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Three Village Central School District Athletic Director Kevin Finnerty, left, and Legislator Steven Englebright, right, with the Ward Melville High School Cheerleading Team. Photo from Legislator Steven Englebright’s office
Legislator Steven Englebright (center) with Three Village Central School District Athletic Director Kevin Finnerty, left, Head Coach John Diel, second from left, members of the Ward Melville High School girls soccer team and Assistant Coach Louise Williams. Photo from Legislator Steven Englebright’s office
Three Village Central School District Athletic Director Kevin Finnerty with the Ward Melville High School Cheerleading Team. Photo from Legislator Steven Englebright’s office
Three Village Central School District Athletic Director Kevin Finnerty, Head Coach John Diel and Assistant Coach Louise Williams with members of the Ward Melville High School girls soccer team. Photo from Legislator Steven Englebright’s office

Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) honored two Ward Melville High School teams at the Legislature’s General Meeting on March 4.

On hand to receive proclamations from Englebright were the high school’s cheerleading and girls soccer team members. Both teams were recognized for their wins at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship games in November.

Cheerleading

The cheerleading team, coached by Head Coach Georgia Curtis and Assistant Coach Maggie Hurley, emerged as the 2024 Class A state Game Day Champions at a competition held at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on November 10. The team earned the state title with a 90.6. In March 2024, they also were the state champions after winning the Competitive Class A title.

“To the Ward Melville cheerleaders thank you for cheering on the Ward Melville Patriots football and basketball teams and for providing moral support to your fellow athletes,” Englebright said. “Most important of all, congratulations to all of you on your hard work and athletic accomplishments that make your school district and our county and community proud of each and every one of you.”

A few days after their trip to the County Legislature, the team traveled to the state championship in Binghamton, where they walked away the Competitive Class A champions once again.

Girls soccer

The Ward Melville Patriots Girl’s Soccer Team won the 2024 state Class AAA final, 1-0, at SUNY Cortland on November 17. The win was their third consecutive victory at the state championships.

In addition to winning the three state finals in a row, the team – led by Captains Maddie Costello, Breena Harrigan, and Sarah Jablonsky and coached by Head Coach John Diehl and Assistant Coach Louise Williams – hasn’t lost a game in three seasons. They completed the 2024 season, 20-0-1. According to Newsday records, the Patriots’ 63 games without a loss is a Long Island girls soccer record.

“The skillful seniors on this team will have wonderful memories of being part of a stellar team and leave a legacy that, I am confident, their younger counterparts will take good care of in upcoming seasons,” Englebright said.

 

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook men’s lacrosse team fell to Hofstra, 13-12, in double overtime in Hempstead on March 15. Several Seawolves contributed offensively, as five Stony Brook players paced the offense with two points apiece.

After the Pride tallied the game-opening goal, the Seawolves responded with a pair of goals from Richie Dechiaro and Collin Williamson to take a 2-1 lead with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter.

The Stony Brook advantage was short-lived, as Hofstra scored the game’s following three goals to take a 4-2 lead into the second.

The Seawolf attack rattled off two quick goals from Justin Bonacci and Dechiaro in the opening minutes of the second quarter to even things at four. The Pride answered with their lone goal of the second, giving them a 5-4 lead heading into the locker room.

Like the previous quarter, Stony Brook opened the third with two goals, this time from Ray O’Brien and Carson Boyle, evening things at six-all.

After a goal from Hofstra put the Pride back in front, Stony Brook scored four out of the next five goals as the game headed to the fourth with the Seawolves up 10-8.

The Pride scored two quick goals early in the fourth to even things at 10-10 with 11:17 remaining. Both teams then traded two goals each to send the game to overtime with a 12-12 scoreline.

Following a highly contested first overtime, Hofstra’s John Madsen buried the sudden-death winner with 1:59 to play in double overtime.

Up next, the team will stay on the road, traveling to Maryland to take on Towson on March 22 at noon.

 

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Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournament held at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, on March 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District
Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournamentheld at Smithtown High School East and in honor of former student, Valerie Kratochvil, onMarch 5. Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District

The Smithtown Central School District community came together on March 5 to honor the memory of beloved student, Valerie Kratochvil, who passed away in 2024.

Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournament at Smithtown High School East, featuring former field hockey and track teammates of Valerie, as well as athletes from Smithtown High School West. 

Valerie was involved in field hockey, track, the club Athletes Helping Athletes and was an All-County musician.  

The Smithtown High School East Chamber Choir started the event with a beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” East student Maggie Worontzoff addressed those in attendance. “Let’s play today with the same passion and spirit that Valerie had, and let’s carry her spirit with us always,” she said.

