It’s almost that time of year! 7-on-7 football sessions have kicked off around Suffolk County.
Check out some images from recent action at Connetquot including the Thunderbirds, Sayville, Brentwood, Kings Park, William Floyd, Pat-Med and Hills East.
Photo Credit Bob Sorensen
Two student-athletes from Section XI have been selected for the 2017-2018 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Amanda DiDonato from Mount Sinai High School and Matt Weltmann from Half Follow Hills High School East earned the honor.
This year 13 new members will join the SAAC teaming with the nine returning members who served as juniors last year. Members were chosen based on an academic resume which included GPA, extracurricular activities, and participation in sports. In all, the SAAC is made up of two student-athlete representatives from each of the eleven sections in New York State.
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, Life of an Athlete, Student Leadership, and Community Service. A total of 88 student-athletes applied to be members of this years SAAC.
“We are looking forward to working with the new members and returning members of the SAAC this school year,” said Robert Zayas NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “Having student voices in our organization is key to providing feedback to further enhance and improve our programs with our member schools. We congratulate the members of the SAAC on their selection to this committee.”
The SAAC will meet via tele conference during the school year. The first meeting will take place Sunday, September 24.
Lindenhurst native Jeremy Ruckert has committed to play football at Ohio State University.
Ruckert made the biggest splash of the summer in terms of local high school news with his decision that went viral on social media Monday afternoon.
He was choosing between Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
“They always were a step ahead of everybody else,” said Ruckert, who had 117 receptions for 1,624 yards and 13 touchdowns in his last two years at Lindenhurst, told Newsday. “All four schools were very similar on the field and education-wise, but the way they were really interactive with my family and all my close friends, they stuck out, and that was one of the main reasons there.
This week we’re going back to 1930 with the Islip boy’s track and field team.
This specific team was undefeated in Class B dual meets and packed some of the best talent on a roster in Suffolk County and Long Island for its era.
Let’s welcome new Section XI Executive Director, Tom Combs, and Assistant Director, Pete Blieberg, who both officially started July 1!
More to come over the coming months from their perspectives as they dive into their new roles.
The end of the spring sports season brings to conclusion another great year of interscholastic athletics in Suffolk County.
We wish to congratulate the 62 member schools, coaches and 85,000-plus student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in the athletic venues, classrooms and communities. Your honors, awards and contributions continues to amaze us all. You have left us with so many great memories and we only hope that you will look back on your experiences as fondly as we do.
To the graduating seniors we wish you the best of luck in the next chapter in your lives and thank you for your leadership. To our returning student-athletes we look forward to a great 2017-2018 and can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
Special thanks goes out to all of the athletic directors in our schools. It is through their dedication, leadership and commitment that all of this is possible. Kudos to each of them and their office staff for pulling it all together.
I would also like to recognize and thank the Section XI office staff for all that they do behind the scenes. Chris, Beth, Leigh, Carla, Kathy, Lisa, Taryn and Nick work diligently with the member schools, officials/coaches associations and athletic directors to organize and implement 25,000-plus athletic contests per year. I can’t say enough about their dedication and commitment to their role in the interscholastic process. They are to be commended.
On a personal note I will be retiring from Section XI on June 30. I have been fortunate to have been a part of this great organization for the past 36 years. I can’t thank the athletic directors, past and present, for their support, cooperation, assistance and friendship. It has truly been my honor to have been a part of the best section in New York State.
New Executive Director, Tom Combs, and Assistant Director, Pete Blieberg, are outstanding professionals who will step in and provide great leadership to the section. I wish them the best of luck and hope they enjoy their experiences in the section office as much as I have.
Thank you to everyone who makes Section XI so great!
One of our proud partners, the U.S. Army, had a special ceremony last week to honor the change of command in recruiting for Suffolk County.
The event was held at the Centereach VFW Hall where Captain Joseph Imbriaco relinquished command to Captain Joshua Summer as Suffolk County’s commander of recruiting.
Suffolk County faired very well during the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, netting seven players who were selected by pro teams.
A handful will likely stay the course and play collegiate baseball, but many were selected out of college and will enter the professional ranks this summer.
Here’s a look at who was selected:
Of course Suffolk County is well represented with the emergence of Marcus Stroman and Steve Matz over the last few seasons.
The northeast continues to be a hotbed of talent that has increased in recent years.
Congratulations to all players who were drafted, and good luck to everyone who is angling to sign free agent contracts this month!
Newsday has announced its First Team All-Long Island selections and there are plenty of Suffolk County athletes who have been honored for their incredible seasons.
If you’re from Long Island lacrosse is not taken for granted. The rest of the country, anything is possible.
When it comes to lacrosse there are a handful of names that stand out, and in the modern era, one of the premier players of the game hales from Suffolk County.
Smithtown native Rob Pannell is one of the greatest players in NCAA history and is forging his way as one of the most marketable players in the pro game today.
Pannell, who played at Smithtown, then briefly at Deerfield Academy before starring at Cornell. Today he plays for the New York Lizards of Major League Lacrosse.
Pannell Notes
