Authors Posts by Steven Zaitz

Steven Zaitz

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Adrian Gilmore. Photo from Facebook

By Steven Zaitz

Adrian Gilmore, Shoreham-Wading River High School’s girls varsity soccer coach, has died at the age of 42.

Gilmore, who led the team to two Long Island championships and one New York State championship during her 13 years as coach, collapsed at Albert G. Prodell Middle School on April 22, where she was a sixth-grade teacher. Suffolk County Police arrived at the school at 100 Randall Road in Shoreham a few minutes before 3 p.m. and shortly thereafter, a Rocky Point emergency vehicle rushed Gilmore to John T. Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson. Gilmore died two days later – the cause is unknown at this time.

Gerald Poole, superintendent of the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District issued a statement that read: “For 20 years, Adrian Gilmore was not only a dedicated and passionate educator, but an outstanding coach, mentor and source of inspiration to many generations of SWR colleagues, families and students. More than her impressive achievements, Adrian will be remembered as a mentor for other coaches and teachers, a passionate advocate for children and a trusted colleague whose impact reached far beyond school walls. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives that she touched as a teacher, coach and community leader. She will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

Ava Gengler is a senior captain who fought for a state title this year with Gilmore and her Lady Wildcat teammates. Gengler was a varsity player for Gilmore for four years and will attend the University of Miami in the fall. She remembers Gilmore as not just an effective coach of X’s and O’s, but a caring and compassionate leader.

“I’ll never forget my freshman year — I had a panic attack right before one of our biggest games, and instead of focusing on winning, she stayed with me the entire time, making sure I was okay,” Gengler said. “It was in that moment she showed me how much she truly cared about us as people, not just athletes, and how special of a person she was. Her loss is heartbreaking for all of us, but we’re coming together to honor everything she stood for and everything she gave us.”

Gilmore, whose maiden name was Adrian Weger, was a graduate of William Floyd High School, class of 2000, where she was a standout in both soccer and track and field. She went to Concordia College in Westchester County and was a four-year starter for the Concordia soccer team.  In 2006, she became a teacher in the SWR school district and in 2012, she was named the Wildcats girls varsity soccer coach.

She met her husband Timothy Gilmore while at Concordia where he was an outstanding baseball player. The couple married in 2009 and they had three children —  Kayla, 18, a freshman lacrosse player at the University of Maryland;  Cameron, 13, and Colby, 3. A GoFundMe page has been set up to financially assist the devastated family. 

Gilmore’s friend Charisse Jamroz organized the page and on it she says, “Adrian’s life was a beautiful reflection— full of grace, strength, and a deep love for others. She poured her heart into everything she did, whether she was raising her children, nurturing her students, or guiding her athletes.”

The page has raised over $162,000.

Superintendent Poole also said in his statement that the SWR district will be honoring Gilmore, “as we reflect and remember her legacy. In the meantime, please keep Adrian’s family and friends in your thoughts. Together, we will continue to support one another with compassion as we navigate this loss as a school community and school family.”

In addition to coaching the varsity team, Coach Gilmore was involved in local youth lacrosse developmental leagues around the Shoreham area.

 In 2019, the Lady Wildcats won the New York State title by beating upstate Spencerport 2-0 and Gilmore was named as East Regional Coach of the Year. In the spring of 2021, Gilmore’s girls were a perfect 12-0 in the COVID-shortened season and they outscored their opponents by an astounding aggregate of 61-5. The Wildcats have made it to the Long Island Championship game every year for the last three years.

“Having Mrs. Gilmore as both my teacher and soccer coach honestly changed my life,” said Gengler. “She pushed me to be better — not just as a player or student, but as a person. She was tough, but it was the kind of tough that made you stronger. She taught me what it means to be disciplined, to never give up, and to always give my best. At the same time, she had this really compassionate and caring side.”

A viewing for Adrian Gilmore was held on April 30 at Moloney-Sinnicksons Moriches Funeral Home in Center Moriches and a Mass was held on May 1 at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Center Moriches. In addition to her husband and children, she is survived by her parents Cathleen and Gary Weger and her brothers Mathew, Christopher and Joshua. 

If you wish to make a donation, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-her-honor-supporting-a-devoted-mother-teacher-coach 

By Steven Zaitz

The Ward Melville Softball team paid tribute to local military personnel, past and present in a pre-game ceremony on April 19 that was organized by their booster club and hailed as Military Appreciation Day. Before their game against the West Islip Lady Lions, about 15 military members from all branches of service​ took part in a ‘Tribute Walk’ that deployed the girls on both sides of the left field foul line as every honoree was introduced. They marched toward home plate, as their name, rank, branch and citations were announced to the applauding crowd.

Instead of donning their traditional green and gold, the Ward Melville Softball team wore special American flag-themed uniforms for the occasion that made note of the originally scheduled date of April 12. Due to inclement weather, the event was moved up by a week. Ward Melville won the game by a score of 11-1, as Julianna Russ pitched a complete game, striking out nine. The National Anthem was beautifully performed by sophomore infielder Coryn Rizzo and her sister Samantha served as honorary batgirl for the Lady Pats, who have won 4 of their last 5 and improved to 5-4 on the season. 

