Athletes of the Week
Michelle Amendola
ESM Sharks, softball
The lone senior for the Lady Sharks is looking to play at Stony Brook University next spring. She currently holds a 91 average and her favorite class is anatomy. She’s in both the National Honor Society and the National Society Of High School Scholars. Amendola’s favorite moment on the field came this past
week when ESM won 9-4 at Westhampton Beach to clinch a berth in the postseason.
Ian Barrett
Pierson Whalers, Basketball
The sophomore guard had 14 points and 8 assists in Friday’s win over Bridgehampton. Barrett also plays goalie for the Pierson soccer team and plays baseball in the spring. He is the sophomore class president and his favorite subject is chemistry. Barrett’s favorite professional athlete is NBA player Chris Paul. His most memorable high school sports moment was beating Bridgehampton in the League VIII opener in December, which was his first varsity game for Pierson.
Thomas Brierley
East Hampton Bonackers, Swimming
The East Hampton swimmer is one of the most versatile and consistent performers for the Bonackers and has already qualified to compete in the county meet. Brierley also does triathlons and runs cross country and track. His favorite subject is biology and his favorite professional athlete is Olympic swimmer Aaron Peirsol. His most memorable high school sports moment was breaking a minute for the first time in the 100-yard backstroke.
James Budd
East Hampton Bonackers, Lacrosse
The senior defenseman is a three-sport athlete, also competing on the Bonac football and wrestling teams. Budd is also a member of the National Honor Society and plays the bass guitar. His favorite subject is math, and his favorite pro athlete is New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. His most memorable high school sports moment was being brought up to the varsity squad for the 2009 playoffs. Budd hopes to attend SUNY Geneseo or Villanova and major in engineering.
Joey Butts
Pierson Whalers, Basketball
The junior guard has been starting for the Pierson boys basketball team this season, which just beat Stony Brook in overtime Monday night and sits tied for second in League VIII. Butts volunteers his time with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and his favorite subject is documentary film studies. His favorite professional athlete is Iman Shumpert of the New York Knicks. His most memorable high school sports moment was a home win over Bridgehampton on January 28.
Caanan Campbell
Bridgehampton Killer Bees, Basketball
The senior forward is one of Bridgehampton’s most explosive scorers. He used to play football and baseball in addtion to basketball. Campbell’s favorite subject is civics, and he is also a member of the Marimba Band at Bridgehampton and plays the marimba, a type of xylophone, as well as the trumpet. Campbell’s favorite pro athlete is LeBron James. Campbell would like to play basketball in college or attend prep school next year, and would like to become a teacher of either music or social studies. His most memorable high school sports moment was scoring a career-high 40 points in a win over Ross last week.
Theresa Carey
Hampton Bays Baymen, Basketball
Carey is the senior leader on the floor for the Lady Baymen and runs the point guard position for head coach Pat McGunnigle. She has recorded two triple-doubles this season, most recently on January 13 against Babylon when she had 18 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Carey, who also plays soccer in the fall, is part of the varsity club and is vice president of the student council. She currently has a 94 average and is looking to play basketball in college.
Ellie Cassel
East Hampton Bonackers, Softball
The sophomore has been one of the leading hitters for the East Hampton softball team this season. Cassel also plays volleyball in the fall, and is a junior firefighter with the Bridgehampton Fire Department. Cassel is a member of the Century Club, for performing more than 100 hours of community service, and she is also an avid skiier. Cassel’s favorite subject is Spanish, and her most memorable high school sports moment was hitting her first varsity home run this year. Cassel plans on going to college and is considering being a bilingual nurse.
DaSean Cause
Southampton Mariners, Track and Field
The senior is a standout for Southampton in the long jump, triple jump and high jump and also competes on the 4x400-meter relay team. Cause also competes on the winter track team, and volunteers his time to help coach the Southampton Intermediate School track team, which is part of his senior project, based on track and running. Cause’s most memorable high school sports moment was achieving personal-best finishes in the long jump and triple jump in a meet against Mount Sinai this year. His favorite subject is agriculture, and he hopes to attend either Alfred State University or Finger Lakes University, where he wants to study culinary arts and be a member of the track and field team.
Sunceri Cofield
Southampton Mariners, Basketball
The junior guard is a reliable player off the bench for the Southampton girls basketball team this season. Cofield also does cheerleading and has done community service with the Rotary Club, helping with their holiday food drive. Her most memorable sports moment was hitting her first three-pointer in a game against Riverhead earlier this year. Her favorite subject is English and she would like to go to FIT in New York City to study fashion.
Brian Corrigan
WHB Hurricanes, Lacrosse
Corrigan is a rare three-sport athlete, playing wide receiver/linebacker for the football team in the fall and starting point guard on the basketball team in the winter. He’s also the starting goalie for the lacrosse team. In last week’s victory over Half Hollow Hills West, Corrigan made 14 saves and got a rare assist. His favorite high school athletic moment also came in the fall when the football team reached the Suffolk County Division III Championships at Stony Brook. Corrigan’s favorite subject is algebra and has already committed to Marist College to play lacrosse.
