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Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Ward Melville boys’ volleyball team finished the regular season in seventh place in Division I with an 8-6 record, entering postseason play as the No. 5 seed.

The road to the Long Island championship took the Patriots through Sachem North, the No. 4 seed, winning 3-0 Oct. 25 in the quarterfinal match which sent the Patriots to the semifinal round with a road game Oct. 28 against top-seeded Bay Shore. It would take five sets to determine the winner, but the Patriots prevailed with a 3-2 victory to advance to the Suffolk championship game with another road game against No. 2 West Islip Nov. 1. Again, it would take five sets in the Suffolk title game, but Ward Melville edged the Lions 3-2 to punch their ticket to the Long Island championship game against Syosset at Center Moriches High School Saturday, Nov 11.

The Patriots have peaked at the right time, sweeping Syosset and winning the Long Island title 25-20, 25-14, 25-22. Outside hitter Kyle Fagan was outstanding with 18 kills and seven digs. Ward Melville will compete for the New York State championship title game at the Albany Capital Center arena Saturday, Nov. 18.

According to New York State Public High School Athletic Association, “This is a digital-ticketed event. Cash sales will not be available on-site. Kids 5 and under are free.”

Port Jefferson, fresh off their Long Island championship sweep of East Rockaway two days earlier, looked to build on that momentum in the Southeast Regional final Saturday, Nov. 11, with home court advantage against Section IX winner Millbrook. The Royals hoped to make the trip back to Glens Falls for the NYS Class C championship final. It would have been the second year in a row, but it wasn’t to be as Port Jeff fell to Millbrook 25-23, 25-17, 25-15.

During the season, seniors Olivia Sherman and Erin Henry were the one-two punch for the Royals with Henry charting 13th in the county with 169 kills and Sherman placing 15th with 161 kills, as reported by Newsday. Sherman clocked in at No. 4 in the county with 57 service aces; Thea Mangels, a freshman, was No. 8 with 51; and sophomore McKayla Pollard No. 12 with 48.

The Royals conclude their 2023 campaign with a 17-3 record and will be a force to be reckoned with next season as they lose just three seniors to graduation.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Embark on a journey with our reporter to Sherwood-Jayne Farm in East Setauket, capturing the intensity of protesters rallying against Preservation Long Island’s plan to remove its farm animals. Then, delve into municipal land-use policy as we dissect the Brookhaven Town Board’s consideration of a zone change for the Jefferson Plaza shopping center in Port Jefferson Station.

But that’s not all — dive into the excitement of Ward Melville and Earl L. Vandermeulen high schools’ postseason volleyball runs with our sportswriter. Then, join us in reflecting on the crucial role of local election inspectors and the urgent need for more volunteers to uphold our democratic process.

By Bill Landon

It was a clean sweep for TBR News Media’s varsity high school teams in the girls Long Island championship soccer games at the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field at Shoreham-Wading River High School Saturday, Nov. 4. 

The Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River defeated Plainedge 2-0, Smithtown West edged South Side 1-0 and the Patriots of Ward Melville defeated Massapequa 2-0, all to advance to the New York State championship games this coming weekend.

For the Patriots, after a scoreless first half, it was Peyton Costello who got things started when her shot found the back of the net off an assist by Adriana Victoriano to break the ice. Breena Harrigan scored the insurance goal for the 2-0 lead that would stand until the final buzzer. Kate Ronzoni had five saves in net.

It was also a clean sweep for Suffolk County as Babylon defeated the Nassau champion O’Neill 2-1.

All four teams will vie for the New York State championship round for the semifinals this Saturday, Nov. 11. The survivors will make it to the final round on Sunday. The state finals will be played at Cortland High School, Homer High School and Tompkins Cortland Community College.

According to New York State Public High School Athletic Association, “This is a digital-ticketed event. Cash sales will not be available on-site. Kids 5 and under are free.” Tickets can be purchased at gofan.co/event/1128589?schoolId=
NYSPHSAA.

Ward Melville senior Robert Hauss pushes up-field in the Suffolk class AAA final against Brentwood. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Patriots of Ward Melville (No. 3) entered the final round of the Suffolk Class AAA championship soccer game against undefeated Brentwood, who had an 18-0 record and were looking to keep their spotless season intact. 

Patriots senior midfielder Wilman Castellon was the spark for their offense when he drilled a scissor kick that stretched the net giving Ward Melville the lead with eight minutes left in the opening half. 

Brentwood, finding itself in the unusual position of trailing at the halftime break, got down to business. In keeping the pressure upfield and scoring three unanswered goals, they clinched the Suffolk Class AAA championship game, 3-1, at Patchogue-Medford High School Thursday Nov. 2. 

Ward Melville senior goalkeeper David McElroy had two saves in net.

Ward Melville wrapped up its 2023 campaign with an impressive 13-3-2 record, concluding the varsity careers of its 15 seniors.

