Two Section XI alums were selected in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Cleveland selected pitcher and Sachem alum Rafe Schlesinger from the University of Miami.
Third baseman and Harborfields alum Sean Keys was selected by the Blue Jays.
Section XI schools routinely produce talent that gets drafted or signs deals with Major League clubs.
We’re wishing Rafe and Sean the best of luck on their pro journey!
Northport Field Hockey alum Natalie McKenna, Class of 2023, represented the United States on the U-21 National Team that played in the Pan American Championships in Surrey, British Columbia.
Natalie led the team to victories over Uruguay and Chile — way to go, Natalie.
Thanks for making Section XI proud!
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Northport Track and Field alumni Mikey Brannigan took gold at the 1,500-meter race in Japan’s 2024 Para Athletics Championships.
Brannigan, diagnosed with autism at age 2, is one of the premier distance runners on the Paralympic scene. He also won Gold at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Congrats, Mikey, and thanks for making Section XI proud!
New West Babylon school record!
Xena Smith is now No. 1 all-time with her discus throw of 109 feet 6 inches.
The mark now ranks her fourth overall in Suffolk County this season.
Additionally, Mikayla Viera set two personal records in the shot put (29-11.5) and disc (80-3), which place her ninth all-time in both events.
Bayport-Blue Point boys lacrosse ends the season ranked No. 1 in the USA Lacrosse Public High School Boys’ National Top 25.
The Phantoms finished 21-1 and won a New York State title.
They are the only Suffolk County school to crack the top 25.
West Islip’s three-sport senior athlete (football, winter, and spring track) Jason Butler was recognized at the NYSPHSAA boys’ lacrosse state championship pregame ceremony at Hofstra this year.
The recognition is part of the Hometown Heroes initiative between the Army and NYSPHSAA.
Specialist Butler recently entered the New York National Guard and completed Army basic training at Fort Wood this past summer.
He received the Army National Guard Minuteman Scholarship and Advanced Training this summer.
He will attend St. John’s University in the fall, where he will be a part of the ROTC program, allowing him to be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation.
The number of umpires, referees, and officials is declining on Long Island and nationwide, a decrease blamed on the onslaught of verbal abuse from parents, spectators, players, and coaches, according to Newsday interviews with more than two dozen sports officials, school administrators, and high school coaches.
Statistics from Nassau and Suffolk counties show a sharp drop in the number of people willing to officiate since 2011-12. According to lists published by each county, Nassau has seen a 25% drop in referees since the 2011-12 school year, while Suffolk has experienced an 18% decline.
The verbal abuse and concerns about safety have made recruiting new referees difficult, and those interviewed said the problem has become worse in recent years thanks, in part, to social media and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs: “Section XI fully supports all our men and women who officiate our athletic competitions. We need to tone back negative behaviors so our student-athletes can have the most rewarding experience participating in interscholastic athletics. Ultimately, it’s all about the student-athletes!”
It was another successful and memorable year for our Section XI member schools and student-athletes.
We are so proud of their efforts and how they represent our county among the other sections in New York. That’s 60,000 student-athletes, 4,500 coaches, 63 athletic directors, 1,700 officials and 70 athletic trainers marching in the same direction, working together and making things happen for Section XI.
As we close out what’s left of the 2023-2024 academic year, we want to highlight some of the key takeaways of what we achieved as a collective group of athletic administrators, aided by the passion and pride of so many dedicated schools and programs:
*Congratulations to every team, athlete, and coach who participated in championship events throughout the year. We understand how much energy and effort it takes to get that far and to win. Win or lose, the schools that compete at the highest level gave us something to cheer for all season long.
*Thanks to the coaches who serve as role models and mentors for their student-athletes. They may not realize it, but they are impacting the next generation of great coaches who stick around and make a difference in Section XI!
*Thanks to the student-athletes who left it all on the field. Our Section XI staff truly hopes these are some of the most memorable moments in their lives. From the friendships to the lessons learned to the preparation they put in for future careers, to the extra effort they put into their studies, it all counts and will never go unnoticed!
*Thanks to the athletic directors for being community leaders and the rocks their athletic programs need to succeed. It takes a lot of work to ensure the trains are running on time and the passengers reach their destination.
*Thanks to the medical staffers – both in districts and at third-party providers – who care for our student-athletes. They are outstandingly professional as they work hard and smart to ensure everyone is given the care they deserve.
*Thanks to the clerical staff at Section XI and all schools for getting the paperwork, process, and organization done all day and night so that the athletes and teams can have the experiences they do.
*We had another year of opportunities for Section XI Student Leadership, anchored by the work of longtime Center Moriches athletic director Jeremy Thode, who has built a new staple of our organization with the Section XI Leadership Conference.
*A very special thanks to everyone who helped expand the “Section XI For All” United Sports initiative this year. It has been a great thrill to see ALL students have an opportunity to play sports. That’s what this is all about … opportunity, fun, and learning to work well with others.
Have a great summer, stay safe, be active, and we’ll see you for fall sports!
