A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and funded by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Foundation revealed that high school athletes who specialize in a single sport sustain lower-extremity injuries at significantly higher rates than athletes who do not specialize in one sport.

CLICK HERE to read the full study!

This school year is flying and winter sports begin on Monday, November 14.

Good luck to all student-athletes, coaches and teams in the months ahead.

Here is a reference for winter sports info:

• Schedules
• Standings

Sport specific pages

• Boys swimming and diving
• Boys basketball
• Bowling
• Cheer
• Fencing
• Girls basketball
• Track and field
• Wrestling

This week’s “Section XI Photo of the Week” comes to us from Bellport Football.

Check out the featured image box above!

It’s been a wild few weeks of playoff action so far.

Here’s a look at fall champions below (as reported by sport chairs; if you do not see a sport or full info, it has not been sent in yet):

Field Hockey

• Class A: Ward Melville beat Baldwin in Long Island championship (LIC) and lost to Shenendehowa in New York State semifinals.
• Class B: Miller Place lost to Garden City in LIC
• Class C: Rocky Point lost to Carle Place in LIC

Girls Soccer

• Class AA: Northport lost to Massapequa in LIC
• Class A: Mount Sinai lost to Garden City in LIC
• Class B: Center Moriches lost to Wheatley in LIC
• Class C: Port Jefferson won New York State championship

Boys Soccer

• Class AA: Brentwood lost in LIC
• Class A: Amityville won LIC and lost in state playoffs
• Class B: Center Moriches lost in LIC
• Class C: Pierson/Bridgehampton lost in LIC

Boys Volleyball

• Class A: Smithtown won LIC, lost in state finals
• Class B: Eastport-South Manor won New York State championship

Girls Volleyball

• Class AA: Connetquot won LIC, lost in state final
• Class B: Kings Park won LIC, lost in state final
• Class C: Bayport-Blue Point won LIC, finished fourth at states
• Class D: Shelter Island lost to East Rockaway in LIC

Here’s a brief recap of county champions to this point for team fall sports (click sport name to review full brackets):

Boys Soccer 

• AA: Brentwood
• A: Amityville
• B: Center Moriches
• C: Pierson/Bridgehampton

Girls Soccer

• AA: Northport
• A: Mount Sinai
• B: Babylon
• C: Port Jefferson

Field Hockey

• A: Ward Melville
• B: Miller Place
• C: Pierson/Bridgehampton

Boys Volleyball

• A: Smithtown West
• B: Eastport-South Manor

Girls Volleyball

• AA: Connetquot
• A: Kings Park
• B: Bayport-Blue Point
• C: Stony Brook

Girls Tennis

• Commack

Football

• Division I: William Floyd
• Division II: Hills West
• Division III: East Islip
• Division IV: Shoreham-Wading River

The final power points are in for the Section XI football playoffs. All seeds are set, but game times and dates are still being determined.

Division I

• 8. Sachem North at 1. Lindenhurst
• 7. Bay Shore at 2. William Floyd
• 6. Northport at 3. Longwood
• 5. Ward Melville vs. 4. Connetquot

Division II

• 8. Smithtown East at 1. West Islip
• 7. Centereach at 2. North Babylon
• 6. Newfield at 3. Hills West
• 5. Huntington at 4. Bellport

Division III

• 8. West Babylon at 1. Sayville
• 7. Harborfields at 2. Westhampton Beach
• 6. Comsewogue at 3. East Islip
• 5. Rocky Point at 4. Kings Park

Division IV

• 8. Wyandanch at 1. Babylon
• 7. Hampton Bays at 2. Shoreham-Wading River
• 6. Port Jefferson at 3. Miller Place
• 5. Mount Sinai at 4. Elwood/John Glenn

Check the full Section XI football standings!

Check the football brackets page for dates/times!

The Section XI girls playoff volleyball brackets are officially available.

Grabbing top seeds this year:

• AA: Connetquot
• A: Kings Park
• B: Bayport-Blue Point
• C: Pierson/Bridgehampton

CLICK HERE to view bracket!

It’s no surprise that there are countless benefits of an interscholastic athletic program.

The New York Public High School Athletic Association has mapped out its mission statement. Read more below.

A photo says a 1,000 words. This is East Islip Athletic Director Steve Restivo a few weeks ago helping tend to the field at his school in dress pants.

Our athletic directors in Suffolk County do so much for their schools.

Thanks to all of them for their unrivaled work ethics!

(Photo Credit Bob Sorensen)

There is a new book about the life of Long Island native and Hills alum Raymond J. Enners.

Heart of Gray was written to honor Enners who, after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, served his country with the Americal Division in Vietnam, where he was killed in the line of duty at the age of twenty-two.

A natural leader, Ray was a world class football and lacrosse player who won honors in high school and later won honors playing lacrosse at West Point. Today, the USILA annually presents the First LT. Raymond J. Enners Award for the best intercollegiate lacrosse player in the nation-some call it the Heisman Trophy of lacrosse.

Heart of Gray presents a gripping account of his distinguished life…from his formative high school years, through his cadet life at West Point where he honed his leadership skills, to the events leading to his death in the paddy fields of Vietnam where he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award for valor.

Written by his younger brother Rich, who is also a West Point graduate, Heart of Gray embodies the ideals of Duty, Honor, Country learned by every member of the Long Gray Line—a code that Ray Enners embraced and is still being taught to future leaders of America’s military.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE BOOK!

About the Author

Richard Enners grew up in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1971, and served five years in the Army with the 9th Division in Fort Lewis, Washington and the United States Military Academy Preparatory School in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He later pursued a career in business, initially sales and marketing, and eventually led companies with revenues of $60M-$120M in Japan, British Columbia, and the USA.

Praise

“The very core of leadership is character. Throughout Heart of Gray you will experience character at its finest, from the roots of Ray’s youth to his values-based leadership approach on the fields of battle.” —Mike Krzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke University Men’s Basketball

“Success in all team sports relies on great leadership and supporting the concept of TEAM by contributing to something greater than yourself. Lt. Raymond Enners embodied these values on the playing field and in life. Heart of Gray reveals Lt. Enners’ exceptional characteristics through his heroic actions and daily life. A truly inspirational story and legacy.” —Chuck Mitrano, President, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and Empire 8 Commissioner

“The story of Raymond Enners is an inspiring illustration of how commitment and duty to others learned through athletics, family, and education captures the essence of great leadership evolving through selflessness, dedication, and humility. The life lessons learned by Raymond Enners through participation in athletics are compelling in his actions of bravery and heroism as he made the ultimate sacrifice for his team. Heart of Gray provides a true appreciation of the special person that Raymond Enners became during his lifetime.” —George Searing, President, Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association