LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Readers, Over the past few months, we have seen many teams endure some great football, soccer and volleyball seasons. As the summer days come to an end and the cold, brisk air starts to drift in, we start to switch our focus to the fall and winter sports. Before we do that, we have highlighted many football teams this season including Sachem North, Garden City, Connetquot and others. Each team has its own unique story and challenges, but after talking to numerous players and coaches, they all have the same goal. Unfortunately for them, not everyone will reach it. Over this summer, we have witnessed some football teams go undefeated, dominating the opponents, and we have seen some teams that have relied on their younger players. Some had injuries to the upper classmen and others are loaded with talent for the next few years. This is our last chance to touch on many of Long Island’s great athletes, as they will be graduating in the spring. We highlighted Newfield soccer’s Jake Barros, Lawrence football’s Joe Capobianco and Connetquot’s Marcus Gutierrez. With a fresh set of sports ready to go, we say goodbye to the outdoor ones for a few months. Inside this edition you’ll get a chance to read about some of the most successful teams of the summer.
Ultimate athlete magazine PUBLISHER/CEO EXECUTIVE EDITOR ASSISTANT PUBLISHER
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SENIOR MEDIA MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
PAUL CORACE N.J COMANZO KEVIN FREIHEIT
LOUIS H QUACH PONNUTHURAI JEYATHAS MELISSA FEARON WIN-KYE CHEONG
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
RICHARD BROOKS KEVIN FREHEIT JACKLYNKELLI KRONEMBERG BRIAN COLEMAN JUSTIN MACKIN DR. TOM FERRARO SANDY SARACONA MIKE MEJIA CSCS
IN-HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
KEVIN SPERANDEO JUSTIN MACKIN KEVIN FREIHEIT
MORGAN HARRISON BILL KELLY
ADIL BORLUCA
Kevin Freiheit Sports Editor Ultimate Athlete Magazine
Contact Us Phone: 1-800-680-3213 Email: info@ultimateathletemagazine.com GO ONLINE TO READ MORE!
Ultimate Athlete Magazine (ISSN 1931-5295) is published 12 times a year by Ultimate Athlete, Inc., 24 Woodbine Ave, Northport, New York 11768. All contents copyright 2012 by Ultimate Athlete Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or part of the content without the prior written consent of Ultimate Athlete, Inc. is strictly prohibited. All logos and trademarks are properties of thier respective owners. Although the writers and the publishers have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and the completeness of the information contained in this publication we aassume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. The opinions expressed in all materials are those of authors and do not neccesarily represent those of Ultimate Athlete, Inc or Long Island’s Ultimate Athlete Magazine.
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LONG ISLAND FALL VOL. II 2013
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PG 10
CARLE PLACE
PG 14
CONNETQUOT
PG 20
FARMINGDALE PT. II
PG 24
GARDEN CITY
PG 28
GARDEN CITY
PG 30
LAWRENCE
PG 35
NORTHPORT
PG 38
ROOSEVELT
PG 44
SACHEM NORTH
Girls’ Volleyball
Football Follow-up Football Football
Boys’ Soccer Football
Girls’ Soccer Football
Football Follow-up
PG 50
ST. ANTHONY Football
PG 54
ST. ANTHONY Girls’ Volleyball
PG 58
WILLIAM FLOYD
PG 64
NUTRITION
PG 66
TRAINING
PG 68
PSYCHOLOGY
Football
The Whey To Build Muscle The Magnificent 7 Hot Yoga For Athletes
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SHUT TER
SPE ED PHOTO BY KEVIN SPERANDEO
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CARLE PLACE
volleyball reaching new heights Story by Jaclynkelli Kronemberg // Photos by Adil Borluca
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he Carle Place girls’ varsity volleyball team will be entering the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in Class C of Nassau County. Last season they were No. 1 seed in Class C and lost in the County Finals to Oyster Bay. Now, they are looking to get back to the County Finals and hopefully continue on to the next level. “We have more wins this year and are playing more confident,” said senior setter Patricia Acipreste. “We are playing better offensively this year. We have been more passionate about volleyball and are taking it more seriously.” They currently have an overall record of 14-2 and a conference record of 12-2. This year they played against better competition because they were placed in a conference mixed with AA teams. “This team surpassed my expectations this season,” said Carle Place girls’ varsity head coach Rafael Chong. “I was concerned about our defense but they have been playing solid. Losing in the finals last year has driven them to play harder and stronger this season.”
Chong has been the head coach of the girls’ varsity volleyball team at Carle Place for 23 years. “I love having coach Raf as a coach. I’ve been playing for him for a while now,” said senior captain Laura Murphy. “He has helped me grow as a player, made me better and helped me work to improve my skill set.” As the head coach he has won the County Championship twice and is looking to add to that this season. “I’m happy to have a coach like coach Chong,” said senior captain Courtney Mulcare. “He pushes us to make sure we play our best. He believes in us and that makes us want to work hard and play better.” Chong has placed the team on the right track this season claiming the Conference Championship and a number two seeding in the playoffs. “Coach Raf is fun and gives us good advice to make us better,” said Acipreste. “Without coach’s guidance we would not have had such a great season. It’s great playing for coach. I’ve played with him for a few years and I appreciate all he has taught me.” This season they only have nine
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girls on their roster as opposed to the typical 12 players. Carle Place lost six seniors to graduation last year four of them being starters and they only returned four starters this season. “We are more talented on offense, have more weapons and our defense keeps improving,” said Chong. “Our goal is the same every year and that is to win counties and I believe we have a pretty good shot at the Long Island Championship.” This team has an array of talented players and is led by their tri-captains. Acipreste is the number one setter. Acipreste is leading the team at setting, in serving percentage and assists. “Patricia is an accomplished hitter in the 6-2 system,” Chong said. “She is a strong player and a weapon for us.” Murphy plays middle hitter. Murphy started out playing
middle hitter and was moved to outside hitter because the number one outside hitter was out with an illness. “Laura is a versatile player,” said Chong. “She has done well offensively and has done an outstanding job on defense.” The third captain is senior Mulcare. Mulcare is the number one outside hitter and leads the team in hitting percentage and kills. She missed half the season due to an illness and just recently came back. “Courtney is a very strong player and is an emotional leader on the court,” said Chong. “I’m counting on her to do well in the playoffs.” Complementing the seniors is a group of juniors that have made an impact on the court. Junior outside hitter Sarah Laga is the best passer on the team. “Sarah is strong defensively and is starting to turn it around on offense,” said Chong. “She is a nice complement
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to Courtney.” Junior setter/right side attacker Brianna DeMeo is the number two setter. “Brianna has done a very nice job,” Chong said. “She is complementing the rest of the front row and has done a good job splitting duties with Patricia.” Junior middle hitter Shannon Weilert leads the team in blocks. “Shannon has contributed offensively and done a great job at the net,” said Chong. In her first year on varsity junior defensive specialist Caroline Leddy has made an impact on defense. “Caroline has done a nice job in the back row,” said Chong. “She is all business when she is on the court and is very aggressive defensively.”
they will come up against either the number one seeded East Rockaway or Malverne. They have two weeks to prepare. “We lost last year and that was upsetting,” Mulcare said. “That has pushed us harder to play better and prove that we can do it this year.” They know what it is like to be in the County finals and have used that to drive them to get back there and hopefully do better. “Most of these girls have been with me since they were in middle school,” said Chong. “This is a terrific bunch of girls and it would be great to finish off as Champions. It’s been a great year and I’m proud to get to coach them.”
