Director of Heath, Physical Education, Athletics, Recreation
631-244-2228
Lenore Knudsen, x1061
Debbie Dziedzic, x1060
CONNETQUOT HS BOYS’ LACROSSE PLAYERS EXCEL IN
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Bohemia, NY --- Jack Ponzio and Tyler McCarthy are representing Connetquot High School Lacrosse at the New York State Regional Lacrosse Championships this week. They tried out and were selected for the 2023 Suffolk County team and are wearing their Connetquot helmets loud and proud. Yesterday they were selected for the 2023 All Star Team and won. Jack was named MVP of the game. It’s been a blast representing Connetquot! Jack & Tyler have been Connetquot lacrosse teammates since kindergarten!
Connetquot alums Kyle Strayer and Zachary Pizzimenti were selected to play in Australia this summer in the Maverick Challenge. They played for American Pride which consisted of 27 players from the United States and Canada. Teams participating in the tournament were American Pride, Australia Crocodiles Gold, Australian Crocodiles Green and Team Chu/Shi from Japan! As a result of their successful six game performance, American Pride brought home the gold medal!
Connetquot High School tennis coach Ryan Cavanagh welcomed over 100 district residents, along with coaches and counselors, to the 2019 ‘Thunder’ Tennis Academy which is being held at the tennis facilities at Connetquot High School. Campers, ranging in skill level from beginner to adult, are eager to learn or polish their skills for a lifetime of enjoyment.
This year’s students are divided into two skill levels in evening sessions running from 6:00-7:00, or 7:00-8:00, on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning on July 9th through August 22nd. “Thunder Tennis Academy is a program used to provide tennis lessons for students in the district. It is comprised of all current or former Connetquot students and teachers as the instructors” according to Coach Cavanagh.
As a part of the annual summer program, the Thunder Tennis Academy is able to raise and donate financial awards to graduating seniors that have been a part of the Connetquot High School varsity tennis program. The Jim Crowley, Sr., Memorial Scholarship is named in honor of the long-time teacher and Connetquot High School tennis coach. To date, more than $6,000 has been awarded, according to Coach Cavanagh.
In between the sounds of tennis shoes squeaking on the court, tennis balls coming off the rackets and instructions from the coaches, Tennis Academy students can be heard laughing and enjoying the company of new friends. Congratulations to Coach Cavanagh and his staff for providing the Connetquot community with the opportunity to learn valuable tennis skills, while enjoying their summer vacations!
Volleyball
Bohemia, NY --- Connetquot High School girls’ varsity volleyball coach, Justin Hertz, recently welcomed 75 district youngsters to the 14th annual volleyball camp which was held at Ronkonkoma Middle School (RMS). Traditionally held at Connetquot High School, this year’s successful camp was moved to RMS because of renovations taking place at the high school facility. “This year’s Lady Thunderbirds Volleyball Camp was another exciting, and enthusiastic, success,” said coach Hertz. “The current staff and coaches had attended as campers when they were younger, and now they are back as teachers and counselors.”
The entire senior class of varsity volleyball players is coaching, along with veteran underclassmen and talented collegiate players. Connetquot teachers and volleyball assistants, Karen Edwards and Brianne Hertz join coach Hertz as directors of the camp.
Students in grades 5 through 9 attended the 8:00-10:00 sessions that ran from July 15-19th. The students’ training schedule included workouts emphasizing proper basic skills, and later introducing advanced team-related drills and competition. These future ‘T-birds’ worked hard, made some new friends, and look forward to putting their new-found skills, and confidence, into practice this season!
The Connetquot girls’ varsity volleyball team finished the 2018 season with an overall record of 13-2, in the semi-finals of the Suffolk County Championship Tournament. The T-birds have won the New York State Volleyball Championship in 2015 and again in 2017. This year’s campers are hoping to bring the title back to Connetquot in the very near future!
CONNETQUOT COACHES’ ALL-SPORTS SUMMER CAMPS ENCOURAGE SUCCESS!
Bohemia, NY --- The Thunderbird Athletic Group, consisting of Connetquot School District teachers and coaches, have concluded another successful Summer All-Sports Camp session at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School. The camp was run from July 8th - August 2nd, from 9:00-12:00. Over 50 Connetquot school district campers plus coaches and counselors took part in the 2019 All-Sports Camp experience.
Mr. Michael Konsevich and Mr. Michael Oldis put together an ambitious and fun-filled, program that taught the students basic skills in basketball, volleyball, European handball, kickball, floor hockey, flag football and soccer, while playing challenging games. The campers also had the opportunity to attend newly released movies and work on their skills at the local bowling alleys.
Exercises and drills were designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn both basic and advanced skills to further their playing ambitions, as well as just plain having summer fun with friends! These future ‘T-birds’ worked hard, made some new friends, and look forward to putting their newfound skills, and confidence, into practice this season!
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