Tag Archives: featured
Section XI Athletics for All to Begin on September 4
Mark your calendars … Modified sports – Section XI Athletics for All – begin on Wednesday, September 4, depending on the start of your school!
We’re looking forward to another impactful year of important events for our student-athletes.
Let’s Work Together for Our Student-Athletes
Let’s all work together to improve our sportsmanship this year.
This is a message to coaches, student-athletes, and spectators: please let the coaches coach, players play, and officials officiate!
Get Your Fall Sports Paperwork and Physicals Done
REMINDER: Football starts on Monday, August 19, and all other fall sports begin on Monday, August 26, so make sure your paperwork and physicals are up to date!
Countdown to the Section XI Fall Season
It’s on to another year of high school sports!
Are you a freshman getting started? You’re going to do great!
Are you a sophomore? You know the deal: don’t sit back!
A junior? Show what you have.
Senior? Let it all out, and go for it!
No matter the year, push yourself to the limit and HAVE FUN!
Section XI fall sports start on August 19. Are you ready?
NYSPHSAA Central Committee Meets in Riverhead for 2024 Summer Meeting
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held its annual Central Committee meeting starting Tuesday, July 30, and concluding on Wednesday, July 31, at The Hyatt Place Long Island/East End and Atlantis Banquets and Events in Riverhead. During the meeting, key proposals were addressed and several members were recognized for their time serving NYSPHSAA.
Several sports were approved to implement new regional rotations, which were created and recommended by each sport committee prior to the Central Committee meeting. The following sports had rotations approved: Girls Team Tennis, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, 11-man Football, Field Hockey, and Girls Volleyball starting in the fall of 2024. Additionally, a girls volleyball proposal to return to pool play during the state championship was approved. The 2023 championship was conducted in a bracketed format.
The Executive Committee approved new rule book language regarding in-game ejections. It now states: “Any athlete, coach or school representative ejected from a football game will be suspended from contest play for the next two consecutive halves.”
Boys Ice Hockey game rules were discussed and approved which now allows for an overtime structure when a game needs a singular winner. Upon the completion of two overtimes, a shootout will be conducted until a winner is earned. Additionally, the Central Committee addressed an adjustment to the rulebook for Boys Ice Hockey, which the goalie position must not be subbed into or out of a game until the next stoppage of play. Another winter sport, Bowling, was approved for two divisions in the Composite competition and approved to go from a 5-player to a 6-player format in the school competition.
For ticketed championship events, a $.50 increase in admission has been approved, which will begin this fall.
The Sportsmanship Stay in the Game award was presented to Section VII. This award recognizes the Section that has the highest percentage of schools without a disqualification penalty, for unsportsmanlike conduct, for a coach and/or player at all levels of competition this past school year.
Additionally, with the completion of her eight-year term, Past President Julie Bergman (Deposit-Hancock, Section IV) was recognized for her years of serving the membership. Debra Ferry (Half Hollow Hills, Section XI) will take her place as the incoming NYSPHSAA 2nd President. Ferry’s term as an officer begins September 1.
Several members were also recognized for their time on the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee. Section V Central Committee member Tom Schmandt was celebrated for his eight years of service before his retirement. Roberta Greene (Washingtonville, Section IX) was recognized for her decades of service to the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee as the longest-tenured member of the committee.
The meeting was concluded by the traditional Presidential Passing of the Gavel as Russell Bartlett (Tupper Lake, Section X) transferred his duties as NYSPHSAA President to Timothy Mullins (Bayport-Blue Point, Section XI) effective September 1.
The complete meeting agenda can be found here.
The list of approved items can be found here.
Two from Section XI Represent Puerto Rico in Olympics
Arella Guirantes and Brianna Jones, two former Section XI student-athletes, are playing together on the Puerto Rican women’s basketball team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Guirantes attended Bellport High School and was a first-round pick with the LA Sparks in the 2022 WBNA Draft.
Jones, who plays professionally in Saudi Arabia, grew up in North Babylon.
They were both All-Long Island selections in high school.
Pannell, Jones Play in PLL All-Star Game
Former Section XI student-athletes and lacrosse pros Rob Pannell and Myles Jones played in this year’s Premier Lacrosse League all-star game.
Pannell scored one goal, and Jones had one ground ball.
Pannell has played in 11 all-star games, while Jones has played in six.
Thanks for making Section XI proud!
John Glenn’s Joey Mammolito Wins NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge
John Glenn’s Joey Mammolito was recognized as the Spring NYSPHSAA Community Service Challenge honoree.
A starting point guard on the varsity program, he was also a leader in the Unified Basketball program.
“My Unified program experience has sparked my interest to advocate for more opportunities for all students, of all abilities to come together at a much younger age,” he said.
The following narrative was written by Joey on the Team Up 4 Community site:
My name is Joey Mammolito, I am a junior at Elwood John H. Glenn High School. I am the starting point guard for the Varsity Basketball team. I have had the privilege to volunteer for the Unified Basketball program that was brought into the Elwood School district by our administration during the 2021-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school year. Unified Sports promote social inclusion by bringing people together with and without disabilities. Coach Charly Rogener leads the Unified team in addition to being our varsity basketball coach, a Tech teacher and a certified Special Education teacher. Mr. Kilkenny, our school psychologist, is the assistant coach. When the opportunity presented itself, I didn’t think twice about joining Coach Rogener and Mr. Kilkenny to help teach and mentor students with disabilities.
Through this program, I was able to make connections with students that I typically didn’t get to interact with throughout my day. I was able to build new relationships and even worked with one of the students over the summer in their driveway. We just entered our third year of this program and I cannot be more excited to be on the court with everyone again.
I was thrilled to see our school implement the Unified Bowling program last year, in addition to the Unified middle school intramural program, which I had the opportunity to volunteer for. Outside of the Unified program, I also volunteer and help teach basketball to K-2 children at the Harley Avenue Elementary School. I am fortunate to live in a school district that embraces an inclusive environment which opens up opportunities for all.
My Unified program experience has sparked my interest to advocate for more opportunities for all students, of all abilities to come together at a much younger age. If we set the foundation earlier, we can have even stronger ties to one another as we move through our school years. I wish I had these opportunities presented to me in my elementary and middle school years. Everyone could benefit from these experiences.
I created the proposal that I shared in my photos to advocate for more inclusive opportunities. As a result of my proposal, the administration and social workers throughout the entire district agreed to expand the Unified program district wide. The planning phase took about six months and we implemented the program in the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. We participated in Athletics for All in the fall at the high school level. Expanded our intramural program at the middle school level and we created a program called Blooming Buddies, which took place in the elementary schools. Blooming Buddies is a club where students participate in many different activities throughout the year. Individuals both with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities do activities like arts and crafts, baking, sports and playground play. Over the past year, we have seen so many more typical kids volunteering to help out in these programs. Bonds are now being made at a much younger age, which will create long lasting relationships, and remove stigmas prior to high school. Many Elwood students have jumped on board to help make this a successful program for years to come.
In order to make this all happen, I was able to raise $5000 to help fund the program thanks to SEPTA, the Elwood Booster Club and the Elwood Athletic Club. This all could not have happened without the help of our administration, students, staff and the community. I am thankful to be a part of such a supportive community.
My goal is to have Section XI and NYSPHSAA help all districts expand Unified Sports into the fall and early winter and bring those sports down to the middle school level. I hope that my project will bring more awareness to other school communities in New York, the United States, and around the world. If Elwood leads by example, I am certain that others will follow.
Orlin & Cohen Sports Medicine Tips: Prepping for Warmer Weather