Rounding off the rest of the roster are junior middle hitter Anastasia Koronios and junior defensive specialist Chriseine Barbosa both in their first year on varsity. “We have a great group of girls. They are all really good athletes,” said Murphy. “I love my team we are best friends and we work really well together.” The playoffs don’t start for two weeks and when they do the first game will be a rematch of the County finals. “We are prepared for Oyster Bay,” said Mulcare. “We are a completely different team from last season and our chemistry is better. This season we have a lot of different skills and we put them together as a team and it works so well on the court. I have a lot of faith in this team and believe we can do well in the playoffs.” Carle Place will face off against Oyster Bay and this year Carle Place is prepared with more weapons on offense. “Oyster Bay will be tough. They are good competition,” said Chong. “My team has a great chemistry and they play hard. The playoffs will be a challenge with only nine girls on the roster but we will give it our all.” If they advance to the finals
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CONNE
Thunde
gaining momentum as we may not be the most talented team,
but we will outwork the talented
everyday
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TQUOT
erbirdS
s playoffs approach STORY BY KEVIN FREIHEIT // PHOTOS BY MORGAN HARRISON
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e may not be the most talented team, but we will outwork the talented, every day” - That’s the team motto that the Connetquot football team has lived by and they are living up to it. The Thunderbirds are emerging as a team to beat and Connetquot football is becoming a program that is turning things around in the right direction. From 2004-2011, the T-Birds recorded five or more wins on just two occasions, but that’s all in the rear view mirror now. After a successful 8-2 season, the T-Birds are off to a 5-1 start this year and look to be better than ever. Mike Hansen is in his 11th season as head coach and is pleased with the progress he has seen thus far. While confident from the start, the efforts that the T-Birds are putting in have been exceeding Hansen’s expectations. “I’m very happy with the way we played the 1st half of the year,” Hansen said, “If you said we were going to go 3-1 in the 1st four games, I’d be very happy.”
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Connetquot did just that, with its only loss coming against Sachem North. The T-Birds defeated Patchogue-Medford, Lindenhurst and William Floyd (all on the road), to get off to a 3-1 start. In those four games, Connetquot scored 159 points and its offense has continued to show why this is a team to be cautious of. Since then, the Thunderbirds have put together a pair of wins against Brentwood and Longwood. “Our goal is to get better every week,” Hansen said, “We want to hit our stride going into playoffs. I want to see them improved.” The T-Birds have been showing signs of improvement, but they are looking to become even better, especially as the regular season comes to a close. “I believe as a team we’re doing great so far,” said senior runningback Marcus Gutierrez, “The offensive is firing on all cylinders and we’re really just looking to pick it up into the playoffs.” Gutierrez has been an integral part of this Connetquot team, but believes it will take more effort than it
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would have for last year’s team. “Last year was the most talented team that we’ve ever had as a program, but we still didn’t win the championship,” he said. “We are going to really have to work our asses off all season. We have to be so dominant that it doesn’t come down to one play.” This season, the offense has been in sync, and the T-Birds have been riding that for just about all of their wins. When asked why he’s been having so much success rushing the ball, Gutierrez quickly credited the guys in front of him. “The offensive line has been outstanding,” he said. “Before I even touch the ball, the opposing defensive line is pushed at least five yards down the field.” The T-Birds offensive line is anchored by Gutierrez’s younger brother, Joshua. The focus for the T-Birds now is to prepare for the playoffs and heat up at the right time. “We’re going to take it one game at a time and position ourselves for a good seed in the playoffs,” Hansen said. Gutierrez agreed. “We want to go 1-0 every week,” he said. “We do not underestimate any opponent and we treat every game like it’s going to be a dogfight. Our confidence is at an all-time high. If we can roll into the playoffs we won’t have to travel until Championship game.” The T-Birds have two games remaining on the regular season schedule, and will finish at home by hosting Northport and Ward Melville.
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Story and Photos by Kevin Sperandeo
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ictory continues for the Dalers as they end their regular season 8-0. Led by Buddy Krumenacker, seasoned coach at Farmingdale High School, the Dalers enter the Division I Nassau County Playoffs at 1st in their division. With eight unanswered victories it’s tough to say who could knock Farmingdale off the track. Probable contenders for a championship game against the Dalers include Oceanside, Massapequa, Syosset or Freeport. Farmingdale plays their first playoff game against Valley Stream at home on November 8th. Valley Stream (3-5) is 8th in the division. Senior, Curtis Jenkins has been the workhorse for the Dalers. This 6’2’’ 185 pound running back has rushed for 770 yards and averages 10.1 yards a carry. Jenkins has a knack to make people miss their tackles. Along with a controlling offensive line, Jenkins’ quickness and ability to break big runs at any moment make the Dalers ground game tough to stop. Jenkins has also received for 208 yards and logs 16 touchdowns at the end of the regular season. If Jenkins isn’t shaking tackles and breaking big runs, Vinny Quinn commands the air game for the Dalers. The senior quarterback has passed for 580 yards in the regular season and 11 touchdowns. Quinn plays smart football; he has passed for 34 completions on 53 attempts with just 1 interception. Although Quinn is only 5’10”, 165 pounds, he has the speed to make big runs when he needs to. Against East Meadow, Quinn had a 44 yard rushing touchdown. He has a total of 189 rushing yards as a quarterback. Tom Kennedy leads the team in receiving yards. This 5’11’’, 170 pound wide receiver
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has recorded 405 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He averages 17.6 yards per catch. Kennedy’s hands, quick feet and ability to run great routes have made him a key receiver for the Dalers. Junior running back Styvenson Hogarth has put in work for the Dalers as well. Hogarth has rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Supporting the run game, opponents can’t overlook the quick, hard running, 5’8”, 160 pound back.
