Donation of Funds Will Support LI Athletes with Special Needs

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has announced that the County partnered with Y.H. Park Olympic Taekwondo for the 6th Annual New York Open Taekwondo Championship/Korean Cultural Festival on October 22 at the Athletic Center at Chaminade High School. The County Executive declared the day of the Championship “Taekwondo Day.” To show their appreciation, Y.H. Park donated the $4,000 raised from admission fees collected at the festival to Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE). Anita Dowd-Neufeld, Divisional Director, FREE was on hand to accept the check on behalf of FREE. The funds will support Long Island athletic programs for those individuals with autism and special needs, many of whom go on to compete in the Special Olympics.

Currently an East Meadow resident, Y.H. Park is a former United States Olympic Coach and was the undefeated Korean national Taekwondo champion from 1971-1975. He has also authored seven books about the martial art.

St. Aloysius Fifth Grade CYO Girls’ Team Victory

On Sunday, the St. Aloysius 5th grade CYO girl’s team notched another victory in a thrilling come from behind affair at the St. Aloysius Parish Gym. Once again, the team used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Our Lady of Victory of Floral Park.

In front of a packed gymnasium, the team fell behind by 8 points in the third quarter. While key baskets by Mia Vlantis, Lauren Parrott and Lauren Wong cut into the deficit, it was the spirited team defense led by Alexa Lanzilotta, Julia Duval and Theresa Patrey and foul shooting of Vivian Vlantis, Emma Forstner and Alessandra Saponara that proved to be the difference in the one point win.

Kung Fu -Tai Chi Lion Dance Champions

Members of the Kung Fu Class held at TKO Fitness Center in the Village of Great Neck, taught by co-owner Sifu Raul Ortiz, competed at the 2011 International Kung Fu-Tai Chi-Lion Dance Championships held in Hong Kong on Oct. 29 and 30, at the Kowloon Sports Complex.

The students and their instructor won three Gold Medals, two Silver Medals, one bronze Medal. Sifu Raul Ortiz won the Grand Champion Trophy for his outstanding performance in empty hand forms and the Jian form (double edge sword or tai chi sword).

St. Aloysius Girls On the Rise

With any first year team, growing pains are to be expected and since most of the players on the St. Aloysius team were playing organized basketball for the first time, expectations for the team were particularly modest. However, after enduring some early season struggles, the St. Aloysius girls are now flying high and in the midst of a winning streak while playing highly competitive basketball in the 5th grade division of the CYO of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

This past weekend saw the team defeat two of Garden City’s finest, St. Joseph’s and St Anne’s, on consecutive days. Saturday’s game saw the team race out to an early lead against St. Joseph’s on baskets by Vivian Vlantis, Mia Vlantis and Emma Forstner. Even though St. Joseph’s trailed by seven points after a Joanna Vissichelli free throw, they would soon mount a comeback that would turn the game into a hotly contested affair. With clutch baskets by Lauren Parrott and Lauren Wong and stellar defense from Theresa Patrey and Alexa Lanzilotta, St. Aloysius was able to maintain an advantage until the final two minutes. The final two minutes were filled with tension as St. Joseph’s briefly took the lead only to have St. Aloysius answer back with a basket of its own with just over a minute to go. Shortly thereafter, the home crowd erupted into cheers as St. Joseph’s took the lead with less than a minute to play. However, the team returned to the floor after a time out and perfectly executed a play that enabled Vivian Vlantis to dart through the defense and silence the crowd as she banked home a lay up with only thirty-five seconds to play. The victory was then secured with some solid team defense that prevented St. Joseph’s from getting off a shot.

GNPD: Slip, Sliding Away on Sled Hill

The possibilities for outdoor winter fun have arrived. Remember how excited you got as a child when you realized that school was closed on a snow day? School gets cancelled and the only thing left to do is get the sled out of storage and take full advantage. Snowy weather may not be so good for travel, but it certainly is good for sledding. What better way to burn off cabin-fever energy?

