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Smithtown East High School

Suffolk County residents can call 311 to report an antisemitic incident. File photo from Steve Bellone’s Flickr page

By Sabrina Artusa

Just last week, schools across the North Shore — including Smithtown East, Commack and Port Jefferson high schools — all reported antisemitic language in their buildings.

‘It’s such a cruel way of being made to feel better or superior.’

— Renée Silver

Last week, swastikas were found in the boys bathroom at Commack High School and on a desk at Smithtown High School East. This is the second swastika reported at Commack this month — racist graffiti was also found on the bathroom stalls.

Two swastikas were also found on a desk at Smithtown East.

“This news is greatly upsetting, but it is important for our school community to be made aware of such incidents and work collaboratively to oppose hate whenever it occurs,” Smithtown Central School District Superintendent Mark Secaur wrote in a letter.

Jordan Cox, superintendent of the Commack School District, wrote in a letter to families, “Once the responsible individual is found, I am committed to pursuing legal action to the fullest extent,” adding, “Given the current conflict in the Middle East and the many families in our community who are hurting, it is a travesty that something like this occurred.”

Cox plans to take students to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and invited Holocaust survivors to speak to the students. Survivor Renée Silver, 92, told News 12 that she hopes “giving a little background” will help teach the students the harm of their actions.

“It’s such a cruel way of being made to feel better or superior,” Silver said.

In Port Jefferson high school, a swastika was found on a desk alongside the Star of David and the word “fight.” The Star of David can be a source of pride for many Jewish people or as a connection to their shared culture and past. It can also be seen as a symbol of support for Israel.

Police reports were filed for each of the incidents at the three high schools, and the county Hate Crimes Unit is involved.

Antisemitism and racist language are spreading at both high schools and middle schools across Long Island. Three swastikas were found in a bathroom at South Woods Middle School in Syosset. A swastika and antisemitic language was written on a whiteboard at the Harry B. Thompson Middle School, also in Syosset. A student was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. 

These incidents occur alongside the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked the Israeli towns neighboring Gaza. Over 11,000 Palestinians and about 1,200 Israelis have died, according to reports.

Antisemitism in Long Island schools mirrors a broader national trend. Since Oct. 7, incendiary language regarding the conflict has increased on social media. 

In addition, antisemitism and other hate crimes across the United States, including college campuses, have left students feeling scared and unsafe. The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism recorded nearly a 400% increase in antisemitic incidents for the same Oct. 7-23 period from last year.

President Joe Biden (D) has addressed the uptick in antisemitism in the U.S., particularly on college campuses. “We can’t stand by and stand silent when this happens,” he said. “We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia.”

By Bill Landon

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It was a rain-soaked field with howling winds at Smithtown East high school when the Bulls had their hands full against the Eagles of West Babylon Saturday afternoon in a Division II matchup. 

West Babylon struck first and often, peppering the scoreboard with 23 points in the 1st quarter, 15 more in the 2nd while holding the Bulls scoreless at the half.

Smithtown East struggled to find traction the rest of the way as West Babylon pulled its starters and flushed their bench to blank the Bulls 38-0.

The win lifts West Babylon to 3-0 on the season while the loss drops the Bulls to 0-3.

Smithtown East retakes the field with a road game against Huntington Friday night at 6 p.m. in search of that elusive first win

— Photos by Bill Landon

 

For the second straight year, Kings Park High School hosted the National Football Foundation’s Long Island Quarterback Challenge skills competition. 

The star-studded event, held Sunday, July 23, had no shortage of signal callers from the North Shore. And unlike last year when it was a boys-only event, the girls were also part of the fun.

Commack’s Jeremy Weiss, the reigning champion coming into this year’s competition, finished third this time. He was just behind Smithtown West’s Brayden Stahl, who finished in second place.

The 2023 overall winner was Mustafa Mozawalla of Syosset, who prospered in the classroom as well as the gridiron, completing each throwing drill with panache.

Players from Nassau and Suffolk, including from the Catholic leagues, were eligible to participate. Jake Fields from Smithtown East, Shane Kiernan of Miller Place and Kaeden West from Comsewogue were all part of the field of 16, who were put through their paces on the field as well as the film room.

In addition to second overall, Stahl won the award for accuracy and West had the longest throw of the day, launching a majestic rainbow that rang against the crossbar in the back of the south end zone. It measured 64 yards.