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Story by Brian Coleman || Photos by Katarina Barone
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arden City has a proud football tradition which has seen a great deal of success in Nassau County over the past two decades. Last year in 2012 was no different, as the Trojans captured the Nassau County Class II crown by defeating Wantagh 21-17. The Garden City Trojans followed that up by handling Riverhead in the Long Island championship, defeating its Suffolk opponent 29-16. Since the inception of the Long Island championship in 1992, Garden City has five titles which make them tied for the most in the history of the
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championship. Head coach Tom Flatley has been the leader of the football program since 1985, and has built a consistently competitive and winning football team ever since. Garden City will pursue its sixth Long Island championship in 2013, and if that goal is going to be fulfilled, the team will rest on the arm (and legs) of quarterback Brett Stewart. Stewart was under center for last year’s Garden City team and is poised to carry them in 2013. He accounted for four
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touchdowns (two throwing and two rushing) in the Long Island title game last season, creating a dynamic offensive weapon that has yet to be stopped. The Trojans have busted out of the gate with three straight wins to start the new season. Victories over Calhoun, MacArthur and Mepham have them at 3-0 before taking on Nassau County Class II rival Carey. Carey is also at 3-0, and poised to challenge Garden City for this year’s county title. While Stewart has only thrown for 289 yards thus far, his legs and ability to run are what make him a threat at quarterback. He is the team’s leading rusher with 261 yards and three touchdowns.
Stewart and the offense get the bulk of attention when you talk about the recent Garden City play, but the Trojan defense has been nothing short of exceptional in the early season. The defense has allowed only 20 points in three games, and they’ve recovered three fumbles and sacked the opposing quarterback four times. The defense will be a huge factor heading into the showdown with Carey, a game that will help determine who is in the driver’s seat to win the Nassau County Class II regular season title. Garden City is the favorite at this point, and the Trojans have their sights set on a sixth Long Island title.
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SPE ED PHOTO BY KEVIN SPERANDEO
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garden city trojans
GARDEN CITY
completes roller coaster season Story by Scott Bickard // Photos by Kevin Freiheit
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arden City (9-4-3, 8-2-2) lost its’ first game of the season to Roslyn (7-53, 4-2-3), 3-0, and lost their last game of the season to Roslyn, 1-0, on penalty kicks. In between, they were solidly spectacular, and at one point, maybe the best team in the county. The Trojans ended up second in their conference, losing late to Bellmore JFK, who made it to the Nassau Semifinals, and Jericho, who just won their third straight Long Island Championship and are on the verge of their third straight state championship. Their postseason chances were looking more rosy than “Roslyn” on October 4th. That day, they beat eventual top seed Wantagh (10-3-2, 9-1-2), 2-0, to push their conference record to 5-0-2. In first place, they were suddenly in the discussion for the Nassau County Championship, and maybe beyond. At the least, they seemed like a good bet to improve on their playoff finishes from the last few seasons. Two years ago, the Trojans scored a mini first round upset as a tenth seed, but fell back to earth a round later. Last year, they lost in the first round as the twelfth seed. This season, even after late season losses to Jericho and Bellmore JFK, they entered their first round match up as a three seed against #14 Floral Park (6-5-1, 5-3-1). They won 2-0, courtesy of two first half goals, and had every reason to believe this was their year. Jericho looked vulnerable as just a seven seed, No.1 Lawrence (11-3-1, 8-3-1) lost
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its’ #1 vs. #16 matchup last season as the one seed, and Wantagh had already lost to the Trojans, to name a long list of potential contenders. In a year when Jericho wasn’t dominating (they were 171-1 last year en route to the state title), everyone seemed to be beating everyone in Nassau County. Maybe Garden City would be the team that beat them all at the end. First (or second -- it being the quarterfinal round), the Trojans would have to get past the team that dominated them 3-0 in the season’s opening game. Neither squad could score as play went into overtime, double overtime, and eventually a shootout. Roslyn goalkeeper Ethan Rousso was the difference, stopping three shots and using his legs to put one in during penalty kicks. Roslyn won again, despite its eleven seed. That’s how the rest of the playoffs went; neither Wantagh nor Lawrence advanced beyond the quarterfinal round as #7 Jericho kept on winning. Offensively, Garden City was led by Reid Bonvissuto (4 goals), Chris Tavernese (4 assists), Alex Franco (1 goal, 2 assists), Matthew Rogers (2 goals, 3 assists), and Jack Gillan (3 goals, 1 assist). Rogers and Joe Torres (1 goal, 1 assist) scored in the first round win. Between the posts, Ray Leto did most of the work with occasional reprieve from Ray Wotckak. Together, the duo combined for eight shutouts – nine if you include the playoff loss.
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Lawrence High School 30
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Story by Kevin Freiheit
|| Photos by Adil Borluca
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ne season removed from a State Championship, Lawrence football is looking to put together a repeat performance. The Golden Tornadoes finished with an undefeated record last season, winning all 12 games that they played. The Golden Tornadoes were relentless on the offensive side, outscoring opponents 581-122 during their season. Lawrence accumulated at least 50 points in eight of the 12 games they played. They ended the season by edging Sayville, 21-20 to take the championship. This year started out no differently than the last, with the Golden Tornadoes continuing to dominate their opponents. Lawrence kicked off the season with three consecutive victories, defeating Manhasset, Glen Cove and Sewanhaka. The Golden Tornadoes’ run came to an end on Oct. 5th when they dropped a home game to Plainedge by a 36-20 score. The Plainedge Red Devils haven’t had as much success in recent years, but they brought in a solid, confident team, and improved to 4-0 by beating Lawrence. The Golden Tornadoes had defeated Plainedge 63-0 last year, as well as knocking them out of the playoffs, but things were different this time around. The loss ended a streak of 15 consecutive victories, dating back to Nov. 27th 2011, a 78-61 defeat to Sayville. The game against Plainedge was the first regular season loss since Sept. 16th, 2011, when Lawrence fell to Bethpage 37-19. The Golden Torandoes are past the halfway point of their season and believe they can be just as successful as they usually are. A loss may dampen the confidence of some, but Lawrence has always bounced back in the past.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Senior quarterback Joe Capobianco has been a workhorse for Lawrence. In four games he has thrown for 965 yards and 10 touchdowns. Lawrence has head coach Joseph Martillotti returning for another season on the sideline. Martillotti is in his 4th year as head coach, but has been in the program for much longer. Martillotti was the junior varsity coach and was an assistant coach for over a decade before finally becoming the varsity coach. The players respect him, and he has not let down the Lawrence football program. In fact, yet almost impossibly, he may have made the team even better in the past few seasons. The Golden Tornadoes have a 33-6
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record with Martillotti as their head coach. Martillotti believes that he has the best quarterback on Long Island in Capobianco, and that is certainly showing this season. The Lawrence Golden Tornadoes are set up for success, regardless of how many seniors graduate. They have a long history of success, and with tremendous coaching, a positive attitude and determination, Lawrence is a team that should be feared every year.