– Photos by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The game took 19 hours to complete, but the defending Long Island champion Commack Cougars baseball team took out the Ward Melville Patriots by a score of 8-3 this past weekend, April 11 and 12.

Suspended after 5½ innings due to darkness on Friday, April 11, Commack finished off the Patriots on Saturday despite gloomy weather conditions. Reliever Justin Pagan pitched a scoreless three innings to earn the win that improved the champion Cougars’ record to 5-1 and put them in a first-place tie in Division II with Connetquot. Ward Melville dropped to 1-2 after the loss.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, a two-run double by Pats third baseman Joe Karpowicz highlighted a three-run rally that tied the score at three. It stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Cougars broke the game open with a 5-run frame. Cougar centerfielder Anthony Antorino hit a two-run triple in that inning that made the score 6-3. They tacked on two more runs with the help of an infield error that allowed both Antorino and catcher Robbie Mascia, who reached on a walk, to score. Ward Melville reliever Dan Cornish was charged with four runs, three of which were earned, in that decisive frame. He suffered the loss.

Ward Melville committed three errors in the game, Commack committed none.

When the game resumed on Saturday morning, Sam Kay, brother of former Commack star and current Stony Brook pitcher Evan Kay, pitched the final inning and a third and struck out three batters.

Commack has won four straight Suffolk County titles and two straight Long Island Championships. During Spring recess, they will play nonleague games against St. Anthony’s and Longwood, resuming league play on April 22 against Lindenhurst.

Ward Melville plays a three-game set against those same Lindenhurst Bulldogs on April 14, April 15 and April 19.

Both teams wore military tribute-style uniforms for the game, with Ward Melville sporting a full camouflage top and Commack, whose school colors are black and gold, wore khaki green shirts.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

As sexton of the Trinity Episcopal Church, Yader Salgado has a lot of responsibilities and just as many keys on his oversized key ring to manage them. 

But as he ambles through the venerable building on Main Street in Northport early on a rainy Monday morning, he’s able to unlock every door he needs to, barely glancing at the massive collection of brass jangling from his belt. 

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

Despite being in the job for less than a year, Salgado has quickly learned how to take care of the church and its grounds as if he has been doing it for decades. Since returning to Northport in June 2024 from his native Nicaragua, he has become a beloved member of the church and the community.

But in late March, Salgado received a letter from the United States Department of Homeland Security informing him that his enrollment in the United States humanitarian parole program had been revoked and he, his wife and two children would have to leave the country by April 24. Many of the participants in this program, which allowed half a million people from countries like Ukraine, Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua to live in the United States temporarily but legally, are receiving these revocation letters.

The soft-spoken Salgado, who is from a town called Chacaraseca, about 50 miles northeast of the capital of Managua, was shocked when he received it.

“We were not expecting this letter,” said Yader (pronounced YAH-ther). “We’ve been trying so hard to do things right, writing letters to our sponsors and making sure that everything was fine with the immigration department. Then suddenly I just get this letter asking us to depart. We didn’t know what to do and we were very scared and afraid.”

Yader Salgado first came to the United States in the 1990s on a student visa sponsored by missionaries, one of whom was Peter White, a retired Northport High School teacher. Salgado then graduated from Northport High School in 1998 and went to Belmont Abbey College on a full scholarship. Upon graduation, he traveled back to Nicaragua, where he met his wife Sayda. The couple with their son Jesse, 20, and daughter also named Sayda, who is a current Northport High School freshman, came back to the United States this past summer on the two-year parole status. 

However, the letter from Homeland Security prematurely nullified the parole status after 10 months.

Father Andrew Garnett, who is the rector of Trinity Church, sprang into action upon hearing of this letter, initially taking to social media.

“Yader is the American Dream,” Father Andrew’s Facebook post read. “He and his family waited, worked and prayed for the chance to legally come to this country. From day one, he has been nothing but the best. His family is a shining example of what it means to be an American. He embodies the values of faith, family and hard work. To send him and his family away is not justice. It is a betrayal of the very principles upon which this nation was built.” The post ended with the hashtag of #saveyader. 

Father Andrew’s parishioners feel the same.

“This is a human who, with a leap of faith in our country, needed safety, and we offered it to him in Northport — both as a high school student and as a member of the Trinity community,” said Nadine Palumbo, a longtime educator in the Jericho Union Free School District and member of Trinity Episcopal Church. “As a teacher for 30 years, I stood and did the Pledge of Allegiance every day and that meant something to me. I know people have political differences, but when we talk about our basic principles, I think everyone can agree that this letter felt wrong on so many levels.”

Artists Bob and Nancy Hendrick, who are members of the church and also run the Trinity Community Art Center attached to it, have formed close bonds with the Salgados who live in the apartment above the art gallery.

“Yader and his family are a shining example of what it means to be part of our church family, where we support and uplift each other and their love and devotion inspire us to spread love and kindness wherever we go,” Bob Hendrick said. “We believe in treating each other with kindness and respect, embracing everyone in our community and beyond.”

