Eighth Grader Is Top Level 9 Gymnast

Gymnast Alexis Stern, an eighth-grader at Manhasset Middle School, represented New York State in the Junior Olympic National Championships held in the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, MI the weekend of May 3. Competing against the top Level 9 gymnasts in the country, Alexis took home a bronze medal on the balance beam with a 9.45 and finished 12th in the country with an impressive 36.80 all around score (bars, beam, floor, and vault). Alexis earned her spot on the Junior Olympic team with a third place finish at the Level 9 North East USAG Regional Championship held in Springfield, MASS and was also recognized as one of New York’s top Level 9 gymnasts. Alexis trains five days a week at Gold Medal Gymnastics Center in Greenlawn under the tutelage of Hall of Fame Coach Tammy Marshall.

MHS Crew Walk/Run Big Success

On April 7, the Manhasset High School Crew Team held its first 5K Walk/Run fundraiser, which started and ended in the Flower Hill Village Park. More than 300 participants came out to race or stroll through Flower Hill, while raising funds for two great causes.

Proceeds from the event will fund additional equipment for the growing MHS crew team, with 10 percent of monies raised contributed to the Manhasset UFSD Fields Initiative, a fund created to re-turf the MHS Stadium Field and create a new field at Shelter Rock Elementary School. Barbara Thermos, who organized and coordinated the 5K event, noted, ”It was a great way for the community to come together for these causes, connecting with neighbors and friends while getting some exercise on a gorgeous, crisp sunny morning. Both causes support healthy athletic opportunities for Manhasset’s youth.”

North Shore Kayak Club To Hold Clinic May 28

The North Shore Kayak Club will hold its annual kayaking clinic, targeted to novice recreational kayakers and those interested in the sport, on Tuesday, May 28th at 7 p.m. at Port’s Town Dock. When facing the water, the kayak docks are to the left of the fishing pier.

The kayaking clinic will address: the different types of basic equipment, including kayak and paddle options; the proper way to enter and exit a kayak; basic paddling strokes; and necessary safety gear and precautions. This will be a demonstration and lecture, so it is not necessary to bring any equipment. There is no charge for this event.

Victorious In Opening Manhasset Valley Park Game

One of Manhasset’s 12U intramural baseball teams defeated Great Neck in the first game played at the renovated Valley Park field on Saturday April 27. Manhasset’s offense scored 10 runs, including a home run from Devin Callery, while pitchers Logan Hyde, Jeff Torborg, James Marchetti and Grant Petracca combined to limit Great Neck to one hit with 11 strikeouts in six innings. Edward Jarvis, Robert DeCastro, Massimo Abruzzo, Colby Schmidt, Gabriel Cohen, Spencer Kaye and Justin Louie each contributed quality defensive plays.  Manhasset raised its record to 4-0 and stands in first place in the inter-town intramural league, which includes 8 teams from Merillon, Albertson-Herricks, Great Neck and Manhasset.

JV Ice Hockey Team Finishes The Season

The Manhasset Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Team finished their season Wednesday night, April 17, beating Bellmore/Merrick 4-3 in the championship game at the Bethpage Community Park Ice Rink. Wednesday’s finale marked the end of an impressive campaign by the Indians which included a 19-1 regular season record and a trip to the New York State Championship in Ithaca.

Manhasset got off to a strong start scoring four times in the first period on goals by Michael Walsh, Michael Brzozowski, Mario De Bueriis, and Matthew Cecchini whose tally would prove to be the game winner. Nolan Behringer, Ryan Kiess, and goaltender Alex Feinstein led the defense in shutting down a powerful Bellmore/Merrick squad, securing Manhasset’s first ever Junior Varsity Championship.

Spikers Make Playoffs

Congratulations St. Mary’s CYO fifth grade Spikers, who demonstrated enormous improvement, team spirit and sportsmanship in their first season on the court. They finished with a record of 20-10 during the regular season and advanced to the first round of playoffs.

On The Bay: May 10, 2013

This is the season of anticipation. Boats are being prepared for launch, yacht clubs are going into commission all up and down Long Island Sound, and the weather is absolutely beautiful. The beginning of an active boating season on Manhasset Bay and LI Sound is just weeks away. Before the season begins, it might be a good idea to think about boat safety.  Whether you are a skipper or crew, racing or out for a nice leisurely afternoon, be it sail or motor, safety should be your first priority.  

An online sailing newsletter, Sail-World.com recently published some good information on this very topic.  It is from the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. This is what Foundation suggests: It takes just six minutes to brief your new guests on board your boat for a day of sailing and it could save a life and/or your boat.  Below is a six-minute briefing that all of us should practice to make sure the sail is fun and relaxed and safe.

Buckley Honors Local Athletes

Buckley Country Day School upper school students from Manhasset earned top honors at the end of this winter’s interscholastic basketball season. Lt. to rt.: Madison Rielly, Most Improved Player, girls’ seventh- and eighth-grade Red Team; Christiana Psyllos, Bulldog Spirit Award, girls’ seventh- and eighth-grade Red Team; and Christopher Nishimura, Most Improved Player, boys’ seventh- and eighth-grade Blue Team. Congratulations to all.

Beil Competes In Swim Classic

Conor Beil, age 14, a current ninth-grader at Manhasset High School, recently competed in the 2013 National Age-Group Swimming Association Classic in Clearwater, FL from April 3-6. Over 533 swimmers from 45 teams in the United States attended the NASA Showcase Classic. In order to compete, Conor had to have achieved National AAA rated swimming times.

Conor placed third in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:52.41; ninth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:55.04; 11th in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.98; and 12th in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:03.88. After returning home to Manhasset, Conor went back to the pool to train daily for the long-course swimming season that begins in May. Conor swims with the National Team of the Long Island Aquatic Club.

On The Bay: May 3, 2013

Dawn Riley, executive director of Oakcliff Sailing Center, was at the Port Washington Public Library last week to discuss the behind-the-scenes news for this year’s America’s Cup. NAC’s very popular boat trips will return this season and will start in June and run through August. Registration for the boat trips is required.  

The Cow Bay Cruising Association held its annual organizational meeting and awards at Manhasset Bay YC last week. Commodore Anthony Viola opened the meeting and a discussion was held on the upcoming racing schedule, Race Committee information, and other items of interest to those who race big boats each Thursday evening though the warm summer months.  Last year the group connected with YachtScoring, an online scoring system that is used for major regattas throughout the United States. In addition to going online to see the final scores each week, YachtScoring has a “crew/boat board,” where interested sailors (and non-sailors) can add their name for a spot on a Thirsty Thursday boat.  So if anyone out there reading this is interested in hopping on board a boat, the link to sign up is: http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=822.