Physical Education Students of the Year

Mineola High School seniors Michael Escobar and Michelle Martins were recently chosen as New York State Physical Education Students of the Year. Each year, the Mineola School District selects one male and one female student for the award. Selection is based not upon who is the best athlete, but upon student participation and demonstration of responsibility in their physical education classes. Michelle and Michael will be honored by the President of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Mara Manson, at an awards ceremony for Nassau County students on December 14 at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Mineola Girls Cross-Country Win First Division Championship

Under the leadership of coach Kristin Frazer, the Mineola High School girls cross-country team has won its first championship by defeating all six schools in their division. This is the first championship for the Cross Country program since the fall of 1974. 

Beautification Project, Bike Path, And Pedestrian Walkway Announced

Historic Hempstead Plains to Be Open To Public for First Time

Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced plans to create a pedestrian walkway and bike path that will extend from New York State’s existing bike path along Hempstead Turnpike to Eisenhower Park, adding approximately 10 total miles. This project will beautify the corner of Old Country Road and Merrick Avenue and open up the historic Hempstead Plains to the public for the first time. The $5 million cost of the plan will be funded in part by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project, with county capital money funding the remaining cost.

Girls Volleyball Team Clinches Conference

Possible Undefeated Season Gains Second Championship in Five Years

Two years ago, the Mineola girls’ varsity volleyball team had their backs to the wall in an attempt to qualify for the Nassau County Class B playoffs.  A five-set, come-from-behind victory against undefeated Levittown Division was necessary on the last day of the season. This year, the tide turned.  The Lady Mustangs were the undefeated behemoth needing a clinching victory against Bethpage to nail down their second conference championship in five years under the tenure of coach Diana Nick-Kohl.  The bulls-eye was firmly in place. 

Mineola Mustangs Defeat Valley Stream North

Good news for the Mineola football team as they beat Valley Stream North on Saturday, Oct. 10, 34-21 giving them a 2-3 record. Derek Cole, who was announced the Conference IV Player of the Week, helped Mineola roll past Valley Stream North as he rushed for a remarkable 298 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns.

Girls Soccer Battling for Conference Championship

Deep Roster Feeds Comeback Year

With only a few games to go, the Mineola Lady Mustangs soccer team is closing in on a potential Conference Championship with contributions coming team-wide.  Varsity coach Katherine Hock-Bennett has built an offensive powerhouse with defensive stability as she attempts to take Conference VII by storm.  With season closing matches on the horizon against Carle Place and Locust Valley, Mineola’s two closest pursuers, the Lady Mustangs will have to convert ties to victories to ensure a place in the playoffs. At press time, the squad sports a 6-0-3 conference mark, leaving them a notch ahead in the standings but with a huge dose of confidence heading towards post season play.

Nicolello Presents Citation To Portuguese Soccer Club

The Mineola-Portuguese Soccer Club (MPSC) of the Mineola Portuguese Club received a Citation from Legislator Rich Nicolello on a recent Sunday game during a halftime ceremony.

Nicolello’s visit was the highlight of an event-filled day for the team, beginning with the Mineola-Portuguese’s development team dedicating their earlier game to breast cancer awareness by wearing pink athletic accessories. The MPSC’s premier team dedicated their game to their guest of honor, Legislator Nicolello, and his own accomplishments in sports. Both teams won their regular season games 3-0 against Three Village.

Mineola Loses Their Homecoming Game

 It was a rough day for Mineola varsity football on Saturday, Oct. 3, as they lost their homecoming game to a tough Malverne team. Malverne was ranked third coming into this year’s football season so Mineola had to expect a challenge.

Mineola got on the scoreboard first, as Rijo Maracheril caught a 40-yard pass from Mike Escobar in the first quarter, putting Mineola up 7-0 going into the second quarter.

A Lesson in Soccer Perseverance

Seniors from Former Travel Team Dot Long Island High School Rosters

Eight years ago, a group of committed parents patched together a lower division travel team with players from various communities where a passion for soccer was the common denominator. Bonding over time, year by year the team added a player or two (mainly through attrition) while in the process rising in the ranks from Division 5 to Division 1 and ultimately beyond and out of state. Today, these young men are among the best public and private school soccer players in Nassau County. Formerly known collectively as the Atomics, these teenagers are lighting up the daily box scores in Long Island Newsday. By the end of this season, a fabulous year of playoff intensity and post-season awards will be bestowed upon these talented players.

Mustang Golf Has New Enthusiasm

Chang and Calabro Breathe New Life to the Program

It has been some time since Mineola varsity golf coach Al Weidlein has had something special on his hands. While golf has received unfettered support from the athletic administration of the Mineola School District, building a successful squad is a challenge in a community without facilities.  Playing against schools such as Herricks, Hicksville, East Meadow, Locust Valley, Cold Spring Harbor and Roslyn, the Mustangs face competition from schools that regularly play on prestigious, private courses. This year, though, coach Weidlein has two individuals who may be among the best to wear the Mustang red and black upon the green.