When the weather gets cold enough for snow this winter, put on your boots, grab your sled and head over to the corner of Red Brook and Kings Point Roads where you will find Sled Hill in Kings Point Park. After a snowfall, this is the place to see and be seen. This has always been a family favorite for those Park District residents who grew up in Great Neck. Even if there is just a few inches on the ground, children and their parents will drive to this hill and spend the afternoon whooshing down. Sledding enthusiasts arrive here early for a spot on days when the snow is packed and perfect for the occasion.

Great Neck Team Wins Flag Football Championship

On Sunday, Nov. 20, a team of Great Neck boys ages 15-17 captured the DePhillips Athletic Club (DAC) Senior Division Flag Football Championship. In a closely contested game which came down to the last play in overtime Great Neck won 28-27. Great Neck came out strong on defense with an interception by Brian Dieber to set up the first score of the game. The team from Bayside scored on their next drive, but missed the extra point making it 7-6. The Bayside team sacked Sam Weinbaum for a safety to take a 8-6 lead, but Ross Crames then picked off the Bayside QB. Great Neck, with Jeffrey Gordon handling the ball under center, marched down the field, and Jack Kimmel, on an option play, scampered for a 45-yard touchdown run to make it 14-6. After unsuccessful drives by both teams, Bayside got the ball back, and Michael Sitzer intercepted a pass and ran it in for a TD to make it 21-8. The second half both teams turned up the defense with strong play by Jared Weinbaum, Ross Crames and Alex Gonzales. However, with 5 minutes left Bayside scored to make the score 21-14, got the ball back, and with 1:30 left on the clock marched down field and tied the game with 14 seconds left.

Try-Hockey-For-Free Day At Parkwood Ice Rink

On Saturday, Nov. 5 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., the Great Neck Park District who is “rink partnered” with the NHL N.Y. Rangers, hosted Try-Hockey-For-Free Day at the Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink. It was mandatory for participants to pre-register on-line at USAHockey.com, on a first-come, first-served basis. Over 150 registrants participated and there were many who attended to observe. This event run by USA Hockey, encourages children, unfamiliar with hockey, to enjoy a new sport.

Great Neck Strikers Cap Off Fall Season

The Great Neck Strikers boys U-9 team capped off a tremendous fall season this past Sunday with a 2-1 win over another undefeated team from Queens, winning their division convincingly with 7-0-1 record. This team has come a long way from one year ago when they were just formed and won one game in the fall, finished second in the spring and now winning it all this fall with a first and two second place tournament finishes in between. This is all a direct result of the boys’ hard work and dedication which includes twice a week practices with a nine game schedule per season (fall/spring) on the weekends as well as three local tournaments. Players (l. to r.): Dennis Gal, Alex Geula, Ryan Sheena, Luke Hakimian, Jackson Cronin, Attilio Lamoretti, Ty Weber, Jack Nathan, Jesse Witt, Jonathan Javaheri, Nick Moundros, Damien Chafe, Isaac Turofsky and missing Dylan Solomon; Back row left to right: Trainer Horlan Smith, Coach Michael Lamoretti, Coach Ben Turofsky and missing Coach Rod Nathan.

Fourth Annual Blazing Trails-4 Autism 4-Mile Run

4-Mile Run Centered at Great Neck South High School Campus

The 4th annual Grillo & Associates Blazing Trails 4 Autism 4 Mile Run had everything a runner could want from a road race – a challenging but fair course that takes runners and walkers through a picturesque Lake Success neighborhood before entering the Great Neck South High School campus and taking the campus pathways and heading to the exciting finish on the High School track, high quality “hoodies” for every entrant, an incredible array of past-race refreshments, quick and accurate results courtesy of JMS Racing Services, and a generous raffle highlighted by a Cannondale II bicycle courtesy of Brickwell Cycling and Multisports.

See the Wolverines November 21

The Great Neck Wolverines have been battling hard through the early part of their schedule in the High School Hockey League of Nassau County.  After a 6-2 opening night win vs Bethpage, they played their home opener in front of a large home crowd at Parkwood. They battled East Williston, champions of their division last season. The game was tight. When East Williston scored a goal with two seconds to go in the second period to take a 5-3 lead, the mountain got higher. Though Great Neck battled back, they lost a tough game 8-6.