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Sean Cogan drives to the basket against North Babylon. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Brody Gazzo hits a short jumper. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Owen Boylan gets some air for two points. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Patrick Gimpel hits game-winning shot for Northport. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

The Northport Boys Basketball team earned their first league win on Thursday, Dec. 12, on the road against North Babylon — but it certainly wasn’t easy.

Down by as many as 12 points to the Bulldogs, Northport came storming back with a dominant 17-9 4th quarter. But after a free throw by North Babylon guard Kameron Quinn, the Tigers were down by one point with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Northport elected not to take a timeout and guard Shamus Burke rushed the ball up court and gave it to big man Sean Cogan in the corner. Double-teamed, Cogan handed it off to senior guard Patrick Gimpel, who drove diagonally through the lane and threw up a right-handed scooping layup that evaded the outstretched block attempt by North Babylon’s Logan Artherly. It gave Northport a 49-48 win and stopped the Tigers three -game losing streak.

Gimpel scored all 11 of his points in the second half — obviously none bigger than his last-second game winner. Senior forward Owen Boylan led the Tigers with 13 and Cogan had 10. Brody Gozzo had 9 and Burke 8.

Northport began its comeback when they scored 7 straight points midway through the third quarter. Boylan hit a short jumper in the lane and Gimpel spun out of a pick and roll and scored on a nice feed from Cogan, as North Babylon committed three turnovers in a two-minute span in that third quarter which allowed Northport to sneak back in.

The final ten minutes were hotly contested before Gimpel scored the final bucket of the game.

Northport moved to 2-3 overall on the year and 1-1 in the newly configured Suffolk County League 3. They play league contests against Copiague and Huntington this week.

  • Photos by Steven Zaitz

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Comsewogue’s Keira Andresen (l) battles Quinlin Heilbron for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore Quinlin Heilbron battles down low for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jenna Greek drives the baseline for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Jenna Greek drains a triple for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue forward Vienna Guzman shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue forward Jaylynn Kirschenheuter shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Vienna Guzman banks two for the Warriors. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville head coach Kate Gordon confers with Julia Dank. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Julia Dank hits for three for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Julia Dank drives the lane for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Julia Dank fights to get a shot off with Comsewogue’s Vienna Guzman defending. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville freshman Addison Scott scores for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue point guard Jayla Callender nails a three-pointer. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Patriots of Ward Melville came calling on Comsewogue on Dec. 7, and the Warriors were able to stay toe-to-toe with their League I visitors, briefly taking the lead at one point in the non-league contest. The Patriots stretched their legs in the final eight minutes of play to edge the Warriors 51-41.

Julia Dank, the senior, led the way for the Patriots with three triples, a field goal and four from the free throw line for 15 points.

Jenna Greek inked a pair of three-pointers and three field goals for 12 points, and Addison Dellaporta banked 11.

Junior point guard Jayla Callender notched 14 points for the Warriors, and teammate Jalynn Kirschenheuter added 12.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

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Northport girls basketball vs. Smithtown East. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Hallie Gilmartin goes baseline on Carolyn Brennan. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport girls basketball vs. Smithtown East. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Jillian Ryan scores on an uncontested layup for Northport. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport girls basketball vs. Smithtown East. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Northport girls basketball vs. Smithtown East. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

Northport Senior forward Claire Fitzpatrick scored 20 points to lead the Lady Tigers to a 59-28 victory over Smithtown East on Tuesday night.

Fitzpatrick, who transferred back to Northport after a year at St. Mary hit on four of her seven three-point attempts and had 10 points in the first quarter to set the pace for the Tigers, who improved to 2-0 on the young season. Smithtown East drops their second consecutive game to even their record at 2-2. Senior Meredith Brennan led the Lady Red Bulls with eight points.

But it was Northport’s Fitzpatrick who set the pace, calmly hitting open jumpers and spinning in the lane to help open up a 23-9 early in the second quarter for the Tigers. The score would stay that way for a stretch of five minutes, as both teams played hot potato with the basketball — turning it over a combined nine times in the quarter. Northport would go into their halftime locker room leading 28-9, completely shutting out Smithtown East in the second quarter.

Tiger Sophomore guard Ava DeMarco nailed a pair of three in the third quarter and the Bulls had no answer for Northport’s physical style. Northport out-rebounded Smithtown East 32-22 for the game and the Tigers led 48-22 after Fitzpatrick hit a triple midway through the quarter — her fourth three-pointer of the game. 