Former NFL quarterback Matt Simms judged the boys as they ran drills in anticipation, arm strength, touch, mobility and football IQ. One of the highlights of the day was when Mozawalla scrambled to his left and, while sprinting to the sideline, threw a 40-yard dart in perfect stride to his receiver who tapped his toes in the back corner of the end zone.

“That was a magnificent throw,” Simms said. “Probably one of the best in the two years since we’ve done this.”

Kiernan and Fields also looked very good in the mobility drills as well as quarterback progressions.

As the sport of flag football has exploded on Long Island, organizers smartly added a contest for the girls — seven out of the 10 contestants were from Suffolk, including Grace Gilmartin and Pixie Ryan, both from Northport, and Taylor Mileti of Hauppauge.

However, it was Jennifer Canarutto of Plainview-Old Bethpage in Nassau who took first prize. Canarutto, who led her team to an undefeated season as well as the New York State championship just two short months ago, beat Alexandra DaEira-Loccisano of Eastport-South Manor and Delaney Israel of Longwood, who finished in second and third place, respectively. 

Many familiar faces came down as receivers for the quarterbacks as Hauppauge Lady Eagles Stephanie Braun, Emma Condos, Meghan Goutink and Melissa O’Connor all caught passes for not only Mileti, but a few of the other contestants who were in need of targets.

Four Northport Lady Tiger pass catchers — Caitlyn Muzyka, Dana Restivo, Caitlyn Ryan and Jamie Weissman — braved the 90-degree heat to support Gilmartin and Ryan. Hauppauge’s head coach Steve Mileti watched his daughter Taylor from the press box as he served as color commentator on the live stream with Newsday’s high school sports editor, Gregg Sarra. Northport head coach Pat Campbell cheered on his sextet of athletes from the sidelines.

Muzyka was awarded “best receiver” on the girls side.

In total, eight quarterbacks and 18 receivers from TBR’s readership area competed on a long, hot, competitive and ultimately successful day.

The Bulls of Smithtown East (7-4) needed a win to secure a postseason appearance when they hosted Centereach (7-4) but they fell behind by seven points at the halftime break.

Smithtown East senior Benjiman Haug, however, provided the necessary spark in the third quarter, putting his team out front. The Bulls never looked back, winning the contest, 58-48, in this Division II matchup Monday, Jan. 23. 

Haug finished with 22 points, and teammates James Burton and Dominic Galati netted 12 and 11, respectively.  

Centereach senior Tim McCarthy topped the scoring chart for the Cougars with 10 field goals, a three-pointer and four free throws for 27 points. 

The win lifts Smithtown East to 8-4 in league, 11-4 overall. The loss drops the Cougars to 7-5 with four games remaining before postseason play begins. 

It was the Raiyah Reed show Tuesday night at Newfield High School. The junior co-captain peppered the scoreboard with 13 field goals and a dozen free throws to top the scoring charts with 38 points, leading her team to a 55-47 victory over Smithtown East. 

Reed’s performance was the spark the Wolverines needed to notch their first win of the season in this Div. II matchup Dec. 20. 

It was also Alumni Night, with former players invited onto the court at halftime to shake off some rust, putting on a three-point shooting exhibition. 

Darcy DeBenedittis topped the scoring chart for Smithtown East with 14 points, and teammate Ava Mueller added 13.

Newfield looks to score back-to-back victories when the team retakes the court in tournament play at Center Moriches High School Wednesday, Dec. 28, against Mount Sinai. Gametime is slated for 10:00 a.m.

Smithtown East (1-3, 3-3) is back in action Friday, Dec. 23, when they’ll host Connetquot at 5 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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It was the battle of the Bulls May 17 when cross town rivals Smithtown East (No. 4) hosted Smithtown West (No. 5) in the opening round of the Suffolk Conference II in Class AA playoff game. East edged West, 7-2.

It was a complete performance from the mound from James Ackerman who threw a complete game in the victory to advance to the next round where they faced Connetquot May 18. 

In double elimination play, Smithtown West lived to fight another day where they squared off against Bellport. Both games were held Wednesday, May 18, at 4 p.m. The results were not available at press time.

By Bill Landon

The Port Jefferson Steeplefest invitational took place on Saturday, April 9, at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, attracting schools from all over Suffolk County. 