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NORTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL
Lady Tigers strive for a deep playoff run Story by Brian Coleman // Photos by Kevin Freiheit
“
It is nOt just their talent that makes them amazing, it is their determination, perseverance and heart that have made them so successful. - Coach Gipp
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“
NORTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL
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t was supposed to be a dream season for the girls of Northport’s soccer team.
scored goals within 30 seconds of each other, putting the Lady Tigers ahead 2-1 entering the intermission.
After cruising through the regular season without suffering a loss, the Lady Tigers headed into the Suffolk County playoffs with goals of capturing the Long Island title and reaching the state championships.
That is all the scoring that would take place in the game, and Northport goalkeeper Lindsey Demling held firm, preserving the lead and helping advance her team into the Long Island Championship game.
Before heading to the Long Island final, Northport met West Islip in the Suffolk County Class AA championship at the Dowling Sports Complex. The game got off to a bit of an unfamiliar beginning for Northport, as a goal by West Islip’s Carly Kohler in the 12th minute gave them an early 1-0 advantage.
That goal was right on schedule for the Lady Tigers, who after knocking off West Islip in the Suffolk County championship, had a date with the girls from Massapequa at Tully Park in the Class AA Long Island final.
“That was a wake-up call for us,” said Northport head coach Aija Gipp. “We needed a little pressure on us. That’s what our team is about. When we need to put the ball in the back of the net, we do.”
Northport was looking to run the table and complete an undefeated season. They held a 1-0 lead going into the second half thanks to a goal by Miki Martinov in the second minute of the contest. Early on, it looked as if Northport was on its way to a Long Island championship.
Martinov, who had scored just one goal in the previous eight games, added a key scoring punch in the championship game for Northport, illustrating the type of depth and talent that allowed them to reach the Long Island title game without a loss. “What is great about our team is the depth we have. We wouldn’t have gone this far undefeated if we only relied on a few players,” said head coach Aija Gipp. “Everyone from our defense up to our forwards including our bench has been an integral part of this team.” The Lady Tigers held that lead until late in the second half when Massapequa’s Hope Breslin knotted the score at 1-1 with 28 minutes to go in the contest. The final thirty minutes of this game turned into an offensive battle with both teams exchanging goals yet again. In typical Northport fashion, the
That’s exactly what happened, and Northport would quickly erase that lead before the first half came to a close. Kristin Desmond and Vincenza Patrone
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NORTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL
offense would not be held down for long after that. Less than two minutes after the tying goal, Martinov struck again for the team from Suffolk, knocking in a header on a cross from Vincenza Patrone. Unfortunately, the Massapequa team refused to go away and after a gametying goal from Kristen Bischof, Hope Breslin struck again with a dagger goal. She cleaned up a loose ball in front of the Northport net and was able to put it past goalkeeper Lindsey Demling. Massapequa held on in the final 10plus minutes to capture the Long Island Class AA championship, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the Northport Lady Tigers. Despite the heart-breaking loss that ruined the chance at a perfect season, Gipp has a lot of reasons to be proud of the way his team played this season. Gipp, who is in his fourth season as head coach following four years as an assistant on the team, has seen some fantastic soccer teams in his time at Northport and says
that this is the best team he has seen in his nearly a decade of time at the school. “If a player is struggling on the field we have players on the bench who can step in and get the job done,” said Gipp. “I can honestly say this is the best team I have ever seen go through Northport. It isn’t just their talent that makes them amazing, it is their determination, perseverance and heart that have made them so successful.” Certainly, there is reason to be proud if you are a member of the Northport girls soccer program. An 18-1 season that saw blowout victories over a number of different opponents. A team that has a vast amount of leadership and experience went on a ride that they will remember for a lifetime.
semi-finals last year have been the key to success this year,” recalled Gipp. “I would have been incredibly proud of them, they worked so hard and it was their goal since pre-season to go undefeated.” One could make the argument that Northport was the top girls soccer team on Long Island. In sports however, it is about who was the better team on that particular day. Northport now looks to the future, where they will have to replace a talented and experienced senior class that led them this season, but Gipp is confident in his younger players looking ahead to next season. “Every year we have gotten better and we will continue to do that here at Northport.”
The season ended in disappointing fashion, but there is definitely reason to celebrate if you were a part of this soccer team. “Having 16 seniors who are selfmotivated and who have been waiting for this season since losing in the state
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Roosevelt GOES
UNDEFEATED, Ra 38
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S aise Expectations Story by Jaclynkelli Kronemberg | Photos by Kevin Sperandeo
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T
he Roosevelt high school varsity football team has been to the Long Island Championship game the last two years, but has come up short. However, this year they took a different approach to getting there. They ended the regular season undefeated and in their first playoff game they staged a shutout against North Shore winning 46-0 to advance to the Nassau County Conference IV semifinal. “It is a great accomplishment to finish the season undefeated,” said Roosevelt football head coach Joe Vito. “We have higher expectations for ourselves this year because we lost the Long Island Championship the last two years. We want another shot at it.”
have to play every down like it’s our last.”
hard every day.”
Vito entered his 20th season as the head football coach this year.
This team prides itself on the run game. They don’t really throw the ball, they are a run first offense and that has worked out really well for them this season.
“I believe coach Vito is one of the best coaches on Long Island,” said senior captain Sam Edouard. “It is an honor to play for him.” Under Vito, Roosevelt has won the Long Island Championship four times and won the Nassau County Championship eight times. “Playing for coach is fun, we love Vito,” said senior captain Raymond Jones. “Not only does he teach us to be great football players he also teaches us to be great men off the field.”
This season they entered the playoffs as the number one seed and are looking to win the Nassau County Championship for a third year in a row.
Last year the Roosevelt football team only graduated five players, two on offense and three on defense. This year they have a veteran group with 15 seniors on the team.
“It has meant everything to us to go undefeated,” said senior captain Rob Hansen. “It took us three years to become undefeated and we are confident going forward. We just
“We are a pretty veteran this year and the experience they have has helped us a lot this season,” said Vito. “They are a wonderful group of kids that love football and work
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“I believe being a run first team benefits us,” said Edouard. “It wears down the opponent’s defense and it is hard to stop our run game. It is more of an advantage for us then it is a disadvantage.” Leading the Roosevelt offense is senior captain running back Johnnie Akins. In the playoff game against North Shore Akins surpassed the 2,000 rushing yard mark for the second year in a row totaling 2,101 yards for the season. Akins was awarded all county this season for the second year in a row and was named to the second team all Long Island last season. “Johnnie is a great runner,” said Vito. “He is the work horse of our team. Off the field he is a quiet guy but on the field he is all business.”
