Story and Photos by Rosemary Leonetti.
Although four Long Beach High School fall varsity teams made it to the playoffs this year, their real victories in the wake of Hurricane Sandy proved to be victories of the heart.
It was with this in mind that all 10 teams came together at Fall Sports Awards Night on Dec. 13 to acknowledge their accomplishments, but more importantly to celebrate their unity and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Coaches told stories of teammates scattered across the tri-state area reaching out to come together to somehow make it to the playoffs, providing hope and inspiration to a community sorely in need of both.
“I am in awe of all of you,” said School Board President Roy Lester. “You have endured the worst conditions to go out there and continue to win under such tough circumstances.”
With players earning four individual county championship titles, the boys badminton team finished the season with a 12-2 record.
The football team started the season with five wins in a row — their longest winning streak since 1986. They finished with a 5-3 record, winning a spot in the playoffs and bringing their community together after the devastation of Sandy to cheer them on in their playoff game against Carey.
“I admire the courage and commitment of these players,” said Coach Scott Martin. “We always teach our players to overcome adversity on the field, but they also overcame many adversities this year in their personal lives. I am proud to be a Marine.”
The boys soccer team made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years with a 7-6-1 record and ended up surmounting many storm-related obstacles to finish third in their conference. The girls soccer team finished the season with a 6-6-2 record, just missing a spot in the playoffs.
The girls swim team had a 5-4 record, finishing fourth in the county and second in their division. They also won the Joe Farrell Invitational. The boys volleyball team also qualified for the playoffs. Scattered around the state, the team managed to come together after a 10-day hiatus to beat Great Neck in the first round of the playoffs.
Ending last season with a 4-10 record, the girls volleyball team finished strong this season with a record of 10-4. They beat the reigning conference champ to finish third in their conference this year.
Proving to be equally dedicated to their academics, the boys badminton, boys cross-country, girls cross-country, girls soccer, girls swim, girls tennis, boys volleyball and girls volleyball teams all earned scholar-athlete status, with team averages above 90 percent.
Many fall athletes also won individual awards. There were three State-Qualifiers, seven All-County, four Honorable Mention All-County, 15 All-Conference, one Academic All-Conference, six All-Division, two All-Class and one Unsung Hero named. Five players won individual county championship titles.
Victories of the Heart Celebrated at Fall Sports Awards
Football coach Scott Martin praised the resilience of his team as they overcame adversity to make it to the playoffs.
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andy napolitano May 19, 2013 at 07:49 pm
We have been trying to get Rescue Ink shut down for over 2 years. That's one of the reasons for the…Read More Rescue Ink=The Facts site. Every time we posted something on their site they deleted it & then blocked us. Joe covers his tracks very well so it's hard to get him on anything. This was just a set up by Joe because when John quit in December he took down the RI Facebook site that had 146,000 likes which totally pissed off Joe. Now Joe started a new site but it only has about 2500 likes on it most of which are from people from out of the US where the old show from 2009 is still shown. Hopefully John will be wise enough not to become the fall guy for these thugs, spill his guts & tell all. This is not to defend Johnny. What he did was dispicable but Joe & some of the other guys have been doing the same thing since they split from the RI foundation.
Eddie May 19, 2013 at 07:16 pm
Once again, anyone paying attention to what is going on in Long Beach would have seen this coming…Read More when the City chose to "give" their animal control duties to a band of felons. Where where you when they did this? Suddenly, because a cat drowned you pay attention to the corruption of our City government. Meanwhile, every day decisions made by this band of thieves makes killing cats look like childs play. But you'll keep electing Democrats, right? You get what you elect. Wake up.