Yader Salgado at the Northport Trinity Episcopal Church. Photo by Steven Zaitz

The sentiment started to snowball — at first within the confines of the church, then in the Village of Northport. It then began to radiate across Long Island and into New York City, as News12 and the other major local news outlets learned of the Salgados’ story. Yader and Father Andrew were on television all week and the unassuming sexton, who also works behind the deli counter at a local supermarket, was now a media sensation. 

With the publicity, a church connection to gain legal support and help from the Northport Mayor’s office, Yader was able to attain temporary asylum until his case is heard by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which could take up to three years. While the Salgados’ immigration journey is not over, they are out of immediate danger.

“These are the kind of people who we should be rallying behind,” Father Andrew said. “It’s not a left or a right or a center thing. It’s the correct thing.”

The Salgados appreciate the love and support.

“Everybody has been so warm and welcoming to my family and me and I like Northport a lot,” Yader said.  “A lot of people have supported me and a lot of people just really like me even if they don’t know me, they want to know who I am. I’m happy to be part of this congregation of this church and part of this in a church family. I’m happy to be part of Northport.”

And Yader and his family would love to add one more key to his ring — the one that opens the door to permanent residence in Northport and the United States. 

By Steven Zaitz

Separated by a 10-yard, police-barricaded neutral zone, supporters of President Donald Trump (R) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk clashed with protesters at the Tesla dealership in Nesconset on Saturday, March 29.

It was the third time this month that marchers descended upon this Suffolk County dealership, located where the Smithtown Bypass meets Middle Country Road. However, in this instance, supporters of the Trump administration and the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency rallied in full force against the group that opposes both Trump’s and DOGE’s actions. 

The group supportive of Musk and Trump started to form at about 10:45 a.m. along the sidewalk on the south side of the Tesla lot. Gigantic American and Trump-themed flags, some as large as a small swimming pool, were tied to utility poles and monster trucks, needing a crew of four or five to erect each of them. 

Approximately 100 Trump/Musk supporters gathered within 30 minutes, but on the north end, nearer to Middle Country Road, Trump/Musk opposers numbered fewer than 10 in the beginning.

Also present were 15 to 20 Suffolk County police officers who monitored both groups, while also assisting and directing Tesla employees and customers with their automotive concerns.

A little before noon, members of both groups gravitated to the metal barricades that separated them and soon words zinged across the police barricades in both directions. The Trump/Musk supporters, many of whom were from Nassau County, passed around a megaphone to ask the other side why they are against “efficiency” in government, while Trump/Musk detractors decried the “clumsy” and “heartless” methods DOGE has used to fire thousands of government workers across the country. 

As this verbal sparring went on and the Trump/Musk opposition side grew in numbers to roughly 50, still a significant reduction from the hundreds at the March 1 rally that was part of the same movement, one supporter of Trump/Musk made her way under the yellow police tape to the opposite side, desiring to peacefully discuss her group’s causes. 

Identifying herself only as Alex R., she rotated around and spoke to anyone who would listen, engaging with liberal-minded locals, young and old, in a spirited but mostly peaceful way.

“I start and end with respect,” said Alex, who moved from New York City to Suffolk County a few years ago. “I don’t think being an extremist on either side is helpful in getting anyone’s point across. I’m very sociable, I’m very friendly, I’m not gonna walk up and say, you’re a clown because that’s not gonna open the conversation in a positive way.”

Alex, who is in her 40s, was the exception on Saturday, as the police made sure members were encamped properly throughout the day. The Trump/Musk group, organized largely by the America First Warehouse Facebook group, swelled to about 150 at its peak. Armed with the only megaphone on either side, they crammed up against the barricade hurling epithets that were not only political in nature but also personally derogatory with regard to the physical appearance and other insults that were in opposition to the statements made by Alex R. 

Trump/Musk opposers had signs denouncing the pair as backers of Russia and Nazism. A few in the crowd wore face stickers that read “F Elon and the FELON.”

As a part of Tesla Takedown day, this protest was one of over 200 that took place in the U.S. and 500 internationally on Saturday in places such as Miami, Washington, D.C., Seattle, London, Paris and Berlin.

Back in Nesconset, there was a moment when both sides ceased hostilities, but very briefly. The Trump/Musk supporters’ public address system played 1970s hit and Trump anthem “YMCA” by the Village People, and at that moment, the two sides, perhaps not realizing it, danced and formed the letters of the song title among themselves, taking a break in shouting at each other.

When the song was over, they resumed shouting until the rally broke up a few hours into an unseasonably warm afternoon. As we approach the spring and summer months and tensions persist, similar rallies — with representation from both sides — are likely to become more frequent, not just in Suffolk County, but around the world.

By Steven Zaitz

As brush fires swept across Suffolk’s South Shore this past weekend, passions flared along Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station, where nearly 500 women, men, and children gathered for ‘The War on Our Rights’ rally, part of the global observance of International Women’s Day.

