Winter Track Runs the Show at Mitchell Invitational

Nwana and Wilkins Finish First at Jim Mitchell Invitational

The Running Braves are off to a flying start. Syosset High School’s winter track team tied for second in its first meet of the season on December 16 at the Armory in New York City.

“It was an outstanding meet for us, the best in many years.” assistant coach Bart Sessa said. “The meet was validation for us that our young team is developing very well.”

Sophomore Simon Nwana finished first in the 1000 meter run, posting a time of 2:38.42. Syosset had three other runners finish in the top 25 in that event.

finished first in the 600 meter run with a time of 1:25.36. Three other Braves finished in the top 20 in the run.

Wilkens also finished second in the pole vault - jumping 12 feet. 

Syosset had two other top ten finishes; John Aronson finished sixth in the shot put and Angelo Sample placed fifth in the 300 meter dash.    

OLMA Basketball Growing Together in Season's First Month

Year two ofat Our Lady of Mercy is going as planned. Despite dropping to 1-3 in conference play after a loss to St. Anthony’s on Tuesday, the Mustangs still boast a 6-5 overall record. Out of conference wins over West Babylon, Center Moriches, and Midwood showcased an older, more experienced team.

“Our non- league schedule is much improved,” Kiffel said. “We have been much better offensively and have gotten better in handling defensive full court pressure.”

Sophomores Marilyn Lehmuller and Shannon Brady, although battling the injury bug, are both crucial to getting the Mustangs back on track. Lehmuller has averaged 10 points a game and, according to Kiffel, usually draws the toughest defensive assignment. Brady missed the first five games of the season, but is getting back to full strength.

‘We haven’t been healthy all year,” Kiffel said.

While Brady and Lehmuller work on getting back to 100 percent, Olivia Walsh has been a catalyst for OLMA. Walsh has been the leading scorer in eight of the Mustang’s 11 games.

“(She) is proving she is one of the best players in the Catholic league,” Kiffel said of Walsh. “Other teams consistently focus on her and she still averages 15 points a game. She is a true leader on the court and will be remembered as one of the best players in OLMA history.”

Kiffel expects to be in the mix all year in the tough CHSAA. The Mustangs were only down ten points at halftime of Tuesday night’s loss to St. Anthony’s, the favorite to win the conference. Against Holy Trinity on December 9, Mercy was down only 3 points late in the third quarter.

For a program trying to reestablish itself, these kind of small milestones go a long way towards building confidence.

“St. Anthony’s is better than everyone, we feel like we can play with everyone else,” Kiffel said. “Our goal is to make it to the final four and then see what happens.”

OLMA takes on Copiague at Baldwin High School on December 27 at 4 p.m.