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Senior tight end/defensive end Jones has also been awarded all county this season for the second year in a row. Jones tallied 18 sacks this season and has verbally committed to Stony Brook University to play football next season. “Raymond is an unselfish player, he blocks a lot for us,” said Vito. “It is also real hard to block him as a defensive end.” Like the previous two players’ senior fullback/ defensive lineman Hansen was awarded all county for the second year in a row. “Rob is a crushing blocker and a punishing runner that is tough to tackle,” said Vito. “He is living the lineman’s dream because he gets to block, score and throw the ball a little.” Edouard is a senior three year starter at center and this year he also started as a defensive lineman. He was awarded all county this year. Edouard also plays long snapper for this team. “Sam is a great addition to the defense,” said Vito. “He is a rough player, tough nose guard and an outstanding blocker.” This year senior inside linebacker/ offensive lineman James Nuapah was also awarded all county. This is Nuapah’s first full season starting. “James has been a great addition to our defense,” said Vito. “He solidifies our defense.” Senior offensive lineman/ defensive lineman Kay’Shawn Malone is a three
year starter and he received an honorable mention this year. “Kay’Shawn is a steady performer,” said Vito. “He is a hard worker and does a good job on the line.” Senior slotback/safety Devante Seals received all conference this season. “Devante is a great compliment to Raymond,” said Vito. “He really helps us with blocking.” Next up for this Roosevelt team is the number five team Valley Stream North. “We are extremely confident going forward but we have to keep our foot on the gas pedal,” said Edouard. “If we continue to practice hard every day and play football the way we know how this can be a special team this year.” This team knows what it is like to play in the Long Island Championship game and this year they want it to be their year. They are a ground and pound team and that has excelled this season. This year they are hoping to erase the blemish they have carried with them the last two years and come out on top. “We feel good going forward, we are healthy and have been improving each week” said Vito. “I have watched them grow up these last three years and I am proud to see what they have accomplished. Hopefully we will continue to be successful throughout the playoffs; we just have to take it one game at a time.”
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Sachem North High School
FLAMING ARROWS
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RUNNING TOWARD
LONG ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIP || Story by Scott Bickard || Photos by Kevin Sperandeo ||
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hether the common football axiom that stipulates a strong running game inevitably wears a team down and widens fourth quarter holes is true or not, the Sachem North football team (4-0) hasn’t done much to disprove it this season. The Flaming Arrows – #4 in the state according to The Road to Syracuse large schools poll – have mostly holstered their bows en route to fourth quarter dominance and one of the most ferocious ground attacks on Long Island. North Coach David Falco offers a similar yet more specific reason for his team’s late game scoring surges. “We spread around the ball,” Falco said, “Our backs are averaging about 10-11 carries between them per game. They stay fresh.” In North’s running-based flex bone formation, teams generally know what’s coming, which is why it’s so important to have more than one talent in the backfield. North have four: RB Malik Pierre (“money back who gets the tough yards,” according to Falco), RB Kevin Bragaglia (“deadly speed on the outside”), FB Anthony Ross (“strong insider runner with
breakaway speed”), and QB Trenton Crossen (“Not a better running QB on Long Island”). The quartet has rushed for over 1600 yards and 18 TDs in just four games. Bragaglia added a receiving TD when he caught 120 yards/1 TD and rushed 130 yards/1 TD in the same game against Longwood (1-3). Only during their biggest game of the season (to this point) did Sachem North lose the fourth. That was against Connetquot (3-1), and North was up 5026 entering the final quarter anyway. Still, the win was an embodiment of Falco’s quote: All four backs went over 100 yards, highlighted by Crossan’s 178 yards/3TDs and Pierre’s 79 yard TD run. What happens if the Arrows fall behind and need to throw? There’s a small chance that could happen this weekend, when they face the more pass-happy and undefeated Commack (4-0), whose 35-14 win over Longwood was slightly more impressive than North’s 49-32 victory – by the box score anyway. “We can throw it if we need to. We prepare for those types of scenarios in practice,” Falco said.
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The head coach pointed to the game against Longwood, when backup QB Anthony Service filled in for an injured Crossan and threw for 108 yards and a TD. Before his exit, Crossan added a 28 yard completion to Bragaglia. North switched from the pro I to the three-back flex bone offense in 2009 despite a growing trend within high school football toward the forward pass. “Teams now throw just as much as they pass out of many more formations and motions than we have seen over the years,” Falco said. Coach Falco admits his offensive scheme is heading in the opposite direction compared to most programs, but, rightly so, he doesn’t believe that’s held his team back. His teams have gone 36-7 since implementing the flex bone. Falco said he hasn’t necessarily had a true standout passer in the last few years; instead, he has one of Long Island’s most electrifying runners in Crossan. Not so coincidentally, one of the schools pursuing Crossan is Navy, which also runs the flex bone.
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At over 400 rushing yards per game and just a few completions, the running game will be the key to victory for North this season. The Flaming Arrows believe the flex bone will hold up during one of their most anticipated seasons to date. Not only are they the current favorites to advance to their first LI Championship since 1995, but their biggest rival over the last few years is only 2-2; Floyd has eliminated North in the playoffs for the last four seasons. The two meet on October 19th at Floyd. When I asked Falco the team’s goal for the season, he spoke about “high expectations” and quickly pointed to the Long Island Championship. Of course, as disciplined coaches will do, he backtracked briefly to a safer proclamation. “We’re going to take it a game at a time. But the LI Championship is the ultimate goal,” Falco said. If any Long Island teams hope to have a chance against the Flaming Arrows, they better grab a lead before the fourth.
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We’re going to take it a game at a time. But the LI Championship is the ultimate goal. -Coach Falco
”
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SHUT TER
SPE ED PHOTO BY MORGAN HARRISON
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ST. ANTHONY 50
FOOTBALL
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FRIARS CUCCESS becoming the norm Story & Photos by Kevin Sparendeo
he 8-0 Friars make moves with the spread offense. St. Anthony’s high school football team, led by Coach Rich Reichert enters the NY Catholic League playoffs at the top of their division. Since 2004, the Friars have had over 97 wins and just 11 losses. Coach Reichert says, “the administration is really behind football. We have a great coaching staff’s that’s been together for so many years.”
