The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held the 99th meeting of the Central Committee on Tuesday, July 26^th. The meeting will continue on Wednesday, July 27th at the High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid. The Committee voted on several key proposals important to the Association’s 787-member schools during Tuesday’s meeting.

Representatives of the 11 sections approved a change to the overtime procedure in the regular season and post season for the sport of girls soccer. Regular season games will consist of two (2) 40- minute halves with two (2) 10-minute sudden victory overtimes. Beginning with Section play and continuing through the State Tournament, overtimes will consist of two (2) 15- minute sudden victory periods and, if still tied, penalty kicks. The only exception to this would be in the State Championship game where co-champions may be declared after the two (2) sudden victory overtime periods.

A new championship format was approved for boys and girls individual tennis. The consolation bracket has been eliminated and the top 8 finishers will be awarded playoff medals. Also, the sport of boys ice hockey had two proposals approved, one related to overtime procedures and the other related to goaltender substitution. Those can be found on pages 107-108 of the agenda.
A pair of proposals in the sport of gymnastics were approved, one related to scoring and its technical handbook, the other related to wearing spandex/lycra pants and shorts.

Numerous items related to football were approved including a change in the submission of the football officials for the NYSPHSAA State Semifinals and Finals was approved. Details of this proposal can be found on page 67 of the agenda. Also in football, a one-year pilot program to use the standby official at the Semifinal and Finals games as an on-field official was approved as well.  Girls flag football was granted emerging sport status due to four sections having at least four teams each. This will result in a girls flag football committee being formed this fall and eventually a culminating championship to be developed.

In girls wrestling, there are currently three sections which have at least four programs committed to a girls-only wrestling team. Section VI is anticipating one more girls wrestling team to be formed, which will then give NYSPHSAA four sections with four programs to qualify as an emerging sport, and thus allow a committee to be formed.

The Central Committee meeting will conclude with the induction of the NYSPHSAA Hall of Fame Class of 2022. The class is made up of Fred Ahart (Administrator, Section IX), Jim Amen, Jr. (Coach/Administrator, Section VIII), Maria DeCristoforo (Official, Section VIII), Dennis Fries (Administrator, Section V), Molly Huddle (Athlete, Section IV), and Jim McGowan (Coach, Section XI).
The next meeting of the NYSPHSAA Executive Committee will be on Wednesday, October 19^th at Embassy Suites in Saratoga Springs.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is pleased to announce the members of the 2022-2023 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. This year 12 new members will join the SAAC, teaming with the 9 returners who served as juniors last school year. The SAAC is comprised of two student-athlete representatives from each of the 11 sections in New York State.

The Section XI members are Charlie Giachetti from Ward Melville and Ava Blasi from Half Hollow Hills West.

The SAAC was developed to give student-athletes a voice within the NYSPHSAA. Over the course of the school year, the committee will discuss topics relevant to high school student-athletes and develop ways to maintain a positive athletic experience. Each committee member is expected to exemplify leadership while providing feedback of NYSPHSAA special programs including, but not limited to, Scholar-Athlete, Sportsmanship, Student Leadership, and Community Service.

The SAAC will meet four times via video conference during the school year. The first meeting will take place Sunday, September 18th. The annual SAAC Summit take place December 2-4, 2022 in Syracuse as part of the NYSPHSAA football championships.

Section XI is sad about the loss of longtime Copiague wrestling coach, Anthony Cipriano.

Known to everyone in the community as “Coach Cip,” Anthony grew up in Copiague, graduating from Walter G. O’Connell High School.

He won his 100th career dual meet last season and was at the helm of the program for 15 years.

Anthony enjoyed family, teaching, coaching, mentoring his students and athletes, sporting events, pizza at Joe’s and hamburgers.

He had a passion for sports, and it led him to create the “Captains Club Wrestling Foundation”, a non profit (501-c3) so to provide support to athletes and their families.

He is survived by his beloved family – his mother, Gloria; his siblings – Christina Campbell, Lisa (Joseph) Hilker and Nicholas Cipriano, III; his great-grandmother, Edie Miozzi; his aunt, Patricia Cipriano and his uncle, Ronald (Eileen) Cipriano. Also surviving are the children of whom he is the caring Guardian – Empress, Alfonso and Roman Staubitz; his nieces and nephews – Nat and Jen Campbell, Tony and Erin Campbell, Gina and Joe Lasturka, Nikki Hilker, Allie Cipriano and Nicholas Cipriano, IV; and his great-nieces and nephews – Mikayla, Nat and Jacob Campbell, Tony and Gavin Campbell; and William Lastuvka.

Former Section XI student-athlete Matt Alifano from Center Moriches signed with the Philadelphia Phillies out of Adelphi University.

The former All-Long Island infielder hit .401 with 9 home runs and 46 RBI this season.

We’re excited for Matt’s journey!

The #NYSPHSAA Central Committee will meet July 26-27 in Lake Placid.

Representatives from all eleven sections will be in attendance to vote on action items and have dialogue on discussion items.

The meeting agenda can be found here: http://ow.ly/etSt50JW9Wj

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Congratulations to this year’s Section XI – Island Federal scholarship winnners, Robbie Smith and Carlie Cutinella!

Both students are leaders in their schools, student-athletes and excel in the classroom.

Good luck to Sam Apuzzo, Ally Kennedy, Kylie Ohlmiller and coach Joe Spallina as they compete for Team USA in the World Lacrosse Championships!

These former Section XI student-athletes are great representatives of our region and America!

Wishing everyone across Section XI a happy and healthy Fourth of July weekend! Enjoy the summer and we can’t wait to see you back on the courts, fields, tracks and athletic spots this fall.

Summer workouts and moments of team bonding have begun across the county.

Stay safe and stay healthy out there. We’re looking forward to games this fall!