DeMarco finished with 11 points and senior guard Hallie Gilmartin had 7, two of which came on a gorgeous reverse layup in the fourth quarter. Her sister, junior Grace Gilmartin had 2 points and 4 rebounds.

Northport 8th grader Lyla Quinn had five points, including a three-pointer. Brennan’s sister Carolyn, also in 8th grade, had 7 points for East. Junior Emily Giordano had six points and senior Isabella Moragiemos had five for the Lady Red Bulls.

Smithtown East will travel to Newfield on Dec. 12th to take on the Wolverines and Northport is home against North Babylon, also on Dec. 12th. 

The win was Northport Head Coach Rich Castellano’s 755th of his career — adding to his record of most wins in the history of girls high school basketball on Long Island.

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Newfield senior Marcus Petit Frere drives the lane for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Marcus Petit Frere drives the lane for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Ryan Hicks battles his way to the rim for Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach senior Haniel Merejo with a rebound. Photo by Bill Landon
Battle for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jay Deliat takes flight for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Aiden Ifill banks two for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach forward Michael Edmond Jr. drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jay Deliat banks two for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

This past Saturday, Dec. 7, when Centereach came calling on Newfield, their crosstown rival in a non-league boys basketball matchup, the Wolverines controlled the tempo of the game from the opening tipoff, as the Cougars found themselves down 19 points at the half. Newfield’s dominant defensive performance the rest of the way inked a 71-37 victory over their visitors.

Newfield senior Ryan Hicks topped the scoring charts for the Wolverines with 17 points, with teammate Aiden Ifill adding 16.

Centereach senior forward Michael Edmond led the way for the Cougars, hitting four three-pointers, a field goal and three from the charity stripe for 17 points.

The win lifts the Wolverines to 2-0, while the loss drops Centereach to 0-2 in this early season.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Kings Park 8th grader Riley Currier battles for the rebound. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park senior Gianna Zawol scores. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park sophomore Avery Brown lets a three-pointer fly. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River sophomore Shealyn Varbero shoots for the Wildcats. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River senior Alyssa Bell lets a three-pointer fly for the Wildcats. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River senior Haylie Abrams shoots from down low. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River senior Alyssa Bell banks two for the Wildcats. Bill Landon photo
Haylie Abrams (l) wrestles Emily Clemens for the rebound. Bill Landon photo
Shoreham-Wading River junior Anabel Keegan drives the lane for the Wildcats. Bill Landon photo
Jump ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Kings Park sophomore Avery Brown down low. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park 8th grader Riley Currier lets a three-pointer fly. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park freshman Addison Kelly lays up for two. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park senior Gianna Zawol battles down low. Bill Landon photo
Kings Park sophomore Maddie DiRusso lays up. Bill Landon photo

By Bill Landon

The last time Shoreham-Wading River squared off against Kings Park was back on Feb. 28, in the Suffolk County Class A, semi-final round, where the Lady Kingsmen defeated the Wildcats, concluding their 2023-24 campaign at Centereach High School.

The wound was still raw for the Wildcats who looked to avenge that season ending defeat in a home game on Monday, Dec. 9. The score was close in the first 12 minutes of play, when the Wildcats surged in the closing minutes of the opening half, netting 10 points to alter the rhythm of the game.

The Kingsmen rallied too, coming within 7 points, with only 3 minutes left in the game. But the Wildcats were able to arrest the onslaught, winning the game 43-33.

Shoreham Wading River opened their season with a pair of non-league wins against Sachem East and Hauppauge, a league victory against Miller Place. They look to be on solid footing for another run at the Suffolk Class A title.

— Photos by Bill Landon 

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Rocky Point’s Abigail Hansen battles her way to the basket against Davelyn Akpan in a non-league matchup. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point freshman Julianna Longo shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point freshman Giuliana Tocci with a baseline jumper. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point senior Jelissa Alba with a jumper. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Cee Cee Gregg lets a three-pointer fly. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore Davelyn Akpan battles in the paint. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point’s Carmella Motti blocks out Mya Quinones in a non-league matchup. Photo by Bill Landon
Battle for possession. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield junior Cee Cee Gregg scores. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point forward Kaleigh Moeller shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point junior Kaleigh Moeller banks two. Photo by Bill Landon
COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON
Rocky Point’s Madelyn Portes lays up for two. Photo by Bill Landon
Rocky Point freshman Julianna Longo shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore Madison Portelli from the free throw line. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jelissa Alba shoots. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore Davelyn Akpan drives the lane. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Rocky Point Eagles opened their 2024-25 girls’ varsity basketball campaign with a pair of non-league wins, defeating Deer Park and, with a swarming defense, downing Newfield 47-21 in a home game Tuesday. Dec. 3.