At noon on March 8, a fervent crowd—spanning generations, as well as genders —assembled at the intersection of Routes 347 and 112. Undeterred by the blustery conditions, demonstrators packed the sidewalk three, four, and even five people deep, stretching down to Canal Road. These local voices joined a far-flung chorus of approximately 300 protests across the U.S, alongside rallies as far away as Spain, Turkey, France, and Nigeria.

While scattered individuals had their own divergent agendas, the overwhelming sentiment of the crowd coalesced around a singular theme — deep-seated disdain for the Trump administration and concerns over its impact on women’s issues.

Shannon Russo, a 28-year-old social worker from Port Jefferson Station, organized the rally with a careful balance in mind: projecting an uplifting and empowering message for women while also underscoring the potential harm another Trump term could inflict on women’s rights and autonomy.

“Everyone at the rally stuck to the facts of what’s going on politically,” Russo said. “It’s difficult to not involve Trump because he’s directly putting people’s lives in danger with recent policies so I think these two concepts are currently very much intertwined. The key difference of our rally was we were peaceful, inclusive and supportive. The ”red side” of Long Island typically is not.”

In the 2024 election, Trump won Suffolk County with 54% of the vote over then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Seven weeks after his inauguration, his policies are sparking concern, and the crowd was not hesitant to speak out against them.

Some of the more pointed signs carried by marchers read “Respect my Existence or Expect my Resistance” and “Angry Women will Change the World.”  Others struck a softer tone like “Hate Won’t Make Us Great,” “Strong Women, Strong World.” and one that simply read “Unity.” Multiple posters read, “My Body, My Choice,” a slogan woven into the fabric of the feminist movement since the 1960s.

Evoking the spirit of that very era, a megaphone wired to a small amplifier carried Russo’s voice — and those of other speakers — who urged the crowd to never stop fighting for their rights. Between speeches, songs like Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman” anthem and Carole King’s “A Natural Woman” crackled through the amp seemingly on a two-song loop, as some in the flower-power-styled crowd swayed and danced nearby.

Sarah Friedman, of Setauket and a 2019 graduate of Ward Melville High School and her sister Maggie, currently a senior there are proud to be a part of the younger generation of louder, female voices.

“We are all proud to be out here for social justice and it’s important to stand up for our marginalized communities and the people who don’t have voices,” said Friedman, 24. “I’m glad that so many of us have enough time during the day to come out here on a Saturday, and shove signs in peoples’  aces who definitely don’t want to see them or us. We have seen our share of middle fingers and stuff like that from cars that pass by, but that’s okay.” 

Her sister Maggie, 18, was undeterred. 

“Women have voices and nothing is ever going to change that. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere!”

Although about 80-85% female, the men in the crowd were also eager to champion their causes.

The father-son team of Clark and Luke Blanton of Mount Sinai are deeply concerned about potential Medicaid budget cuts, which could directly impact Luke, who has special needs. He takes art, music and kickboxing classes at Blue Umbrella Experiences in Smithtown and volunteers at the Branches Food Pantry in Middle Island. 

“I play keyboards and sing lead vocals,” said Luke. “I love volunteering at the food pantry as well and I’m proud to be out here marching for women’s day.”

Clark Blanton, Luke’s dad, has watched the budgetary fight in Congress very closely.

“Funding for what keeps Luke active in the community all comes through Medicaid,” said the elder Blanton. “Our congressman, LaLota [Nick LaLota (R-NY 1], voted to pass a budget to potentially cut $880 billion out of Medicaid. Is this going to come from a program that has to do with my son? Chances are the answer is yes. That’s why we are out here.”

As it was her first time in the top job as organizer of the project, Russo was pleased at not only the number of marchers she was able to muster, but the spirit that they brought with them.

“This is my first time doing this, but I feel like the energy of everybody is making me feel good,” Russo said. “I couldn’t have done it without the moral support of Skyler Johnson, who is the Chair of Suffolk Young Democrats, my family, colleagues and friends. I’ve never hosted or organized a rally before, but I assisted colleagues with a few over the years. I’ve attended rallies in support of Women’s Rights and the Black Lives Matter movement.  It was so important for me to do something to connect and support women on International Women’s Day. It feels so empowering to stand with so many passionate women — and men — in solidarity.”

Senior Sofia Vasselman of Commack, here defended by Madlyn Kalb, was held to 12 points in the Lady Cougars playoff loss to Huntington. Vasselman, the Cougars leading scorer, was cleared to play by a judge after being suspended by Section XI for committing two intentional fouls in Commack's regular season finale vs. Bay Shore on February 7th. Photo by Steven Zaitz

Throughout her five-year career as a Commack Cougar basketball star, Sofia Vasselman will tell you that her life has been filled with a bounty of Mudita.

One of the most prominent tenets of Vasselman’s life is based upon the ancient Sanskrit concept of finding joy in the success of others called Mudita. With her 1,000-point high school career speeding toward its final chapter, getting the opportunity to step on the court Thursday, Feb. 27,  in the Suffolk quarterfinals against Huntington brought pure joy and contentment for everyone inside the Commack Varsity Basketball program.

