Mineola Mustang Teams Welcome Spring

It's been a long winter so spring is a welcome change. The spring athletic teams at Mineola High School are no different. They've tried to welcome spring several times, but winter has been refusing to yield.

Varsity softball Coach Chrissie Bennett has had her players inside on lousy days and outside when the weather has permitted. Bennett heads into her fourth season as head coach with a lot of new faces including a new assistant in Mike Boccuzza.

"We have many new players. It's a whole different line-up than last year. With this hard working group, there is no doubt that this season will be successful," coach Bennett said.

Among the players to watch this season are centerfielder Liz Terezo, shortstop Caitlin Orlando, catcher Melissa Skupp, first baseman and catcher Nicole Lapin, pitchers Lauren Raffetto and Roseanne Mercurio, second baseman Emily Harrison and leftfielder Michelle Guido.

Here is the scouting report on some of the returning starters:

Liz Terezo - power hitter, aggressive base runner, amazing coverage in centerfield.

Melissa Skupp - strong arm, positive enthusiasm.

Caitlin Orlando - great range, smart fielder.

Nicole Lapin - runs like the wind, quick behind the plate and at first base.

Emily Harrison - most versatile player, most coachable.

Jess Rowan - hard worker, always eager to learn.

In talking about the season, coach Bennett couldn't really predict anything since the Mustangs are playing in a different conference this season.

Mineola High School boys track coach Michael Santa Maria welcomed 17 boys to the spring season. In discussing his expectations for the season, Coach Santa Maria talked of a possible division championship, sending two relay teams to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, multiple participants at the state championships in Syracuse, being among the top three teams in points at the county championships and multiple all-county performers.

As the coach went on to talk about some of his athletes, you can understand his enthusiasm. In looking at his roster, Coach Santa Maria profiled some of his returning athletes as follows:

Calvin Chan, senior - Excels in the long jump and the 110-meter hurdles. He is one of three team captains.

Alex Jansen, sophomore - Distance runner, among the top competitors in the 800 and 1,600 meters.

Chris Silverman, senior - Integral part of the 4X100-meter relay team, solid long jumper.

Joe Stigliano, senior - Co-captain, excels in the 110-meter hurdles, 4X100-meter relay unit and high jump.

Craig Strein, sophomore - Among the top sophomores in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter run.

Ramon Valente, senior - School record holder in the 400-meter run, integral part of the 4X400-meter relay team.

Tom Varughese, sophomore - Versatile athlete who excels in events ranging from 400-meters to 1,600-meters.

Edgar Gallindo, sophomore - hard working, shines in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter run.

The Mineola track program is in its infancy, having just been restarted in the 2001-02 school year. As it grows, more and more good athletes turn to track. Among the hot newcomers Coach Santa Maria talked about are Avinash Thomas, a senior, in the long jump, triple jump and 4X400 meter relay; Jerelle Harrison, senior, in the 100, 200 and 400; John Reicherter, senior, in the shot put and discus, and Rob Olszewski, sophomore, in the shot put.

The coach handicapped some of the competition for the spring season, pointing to Manhasset as the defending winter conference champs; Roosevelt as deep in sprinting and jumping events; Malverne as solid in the relay teams and Carle Place as deep in all events across the board. As programs get better, so does the competition but Mineola should be up to the task again this spring.