Dynasty is a scary word. It conveys dominance in sport and the Lady Mustang Winter Track team defines it. With three conference championships over the past four years including two consecutive, there are high hopes for the team. This season, a talented group goes about their tasks with a new leader as Kerry Cordova fills in for Kristen Frazer. Cordova is ably assisted by Billy DiGennaro. More importantly, the tremendous recent success has been achieved by a program just six years in the making.

The battle for Conference VI supremacy will be intense as three conference champions (Mineola, Valley Stream North and North Shore) go head-to-head indoors. Experience will be an advantage as the Mustangs return All-County performer Lauren Mobyed and her sister Kristin as well as seniors Katie Carter, Justine Boeshore, Alia Fater, Jen Pawlowski and Jen Port.

Lauren is the team's most seasoned participant ranked as one of the top distance runners on the Island. She (as well as her twin) have committed to George Washington University (on lacrosse scholarships). Cordova, a former All-State pole vaulter, envisions a trip for Boeshore to the New York State Track and Field Championships in the event based on her defending county championship.

The team is well supported by a strong group of underclassmen led by juniors Maureen Metzner, Lauren O'Neill and Stephanie Klein, who espouse leadership. Sophomores Emily Kain, Allie Lisonek, Josephine Manzella and Julie Novak will be key cogs for a relay unit with open spots. Depth will be crucial in freshmen Casey Siwinski, Erika DaCosta,, Caitlin Breen and Rachael Furuya. The nucleus will be tested during a trio of crossover meets at Suffolk Community College in the first five weeks of the season. The County Championship will be conducted on January 16 at Farmingdale State University.

The team builds on a base of athletic honors as19 athletes received All-Conference status last year with a quartet winning individual championships. Five girls were anointed All-County with a County Championship among them. With this multitude of accolades, the sky is the limit for the Lady Mustangs.

Mike Santa Maria takes the reins of the boys team with high hopes for continued improvement. Santa Maria, Frazer's primary assistant since the Spring of 2001, has been a large part of the girls' success and seeks the same model for the boys.

With a roster of 44 winter athletes - up sevenfold from two years ago - the Mustangs challenge the likes of Valley Stream North (Spring champion), North Shore and Wheatley (Fall Cross Country champs) and Manhasset (defending Winter champ).

The boys are led by senior Matt Siwinski, who was an All-Conference selection in the 55-meter dash. Senior John Valente returns to defend his All-Conference status in the 300 and 600 meters. Fellow seniors Rob Maloney, Claudio DeMatos and Danny Sanches along with Chris Vera complete the 4x800 All-Conference relay team. Key underclassmen include sophomores Joe Wellbrock in the distance events and co-captain Greg Lapin in the sprints and relays.

The team looks for valuable points at both the conference championships at Farmingdale State University in mid-January and the county championships at Suffolk Community College in early February. The Mustangs will count on shot putters such as junior co-captain Louis Corrao, juniors Kenny Rauert and Albin Abraham to make up for the loss of the team's All-County graduating senior. Seniors Ian Stanisic, Valente and co-captain Maloney will concentrate on the high jump with Sophomore Tobin George alongside.

Both the boys and girls enter the season with similar objectives in establishing the Mustang track program as one of the "teams to beat" or "teams to watch" throughout Nassau County.