A raffle was held with all proceeds benefitting the Kratochvil family.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook softball fell to Delaware, 9-3, on March 15. The Seawolves were leading entering the bottom of the fifth, but the Blue Hens scored seven times to flip the script and beat Stony Brook.

Stony Brook opened the scoring in the top of the first. Naiah Ackerman was hit by a pitch, moved up to third on an Alyssa Costello double and then scored on a Madelyn Stepski groundout.

Madelaine Male started for the Seawolves, retiring Delaware in order in the bottom of the first after being staked to a lead.

The Blue Hens took a lead in the second inning after a two-run homer with two outs in the frame.

Ackerman singled and Stepski walked in the third inning, but the frame ended when Ackerman was thrown out trying to score the tying run on a Crimson Rice single.

After another 1-2-3 inning for Male, Stony Brook’s offense pushed some more runs across. Kyra McFarland hit a two-out, two-run double that scored Marissa Thalassinos and Emma Scheitinger to give the Seawolves a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

McFarland’s double chased Delaware’s starter. The Blue Hens went to Billie Kerwood and despite loading the bases, Kerwood escaped the fourth without any more damage.

Male cruised through the fourth inning, maintaining Stony Brook’s lead, but ran into trouble in the fifth. A walk and a single put two runners on with one out, and it was a three-run blast that put Delaware ahead by two runs and forced Male out of the contest.

Jordyn Fray entered in relief of Male, but registered just one out and exited after allowing a three-run double on a misplayed ball in the outfield.

Gabrielle Maday finished the inning, retiring the only batter she faced. Delaware led 9-3 after five innings, scoring seven times in the frame.

The Seawolves’ offense went down in order in the sixth and seventh, falling for the second straight day to Kerwood and the Blue Hens.

Up next, Stony Brook and Delaware wrap up the series tomorrow, March 16 with first pitch slated for noon from the Delaware Softball Diamond.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook softball dropped the series opener to Delaware, 5-1, on March 14 in Newark, New Jersey. Naiah Ackerman was responsible for driving in the Seawolves’ lone run of the contest.

Alyssa Costello singled with one out in the first after Ackerman worked a four-pitch walk, putting two runners on for the Seawolves in the opening frame. Delaware’s Billie Kerwood escaped the inning by striking out the next two batters.

Gabrielle Maday surrendered a lead-off homer, but responded by retiring the next three hitters.

Delaware added two more runs on another homer in the second inning. Maday exited the contest after walking the next hitter, giving way to Crimson Rice, who stranded a pair of runners to finish the frame.

Kyra McFarland led off the third with a walk and then came around to score on Ackerman’s single into center, getting Stony Brook on the board. Kerwood struck out the next three to strand Ackerman in scoring position and maintain a two-run cushion.

Delaware’s offense got the run back, plus another, with its third home run of the game.

Stony Brook put a runner on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but could not push across a run.

Kerwood finished what she started, retiring the side in order in the seventh to earn a series-opening victory over the Seawolves.

“Tough start to what we knew was going to be a challenging series for our young team. We didn’t trade punches with them offensively as we are capable of doing, and that momentum was missing,” head coach Megan T. Bryant said.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

Despite scoring in each of the first five innings, the Stony Brook baseball team was unable to hold off Seton Hall’s late surge, falling 8-6 on March 15 at Joe Nathan Field. The Pirates plated three runs across the final three innings to even the series at 1-1

Right-hander John Rizzo took the mound for Stony Brook and worked around a first-inning threat, inducing a double play to end the frame.The Seawolves wasted no time getting on the board, as Evan Goforth launched a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first for an early 1-0 lead.

Seton Hall responded with three straight singles in the second to tie the game at 1-1, but Rizzo escaped further damage by striking out three consecutive batters to leave the bases loaded.

In the bottom half, Chanz Doughty and Cam Santerre worked walks before executing a double steal. The Seawolves capitalized on a Seton Hall balk to regain the lead, 2-1.

The Pirates countered with a power surge in the third, blasting two home runs as part of a three-run inning to take a 4-2 advantage.

Stony Brook cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third when Goforth led off with a double, Paulsen walked, and Nico Azpilcueta lifted a sac fly to make it 4-3.

Seton Hall tacked on another run in the fourth with an RBI single, extending their lead to 5-3.

The Seawolves answered once again, as Santerre singled and later scored on a Nick Solorzano base hit to pull within 5-4.

Reliever Ryan Dieguez entered in the fifth and stranded a runner at second to keep the game within reach.

Johnny Pilla delivered the equalizer in the bottom half, crushing a solo home run to left field, knotting the score at 5-5.