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This year, the St. Anthony’s staff decided to expand their offensive playbook. The Friars have adapted the spread offense, and tried to make it their own. Reichert says, “The team and the staff love it. It ups the tempo and really changed the way we play.” The spread offense has transformed the way the Friars practice, “we’re seeing the team getting better and better every day. We get everything accomplished in a shorter amount of time. It’s a work
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in progress with the spread as we’re trying to build our own identity.” said Coach Reichert. Traditionally, the St. Anthony’s team has no shortage of athletic and hard working players. Junior runningback, Jordan Gowins is “one of the best running backs we’ve had” approves Coach Reichert. This tough, 5’11 210 pound running back has rushed for over 1500 yards and averages 170 yards per game. “He is a tremendous athlete with great power and speed”, says Reichert. Gowins rushed for 302 yards against Archbishop Stepanic and has recorded over 17 touchdowns this season. Gowins averages over 11 yards per carry. Senior quarterback, Greg Galligan is a 3rd year starter for the Friars. He has passed for over 1,250 yards and averages 143 yards passing per game. Reichert says, “Greg has really committed to the new offense.” Galligan has passed for 10 touchdowns this season. Senior wide receiver Nick Esposito is the Friars “inside threat”, according to Coach Reichert. He has received for 568 yards and seven touchdowns. Reichert says, “Nick is a smart player, he always finds a way to find open spots and he catches everything.” Another wide receiver that can make plays for the Friars is junior Danny Jones. Reichert says, “Dan is our outside threat.” He received for 232 yards and two touchdowns. With threats all over the field and a new quick and effective offense for the Friars, they will be difficult to stop in the playoffs. With a long history of victory in the Catholic league, we can anticipate another St. Anthony’s championship.
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ST. ANTHONY FOOTBALL 53
ST. ANTHONY’S
Stepping Up Its Game Story By Brian Coleman // Photos Courtesy of Chris Bergmann and MSG Varsity
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he St. Anthony’s girls volleyball team entered the 2013 campaign with a little bit of a chip on its’ shoulder. The Friars lost a tough match to conclude the 2012 season, falling in the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) semi-finals. This year was different though, and the girls used that loss as motivation for the 2013 season. “After last year’s disappointing loss in the semi-finals the girls were
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bound and determined to make it back to championship form,” said head coach Donna Newman, who is in her 22nd season as the coach of the Friars. “Our team has prepared for this since August. We played in four Long Island tournaments winning them all and even competed out west in Arizona, which was an experience all around.” That tournament in Arizona was a crucial measuring stick for Newman’s bunch. They finished 14th out of the 64 teams that participated in the tournament which consisted of teams from all across the country, establishing a strong and well-deserved confidence entering the season. “They are a hard working bunch of girls who push one another to get better,” added Newman. “They make my job that much easier.” This is one of the top volleyball teams on Long Island, and they proved that throughout the season this year. St. Anthony’s reached the CHSAA championship game and will face off against the #3 seed Kellenberg. The Friars enjoyed a fantastic season, going 17-1 overall and 11-0 inside the conference. The lone loss came to a good Kings Park team which was in the midst of a 33-game winning streak. Since
that
loss,
however,
St.
Anthony’s has been on a mission. The Friars have reeled off 12 straight victories since the defeat en route to reaching the CHSAA championship game. Julia Forster is the anchor of the St. Anthony’s team, and has accumulated 182 kills and 32 aces thus far. Forster has been a threeyear starter on the varsity level and has been the best player all season for the Friars. Head coach Donna Newman raves about her senior star and the leadership she brings that makes the Friars so potent. “She is our go to person on the court. She sees the court extremely well and is a true motivator,” said Newman. “When we are behind in the game she is getting the team to refocus and gets them back on task. She is a true leader on and off the court and truly a team player” Forster is not the only three-year varsity player that has a tremendous impact on the St. Anthony’s team, and even the best players need someone setting them up. Bridget Hartill has been the St. Anthony’s setter for the past three seasons, and has racked up 411 assists this season.
“She is the quarterback of the offense,” said Newman. “She tells the hitter what we need to do and puts the ball in their hands. We don’t get very far without her controlling the tempo of the game.” Hartill and Forster have certainly been a dynamic duo over the past three seasons, and are the straws that stir the St. Anthony’s volleyball drink. While the Friars had a dominant regular season and have yet to drop a set. Despite how well they have played up to this point, head coach Donna Newman knows the focus level needs to be at an all-time high as they enter the CHSAA
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championship game and hopefully the state finals. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. This year’s team is extremely focused,” said Newman. “They worked hard during the pre-season and haven’t let up yet. They need to maintain their discipline and remember to dictate the tempo of the game so they can control the outcome.” St. Anthony’s will square off against a worthy opponent in Kellenberg, which went 11-4 overall and 10-4 inside the conference. While the Friars are heavily favored and expected to knock off Kellenberg, nothing in sports is ever a sure thing.
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Serve aggressively and control the tempo of the ball game and they will be champions yet again” - Coach Newman
“Our team needs to keep doing what they been doing all season long. Serve aggressively and control the tempo of the ball game and they will be champions yet again,” said Newman. “They have got to make changes on the fly. They see what the defense gives them and they attack.” It has certainly been a season to remember for the Friars, and head coach Donna Newman could not be any prouder of her team. In her 22 years running the show at St. Anthony’s she has seen a number of talented volleyball teams, and says that this may be right up there with the best teams she has ever been a part of. “This is my 22nd year as coach and this team ranks up there with one of my best teams,” recalled Newman. “My best team was in 2010 when we did not drop a set all season and went on to win the league title as well as the state title without dropping even a set. This team has the chance to do the same thing. They made it to the finals without dropping a set and they are still going.” If St. Anthony’s can take care of business against Kellenberg in the CHSAA finals, they will move on and compete in the state championships.
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THE
FLOYD
DYNASTY Story and Photos by Kevin Sperandeo
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H
ead Coach of the William Floyd Football team, Paul Longo, finished last season with a final victory against Farmingdale at last year’s Division I Long Island Championship game. Longo has led the Colonials to 148 wins and only 41 losses. William Floyd had 42 straight wins from 2005 to 2009, three perfect seasons and have won five of eight of the past Long Island Championships. The word “dynasty” could describe Paul Longo’s Colonials. The William Floyd Colonials are 5-2, and tied for 3rd in their division with Pat Med. With such a historically high rate of success at Floyd, it’s safe to say the Colonials will be contending for another Long Island Championship. Seniors Jawan Jenkins, Chris Faison, Eric Burst and Vinny Labate have been with the program for many years and are just a few of Floyd’s weapons on the field.
