Mineola Wrestlers Heading to States

On Saturday Feb. 11, the Mineola High School wrestling program hosted the Nassau County Division II wrestling tournament. The top finishers earned an opportunity to compete on Sunday Feb. 12 at Hofstra University for the right to earn a County Championship title in their respective weight classes and a trip to the State Tournament in Albany.

Under the tutelage of head coach Dan Guido and assistants Frank Massaro and Joe Cerulli, the Mustangs advanced five wrestlers to the finals at Hofstra.

Run Nassau Series Kickoff at Old Bethpage Village Restoration

Three-hundred ninety-eight hardy soles braved the inclement weather on Saturday morning, Feb. 11 at the Old Bethpage Restoration Village, and when the snowflakes had settled 22 year old Bradley Raxenberg of Woodbury and 31 year old Shari Klarfeld of Plainview emerged as the top male and female finishers overall.  The OBVR 5 Kilometer Run was the kickoff event of the new RunNassau Series of races leading up to the Long island Marathon in May.

Raxenberg crossed the finish line of this not-so-easy course in 17 minutes, 30 seconds, nearly a full minute in front of runner-up John Theissen of Seaford.  Klarfeld scored first among the women (beating all but the first three men in the process!) in 19:17.

One Giant Day in New York

New York Giants finish magical season with Super Bowl XLVI parade in the city that never sleeps

The streets were trembling, the buildings were shaking and the confetti was falling by the truck-full in the Canyon of Heroes on Tuesday, Feb. 7 as New York City said thanks to its beloved Big Blue.

The New York Giants celebrated the 21-17 Super Bowl XLVI (46) victory over the New England Patriots in style with a ticker-tape parade and estimated attendance of one million screaming onlookers. Fans laughed, cheered, even cried as their favorite team passed by on what could be magically mistaken as chariots of the football gods.

An estimated 40 tons of confetti showered the “G-MEN.” Fans barricaded on the sidewalks took to climbing streetlights, signs and building storefronts to catch a glimpse of the team.

Side and backstreets were filled to the max. One street even sported a touch football game among a sea of red, white and blue.

Wheatley Students Receive Physical Education Honors

Selection based on exceptional performance in physical education, scholarship,
leadership qualities and service to their school community

The Wheatley School Physical Education Department announced that Kathleen McArdle and Robert Fallarino have been selected as Outstanding Physical Education students. Their selection was based on the following criteria: exceptional performance in physical education, scholarship, leadership qualities and service to their school community.

The Nassau Zone of the New York State Association honored McArdle and Fallarino for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance at an awards banquet held at the Crest Hollow Country Club.

McArdle is a dynamic young lady with boundless energy and a wide range of interests.  She has been a strong student throughout her high school years, with a 3.4 grade point average.

As a physical education student, McArdle’s skill development and attitude have been exemplary. She has maintained a high profile in a variety of school and community programs.

Islanders Playing First NHL Game at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

Game to be held October 2 against New Jersey Devils


The New York Islanders will play the first-ever NHL game at Barclays Center on Tuesday, Oct. 2, when they take on the New Jersey Devils at 7:30 p.m. The preseason game will mark the first hockey event at Barclays Center, the new major sports and entertainment venue, which will officially open on Sept. 28 with the first of multiple Jay-Z concerts. The game will also mark the first NHL game to be played in Brooklyn.

“We’re extremely excited to play the first NHL game in the new, state-of-the-art Barclays Center,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said.  “We already have some of the most passionate fans in the league supporting our young team, and we are looking forward to expanding our base into Brooklyn.”

LI Students Succeed

Students at Charles Water Karate & Fitness, located in Williston Park, have received belt promotions after successfully completing a series of extensive exams.

“Our goal at Charles Water’s Karate & Fitness is to facilitate mental growth enabling our students to reach their highest potential as human beings,” says Mr. Charles Water owner, director of the school and founder of the “Black Belt Success System.” “Our studio teaches students how to defend themselves responsibly while instilling self-confidence, self-discipline and respect for others.”

Girls Varsity Basketball Makes Mid-Season Playoff Push

The Mineola Girls Varsity Basketball team is now in mid-season, posting a 4-3 league record and a 7-5 overall record so far.

Competition has been stiff, and Mineola is fighting to lock in second place. They must win the remaining league games and Island Trees must lose one more. The season’s highlight game was on Jan. 13 when Mineola beat Seaford, the team that tied for Conference Champions with Mineola last year. Mineola was down one point with 1:22 left in the game when Samantha Venus hit 2 consecutive three pointers to give Mineola the lead, 45-40, game ending at 40-44, Mineola prevailing.

Senior Kerri Medlock is the seventh ranked scoring leader on Long Island, averaging 21 points a game. She has had two career highs at 32 points against Clarke and North Shore respectively.

Mineola HS Winter Track Updates

Mineola Girls Winter Track & Field Mid-Season Report

The girls’ winter track and field team has already achieved a goal they set at the beginning of the season. On Jan. 18, the girls competed in the Conference VI Championship and improved upon their performance from last year by scoring 71 points and finishing in third place. The girls placed 3rd last year as well, but accumulated only 65 points.

The girls’ success at the meet was highlighted by some outstanding All-Conference performances. In the long jump, the girls earned 20 points including 10 points from senior captain Emma Perez who won the event and 6 points from freshman Jenna Pareti who placed third. Junior Nina Ribeiro earned two Conference Champion titles in the 55-meter high hurdles and the triple jump. The last Conference Champion for the Lady Mustangs was sophomore Kaitlyn Latella who won the 1500-meter racewalk. Other contributors to the 71 point effort were senior captain Cinthia Martins, sophomore captain Caroline Mueller, sophomores Marissa Cotroneo, Rebecca Chiu, and freshmen Sabrina Ferreri and Caitie Cunningham.

New York Islanders’ Two Matts Are Very Welcoming

Moulson, Martin reaching out to military families

“Home ice advantage” is a common expression used throughout the National Hockey League, and one usually utilized for good reason: as of Jan. 16, only two out of the 30 NHL teams had a winning percentage below .500 on home ice.

For New York Islanders’ forwards Matt Martin and Matt Moulson, playing at the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum represents more than just a statistical advantage as the two athletes host a different member of the armed forces and his or her family for each of the team’s 41 home games. Win or lose, regulation, overtime or shootout, Martin and Moulson meet with their guests after games near the Islanders’ locker room – where, uncharacteristically, hockey isn’t the only topic of conversation.

Long Island’s 2011 Charles Water Karate and Fitness Tournament

Students at Charles Water Karate & Fitness demonstrated courage and self-confidence as they competed in their sparring tournament.

The program is a combination of exercise, karate, discipline, focus, respect, awareness and confidence taught in a format specifically designed for children ages 4½ - 6 years old.  In a fun filled and nurturing setting your children learn concentration, discipline, respect, as well as an understanding of self-defense at their own level. The results are improved strength, coordination, flexibility and the self-confidence that we all want for our children.