Success After Big Injury
Written by Ronald Scaglia, Rscaglia@antonnews.com Friday, 01 March 2013 00:00
Playing in the most competitive basketball conference in Nassau County, the Massapequa varsity boys team faces a tough task every year, having to go up against against county powerhouses Hempstead, Uniondale, Farmingdale and Freeport. This season, the task became monumental when one of the team’s best players, William Schlich, tore his ACL in practice before the season. It was a devastating loss for a team that already faced an uphill battle, but the Massapequa varsity boys team pressed on, and made their coach quite proud by having a successful season,
“Their work effort was phenomenal,” said Marty Voigt, who has coached at Massapequa for 22 years. “One of the best teams I have ever been around.”
Despite playing a brutally tough schedule without a star player, the Chiefs still finished the season with a 6-6 record in conference games, including victories over Hempstead, Uniondale and Freeport, and a 4-1 record in non-league games.
“We overachieved,” said Voigt. “They [the players] put every ounce of their being into this year.”
Leading the way was junior Dylan Balducci, who averaged 21 points per game for the Chiefs. Senior Michael Delaney and junior Alex Cosenza each averaged about 10 points per game. Senior captain and point guard Brian Flecker was the team’s leader on the court, while also contributing an average of seven points and 10 assists per game.
“He never came off the floor,” the coach said of Balducci. “He was a tremendous player.”
In addition to those players, Voigt said that every player on the team had to contribute because of the competitiveness of the league. He said the players worked hard in practice, paid close attention to detail, and were very diligent about reading scouting reports and using the information to their advantage.
“They truly played for each other,” he said.
And while the team’s hard work, dedication and success despite the bad fortune of losing a top player is something Voigt is proud of, he also hopes that the team will be able to use this experience next year. Both Balducci and Cosenza will be starters next season, as will Griffin Sullivan and Sean Nealis. With a bit of better luck, the team’s work ethic, dedication and commitment to each could result in another successful season, which could carry the Chiefs deeper into the playoffs.
“They’ll play hard,” Voigt said of next year’s players.
News
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Navy SEAL killed in crash was top student athlete
Jonathan Kaloust, a 23-year-old Navy SEAL who hailed from Massapequa, lost his life last Wednesday in a freak Humvee crash during a training exercise in Fort Knox, Ky.
A 2007 graduate of Massapequa High School and standout wrestler, Kaloust was recruited to Binghamton University, where he continued to wrestle while pursuing a political science degree.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Increased service will save local
commuters up to 40 minutes a day
A $40-million construction project, designed to modernize the Massapequa Station at Sunrise Highway (Route 27), just east of Broadway and Route 107, was announced by the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Long Island Railroad. The station renovations are part of a multi-phase initiative to improve infrastructure and train service at the station that serves approximately 6,000 customers every weekday.
The first phase is scheduled to begin on May 29, and the improvements are scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2015. Over the next two years, the rehabilitation project will include the sorely needed replacement of the station platform and canopy, heated platform waiting room, escalator, elevator and staircases, pedestrian walkway over Broadway, public address system, plus the addition of signage, energy-efficient platform lighting, and a decorative granite wall adjacent to ticket office. The railroad is also starting work on the installation of a pocket track just east of the station that will significantly improve train service and frequency, as well as on-board seat availability.
Sports
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
The U.S. Tennis Association Long Island Region has recognized Michelle Carnovale of Massapequa for her tennis playing in 2012. Michelle was honored for her ranking in the Girls’ 14s on Long Island.
With more than 9,000 members, the Region promotes the growth and development of Long Island tennis and supports USTA programs including Jr. Team Tennis, National Junior Tennis and Learning, High School Tennis, College Tennis, USTA 10 and Under Tennis, USTA League Tennis, and community tennis.
The volunteer-based Board of Directors works with USTA members to create programs and activities for all the tennis players on Long Island, from small children to seniors. For more information, visit www.longisland.usta.com or email ustaonlongisland@gmail.com.
Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00
Last Wednesday the Massapequa Observer A’s had a come-from-behind victory 5-2 over the Trial Lawyer Mets, powered by key hits from Ray Anzelone, Michael Grisanti, and Jason Kopp. Evan “Mariano” Barrow came in again with no outs and the bases loaded to pick up the save.
On Saturday, the Observer A’s beat the Kleer Fax Yankees 4-2. The A’s were down 1-0 into the 4th inning due to an RBI single by Ross Mitton of the Yankees. Anthony Patullo drove in two runs with an RBI triple to give the A’s a 2-1 lead. This was followed by Brendan Castonguay driving in two runs with a double to make the score 4-1. Patullo pitched three solid innings in the start with Castonguay pitching the final three innings for the win.
Calendar
Marine Corps Barbecue
Monday, May 27
Wantagh Preservation Society Meeting
Tuesday, May 28
America’s Boating Course
Tuesday, May 28
Columns
Moving Pictures
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
Private Power Isn’t Our Only Option
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
Building Better Legislators
Written by Michael A. Miller, Millercolumn@optimum.net