“What the Commack girls basketball team has given me is really indescribable,” said the Geneseo-bound and two-time league MVP Vasselman in an interview after the game.  “The relationships and bonds I have made playing this sport is incomparable because this team and school are my family.”

Vasselman, who was fourth in scoring in Suffolk County this year and averaged nearly 20 points a game, was initially suspended for this playoff game by a Section XI rule that states a player who commits two intentional fouls in the same game will be ejected and ineligible for the team’s next contest. Vasselman was called for two intentional fouls in Commack’s regular season finale against Bay Shore on Feb 7. She would not be allowed to play for the fourth-seeded Cougars in the quarterfinal game against Huntington.

She sought a restraining order to overturn the suspension.

Vasselman’s case became the third in a spate of high-profile high school athletic court cases this month in Suffolk County. Two weeks earlier, six Northport wrestlers were suspended from the postseason for a rules violation but were reinstated; and legendary long-distance runner Zariel Macchia from Longwood was also ruled ineligible from New York State competition because she competed against college athletes earlier in the year. Macchia will not participate in the state tournaments but will be eligible to run for the Lions in the spring.

Vasselman won her case and the Cougar Mudita had been restored. The Commack community that she loves was behind her every step of the way, and Vasselman wanted them to know that she gives it right back.

“The community’s support during this time is something I will never forget and I really do appreciate from the bottom of my heart,” said Vasselman. “This is the main reason I love Commack basketball and the fans and the great people that come with it.”

Her teammates’ support never wavered.

“Sofia is an amazing player and captain,” said junior forward Gianna Solch. “She is an unbelievable leader for this team and she pushes everyone else around her to be their best selves. Over the years, she has helped me to develop more confidence in myself and my game and helped me to build new friendships that have made the girls on this team my best friends. She is a true leader, a wonderful friend, and someone who has made a huge impact on my life. When she was cleared to play, I was so, so happy for her and the team.”

With a victory in the courthouse and the team Namaste whole again, it was time to chase another win on the court. But the upstart Huntington Blue Devils stood in their way.

In the moments before tipoff, the support Vasselman felt transformed into a deafening din of noise and anticipation. The Commack High School gym, which is one of the most acoustically intense arenas on Long Island, was ready to have its roof blown off.

Half of this noise came from Huntington’s cheering section, which made it clear that they had very little love in their collective heart for Vasselman, going decibel for decibel with the hometown Cougar crowd. First-year Huntington coach Perry Marinelli and his fifth-seeded Lady Blue Devils had a plan of attack for Vasselman.

“Sofia is a great player,” said Marinelli. “So we threw a bunch of different defenders and looked at her to try to keep her off balance.”

This seemed to work.

Vasselman hit an early layup, but from there, Huntington’s defense smothered her. Rotating double teams, they denied her the ball, forcing her to the perimeter and choking off any clear path to the rim. She was held to just six points in the first half on two for 11 from the field and zero for five from the three-point range. Huntington junior guard Jolie Weinschreider was one of several defensive attack dogs assigned to keep Vasselman away from the hoop.

“Playing Sofia is tough,” said Weinschreider. “They were setting picks for her, which I had to constantly get around. I watched her hips while face guarding, which helped me significantly and I stayed low so I wouldn’t be faked out by all her moves. When she got the ball, we knew to double-team her and shift our defense.” 

Huntington took a 16-11 lead into halftime. Junior guard Sabrina Boyle scored the first five points of the game, getting the all-blue Huntington cheering section out of their seats and into a full-throated roar that lasted the entire first half.

“It seems like our whole school came out for this one,” said Boyle who finished with 11 points. “The atmosphere in here was really electric and I think that really helped our team.”

In the second half, both offenses peaked out slightly from their shells. Huntington sophomore point guard Ava McDonald hit a lefty layup to push the Devil lead to seven; however, Commack junior forward Mia McBrien scored five consecutive points at the start of the third period that spearheaded a 12-2 run by the Cougars. After a made free throw by Vasselman, they led 23-20 with 1:18 left in the quarter and Marinelli took a timeout. Chants of “Let’s Go Commack” reverberated across Scholar Lane and could be heard up and down Indian Head Road.

When Commack senior guard Liliana Pettit hit a three-pointer from the wing, it gave her team a 26-21 lead, as the building shook with delight. But it would soon go suddenly silent.

McDonald, the underclassman floor general for Huntington hit on a driving layup to close out the scoring of this suddenly explosive third quarter, but when she came down, she rolled on the floor in pain, clutching her right leg. Marinelli and the Huntington training staff raced out to tend to McDonald, who was helped off the court several minutes later to polite applause. A mood shift was palpable in the arena as it appeared McDonald’s day was done.

With a big wrap around her thigh, McDonald re-entered with a little over five minutes remaining in the game and immediately made a deft pass to fellow sophomore Madyn Kalb for an easy layup to make the score 29-27.

“There was no way I wasn’t coming back in this game,” said McDonald. “I told Coach Marinelli that even if I play on one leg, I want to go back in. Make me a fake hamstring if you have to.”

She made a steal of the ensuing inbound and hit Kalb again for a breakaway layup to tie the score. This one was going down to the wire.