Micah Worley worked a perfect sixth out of the bullpen, but Seton Hall regained the lead in the seventh with an RBI single to center, moving ahead 6-5.

The Pirates added two insurance runs in the eighth to stretch their lead to 8-5.

Stony Brook kept battling in the bottom of the frame as Solorzano led off with a single, Goforth followed with his fourth hit of the game, and Paulsen delivered an RBI single to make it 8-6.

Matthew Canizares took the mound for Stony Brook in the ninth and retired the first two batters before allowing a double. He stranded runners on the corners to keep the deficit at two, but the Seawolves were unable to rally in their final at-bat.

Up next, the team will look to claim the series victory in the rubber match against Seton Hall on March 16 at Joe Nathan Field. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m., with live coverage available on FloBaseball.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics
Right-hander Eddie Smink allowed just one run over 5.2 innings, and Chanz Doughty delivered the tying and go-ahead RBI hits to power Stony Brook to a 7-3 victory over Seton Hall on March 14 at Joe Nathan Field. The Seawolves took the opener of the three-game series.

Smink got off to a strong start, retiring the first two batters of the game before Seton Hall recorded back-to-back hits. However, Matt Miceli made a defensive stop to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.The Seawolves got a hit from Erik Paulsen in the first but couldn’t push a run across.

Smink tossed a perfect second inning, striking out one, while Matthew Jackson ignited the offense with a one-out single in the bottom half. He proceeded to steal second and third, but Seton Hall escaped unscathed with an inning-ending popup.

The Pirates broke through in the third with a two-out walk followed by an RBI single, taking a 1-0 lead.

Smink worked out of trouble in the fourth, inducing an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners. Stony Brook capitalized in the bottom half as Jackson walked, stole second, and scored on a clutch RBI single from Doughty to tie the game at 1-1.

After Smink stranded a runner at second in the fifth, the Seawolves threatened with a walk from Miceli and a double from Evan Goforth, but a baserunning miscue allowed Seton Hall to escape.

George Adams entered with two on in the sixth and got a flyout to end the Pirates’ rally.

In the bottom half, Nico Azpilcueta worked a walk, and Jackson advanced him with a sacrifice bunt. Doughty came through again, driving in Jackson with an RBI single. A wild pitch moved Doughty to third, and Cam Santerre extended the lead to 3-1 with an RBI groundout.

Adams stranded a leadoff double in the seventh, and the Seawolves broke the game open in the bottom half with a four-run outburst. Three consecutive walks to Goforth, Paulsen, and Johnny Pilla loaded the bases. Jackson singled home Goforth, Doughty drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Paulsen, Santerre plated another run on a fielder’s choice, and Jackson later scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-1.

Seton Hall trimmed the lead with a solo homer in the eighth, but Adams responded by striking out the next three batters. He allowed another solo shot in the ninth but struck out the final batter to seal the 7-3 win.

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Alyssa Lorefice banks two for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West senior Kate Braun drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Loose ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West’s Catherine Piccininni shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West senior Kate Braun nails a three-pointer for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West’s Catherine Piccininni sets the play for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West senior Rosa Pistone passes to an open shooter. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West’s Bella Marciano shoots for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon
Kate Braun scores for Smithtown West. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West’s Catherine Piccininni lays up for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown West’s Ashley Mennella banks two for the Bulls. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Having managed a come from behind win in the Suffolk County semi-final round against Centereach the previous week, the Bulls needed that same magic for the Class AA final when they faced the Hurricanes of Westhampton at Farmingdale State College on March 9. There would be no magic as the Bulls stayed within striking distance, but a dominant Westhampton defense kept Smithtown West at bay for the 54-40 victory.

Two juniors topped the scoring chart for the Bulls with Alyssa Lorefice notching 11 points and Catherine Piccininni added 10.

Seniors Kate Braun and Rosa Pistone concluded their varsity careers netting 9 points and 2 points respectively. 

The Bulls finished their 24-2025 campaign with an impressive 17-3 record and with it a league IV championship.