It was a three-point game after two quarters of play, but the Eagles’ defense kept the Wolverines in check, forcing turnovers and recording several blocked shots. Newfield struggled to gain traction in the final eight minutes, falling to 0-2 early in the season.

The Eagles will look to continue their winning ways when they open league play on Dec. 6, hosting Westhampton. Game time is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.

Newfield will also be back in action on Dec. 6, traveling to East Islip for another non-league matchup in search of its first win. Tipoff is at 5:45 p.m.

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Ward Melville’s James Reilly drives the baseline in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown East freshman JJ Polanco drives the baseline in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown East forward Zach Satchwill hits a three pointer in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Neelesh Raghurama banks two in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s James Reilly battles in the paint in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Logan Seta (l) battles Devin Saxon for possession in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Neelesh Raghurama splits a pair of defenders in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon.
Ward Melville’s James Coffey lets a three-pointer fly in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon.
Smithtown East senior Nico Skartsiaris lays up for two in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown East senior John Armes hits a three pointer in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown East senior Nico Skartsiaris goes to the rim in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Smithtown East senior Gjon Lleshaj hits a three pointer in a road game against Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Craig O’Neill (l) powers his way to the rim for Smithtown East as Ward Melville’s Danny Cornish defends. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Logan Seta with a rebound in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon
Craig O’Neill drives the lane for the Bulls in a season opening win over Ward Melville. Photo by Bill Landon
Neelesh Raghurama lets a three-pointer fly in a home game against Smithtown East. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Patriots of Ward Melville were no match for the visiting Bulls of Smithtown East in both teams’ season opener Saturday afternoon, where the Bulls broke out early in the opening quarter and never looked back, trampling the Patriots 77-39 in the non-league matchup Nov. 30.

Craig O’Neill, a junior, led the way for Smithtown East with seven field goals and five from the free-throw line for a team high of 19 points. Seniors Nico Skartsiaris netted 11 points, and Tom Fanning added 10.

Ward Melville senior Neelesh Raghurama topped the scoring chart for the Patriots, banking 10 points, and James Coffey, the freshman, notched nine.

Smithtown East retakes the court with another non-league game when they host William Floyd on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Ja’Quan Thomas was a handful for Ward Melville defenders all night, totalling 261 yards and five touchdown runs. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Joey Benedetto ran for 176 yards for Ward Melville. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville Senior DL Nate Wain (52) in pursuit of Floyd ball carrier. Photo by Steven Zaitz
William Floyd football vs. Ward Melville. Photo by Steven Zaitz
William Floyd football vs. Ward Melville. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

A cold and blustery night at LaValle Stadium on Saturday night, turned colder for the Ward Melville Patriots, as they were thumped by William Floyd 34-6 in the Suffolk County Conference I championship football game.

Floyd’s star running back Ja’Quan Thomas ran for 261 yards and five touchdowns and he delivered the keynote of the game, running for 45 yards on his first touch and then punching it in two plays later that gave the Colonials a 7-0 just three and a half minutes of the game. This  early display by the Colonial junior was a microcosm of what he has done to opponents all year – use both his  breakaway speed and bowling ball power to lead all of Long Island in rushing yardage with 2,322.

 Ward Melville sophomore QB Hudson Philbrick, who emerged as one of Suffolk County’s premier passers in 2024, was adversely affected by the stiff headwind at the start. The Patriots gained only one first down on their first two drives, and with good field position, Thomas took advantage on both occasions. He gave Floyd a 14-0 lead to close out the quarter and the Colonials had effectively landed the first two haymakers of the game. When Philbrick threw an interception on his third possession, Floyd looked to land another.

But something happened on the way to Thomas’s third trip to the end zone. Ward Melville’s sophomore Swiss Army Knife Joe Karpowicz, who plays defensive back, punter, kick returner, receiver, and running back, recovered a fumble in his own end zone that prevented Floyd from taking what might have been an insurmountable three-touchdown lead to start the second quarter.

With renewed vigor, aided and abetted by a 54-yard run by WM running back Joey Benedetto, Karpowicz ran in a direct snap from one yard out with eight minutes left in the second quarter. Benedetto finished the game with 176 yards on 28 carries – and in half where they thoroughly dominated territorially, Ward Melville went into the locker room with only a palatable 14-6 deficit.