Boyle made a steal with Commack up one, sprinted coast-to-coast, and flipped the lead back to Huntington with 2:30 left. Solch hit a jumper for Commack for the 10th lead change of the game as this battle of punch-counterpunch continued deep into the final quarter.

However, Huntington would deliver the final two haymakers — one on offense, one on defense. With McDonald out of the game again, having her bandages redressed, Weinschreider inbounded to senior Lauren Donaghy in the corner. Falling off balance and nearly out of bounds, Donaghy buried a three to give Huntington a 38-36 lead with 1:25 left.

“I hadn’t taken a lot of threes all game and when it left my hand, I didn’t think it was going in,” Donaghy, who led all scorers with 13, said. “It changed my momentum and I think it changed the momentum of the game.”

Vasselman, who led the Cougars to the county finals last year against Walt Whitman, had 85 seconds to swing the mojo back. She pulled down a rebound and hit Solch with a perfect, three-quarter court dime, but Solch missed the layup that would have tied the score. 

Weinschreider sank one of two free throws, pushing Huntington’s lead to three with 21 seconds left. Vasselman, who only had one game in the regular season when she failed to hit at least one three-pointer, was zero for eight from long distance up to this point. Guarded both by Kalb and Boyle, Vasselman hoisted up a three-point attempt right in front of the Commack bench. It was an air ball. The loose ball was gathered up by 5-foot-7 Pettit, who had her shot from the corner blocked by the 5-foot-2, one-legged McDonald. The ball deflected into the front row of the now-celebratory Huntington cheering section. The McDonald block was the exclamation point on this game. The final score was 42-38.

“I don’t block a lot of shots, but after getting injured, I just tried to keep my composure and do anything I could to win this game,” McDonald said.

“Ava is a captain as a sophomore, an emotional leader, and a huge part of what we do on both ends of the floor,” said Marinelli. “When she went down, I knew the girls would rally around her and step up. I was thrilled with how every one of our girls responded and kept their composure. We talked all week about focusing only on what we can control. This game is what high school sports are all about and this win felt great.”

For Vasselman, not so much, but she sees the bigger joy of being a Cougar, her Mudita undisturbed despite the heartbreaking loss in what is to be her game as a high school player.

“My goal at Commack was to leave my legacy and that’s what I feel I have done,” said Vasselman who finished with 12 points in her final game. “I will miss being a part of this team forever and I hope that I have shown the younger players what it means to be on this team and how special it really is. Coaches Moran, DelliSanti and Whitaker helped me become a player and a person who wants to reach the best of my ability and I will always be thankful for them.”

Huntington faced top-seeded Brentwood in the semifinals on Wednesday, March 5, at Comsewogue High School. Results were unavailable at press time.

By Steve Zaitz

The Huntington girls basketball team scored a 51-37 victory over Smithtown East last Thursday, Feb. 6 in the regular season finale for both teams.

Senior guard Sabrina Boyle had 20 points and senior forward Lauren Donaghy had 16 to lead the Lady Blue Devils to the win.  Improving to 9-3 in conference play, they finished tied for second place in League III with Hills East. The Suffolk County playoffs begin on Feb 13.

Smithtown East finished the season at 8-11 and did not qualify for the playoffs. Freshman guard Ava Giordano had 17 points for the Lady Red Bulls.

By Steven Zaitz

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Northport High School wrestler Kingston Strouse was playing his saxophone in 9th period band class when the senior was asked to report to Athletic Director Mark Dantuono’s office.

When he arrived, he found his coach of four years, Thad Alberti, sitting in that office stone-faced and glum.

Alberti informed Strouse, who is ranked first in his weight class in Suffolk County, that due to an administrative error, he, along with five of his teammates, were ruled ineligible for post-season competition. There would be no League Championships, which was just days away, for Strouse and his mates.

That was the first domino — without Leagues, there was no path to Suffolk County or State championship tournaments.

As per New York State Public High School Athletic Association policy, a wrestler who exceeds the maximum number of tournaments, which is six, is ineligible for the remainder of the season and the coach of the wrestler is suspended from the team’s next two scheduled competitions. The reason for the rule is that wrestlers accumulate points over the course of the season and a wrestler who participates in extra matches will have potentially gained more points than his competitors.

“When I was first told the news, I remember being shocked, but I don’t think I had a single ounce of hate or a single ounce of regret for anything that had happened,” Strouse said. “I just remember feeling bad for my coach because he was sitting there and he just looked devastated. I was more concerned about how other people were feeling about the situation and I thought that if we really were together, we could get it overturned. I knew we were going to put up a fight about this.”

His teammates were more concerned about Strouse.

“Kingston is our leader and being that he’s a senior, I really felt terrible for him,” said teammate Peyton Hamada, who was one of the six also suspended. “I was more upset for him than I was for myself.”

As of Wednesday night, the season was over for Strouse,  juniors Hamada and Lucas Rivera, sophomores Sebastian Stabile and Tyler Naughton and freshman Ryan Muller.