— Photos by Bill Landon     

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Meet your Suffolk Class A champions. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai point guard Mia Betancourt banks two for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Sophia Caruso looks for an open shooter. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai point guard Mia Betancourt scores for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Sophia Caruso banks two for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
The Stable. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior forward Kyla Orlando banks two for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory is near. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Sophia Caruso lays up for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
The Stable. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai sophomore Alexa Cergol drives the lane for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai point guard Mia Betancourt goes to the rim for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Sophia Caruso shoots for the Mustangs. Photo by Bill Landon
The Stable. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory is near. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory is near. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory. Photo by Bill Landon
Victory. Photo by Bill Landon
Meet your Suffolk Class A champions. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Mount Sinai, the No . 2 seed, earned a bye in their Suffolk County playoff run picking off Kings Park on March 3, to advance to the county final on March 9 where they squared off against Islip, the No. 4 seed, and would trail the Buccaneers the entire way until the 3-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Deadlocked at 37-37 with 3:52 left in regulation, it was the Mustang defense that answered the call, holding Islip to just 5 points in the final 8 minutes of play, allowing the Mustangs slowly slip away to capture the Class A title 47-40, at Farmingdale State College.

Mount Sinai’s Mia Betancourt, a junior, led the way for the Mustangs with 10 field goals and 6 free throws for a team high 26 points. Senior forward Kyla Orlando finished with 8 points and Alex Cergol, the sophomore, netted 6.

The win lifts the Mustangs to the Long Island Championship round where they will face Wantagh the No. 2 seed (22-2) on March 15 again at Farmingdale State College. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased here: https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI.

— Photos by Bill Landon

 

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uard Elijah Olaniyi in action against Yale on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. Olaniyi passed away on Thursday, Feb. 27 after a battle with brain cancer. Photo by Emma Harris/Statesman file

By George Caratzas 

Elijah Olaniyi, a former star for the Stony Brook University men’s basketball team died on Thursday, Feb. 27 after an on-and-off battle with brain cancer. He was 26.

More than 15 months ago, Olaniyi was diagnosed with a tumor on the right frontal lobe of his brain. After undergoing three different surgeries to remove it, it was revealed that the tumor had been cancerous. Olaniyi went through radiation therapy and declared himself cancer-free on Feb. 27, 2024. Late in 2024, Olaniyi was once again hospitalized, as the cancer returned.

Olaniyi was recruited out of Newark East Side High School in Newark, N.J., and lost his mother, Ruth Olaniyi, just two days after arriving at Stony Brook in 2017. Across four years with the Seawolves, Olaniyi distinguished himself as one of the best players in program history, averaging 12.2 points per game.

Nonetheless, he excelled on the court, serving as the sixth man for the Seawolves as a freshman. Appearing in every one of Stony Brook’s 32 games, Olaniyi averaged 7.8 points per game, on the way to being named the America East Conference’s Rookie of the Year.

He then took the next step forward as a sophomore, becoming a full-time starter and continuing his dominance. His production jumped, as he averaged 12.3 points per game and was named to the All-America East Third Team in the 2018-2019 season. His junior year proved to be his most fruitful, as he averaged 18.0 points per game. After his stellar 2019-2020 campaign, he was awarded with a selection to the All-America East First Team. 

The next year, Olaniyi took his talents south, transferring to the University of Miami for his senior year. After moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Olaniyi still found some success as he was good for 10.5 points per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA gave Olaniyi an additional year of eligibility, which he used to return to the north shore of Long Island for a graduate season as he pursued a degree in Business Management. 

In his final year of college basketball, Olaniyi dealt with a knee injury which sidelined him in the third game of the Seawolves’ season. Even upon returning to the court, Olaniyi took time off throughout the year to deal with mental health issues, something doctors later attributed to the tumor which they believe began to form during the 2021-2022 season.

After leaving Stony Brook, Olaniyi moved overseas, where he tried launching a professional career with the Basket-Ball Club Sparta Bertrange in Luxembourg. He played well in Europe during the 2022-2023 season, but was forced to medically retire on Dec. 6, 2023. 

In a statement to Stony Brook’s Statesman, Stony Brook Athletics said “We are completely shattered by the news of Elijah’s passing. Not only was Elijah a beloved member of our Seawolves family, he was a son, brother and friend who gave so much of himself to so many. Throughout his battle with cancer, he displayed the competitiveness and courage that he displayed on the basketball court. Although Elijah’s brave fight has peacefully come to an end, his legacy and the memories he left behind will endure forever.”

During their game against Hofstra the night of his passing, current members of the Seawolves wore a heart-shaped patch with the letter “E” in the center in Olaniyi’s honor. In emotional fashion, Stony Brook won that game over its cross-island rival by a final score of 59-56. 

“It’s hard because those of us that know Elijah and were part of his career and life, it’s difficult because he’s a kid, he’s a young man,” head coach Geno Ford said in a postgame press conference. “We knew it was coming because he had been battling this illness. He hung in there way longer than what was advertised, which was no shock because of the competitor and a warrior he was as a player.”

Olaniyi is survived by his father Festus, and five siblings: Samson, Gabriel, David, Esther and Hannah. 

George Caratzas is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

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