Tag Archives: featured

Spring 2019 Section XI Scholar-Athlete Teams and Individuals

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is proud to announce its spring 2019 Scholar-Athlete teams and individuals. This is the 27th year the NYSPHSAA has conducted the Scholar-Athlete program, which is sponsored by Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc.

This spring, NYSPHSAA recognized 2,511 Scholar-Athlete teams and 39,909 individuals. The number of Scholar-Athlete teams increased by 156 (6.62%) compared to spring 2018. The number of individuals increased by 1,875 (4.93%) from the spring of 2018. A total of 578 schools across the state participated in the Scholar-Athlete program.

“Congratulations to our NYSPHSAA student-athletes and member schools,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “To see the number of teams and individuals recognized as scholar-athletes increase shows how hard our student-athletes in New York state are working in the classroom. We continue to see what hard working and dedicated student-athletes we have in New York each season and this shows how much NYSPHSAA student-athletes are committed to their education.”

For the 2018-19 school year there were a total of 8,571 scholar-athlete teams awarded and 119,733 individuals. The number of teams awarded increased by 507 (6.29%) and the number of scholar-athlete individuals increased by 4,147 (3.59%) as compared to the 2017-18 school year. School of Excellence and School of Distinction honors will be awarded this summer, schools must apply to be recognized. Deadline to apply is June 30th.

The full list of Scholar-Athlete teams for the spring 2019 season can be found here

The full list of Scholar-Athlete individuals for the spring 2019 season can be found here

True Character on Display at Unified Basketball

Character is tested when the spotlight isn’t shining on you, it’s the unexpected moment when you just make a decision to help another person.

Here is an image of Santino Arnold from Southampton High School taking a moment to help out an opposing player tie his shoe during a Unified basketball game.

He had no clue that AD Darren Phillips pulled out his phone to capture this moment.

“Anyone that has seen our Unified Partners and Best Buddy members in action, are lucky enough to see these moments happen all the time,” said Phillips. “These programs are you unscripted character education lessons that no one has to plan for, it just happens.”

Section XI Honors Sponsors, ADs at Annual Luncheon

It was a packed house and special afternoon as Section XI honored sponsors and athletic directors in late May at Mill Pond Golf Course.

The event was officially named in honor of longtime AD and Section XI sales director, Nick DeCillis. Nick received his NYSAAA Hall of Fame Award from current Section XI Executive Director, Tom Combs, and former Executive Director, Don Webster.

Mia Sansanelli from John Glenn and Shane DeVincenzo from Port Jeff were awarded the NIAAA student essay scholarship

Walt Whitman AD Dr Jim Wright won the NYSAAA Apple Appreciation Award.

Priscilla and Richie LoNigro from BSN/PJS won the Distinguished Service Award.

Heather Gross of William Floyd received the Judith A. Martens Secretarial Award of Excellence.

Drew Walker, Hampton Bays AD,  received the Chapter XI Athletic Administrator of the Year Award.

Section XI AD Retirees this year are Mark Dellacave (Connetquot),  Pete Cesare (Copiague), Erin Blaney (Ward Melville),  and Dan Robertson (Brentwood).

Special thanks to outgoing Section XI President Tim Horan and good luck to incoming President, Georgia McCarthy.

Sponsor recognitions were awarded to:

  • George Duffy and Mike O’Brien, Scope
  • Ray Nelson, Peter White, Dr. James Paci, Orlin & Cohen
  • Lucy Mazzini, Signature Bank
  • George Breres, Sara Davis, Dynamic Sports Management
  • Laura Beck, St Charles Hospital
  • Bob Madarez and Ken Dwyer, Sanitec
  • Harold Schwab, Joe Schwab, Second Wind
  • Harrison Hefele and Pasco Skorica from Sports You
  • Matt loNigro, Greg Fall-BSN, Bob LoNigro, Mike LoNigro, Paul LoNigro, Tom Bettenhowser, BSN/PJS
  • Sgt Feeney, Sgt Smith, Sgt Mejia, US Marines