But it was Strouse– because of his top ranking in Suffolk County at 152 pounds, his stature on the team and his storied four-year career as a Northport wrestler –who became the face of this soon-to-be exploding media frenzy. The other kids will wrestle for Northport next year. Strouse will not.

The story was first reported by Newsday’s Gregg Sarra, who is the editor of the paper’s high school sports section. As of Feb. 6, he reported that the ‘Northport Six’ were disqualified, and as per Section XI Chief Tom Combs, the rule was clear-cut and the matter was now closed.

But the matter was not closed.

As social media became ablaze with the news, opinions for and against these Northport athletes being allowed to compete were split. Some were  compassionate, not wishing the boys to be punished for a mistake that they themselves did not make.

But others were unsympathetic, posting that Northport has to play by the rules like everybody else. One post on X read “typical Northport athletics, always breaking the rules and never paying for it. Mistake my (foot)”.

As the Long Island wrestling world debated, the guys on the team, the booster club and the Northport and wrestling communities banded together with a plan of action. They set up a GoFundMe page that raised nearly $9,000 to retain a legal team to fight this in the courts. Attorneys Anthony Camisa and James Pascarella, both former Long Islanders wrestlers, were brought in.

The group, including the six wrestlers and some of their parents, travelled to the courthouses in Riverhead on Friday and were able to appear before Suffolk County Justice of the Supreme Court Peter R. McGreevy on an emergency basis. The League III championships were going to start — with or without these guys — in less than 24 hours.

“I told the kids and the parents that all I can do is get you guys before a judge and once that occurs, nobody knows what will happen,” said Camisa, who was a wrestler at Longwood and University of Albany before he passed the bar exam.  “In this case, the kids did nothing wrong and not being able to wrestle would have caused them irreparable harm. I think that was the part of our argument that got us our stay.”

Strouse, who had been fighting a nasty cold all week, was ecstatic at the favorable result.

“When we got down there, it really seemed like we weren’t going to win the case and be able to wrestle,” said Strouse. “Everything was kind of stacked against us, so I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to the lawyers that were able to get this done. But I’m also grateful to the Northport community and the wrestling community as well. It’s a lot smaller than other sports and wrestlers back each other up. A lot of my friends from other schools on Long Island were reaching out to me, being supportive, and sending out our GoFundMe link. There are a lot of people to thank for this.”

It was now time to focus on wrestling

Strouse, still not at 100% strength due to his cold, now had to get ready for the match. He prowled around the Smithtown East gym with a hoody over his head, waiting for his turn.

When it came time, he beat both Andrew Schwartz of Newfield and John Zummo of Smithtown East handily but it would be close to three hours before his final match against North Babylon’s Jack Miller. He waited. He listened to his music. He took a nap in the bleachers until the match with Miller arrived.

Ahead in points for most of the contest, a sudden scramble at the beginning of the third period against Miller caused an awkward twist of Strouse’s left knee. As he lay face down on the mat, writhing in pain, it looked for sure that Strouse’s roller coaster week wouldn’t quite make it to its final turn.  His day seemed done.

With his coach, Chris Posillico, who filled in for the suspended Alberti, and Strouse’s worried mom Lori looking on matside, Strouse rose to his feet.

After a few flexes of his leg and a swig of water, the match continued.

“Yeah, it was bad,” Strouse said. “But it wasn’t structural, so it was just a matter of dealing with the amount of pain that we sometimes have to deal with in this sport.”

Strouse powered through, won the match 14-5, and this long, grueling, but ultimately satisfying week was finally done. However, his journey is not. Despite his lingering illness and the issue with his knee, Strouse will compete for a county championship this weekend at Stony Brook University.

“Everything I did on the mat today just didn’t feel right,” said Strouse. “Every shot I took wasn’t fast. My decision making wasn’t on. I just felt so foggy and weak.  Plus, I couldn’t breathe out of my nose. It seemed like everything was just stacked against me, but I got the job done, so I guess that’s all that matters.”

Yes, Strouse did his job on the mat, but without his eclectic crew of 11th-hour partners from all across Long Island, there would never have been a job for him to do.

By Steven Zaitz

John DeMartini, an educator in the Northport School district for more than half a century, has died at the age of 81. 

Larger than life, yet at the same time unassuming, DeMar, as he was known to everyone in his orbit, was a physical education teacher and Northport High School head baseball coach from the mid 1980s to 2018, won 350-plus games as Tiger skipper, but more importantly enriched the lives of countless students, families and fellow faculty over the course of his 57 year career.

Born in the Bronx, DeMartini moved to Westbury as a boy and attended W.T Clarke High School and then Adelphi University, where he was pitcher and an outfielder on the Panthers baseball team. In 1966, he became a teacher and basketball coach in the Northport-East Northport School District, taking over as Tiger head baseball coach in 1985; a position he held for 33 years until an issue with his heart required him to take an extended leave of absence.

Sean Lynch, an assistant coach at that time and one DeMar’s best friends, took over the team in 2019 as DeMartini recovered from his illness. The two men shared an office for 25 years.