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william floyd colonials
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Tight-end and defensive lineman, Jawan Jenkins accounted for eight sacks, 18 solo and 58 group tackles in just six games. He averages 11.6 tackles per game. On offense, Longo says, “Jawan is very powerful and quick. He crushes guys blocking.” He has received 73 yards on four completions. “He is the best tight end on the island”, according to Coach Longo. Running back, Chris Faison leads the team in rushing yards. Chris has rushed for 560 yards and seven touchdowns in the past six games. “He’s one of the better running backs. Chris is very violent runner. It’s not easy for one guy to take him down”, says Longo. He also has received for 67 yards. On defense, he marks up nine solo tackles and 19 assisted. Quarterback, Eric Burst, a multisport athlete has passed for 222 yards. Longo mentioned, “This is his first year playing football. He’s a great running quarterback.” He averages 44.4 passing yards per game and has passed for three touchdowns with no interceptions. Burst also plays basketball and lacrosse. Vinny Labate is the Colonials, “all purpose, utility player. The ultimate football player”, according to Longo. He is a running back, linebacker and punt returner and recorded a total of six touchdowns. Vinny has rushed for 276 yards and received for two touchdowns in six games. Longo also praised his offensive line for playing a huge roll in their success this year and in the past. Senior offensive lineman, Mike Alparsian and Steven Rendino have been giving the Colonials the push they needed up front. Longo says, “Both of them helped us win our past two Long Island Championships.” A player who couldn’t be on the field this year, Mark Coles tore his ACL before season began. Coach Longo spoke very highly of Mark, “a great fullback
and linebacker, who would Island Championships with the have been a great help to the William Floyd Colonials. team.” Although this senior is sitting his final season out, he played and won two Long
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THUNDERBIRDS
CONNETQUOT “
“
Every year our goal is to win the Long Island Championship.
THUNDERBIRDS CONNETQUOT
ThunderbirdS aspire for the
long island championship
Story By Jaclynkelli Kronemberg / Photos By Morgan Harrison
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he Connetquot varsity football team enters the season ranked number three in Division one in Suffolk County. Leading the Connetquot Thunderbirds is head coach Mike Hansen. Hansen is entering his 11th season as the head coach. Last season, Connetquot ended the season with eight wins, two losses, and lost in the Suffolk County semifinals. “This year our goal is to try and win every game,” said Hansen, “Every year our goal is to win the Long Island Championship.”
A few of the players from last season have since graduated, and the Thunderbirds have only three offensive returning starters, and three defensive returning starters. “We have a solid team this season,” Hansen said, “We have skilled players and a good defense.” There are a couple of players looking to make an impact this year, and help get the team to the championship game. Senior wide receiver Tyler Nason (5’10” 185 lbs.) was one of the top receivers on Long Island last year with 38
receptions. “Tyler is athletic, has nice hands and runs great routes,” Hansen said, “I’m looking forward to him being a big impact player this season.”
“There are a lot of kids that have the potential to be real impact players this season for us,” said Hansen, “This is a great team and it’s a pleasure to coach them.”
Senior running back/ linebacker Marcus Gutierrez (5’9” 180 lbs.) is another key player to watch for this season. “Marcus is a tough hard runner,” Hansen said, “He will carry a lot of the load this year.” The offensive line features three seniors DJ Gallino (6’2” 270 lbs.), Rob Dawson (6’1” 270 lbs.) and Jimmy Oliver (5’11” 250 lbs.). “We have a solid offensive line,” Hansen said, “DJ, Rob and Jimmy are the anchors of the offensive line.” The defensive line features junior Sean Moore (6’0” 250 lbs.), Gallino and Oliver. “Our defensive line is physical and work hard.” Hansen said. Connetquot takes their first step toward the Long Island Championship on September 11, 2013, when they open the season against Patchogue Medford.
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The Whey to Build Muscle Story by Sandy Sarcona
A
thletes are lured to protein powder as a magical substance to build bigger muscles. Yes, protein is part of the muscle growth equation, but without strength training, excess protein intake will make its way passed your muscles and into your urine. Most athletes do get enough protein. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.8grams/kilogram (gm./kg.) of body weight for the average person* and 1.2-1.7gm. /kg. of body weight for an athlete; use upper level when engaging in a strength training program. Most athletes can get enough protein by eating a regular diet that includes meat, poultry and fish, which is the best source along with dairy, peanut butter/nuts, beans, and even carbohydrates. When and why should an athlete add a protein powder? After strength training the muscles use a large amount of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and muscle breaks down. Based on research, whey protein powder appears to be the best choice as a supplement post workout as it has a high level of these BCAAs that help to stimulate muscle repair in the recovery period; as few as 20grams of whey protein can stimulate protein synthesis in the body. Whey is the liquid part of milk and whey protein isolate is the purest form of this ingredient when purchasing a powder. It is also easy to digest and is lactose free. Quick tip: When purchasing whey, go for Whey Protein Isolate (not concentrate) and forgo products with other unnecessary additives. Follow directions when mixing whey protein powder and consume it within a half hour of working out for the best results. You can also make it into a smoothie and add fruits for added flavor and nutrients.
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UA TRAINING Horizontal Push
THE MAGNIFICENT 7 Seven movement patterns all athletes should include in their workouts. by Mike Mejia CSCS
L
ike most motivated varsity athletes, you undoubtedly spend a lot of your time at the gym. In fact, given all we know about the positive impact that regular strength training can have on physical performance, these days it's rare to find a high school aged athlete, in any sport, who doesn't try to sneak in a workout every chance they get. While I applaud the discipline it takes to fit trips to the gym into a student athlete's already hectic schedule, I do often wonder exactly what's being accomplished during these training sessions. Because if what I see going on is any indication, there's an awful lot of time and effort being wasted. I say this because simply "going to the gym" anywhere from 3 to 5 times per week is not going to just magically transform you into a better athlete; you also have to make
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sure that you're training the right way once you get there! Unfortunately, things like using too many machines, training like a body builder by doing "split routines" that isolate specific muscle groups, and marathon workouts that feature way too many sets and repetitions, can seriously impede your results. So, if you really want to take your game to the next level, you're going to have to adopt a completely different mindset when it comes to training- one that focuses on movements, instead of muscles and as such, will give you the kind of functional strength and mobility you need to perform at your best. The following total body workout program features seven movement pattens that all athletes need to include in their workouts. By training this way and working your entire body each time you hit the gym,
you'll not only be able to cut down on much of the unnecessary volume that bogs down the more traditional weight room approach, but you'll also be working towards building a more structurally balanced physique to help guard against injury. Not to mention the fact that only training every other day, will allow you much more time to recover between workouts- meaning that you'll have a lot more energy in the tank to devote to practicing and competing in your chosen sport. The Magnificent Seven: Select at least one exercise from each of these seven categories, every time you train. Shoot for two to three sets per exercise, making sure to prioritize those areas that need the most work. For the majority of young athletes, that means an emphasis on hip dominant, over quad dominant drills, as well as vertical pulling, over vertical pushing.
