Last year was a great year for the boys' track team. They had a winning record and an all-county sprinter. This year is going to be a little harder because the team lost a lot of seniors. The good news is that the team has picked up new and wonderful participants for the 2003 season. The team's work ethic this year couldn't be better. The athletes on the team work harder and harder every day to improve and compete in their events.

So far this year the team has had one meet and one invitational. Captain and team leader has been senior Tin Chin. In the first meet, Tin scored 11points, which was the most for the team. He placed first in the intermediate hurdles, second in the triple jump and fifth in the 400 meter run. Joe Mazza also had a great day for Glen Cove. Joe runs one of the hardest races, the 400m (once around the track). He placed third for GC running 60 sec. flat. Joe's great training throughout the season has made him one of the best runners. Luigi Dattolo, Joe Salamone and Casey Paganetti are Glen Cove's long distance runners. Joe has wowed the coaches by running a 5:13 mile, Luigi did the same by running a 5:18 mile, and Casey has also done a terrific job by running a 5:32 mile.

This year has already been rewarding for the athletes and the coaches. Some of the other athletes on the team are: Carlos Cancel, Renzo Castro, Ronald Furlow, Mike Gonzalaz, Jiraj Hampton, Robert Janosick, Hung-I Liao, Ruben Marrero, Ryan McCauley, Angelo and Joe Passalacqua, Chris Saviano, Allen Shin, Mazar Thomas, Yauheni Grigortsevich, Jesse Liang, and Johan Ortega. The coaches are happy with how things are going. Good luck with the rest of the season.

The Glen Cove lacrosse world hit a new milestone as two former Big Red players faced each other in a collegiate game. Air Force Academy junior Dave Brown, son of Doug and Janet Brown took on Stony Brook freshman Joe Kopito, son of Jeff and Janet Kopito, in the first night game at Stony Brook's LaValle Stadium.

With a crowd of 1200, and their own personal cheering section, the boys felt right at home in their new uniforms! Glen Cove Coach Steve Tripp said, "I'm so proud to be here tonight. We have had former players continue their careers in college, but never against each other. Both Dave and Joe carry the Big Red banner well."

As a promise to Dave, no mention of the final score will be made!

The varsity boys' lacrosse team split their games last week, falling to Great Neck South on Wednesday, and beating Great Neck North on Saturday.

In the game with South, Big Red found itself behind the 8-ball, trailing 3-0 midway through the first period. Midfielder Dom Bocchino went coast to coast, putting GC on the scoreboard. With GC on a powerplay, Jason Lindenbaum fed Michael Kavanaugh to push the Big Red closer at 3-2.

Led by goalie Danny Marks (16 saves), the defense of Ben Lowell, Drew Beisler, Mike Morrison and Max Schneider held the Rebel forces at bay. The Big Red would score two goals early in the second period to take a 4-3 lead. Gianluca Carrabs would score the first of his three goals, Dom would add his second, and GC would have a 4-3 halftime lead.

Luca and Vinnie DiGiovanni would score in the third period, and the Big Red held a 6-5 lead going into the fourth quarter. South tied the game at 6, but the Big Red answered quickly with Luca blistering a shot past the South goalie. The Big Red looked to put the game away, but it was not meant to be. With time running down, Marks made two fantastic saves, but the ball trickled loose, and right into the stick of a Rebel player. Luck had run out for the Big Red, as GNS would score the winning goal with just two minutes left in the game.

The Big Red would not be held down for long, however, as they came out clicking on all cylinders against Great Neck North. The Big Red scored early and often in the first period, and despite the rain had a 7-3 advantage they would not relinquish.

Eight different players would score for GC as they totally dominated the game. Michael Kavanaugh led the Big Red with four goals and three assists. Danny Cox (playing his first game) and Jason Lindenbaum each had three. Dom Bocchino had two goals and three assists, Jonathan Kobets and Gianluca Carrabs also had two goals. Jack Worth added one goal and an assist, and Jeff Moore added his first goal of the year.

The defense played another steady game. The goalie tandem of Danny Marks (seven saves) and Max Schneider (eight saves) foiled the few chances the Blazers had. Faceoff specialist Mateo Ramos won an outstanding 80 percent (16 of 20) of his faceoffs.

The next home game for the Big Red is Friday vs. Roslyn.