team.

Myth: The Kranicks forced girls to run through injuries. I had a knack for getting injured. Turns out my body isn't really built for running, as much as I wish it was. I think I spend about as much time on the bench as I did on the track in high school and I was never once forced to run through pain or an injury. I was, however, always encouraged to come to practice and continue to be a part of the team and a part of the community. The Kranicks went out of their way to find ways to keep me involved when I was injured and to make me feel like they still cared about me and I was still part of the community. They helped me find a good podiatrist, offered to pay for custom orthotics when I needed them, and encouraged me to get second opinions when I couldn't get to the bottom of my injuries. Mr Kranick was known for making custom insoles for girls who had foot problems and couldn't afford custom orthotics. Anyone who ever ran for them has probably worn his famous custom felt insoles! The Kranicks also would help pay for shoes for kids whos families couldn't afford them. We often burned through sneakers in a few months and they never batted an eye at taking a kid to the store if they needed something. They also took time and care to keep kids bodies protected. Younger runners were not allowed to run as many miles as older, more developed runners. Workouts were very carefully planned and individually tailored. We had an extensive warm up routine at every practice that involved active dynamic stretching, conditioning, and recovery. We were encouraged to take care of our bodies- icing, foam rolling, etc. We worked on good running form and talked regularly about that, and we were often assessed for gait by professionals.

Truth: Running for the Kranicks was one of the best times of my life. Id never participated in any organized sports before I joined the team, and I came in with absolutely no physical prowess. I was never fast, I rarely even races as a varsity team member. But the Kranicks always treated me with kindness, love, and care and gave me just as much attention as they gave the stars. When I had a good workout they'd call me on the phone to tell me how proud they were and they'd notive my hard work and accomplishments. When I had a hard day or got down on myself, they encouraged me. They pushed me to do be my best even if I wasn't the best on the team, and they gave me chances to feel like I was the star. They celebrated my PRs just as hard as they celebrated girls who broke school records. They taught me how to be a part of a team, and they made me feel important. I made life-long friends on the team. The Kranicks were like second parents to me and they have supported me even beyond my time on the team. I still keep in touch with them and make sure to visit them any time I am back in town. I am so grateful I got the opportunity to be a part of such an incredible program, and it really hurts me to see them and the program talked about so badly, especially from people who are just spreading rumors and never were there.
I'm happy to answer whatever questions people have and to confirm/deny rumors, but please, if you were not part of the team, don't further spread misinformation.

What is the training like for the Saratoga Boys program (Zanetti’s program)?

Toxic coach! I pray more athletes come forward and are not afraid! I pray they are fired along with his brother who coaches at another NY “S” school nearby. His brother Rich Kranik should also have a lawsuit against him!!

My HS coach was the offensive line coach for the fb team. He made me run 2 miles 1 time (around the school), the other times i ran on the track, mostly intervals. Some days he would tell us what the workout was and then go back into the locker room to watch tv. We didn't do very well as a team, most kids just screwed around, partied and drank on weekends. T&F was a joke.

My son had a very (abusive?) demanding soccer coach. He told him what to eat, how to practice on his own each day. Demanded he work hard, always do more than the other teams for sure. Games on TG and Christmas holidays! Some players who couldn't buy in along the way quit, but almost every player on the team senior year got college scholarships to D1 schools.

Each kid/parent can decide which is best for them. If working hard, being coached, being given advice on how to stay safe (don't drink) and healthy (eat the right stuff, don't get fat). Then pushing you to be your best isn't for your kid and that's ok.

I know first hand that he made his athletes keep a food journal. Some of his past athletes still struggle in college because of his body shaming habits. You are not allowed to tell athletes what they can eat or not eat. Also, He should not say they look good and will run fast because they didnt eat a donut, etc..

When was this? The Kranicks never made me keep a food journal and I never witnessed any body shaming...or any comments about anyone's bodies for that matter

I had an assist. Coach in t&f who I found out was having the girls at his house for prayer meetings in the evening. Long story short I was discouraged by the AD from breaking that up. It was a clear abuse of authority, but in a religious community.

users like this are OBVIOUSLY the Kranicks themselves.