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HIP DOMINANT: These are movements that place the emphasis on your glutes and hamstrings (butt and back of your thighs), rather than just your quadriceps (front thigh muscles). Known as your hip extensors, these powerful muscles are integral to your ability to sprint, jump and effectively change direction. Unfortunately, unlike the quadriceps which are very easy to both recruit and overwork, the glutes and hamstrings often tend to be an area of weakness in young athletes.
out, away from the body), reverse flys and external rotations.
down when your arms are in an overhead position. Be careful about doing too many of these as most emphasize the lats (large "wing" shaped muscles on the back and sides of your torso) which can contribute to the act of rolling your shoulders inward due to their attachment point on your upper arm. Examples: All types of pull-up and pulldown variations.
Examples: Olympic lifts like power cleans and snatches, deadlift variations (such as the Romanian deadlift pictured), glute ham raises, reverse lunges, step ups and stability ball leg curls.
HORIZONTAL PUSH: Without question the single most overused movement pattern of most gym rats. Too much emphasis on these types of exercises- especially when combined with a lack of attention to the one's mentioned directly above- can make your shoulders cranky in a hurry.
QUAD DOMINANT: These are drills that focus on the often overworked front thigh region. Though most athletes don't need to make them a point of emphasis, they still need to be trained to help ensure proper knee alignment. Examples: Squats, front Squats, front lunges and straight leg raises.
Examples: All types and angles of bench presses, push-ups, flys and dips. VERTICAL PUSH: Refers to all types of overhead pressing. The two biggest issues I usually see here is an inability to get the arms up straight, overhead (usually due to poor flexibility around the shoulder joint and using too much weight) and doing these drills while seated. The latter of which can place a lot of unnecessary strain on the lower back. So do yourself a favor and lighten the load so you can work through the full range of motion and do these drills in a standing position with slightly bent knees and a neutral spine (no excessive arching, or rounding of the lower back).
CORE (STABILIZATION/ ROTATION): Technically, there are two things to emphasize here, but you can always alternate between which you choose to focus on each time you work out. The first involves stabilization through the core, which will give your limbs the platform of stability they need to execute explosive movements like throwing a ball, or accelerating past a defender. While the second requires spinal rotation as a means of helping with the effective transfer of force between the upper and lower body during movements like swinging a bat, or taking a shot on goal. Examples: (Stabilization) all types of planking drills, Pallof presses and hip bridges. (Rotation) Russian twists, cable rotations and wood chops.
Examples: All variations of shoulder presses.
HORIZONTAL PULL: These are simply exercises that focus on drawing your shoulder blades back (and down) and pulling weights closer to your body. Doing more drills of this type can help protect against shoulder injuries by increasing strength and stability around the joint. Examples: All types of rowing movements, i. e. dumbbell, cable, TRX etc. (particularly those with the elbows held
VERTICAL PULL: These are exercises that focus on drawing your shoulder blades
Here's what a typical 3 day program might look like for an athlete who, like most, needs more emphasis on hip dominant and horizontal pulling drills.
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PSYCHOLOGY BY TOM FERRARO
H
ot yoga was invented by the former Olympic weight lifting champion Bikram Choudhury. This form of yoga has become increasingly popular with athletes and dancers looking to stay fit. There are thousands of hot yoga studios around the world. They had one in Seoul Korea when I was there two months ago on a book tour. It is based upon 26 poses one does in a 90 minute class intervals, and the quality of the teaching. Instructors are trained to talk the entire 90 minutes and the class takes place in 105 degree heat. I defy you not to lose weight if you
“Hot yoga is the modern cross training option for many serious athletes because it works and it’s an injury free (below) form of training.”Tom Mcfeely
Tom Mcfeely
attend classes three times per week. I recently interviewed some physicians and athletic trainers to understand the benefits of hot yoga for the serious high school or college athlete. Vera Richman, a marathon runner and trainer of elite runners, takes class regularly in Carle Place. She explained that runners accrue two major benefits from hot yoga: First, heat and stretching help to lean very tight and bulked up leg muscles that serious long distance runners often develop. In addition, core strengthening from hot yoga class improves posture and endurance for
Vera Richman
“Vera Richman; runner and trainer’ “I find that hot yoga improves the runner’s posture, core strength and endurance.”
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Dr. Nadia Martinez-Pimentel
“Dr. Martinez-Pimentel :Physician. runner and yoga student’ Yoga has definite benefits for athletes. As an example I do the yoga practice to help strengthen my quadriceps”. I injured my knee and I know that by making my thigh muscles strong my knee is protected.” the runners. Nadia Martinez-Pimentel is a prominent Queens’s physician who takes time out of her busy schedule to attend hot yoga. She believes this form of yoga helps to build leg and back strength which is a real injury preventive measure. She explains it enhances balance and is very good for not only athletes, but for the elderly as well. Dr. Nancy Wallace is another regular at the hot yoga studio. The very busy Queens-based physician makes the trip out to Carle Place to attend classes. She feels that yoga helps improve focus, discipline and concentration and can only serve to help, not hinder, the athlete. Sixty second poses build a focused mind for sports, as well as life. She feels that the many breathing exercises build lung capacity which is crucial
Dr. Nancy Wallace
“Dr. Nancy Wallace, physician ‘everyone comes to class for a different reason. I like the feeling of empowerment it leaves me with by the end of class.’ to stamina in sports. Finally, I interviewed Tom McFeely, owner of the Carle Place hot yoga studio. He’s worked with bulky NFL players to petite gymnasts and figure skaters. He said hot yoga builds flexibility, balance, core strength and stamina without the risk of injury seen in so many fitness regiments. Like Dr. Wallace, Tom McFeely believes hot yoga helps athletes connect his/her mind with his/her body, adding that holding poses for so long brings the athletes awareness inside his own body and connects him with it like never before. For this reason, yoga is often referred to as “moving meditation.” I am now 65 years old and still a very good golfer. I hit the ball a million miles off the tee and when my group gasps and asks me how I do it, I always say, “Very simple- hot yoga. Three times a week.” The safest, and maybe the best, cross training option for the modern athlete is what they call hot yoga. Try it, you’ll like it!
FOR MORE INFO GOT TO
basesportsconditioning.org
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ULTIMATE ATHLETE