The Mineola High School boys track and field team embarks on a rebuilding season under coaches Michael Santa Maria and Kristin Degnan. The Mustangs lost five All-County athletes to graduation, but coach Santa Maria said the initial turnout looks promising. "We hope to be among the top three teams in our division. We hope to send a few athletes to the state championships in Cicero, NY this season."

Key returning athletes from last season include:

Rob Olszewski, Jr., Winter conference champion in shot put, threw the discus over 100 feet last year.

Edgar Galindo, Jr., Runs anywhere from 400 meters to a mile, ran a 5:30 mile in 2004.

John Valente, Soph., Sprints and 400-meter hurdles.

Tom Varughese, Jr., Ran on County runner-up 1,600 meters in 2004.

Mineola has some newcomers who could be a factor. They are:

Helder Santiago, Fr., Runs the 400 and 800 meters.

Tiago Barbosa, Jr., Competes in shot put and discus.

Claudio Dematos, Fr., Runs the 400-meter.

Coach Santa Maria points to a couple of Mineola's opponents as the toughest on the schedule. Manhasset is the defending divisional champion while Roosevelt has outstanding sprinters and relay teams.

Mineola's fifth year varsity softball coach Chrissy Bennett finds herself in a tough conference this season. "We are at the bottom of a very strong conference. Our goal is to be competitive. If we finish up about 500, that would be outstanding. We have a very young team with people in new positions. I would call this a rebuilding year," she said.

Coach Bennett described her returning players this way:

Alycia Adrat - Excellent focus, hard working and dedicated.

Stephanie Cifuentes - Tremendous improvement from last year, great hustler in the outfield.

Michelle Guido - Extremely disciplined athlete, when she gets a hold of the ball it goes.

Emily Harrison - Spark plug to the team, great hustler, always gives 100 percent.

Roseanne Mercurio - Dynamite speed, strong arm.

Caitlin Orlando - Arm like a cannon, aggressive baserunner.

Lauren Raffetto - Ace pitcher, great attitude toward the game.

Mary Raguseo - DH, don't be deceived by her size.

Danielle Rivera - Full of potential, playing first base for the first time, could potentially be the strongest hitter.

Coach Bennett also has a hot newcomer in freshman Nicole Reardon. "She's a phenomenal athlete with tremendous speed on the basepath. She has a strong bat and is quick behind the plate," the coach said.

In looking at the schedule, coach Bennett expects all the opponents to be tough. "We were placed in a very competitive conference. Wantagh will most likely be our toughest opponent because of their All-County pitcher," she said.