The Empire State Games are Olympic-style sporting events encompassing all events that the Olympics have to offer and are held at Rochester and Brockport Universities July 23 through 25 annually.

Junior Heather Navo qualified for the Empire State Games in lacrosse. With over 100 athletes trying out Navo was one of two goalies who made the team. Coach Lisa Christiansen of Syosset, and Tracy Wienere of Farmingdale selected 20 girls to make up the Nassau County team. Six players came from Garden City, four athletes came from Manhasset, two athletes came from Port Washington, Syosset, and Farmingdale, and one athlete from Kellenberg, New Hyde Park, Massapequa and Levittown along with Heather from Great Neck.

There were seven regions which made up the high school lacrose tournament held at Syracuse University July 10, 11, 12 which was two weeks prior to the rest of the Empire State Games. Nassau County played every region once and the region with the best record would win the Gold Medal.

Nassau defeated Buffalo 6-5 for the first game, and defeated Rochester 7-2 in the second game, both games played July 10. Nassau beat Syracuse 8-6 and the Capitol District (Albany) 12-6 July 11. In the final two matches on the final day was a win over Lower Hudson (Westchester) 13-3 and the final match was a win over Suffolk County 8-7. Navo started the game at goal for the first half, while Margaret Garofalo of Port Washington played the second half. In the final, Navo left the first half winning 5-1. The score was tied at 7 when the winning goal was scored with under one minute to play. Nassau County won the Gold with a 6-0 record. Suffolk won the Bronze with a 4-2 record and Syracuse won the Silver with a 5-1 record.

Junior Melanie Shurka qualified for the Empire State Games in track and field with a second place finish in the 5K (3.1) race walk in the trials held at Mitchel Field. Shurka's time was 32:23. Melanie never competed at 3.1 miles before because the high school's race 1,500 meters. Shurka was All County twice during the indoor track season, and is North's school record holder in the 1,500 meter walk in both indoor and outdoor track. Coach Chris Omeltchenko took Melanie to Suffolk County once a week to train with one of the best walking coaches in the United States, and she trained with girls and boys who placed nationally in the walk.

With five weeks to train, and gain endurance and strength, Melanie placed third in the Empire State Games finals. Her time was 29:22. Shurka was 20 seconds away from second place. Her time did qualify her to compete in the Penn Relay's Olympic Develop 5K walk next spring. Shurka placed sixth in the open 10K (6.2 miles) two days later in a time of 60:56. 59:18 would have placed her third. Melanie did beat the girl from Suffolk County who placed second in the National High School championships in 3K this past June.

Sophomore Erin Byrns qualified for the Empire State Games held at Rochester University in diving. The two time All County diver made her second trip to the Empire State Games. Erin placed second in the 1 meter and 3 meter dive. The trials were held at Eisenhower Park pool, the site of the Goodwill Games swimming and diving competition. Nassau County will use the same facility for the upcoming girls and boys season. At the trials, each diver takes 10 dives. Five judges give scores. The high and low score are dropped. Points are added up for all 10 dives.

In the Empire State finals, Erin placed fourth in the 1 meter dive and fifth in the 3 meter dive. Each diver at the Empire State Games takes 10 dives. The divers are ranked based on points scored from the preliminary dives. The divers will go in order from worst to best scorers. Erin competed on the same day both the 1 and 3 meter dives for the preliminaries. With one day rest, the finals were held and 10 more dives were taken. Byrns is the school record holder in diving, and will have one more year as a scholastic competitor. Navo and Shurka will have to compete in the open competition next year as they will not be in high school. Congratulations to you all.