Big Red Sports: May 27, 2011

Friday, 27 May 2011 00:00

Heather Artinian and Fellow Senior LAX Players Honored

Glen Cove High School senior Heather Artinian is the winner of the Nassau County Sports Commission’s Eva Tucci Award, which recognizes a female student-athlete who demonstrates great character, great passion for sports, and is committed to academic excellence.

Born deaf, Heather was raised in a household where her entire family was also deaf. Despite having this common bond with her family, as a fourth-grader she underwent surgery that would allow her to hear and attend a non-deaf school. This decision created controversy so intense that it was documented in an Academy Award-nominated movie.

Heather has become a phenomenal three-sport athlete for Glen Cove. As a Captain and point guard on the Girls Basketball Team she was named New Balance Basketball Coaches Association Academic All-State and Scholar-Athlete, as well as selected to play in the Nassau County All-Star Game and participate in the National Deaf All-Star game. Also Captain of the Girls Lacrosse Team, Heather was a featured athlete in Madison Square Garden’s televised LAX report, and was granted the Diane Whipple Scholarship to lacrosse camp. As Captain of the Volleyball Team, she achieved All-Division status.

As if overcoming a physical challenge and being a three-sport star athlete weren’t enough, Heather maintains a 99 GPA and is currently ranked fourth in her graduating class. She also recently won a medal for being one of just 10 finalists in the DECA National Advertising Campaign. Heather is also an advocate for the hearing impaired community by volunteering as a sign language instructor at the Mill Neck School for the Deaf. She has also volunteered at Sunrise Assistance for the Elderly, AutismSpeaks, and the American Cancer Society.

Heather has been an instrumental part of the Conference Champion Big Red Girls Lacrosse team’s success this spring. Before the beginning of the team’s last regular season home game against Elmont, Heather, fellow co-captain and senior Olivia Silvestri, and seniors Amelia Weck, Julie Bruschini, Julia Oh, Cassandra Napoli and Manager Amber Solomito were all honored by their teammates and coaching staff for their energy, leadership and commitment to the team. Jacquie Gow and assistants Nancy Gorman and Kim Riso coach the Girls Lacrosse Team.

Congratulations to Heather, her fellow seniors and the entire Girls Lacrosse Team and staff. Good luck the rest of the way!

Varsity Golf 2011

By Coach William Mc Cumiskey

The 2011 team progressed as the season went on. In our final match against the league champion, Wheatley, we achieved our lowest scores and a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Our young and very inexperienced team focused on developing fundamentally sound swings with the use of video lessons and practice at the range. Swing basics such as posture, grip, and alignment were constantly reviewed during our practice sessions. In an effort to improve our stroke average and stay competitive, the short game and course management were also stressed.

Once again, our team learned the importance in the care of the golf course, consideration of players, pride in a dress code, and golf etiquette. And as a team, we developed a greater interest in golf as indicated by the young players who attended all practices and the large turnout as a result of our recruitment efforts.

Our players were encouraged to pursue job opportunities through “Caddie Academies” sponsored by the MGA. Currently, three players have started in caddie positions at local country clubs, which will not only benefit them financially now, but can possibly lead to further employment through their associations with club members.

The maturing of our players in the way they have conducted themselves has been quite evident. All team members have written thank you letters to the management and professional staffs of Nassau Country Club and Glen Cove City Golf Course. The result has and will continue to build a wonderful relationship with both facilities. This year we will be honored with a scholarship from Glen Cove Men’s Golf and players will be given free golf privileges this summer when playing the course.

Although our match record might not indicate it, our year has been a successful and rewarding one.