Julie Presante May 19, 2013 at 04:59 pm
Report them to the IRS - I found this info:
All whistleblower claims must be submitted on Form 211…Read More (see Resources) and signed under penalty of perjury. Submit the form to the address noted on the form. Informants who do not want to claim an award may report the suspected activity on Form 3949-A (see Resources). Alternatively, informants who wish to remain anonymous may submit a letter containing the same information requested on Form 3949-A. Mail the form or letter to the Internal Revenue Service, Fresno, CA 93888.
john peri Jr May 19, 2013 at 09:02 am
Food is just one element of achieving health. There are probably thousands. For…Read More instance---exercise, clean water, sunshine, avoiding poisons, proper sleep, stress management, education, etc.
john peri Jr May 19, 2013 at 07:31 am
With my suggestion, the IRS could enforce compliance with bathroom inspection raids.
john peri Jr May 18, 2013 at 06:12 pm
Eddie, is it possible to put on gloves without touching the exterior of the glove?
Patrick Smith May 18, 2013 at 08:59 am
After looking at strongerthanthestorm.com and well Jersey completed the work they did,we got to…Read More replace the clowns we have running all of Long Beach
Warren Vogel May 19, 2013 at 02:01 pm
Biggert-Waters bill NEVER passed Senate:
watch Sen. Landrieu on YouTube.…Read More
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7LptibadAE
Leonard Bauman May 18, 2013 at 10:45 pm
For political reasons, nothing will be said or put in writing. Your request will meet deafness.…Read More Only people in Staten Island and in certain places in Rockaway will be bought out. Sorry, if you don't want to fix up your shack, Shokrian and other opportunistic developer sharks are circling you to buy your shack for 60 cents on the dollar. Sell! Sell! Sell to these sharks or fix it up, your choice!
Eddie May 17, 2013 at 10:19 am
Why can't Staples pay for an ad on Patch instead of posting this stuff here?
Eddie May 17, 2013 at 09:14 pm
Then think twice before you vote Democrat, Crystal. The blood will be on YOUR hands if you do.
Crystal G Piatnick May 17, 2013 at 12:18 pm
There is no question about it. Its not a matter of " right to choose" Its a matter of is…Read More abortion murder...I was so upset with the Orient and what they do to cats and dogs... Look what America does to our children...Cuomo will have their blood on his hands....I am not for abortion at all. But aborting the fetus in the third trimester has to be stopped.. Its murder.. These infants r about to be born..
Jonathan Kaplan May 17, 2013 at 10:19 am
I can get you a closet in the West End for only $2000 a month, let me know if you're interested
paul.d.spellman May 17, 2013 at 10:12 am
CMOS, The surfers from out of town come here all year long and add to the economy 12 months a year,…Read More what additional benefit do those people pushing shopping carts full of kid's toys add? Last summer the surfers were give only 1 in 3 beaches and that was base on increased demand, and this year more surfers are expected so it makes sense that more beach be set aside for them, or some kids are going to get hurt and then the city will need to pay for that.
Castles Made of Sand May 17, 2013 at 09:30 am
Paul, after you give us numbers on the "driving" economics of surfers, please tell us how…Read More many surfers come the beach in the summer. Do you know? Or are you just guessing? Your argument that surf shops continue to exist as a result of surfers shopping there is darn near brilliant. I heard a report that supermarkets in town are being solely supported by hungry people. I can't attest to that though. I do know that Empire Kayak is secretly kept in business by Whirling Dirvishes from Instanbul, and not kayakers. But I digress.
Crystal G Piatnick May 16, 2013 at 07:46 pm
I think u r right Joseph. Its really disappointing..:( What the hec r they doing...????? Well they…Read More have 100 days to complete the boardwalk in the middle section. contract started March 12..or the 15th...60 days already and they did nothing...They have 40 more days to complete it. I really hope the town holds them to the contract.. I really do.
Elliot Zuckerman May 17, 2013 at 05:48 am
Paul as a life long resident, the first surfing school in LB and home owners hit hard by Sandy I…Read More thought it was only right to reduce our fee for summer camp.We have had many families here in the same position and just could not afford camp this summer and asked if we can help with local families so we did just that , we will fill up fast so please sign up soon as we do limit our camps to avoid any over crowding.
We also have posted our dates for the ONLY 501c3 special needs surfing foundation in Long Beach, please check out surfersway .org for more info.Its free and open to all special needs kids.