The second half would prove much less palatable, especially the first 180 seconds of play

After recovering a fumble deep in Floyd territory on the opening kickoff, Philbrick threw his second interception of the night, and any momentum that Ward Melville mustered from their takeaway was snuffed out.

But things would get worse for the Pats very quickly.

On the next play from scrimmage, Thomas galloped 72 yards into the endzone for his third TD of the night and a 20-6 Colonial lead.

“Ja’Quan is a great player,” said Ward Melville DL Nate Wain. “He is different from the other backs that we have faced because he runs with both tremendous speed and strength.”

Thomas would show that power burst after Ward Melville fumbled the ensuing kickoff, barreling over would-be tacklers on a ten-yard run to get the ball to the one and then taking it in two plays later. In a flash, the score was 27-6 with less than three minutes gone by in the third quarter – and the rest of the game was rendered a freezing formality.

“All good things come to an end”, said the senior Wain. “We left it all on the field today and while we may have lost the game, we won in heart, unity, and brotherhood. Every step we took together and every challenge we faced, they made us stronger as a team and I think I can speak for all the seniors, when I say that we will remember these experiences forever.”

One of those positive experiences was the 22-21 victory over Floyd in the regular season and the two playoff wins this year that sent them to Stony Brook for the Suffolk County finals. But for this night, especially the 15 or so seniors who played in their final high school football game, it was much colder and sadder than the Patriots would have hoped.

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Ward Melville running back Joey Benedetto bolts out of the back field. Bill Landon photo
The Patriots take the field in the Suffolk Division I semi-final game Friday night. Photo by Bill Landon
Joey Benedetto eyes an opening for the Patriots in the semi-final round against Longwood. Bill Landon photo
Jesse Spronck sheds a tackler for the Patriots in the semi-final round against Longwood. Bill Landon photo
Ward Melville head coach Chris Boltrek. Bill Landon photo
Ward Melville quarterback Hudson Philbrick on keeper for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Joey Karpowicz eyes the end zone for the Patriots in the semi-final round against Longwood. Bill Landon photo
Joey Karpowicz lunges for the end zone for the Patriots in the semi-final round against Longwood. Bill Landon photo
Ethan Jargo splits the uprights for the Patriots in the semi-final round against Longwood. Bill Landon photo
Ward Melville quarterback Hudson Philbrick looks down field. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

No. 3 seed Ward Melville came calling on No. 2 seed, Longwood Lions, in Friday night’s Suffolk Division I football semifinals. It was a ground-and-pound battle where the Patriots nipped the Lions 14-7, punching their ticket to Saturday night’s championship final at Stony Brook University.

Longwood opened the scoring in the second quarter with a 29-yard breakaway run by Kalen Percer, but the Patriots answered in the closing seconds of the half when Joey Karpowicz plowed into the end zone on short yardage to knot the game at 7-7. Six minutes into the fourth quarter, Ward Melville running back Joey Benedetto, who piled up 186 rushing yards, punched one in on a four-yard run, and Ethan Jargo’s kick split the uprights for the 14-7 final.

Ward Melville (9-1) will square off against William Floyd (9-1) in the Suffolk Division I championship game at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.

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

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The Ward Melville cheer team celebrates after winning the Suffolk County championship on Nov. 10, 2024. File photo
Ward Melville QB Hudson Philbrick. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville's three-time New York state champion girls soccer team. File photo
Ward Melville Lady Patriots, three-time New York state champion girls soccer team. File photo
Ward Melville’s girls varsity soccer team, three-peat state champions. File photo
The Ward Melville boys volleyball team, two-time consecutive Long Island champions. File photo
Ward Melville’s 2024 Game Day state champion cheer team. File photo
The Ward Melville girls volleyball team competes at the Long Island championship in Wantagh. File photo
The Ward Melville boys volleyball team competes at the Long Island championship in East Meadow. File photo
The Ward Melville boys volleyball team competes at the Long Island championship in East Meadow. File photo

By Steven Zaitz

Undefeated seasons, long winning streaks and milestones? Check, check, and check.

Suffolk County crowns, Long Island championships, New York State supremacy and dominating dynasties? Yes, we’ve got those too.

It has been an unprecedented, exhilarating and ultra-successful fall season for the entire Ward Melville Patriot athletic program in 2024 — and the green and gold are not even close to being done.