Shoreham-Wading River, the No. 4 seed, hosted Center Moriches (No. 5) in the Suffolk quarterfinals round of Division IV postseason play Friday night, Nov. 3, at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field. Center Moriches drew first blood on a broken play to find the end zone early in the opening quarter. Shoreham-Wading River senior quarterback Kieran Clifford evened the score on a keeper to tie the game and with the point after took the lead. 

From there, the Wildcats never looked back. Running back Liam Kershis did what he’s done all season finding the end zone for a touchdown, and Clifford punched in from short yardage to open the second half. Senior Travis Finnegan followed when he nailed a 25-yard field goal. The Wildcats would make the final buzzer with a 38-12 victory.

The win lifts the Wildcats to 7-2 to advance to the semifinals round Friday, Nov. 10, with a road game against No. 2 seed Babylon. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

Meet your new Suffolk County Class A champions. Photo by Bill Landon

Kings Park ended their regular season atop the Division III leaderboard having suffered its only league loss to Shoreham-Wading River back in September. The Lady Kingsmen looked to settle that score in the Suffolk Class A championship final with a rematch with the Wildcats at Diamond in the Pines Wednesday night Nov. 1.

After a scoreless first half, it was Shoreham-Wading River’s Grace Hillis who would write the Kings Park epitaph first with a 30-yard free kick that found its way in the upper far corner of the net. Then the senior scored the insurance goal 11 minutes later. Despite a ferocious late-game surge by the Lady Kingsmen that kept Wildcat goalie Morgan Lesiewicz busy the rest of the way, Shoreham-Wading River prevailed with a 2-0 victory.

Lesiewicz finished with seven saves in the win to punch the Wildcats ticket to the Long Island Championship round where they faced Plainedge on Saturday, Nov. 4. Yet again the Wildcats rose to the occasion with another 2-0 victory to advance to the New York State championship round in Cortland Nov. 11.

— Photos by Bill Landon

It was the duo of Grace Hillis and Bella Sweet, the Shoreham-Wading River seniors, who made their mark in the Class A Long Island championship game at the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field Saturday morning, Nov. 4, against Plainedge with the Wildcats defeating the Section VIII champions 2-0. 

Before the season began Shoreham-Wading River High School was selected as the location for the New York State Regional Finals, otherwise known as the Long Island championship round, so the Wildcats enjoyed a home-field advantage in their quest for another New York State championship title.

Hillis struck first at 11 minutes scoring off a corner kick to break the ice for the Wildcats for the early lead. With 17:30 left in the first half Sweet scored off an assist by Hillis for the insurance goal for the 2-0 victory.

Plainedge, who came into the game with 13-2-3 record, wouldn’t go quietly as they pressed the Wildcats relentlessly until the final buzzer.

Morgan Lesiewicz had four saves in the win.

The Wildcats will board the buses and make their way to Cortland High School for the New York State semifinal round Saturday, Nov. 11, where they will face Section III champions New Hartford. Game time is slated for 5 p.m. 

According to New York State Public High School Athletic Association, “This is a digital-ticketed event. Cash sales will not be available on-site. Kids 5 and under are free.” Tickets can be purchased at gofan.co/event/1128589?schoolId=NYSPHSAA.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Smithtown East girls volleyball squad entered the Class AA finals as the only undefeated team in Suffolk County at 16-0 when they squared off against Eastport-South Manor (12-4) with home court advantage Tuesday, Oct. 31.

The Sharks made it close staying within striking distance, but the Bulls played mistake-free ball and swept the match in three sets 25-23, 25-21, 25-19.

Sarah Moyer and Karson Catalanotto combined for 21 kills, while Mia Sullivan delivered five service aces in the win.

The win propels the Bulls to the championship final Friday, Nov. 3, at Center Moriches High School where they will face No.2 Hauppauge.

Game time is slated for 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at: gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI.                     

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Ward Melville girl’s volleyball finished the regular season atop the League I leaderboard with a 13-1 record to open the Patriots postseason play with a home game against seventh-seed Connetquot in the Suffolk AAA quarterfinal round Thursday night, Oct. 26. 

Ward Melville made short work of the Thunderbirds in the opening set, winning it 25-16 but Connetquot returned the favor in the second set with a 25-17 win to even the match to make it a new game. The Patriots found their stride in the 3rd set winning 25-20 and finished it in the 4th 25-21 for the 3-1 victory to advance to the semifinal round. 

Ward Melville senior Paige Carroll anchored the team with 53 assists. Delaney Hart the senior paired with Alexa Gandolfo a junior and knocked down 32 kills.

The Patriots hosted the No. 3 Raiders of Patchogue-Medford Monday, Oct. 30, but lost a tight semifinals game 3-2 (24-26, 25-16, 25-9, 22-25, 8-15).