Elliot
paul.d.spellman May 16, 2013 at 07:51 am
Now if we could only get the City to reduce the outrageous fees forced upon the surf schools one can…Read More only imagine how low these prices would go. Does anyone actually know where the fees the schools pay go to?
john peri Jr May 16, 2013 at 11:36 am
Women don't have the right to commit suicide, to become a dope addict, or to sell their body parts.…Read More No one really knows how many post birth murders are being committed. Requiring a camera in abortion rooms would stop post birth murders.
Trying to Make Sense May 16, 2013 at 09:46 am
Eddie, you mislead a lot and lie occasionally. "Gosnell's actions wouldn't be criminal in a…Read More more enlightened state like New York, would they? " Yes, they would be. And you know it. In fact, if the reproductive rights of women were properly respected, pond scum like Gosnell would not take advantage of women whose options are limited and find it difficult to obtain the quality prenatal care and a safe abortion if the need one. I respect your right to be against late term abortion and I am not cheering them on but reproductive rights, control over one's body ought to be protected. And doing so would not only eliminate the Gosnells of the world, but would allow for a full range of services that decrease the likihood that women would face situations that bring them to abortion mills like his.
john peri Jr May 15, 2013 at 01:55 pm
"President Obama’s position on infants who survive abortion is exactly the kind of…Read More position that allows the horrors committed by Kermit Gosnell."
Source:http://www.lifenews.com/2013/04/21/obamas-position-on-infants-born-alive-mirrors-kermit-gosnells/
Patrick Smith May 19, 2013 at 08:13 am
Mesivta is at beach level ,LBCS is way higher ,they had no damage
MAY May 15, 2013 at 08:43 pm
Maybe instead if bitching you should get out there and vote your people into office. It's about…Read More political connections. It could be that the diocese is helping. Tax exempt homes are wrong. Everyone should pay taxes especially when you can afford to send your kids to private school and camp that costs a lot of money however that goes for all people not any specific groups. I can think of a lot of people that got money that probably didn't need it. I know of many firsthand. Did lbc actually apply? That's what I want to know. Find that out first and then start complaining. It may look like on paper they have more money than misivta. Maybe they don't have any, or at least on paper they don't. There are a lot of variables that go into this. Just remember its the politicians who will act in your best interest and that applies to things like this. Get out there and vote.
Patrick Smith May 19, 2013 at 08:08 am
Its costing more money in Long Beach to clean up the sand on broadway than to fix the sand dunes…Read More ,sand blowing everywhere . pathetic infrastructure .New jersey up and running
Crystal G Piatnick May 18, 2013 at 03:06 pm
They said they were going to work 6 days a week 12 hrs a day...ADAAAAAAAAAAA i dont see one…Read More person..not one.. who can find out for us what is going on?????
Tideline May 13, 2013 at 05:04 pm
If he was white, the Media would have been all over this. I am really looking forward to Obamacare.
john peri Jr May 13, 2013 at 09:21 am
This post could cause one to make a further investigation/research before making a decision.…Read More
“If excessive smoking actually plays a role in the production of lung cancer, it seems to be a minor one.” (Dr. W. C. Heuper, National Cancer Institute, quoted in NY Times 4/14/54)
Rachel Caruana May 13, 2013 at 08:56 am
If this info needs to be updated, why is it being posted? Please, like we don't have enough to…Read More worry about!
paul.d.spellman May 16, 2013 at 09:10 am
Fill a bucket up from the sink, be amazed and call Poland Spring.
Paul Carrella May 16, 2013 at 08:57 am
Slightly brown water in the toilest, does not appear to be coming out of the faucets, which I don't…Read More understand.
paul.d.spellman May 14, 2013 at 02:55 pm
Has the anyone investigated whether this could be related to the discharge from the Bay park Plant…Read More and the Goggin Propaganda piece about flushing hydrants is just a blatant coverup?
Eddie May 11, 2013 at 09:46 pm
But she's blessed enough, John to not have to pay taxes to the City of Long Beach.
Trying to Make Sense May 11, 2013 at 05:42 pm
Yet another good reason for people to visit Long Beach and our blessed ocean and food trucks.