In what stands as one of the most impressive athletic dynasties in New York State history, the Ward Melville Lady Patriot girls soccer program won its third straight New York State Championship on Nov. 17. The team traveled to SUNY Cortland and defeated upstate Arlington 1-0 in the tournament’s final match. Senior goalkeeper Kate Ronzoni made a lunging save on a penalty kick in the dying moments of regulation to preserve the win while Adriana Victoriano scored the game’s only goal in the 62nd minute. The Lady Patriots now boast a 63-game unbeaten streak and finished 2024 with a sparkling 20-0-1 record.

Both the boys and girls volleyball teams will compete in their respective State Championship tournaments after winning Long Island titles.

The boys secured their second consecutive Long Island Championship by defeating Massapequa in a five-set marathon in East Meadow on Nov. 15. They were led by senior Kyle Fagan, who earlier this fall recorded the 1,000th kill of his high school career. Now, the team heads to Albany to face upstate powers such as Penfield and Shenendehowa. After falling in the round-robin stage last year, the boys hope for a different result in 2024 bolstered by the valuable experience gained in 2023.

Fagan, who will attend Penn State next year, appreciates being part of Ward Melville’s winning tradition.

“It’s really cool being a part of a program that is so successful across the board. By being part of this program, it sets the expectation of excellence which I believe pushes its athletes and teams to work harder and do better. And so far, most teams have lived up to or exceeded these expectations,” he said.

The girls volleyball team will compete for a state title in Glens Falls this weekend against yet-to-be-determined opponents. Senior Emma Bradshaw, a Gettysburg College commit, led the team to victory over Plainview-Old Bethpage last week in Wantagh with 22 kills. The Lady Patriots dropped the first set, 22-25, but rallied to sweep the next three, 25-18, 25-23 and 25-20, earning a trip upstate. They remain flawless at 20-0 this season.

The football team advanced to the county final after two playoff wins. The Patriots will take a short trip to LaValle Stadium at Stony Brook University to face the William Floyd Colonials. The Colonials, talented and determined, are still smarting from a 21-20 loss to Ward Melville earlier this season. In that game, Floyd coach Paul Longo opted to go for a two-point conversion with no time left, but Ward Melville’s defense forced an incompletion, handing Floyd its only loss of the year and setting off joyous bedlam at Ward Melville stadium.

The Patriots reached the county final by defeating Longwood 14-7 last Friday, despite being dominated by the Lions in the regular season matchup 35-7. Sophomore quarterback Hudson Philbrick has been a key contributor this season, throwing 14 touchdown passes against seven interceptions. Excluding the loss to Longwood, the Patriots’ defense has held opponents to 14 points or fewer in seven of nine games this season.

While on the subject of football and game days, the cheer squad traveled to Hudson Valley Community College in Troy earlier this month and won a New York State Class A title in the Game Day Cheer competition, improving on its second-place finish in 2023. They earned the Suffolk County Championship in Game Day the previous week, outperforming local competition at Sachem North High School. Chalk up another county and state title for Patriot Nation.

The boys cross-country team also made history, capturing the Suffolk County Championship at Sunken Meadow for the first time in 51 years. Seven runners advanced to the state finals in Queensbury, just south of Lake George. Senior Jon Seyfert led the way, finishing 12th in the 5K race with a time of 15:41.70 while teammate Anthony Anatol placed 22nd with a time of 15:51.20. Andrew Senf, Matteo Ritieni, Tim Brown and Matt Fumai also represented the green and gold. Elizabeth Wright qualified on the girls’ side, finishing 45th overall in 19:13.80.

The Patriot field hockey team, a perennial powerhouse, made headlines by defeating the dynastic Northport Lady Tigers in the Suffolk semi-finals 1-0. Peyton Phillips scored the game-winning penalty stroke in the final minute, marking the first time in five years Ward Melville eliminated Northport in the playoffs. The Lady Patriots ultimately fell to Sachem East 1-0 in the county final. But they have made it to the Suffolk County finals for five consecutive years.

If you’re keeping score, that’s two state championships with two more pending, five Suffolk County championships and the football team aiming for a sixth. Add a program-wide winning percentage exceeding 90% and Ward Melville High School has firmly established itself as Long Island’s premier athletic powerhouse this fall.

“There has definitely been a buzz around the school and the community,“ said Ward Melville Athletic Director Kevin Finnerty. “We’ve been very successful over the years and many of our teams succeed year after year, but this year has been exceptional. We have great support from the community and the school district but most importantly our coaching staff. We have a very passionate and experienced coaching staff and they take a lot of pride in what they do.”

So far in 2024, Patriot Nation has countless reasons to be proud.

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