“The most important thing that John took pride in, is the many great relationships that he built over the years and the impact that he had on so many lives,” Lynch said. His love for the kids and the people he touched so positively were always the most important thing to John over wins and losses, and I think that’s truly what his legacy is and will always be.”

One of those kids is NHS Class of 2019 Trent Mayer, who has recently begun a career in education as a teacher in the Franklin Square School District. He also serves as both the Northport Junior Varsity Boys volleyball and baseball coach.

“As I begin my journey as a physical education teacher and coach, I carry with me the invaluable lessons DeMar taught me,” said Mayer. “He always emphasized the importance of being myself and connecting with students. His last words to me were ‘kids don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.’ This has become my guiding principle. I aim to create a supportive environment where students feel valued and inspired and DeMar’s mentorship has shaped not just my career, but my outlook on life. I am grateful for his guidance and proud to continue his legacy.”

DeMartini’s legacy is multi-generational, as current Northport Baseball Booster Club president and baseball mom Noelle Hardick, Class of 1992, can attest. Her eldest son Thomas was the Tigers’ starting second baseman in 2024 and he graduated last spring. Michael Hardick, an outfielder, will graduate in 2026 and both Hardick boys started playing in summer baseball camps led by DeMartini when they were 5 years old

“Coach DeMartini has and always will be the heart and the face of Northport baseball,” Mrs. Hardick said. “He was the coach when I was a student there and was a huge part of not only the baseball team, but the whole school and community. Everyone in the Northport community knows DeMar. That’s something really special and it’s something that you can’t fake or make up. He was the most genuine, loving, kind and selfless person.”

One of DeMartini’s longest relationships was with legendary girls basketball coach Rich Castellano, who has over 750 wins in his career, many of which were witnessed by DeMartini, who was often perched behind the visiting team’s bench to watch Castellano’s girls do their thing.

The two men met in 1976 and quickly became close friends. In recent years, they were often spotted riding around the Northport campus in golf carts, ostensibly to monitor practices and games, but more often to spread good cheer to other student-athletes or anyone lucky enough to cross the path of their cart.

“I promised him that nobody is going to take his name of that golf cart,” an emotional Castellano said. “John’s heart was always with kids and his team, and he was just a good friend that way. The kids loved him for it. He was like a kindly grandfather to these kids and had a huge following. We all saw that when we dedicated the field to him and so many kids, event ones that graduated, made it back for that ceremony to celebrate not just the field-naming, but to celebrate the man.”

On a sunny Saturday morning in September of 2021, the NHS baseball field was named in DeMartini’s honor. Tiger baseball stars past and present came to the ceremony to reminisce, embrace DeMar and shake his hand, and then see his name across the top of the scoreboard in big block letters. 

Rows and rows of folding chairs were spread across the infield for family and VIPs as hundreds of students, parents and faculty cued both the foul lines from home plate to the outfield. Northport Athletic Director Marc Dantuano spoke, as did fellow coaches Jim DeRosa, Lynch and Castellano, along with a few former Tiger players. 

DeMar, the final speaker of the morning, was moved to tears as he finished his speech. As he stepped down from the podium, he doffed his cap to the crowd of close to 1,000.

“It’s always been his field,” said Lynch. “That ceremony just made it official. It was a great day.”

Class of 2023 grad John Dwyer, who played first base and catcher for Northport and is now playing baseball at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was at that ceremony. When the coach returned from his heart issue in 2019, he became the Tiger pitching coach and thus, he and Dwyer, along with the pitching staff, would spend a lot of time together trying to gameplan a way to get opposing hitters out.

“Coach DeMar was such a kind and extremely dedicated man, who put a tremendous amount of time and energy into the baseball program, the school, and the community as a whole,” Dwyer said. “He really cared about each person he encountered and looked to put a smile on their face with his great sense of humor.  He impacted so many people over the years and we’re all going to miss him a lot.”

One of the last conversations Lynch had with DeMartini was a few days before he passed. DeMar had developed a succession of ailments and did not fully disclose how serious they were, as he did not want anyone to worry. 

At the time, Lynch did not realize it would be their last conversation.

“My phone created a memory that day of a photo of DeMar and me, so I texted it to him. I thought it would raise his spirits,“ Lynch recounted. “As the conversation went on, he told me that he wasn’t sure that he would be able to get back this year to help out with the baseball team. He then said ‘Just make sure nobody forgets about me.’ I thought he was speaking in the context of this season, so I assured him that nobody was going to forget about him, and I told him that he would soon be back out there on his field where he belongs. That was the last conversation we had.”

Demar may no longer set foot on his namesake field, or sit in the dugout, or make a trip to the mound to give his pitcher an encouraging pat on the behind, but his legacy and impact on the Northport community will never fade from it.

John is survived by his sister, Lynn McDonald, and her husband, Stephen McDonald, along with his nephew Justin McDonald and his family, Erica (wife), Chloe (daughter), and Harper (daughter). In lieu of flowers, if you wish, you can make a donation to the Northport High School Baseball Booster Club, 9 Tanager Lane, Northport, NY 11768 – Checks should be made out to NHS Baseball Booster Club and in the memo line please write DeMar.