Mt. Sinai senior Kate Del Gandio won the girls 100-meter hurdle event with a time of 14.68. Senior Hugo Onghai placed first for Port Jeff in the boys 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 16.36. In the 2000-meter steeplechase Frosh finals, Shoreham-Wading River’s Anna Minetti finished first with a time of 8:20.82. In the Frosh boys Steeplechase, Patrick Shea of Shoreham-Wading River clocked in at 7:07.36. Del Gandio also placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.56. Mt. Sinai senior Kyra Franks took the top spot in the 200-meter dash event, besting the field with a 26.09. Port Jeff senior Annie Maier took top honors in the long jump event by traveling 15-11.50. Mt. Sinai’s Kelly Hughes and Casey Campo placed second and third respectively. Julia Sue-Kim-Ling of Smithtown East proved she was the class of the field in the triple jump when she leapt 34-5.25. Kings Park senior Emily Stritzl also placed first in the pole-vault event, clearing 8-0.

 Photos by Bill Landon 

The Newfield Wolverines cast a shadow over Smithtown East in their homecoming football game handing the Bulls a 39-7 defeat Oct 2.

Newfield’s Devin Aviles found the endzone twice in the 1st quarter, and teammate Joe Hackal broke a 44 yarder in the second to lead 24-0 at the half.

Smithtown East junior running back Ryan Rooney took the goose egg of the scoreboard for the Bulls catching a pass from Tommy Azzara then turned it upfield and dove for the endzone for the score. Newfield quarterback Josh Jacobs punched in from short yardage along with teammate Sean Sullivan scored on a 29 yarder for your final score.

The win lifts the Wolverines to 2-2 as the loss drops the Bulls to 1-3 at this midway point in the season.

Both teams retake the field Saturday where Newfield hosts North Babylon in their homecoming game, and the Bulls travel to Connetquot. Kickoff for both games is 2 p.m.

The Northport boys volleyball team showed why they sit atop the Division I leaderboard when they swept Smithtown East in three sets — 25-19, 25-22  and 25-18 — at home Sept 28. 

Although the score was close in the second set, Northport has not allowed their opponents to play beyond three sets this season. The win lifts the Tigers to 6-0 of their 15game season, while the loss drops the Bulls to 3-3. 

Northport’s Zach Zdrojeski notched 18 kills in the contest, and teammate Jake Zarko killed 13. 

Both teams are back in action Sept 30, where Northport hosts Smithtown West, and the Bulls have a road game against Commack. Both games start at 4 p.m.

Smithtown East High School Principal Kevin Simmons, right, and local veterans stand in front of the school's Wall of Heroes at the May 26 event. Photo by Rita J. Egan

A few days before Memorial Day, Smithtown East High School officially unveiled its salute to alumni who served in the armed forces.

Smithtown East High School Principal Kevin Simmons, right, and advisers and members of the students leadership committee stand in front of the school’s Wall of Heroes at the May 26 event. Photo by Rita J. Egan

A dedication ceremony was held at the high school May 26 to honor past students who attended East as well as the former Central and Smithtown Branch high schools in the district. East Principal Kevin Simmons announced that the project was also beginning to receive submissions from those who attended High School West.

East’s Wall of Heroes situated in the hallway outside of the school’s Little Theater features the name, military portrait, high school graduation year and branch of military service of each graduate whose information was submitted.

Simmons said the project was a “multiyear labor of pride” that started with the school’s leadership committee students who wanted to honor alumni who served in the armed forces.

“As the central framework began to take root, we encountered several delays due to buildingwide construction issues and, of course, an unexpected pandemic,” he said.

The principal added, “Despite the obstacles and challenges that lay before them, our leadership students persevered and continued to march forward following the lead of Mr. Bill Coderre, a proud veteran himself. Whether working virtually, hybrid or live in person, our leadership students stayed the course until this worthy and overdue mission was complete.”

Simmons said above the Wall of Heroes are the symbols of each branch of the U.S. military. Underneath the main visual are seven monitors that feature each alumni’s name, photo and military information.

“This beautiful monument will proudly be displayed here in High School East for many years to come, reminding us all of the selfless acts and heroism of our alumni, and what they’ve accomplished in order to protect our lives, our liberty and our freedoms,” the principal said.

On hand for the ceremony and to help cut the grand opening ribbon were members of Smithtown’s American Legion James Ely Miller Post 833. The members helped the school’s leadership club with the project and featured visuals of the wall on the post’s website.

To help fund the wall, the leadership group started the high school’s field of honor. Community residents were asked to donate $20 for a flag that was placed on the school’s football field along Woodlawn Avenue. Donors were able to fill out a card to dedicate the flag to a veteran, active service member, law enforcement, etc.

For those interested in viewing the wall or being included, visit the Smithtown High School East website page which features a Wall of Heroes link.