She Chose Right

Anton Community Newspapers • 132 East 2nd Street • Mineola, NY 11501 • Phone: 516-747-8282 • FAX: 516-742-5867

She Chose Right

Written by Karen Gellender, Kgellender@antonnews.com Friday, 15 February 2013 00:00

Eight-year-old Woodbury gymnast ties for first place

at New York State USAG Gymnastics Championship

To win the all-around victory, she demonstrated skill on each apparatus. Photo courtesy of EPBeyond Sports Photography Ariel Posen had to make a tough decision last year: to keep splitting her focus between gymnastics and soccer, both of which she enjoys, or pick one sport and give it her best. The Woodbury third-grader picked gymnastics, and right now, it seems like that was a good call—she just tied for New York Level 6 Gymnast All-Around State Champion at a recent meet held in Elmira, New York.

Winning in the all-around category means that Ariel did the best overall on all four pieces of apparatus used in women’s gymnastics. She earned a 37.45 out of a possible 40, finishing first on uneven bars, second on vault, second on floor exercise and sixth on the balance beam. She competed in the 8-10 age group, meaning she was also completing against older girls. Her success also contributed to a victory for her team from Gold Medal Gymnastics in Huntington, which snagged first place by more than 7 points over gyms from all over the state.

Posen leaps high above the balance beam. This isn’t the first victory for Ariel, who started doing gymnastics at age 5; she recently placed third in the all-around competition in her age group at a meet in Boston sponsored by Brestyans American Gymnastics, home gym of Olympic Gold Medalist Aly Raisman. Although Ariel didn’t get the opportunity to meet Raisman, one of her idols, she did get a leotard signed by the Olympian—something she will treasure and never wear again.

Though she trains a minimum of 18 hours a week at Gold Medal Gymnastics, under the watchful eye of head coach Tammy Marshall, Ariel jokes that she would happily switch to home-schooling if it would give her more time to practice at the gym.

“Along with her passion for the sport, her teammates and coaches really motivate her and make her time at the gym something she always looks forward to,” says her mother, Michele.

However, according to her parents, this talented eight-year-old isn’t leaving her class at Baylis Elementary School in Syosset just yet. Either way, there’s still plenty of tumbling to do.

News

Syosset's BDG Bids For Nassau Coliseum

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Syosset’s Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), headed by Ed Blumenfeld, has proposed a $200 million design to demolish Nassau Coliseum and build a new arena and state-of-the-art exhibition center for the 21st century.

“The existing facility cannot be effectively retrofitted,” said Brad Blumenfeld, BDG Vice President, adding “Our team is committed to building a new, preeminent facility—other proposals only call for renovations to the existing arena.”

Tensions Spark At School Board Meeting

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

During a Syosset school board meeting last week, tension arose between Superintendent of Schools Carole Hankin, Trustee Joshua Lafazan, and Fred Gang, a resident speaker on transparency and accusations made against the district.

During public comment, Gang expressed disapproval of the district’s proposed budget for 2013-14, and inquired about reports of the district’s use of software to target various community members with the objective of increasing voter turnouts — which is illegal under New York State election law as Gang pointed out.

Sports

Syosset Lacrosse Defeats MacArthur

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

In the last of three quarter-final games at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium on Wednesday evening last week, the Syosset Braves boys’ lacrosse was victorious over the MacArthur Generals in a hard fought 5-4 victory that went into triple-overtime.

With both teams playing their hearts out for possession of the ball, it was Syosset freshman Mac Okeefe who found the hole necessary in MacArthur’s tight defense, and delivered the win for his team.

USTA Honors Syosset and Woodbury Tennis Players

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The U.S. Tennis Association’s Long Island Region recognized several area residents, including New York State’s top male and female high school singles players, for their tennis playing or volunteer achievements.

Syosset’s Josh Levine was a New York State and Nassau County Boys’ Singles Champ at Cold Spring Harbor High School. This was Levine’s second consecutive year winning the New York State championship. Peggy Gluck and Nadine Netter won the Women’s 60s Doubles Eastern, and Flo Levine was the Adult Volunteer of the Year.