Syosset Honors Winter Sports Stars; Club Hockey Denied Title

Winter Sports Standouts Recognized at Syosset High School

With the spring sports season just days away, the Syosset athletic department took one final look back at the winter season on Tuesday night at

Held in the main gymnasium, Winter Sports Awards Night is designed to showcase the accomplishments of the department as a whole. It also recognizes graduating seniors, acting as a final farewell to those who devoted the last four years to making Syosset athletics both a winning and well respected program.

Among the seniors honored were the five girls basketball players who were instrumental in 2008-2009 county championship.

“Each (of the seniors) own a little piece of the county championship banner that’s around here somewhere,” Head coach Doug Schumacher said, gesturing to the banner-filled gymnasium walls.

The girls bowling team amassed 19 wins, showing improvement from last season. Of the nine returning bowlers, eight had final averages rise by at least five points. 

Strohmayer’s boys team also had a very successful season - received All-League honors, while Adam Birnholtz took home All-Conference recognition.  and Kyle Ross made the All-County team, with averages of 204 and 203 respectively. Ross placed ninth in the Nassau County division championships, while Graham placed tenth.

Cheerleading and kickline coaches spoke about their teams accomplishments. Contrary to popular belief, the two teams involvement in the program extends far beyond the sidelines.

The cheer squad is one of the most intensive programs in the department, starting practice in August and cheering until February. In between cheering for the football and basketball team, the girls prepare for the annual cheerleading competition. Syosset finished in first place in this seasons edition.  

Kickline assistant Marissa Saunders spoke about her squad. They, like the cheerleaders, were successful in outside competitions. The team finished first in hip hop and second in dance at the Long Island Kickline Association competition.

Arguably, the most successful team this winter was the boys swim team. In their first year in Conference II, Syosset took home the championship. Head coach Chris Schleider recognized senior as being a “stellar” leader.   

Boys indoor track coach Chris Myers spoke about the challenges of practicing outside during a snow filled January.

“2010-2011 was the season of the snowstorm, snowstorm, and another snowstorm,” Myers joked. “We finally saw the track yesterday.”

Much like the fall track team, winter track saw a youth movement this year. Approximately 35 of the 65 boys on the roster were freshman. Myers also recognized sophomore Michael Wilkins, who finished third in the pole vault at the Long Island Challenge.

Girls track finished fourth in the nine team conference meet. This is quite an accomplishment, considering that Syosset is in the toughest conference in Nassau County. They finished eighth out of 27 teams at the county meet.

June Ilowite will be the lone Syosset competitor at the national meet at The Armory in New York City on March 11. Ilowite will be running the half mile.  

Wrestling Coach Mike Murtha was the final coach to speak in front of the packed house. Despite a rebuilding process, the Braves finished 13th in Nassau County. The overall theme of the evening was the youth of the program. While many sports had a transition year in 2010-2011, success is clearly on the horizon.

Better clear some banner space on those gym walls.

Syosset Braves Club Hockey Falls in Town of Oyster Bay Championship

Syosset fell to Massapequa 7-1 Tuesday night in the TOBAY club hockey championship.  Joe Keenan scored the only goal for the Braves. Although Syosset failed to cap off one of their most successful seasons in years with a championship, the club is optimistic.

 “(I) can’t wait for next season to start,” Head coach Richard Goldstein said.