Bryan Curry
WHB Hurricanes, Wrestling
The Hurricanes senior captain is 29-6 this season with 13 pins in the 152-pound weight class. Curry has been an All-League wrestler once in his career, was named All-Division in football this past fall and also plays baseball in the spring. His favorite athletic high school moment came this past fall when the Westhampton Beach football team played Sayville in the Suffolk County Division III Championship. Curry holds a 90 average, his favorite class is gym and he will be attending SUNY-Cortland.
Kevin Dean
WHB Hurricanes, Lacrosse
Dean is a two-sport athlete for Westhampton Beach, playing center on the football team and attack on the lacrosse team. For the second time in his career, Dean scored seven goals in one game in a victory over Southampton last week. Dean’s favorite high school athletic moment came in the fall when the Westhampton Beach football team made it to the Suffolk County Division III Championships at Stony Brook University. Dean’s favorite class is U.S. history and he’ll be attending Springfield University to play lacrosse.
Sean Doyle
ESM Sharks, Baseball
The senior hit a career high two home runs with six RBIs in a game earlier this season and is one of the better defensive catchers in Suffolk County. Doyle, who also plays basketball during the winter, holds a 94 overall average, is part of the National Honor Society and has committed to Sacred Heart University. His favorite subject is college English and his most memorable athletic moment came
last summer when he got to play in the Boys Of Summer All-Star Game at Citi Field.
Lucas Escobar
East Hampton Bonackers, Wrestling
The sophomore has had a successful season wrestling at 106 pounds for East Hampton. Escobar played for the East Hampton varsity soccer team in the fall and also plays soccer and wrestles in the spring. Escobar plays the saxophone and also does community service, including helping out with the kid wrestling program and youth soccer clinics. His favorite subjects are science and math, and his favorite professional athletes are soccer players David Villa and Lionel Messi. Escobar’s most memorable high school sports moment was playing well in an overtime win for the JV soccer team over Bayport last year, as well as coming back from a four-point deficit to win a wrestling match against Mt. Sinai. Escobar would like to study science and math in college and become a doctor.
Harry Fotopoulos
Hampton Bays Baymen, Basketball
The junior, who also plays soccer in the fall, has enjoyed a solid second year on the Hampton Bays varsity basketball team and scored a career-high 15 points in a victory over Mattituck back on January 10. He currently holds a 97 average, is president of the student council and is also a member of S.A.D.D. and the F.B.L.A. Fotopoulos’ favorite class is world history and his favorite high school moment on the court was when he sunk his first career three-pointer and started a key run in the Baymen’s victory over Wyandanch on January 17.
Tylik Furman
Bridgehampton Killer Bees, Basketball
The eighth-grade point guard has emerged as a consistent scorer for Bridgehampton in his first year on the varsity. His favorite subject is math, and his most memorable high school sports moment was an overtime win over Southold this season. Furman’s favorite pro athlete is Derrick Rose. Furman has dreams of playing in the NBA, and said his biggest role model is Bridgehampton head coach Carl Johnson.
Evan Gravano
Southampton Mariners, Lacrosse
The junior attack player scored five goals in two games for Southampton last week. Gravano is a three-sport athlete and also runs cross country and winter track. He is a member of the Key Club, a community service group, at Southampton. Gravano’s most memorable sports moment was scoring his first lacrosse goal as a sixth grader on his youth lacrosse team. His favorite pro athlete is pro lacrosse player Paul Rabil. Gravano plans to study business administration in college, and his favorite subject is math.
Casey Hickey
WHB Hurricanes, Lacrosse
The junior is one of the leading scorers for the Hurricanes this spring with 26 goals and 18 assists for 44 points. He currently holds a 3.4 GPA, his favorite class is U.S. history and he is looking to play lacrosse in college but has not yet committed to a school. Hickey’s most memorable moment on the field came on April 16 when Westhampton Beach upset cross-town rival Eastport South Manor 6-5.
Noelle Hodges
Southampton Mariners, Basketball
The sophomore is the starting point guard for the Southampton girls basketball team. Hodges also played soccer in recent years and plays for the Long Island Lightning AAU basketball team, and she is also a member of the Varsity Club at Southampton High School. Her most memorable sports moment was being named MVP of the Riverhead Tournament earlier this year. Her favorite subject is English, and in the future she would like to have a career that involves working with children.
Paris Hodges
Southampton Mariners, Basketball
The junior forward has been leading the Lady Mariners in scoring this season as they’ve earned an undefeated record in League VII. Hodges plays on the Long Island Lightning-Flynn AAU basketball team and used to play soccer in ninth and 10th grade. Hodges is a member of the Varsity Club and Athletes Helping Athletes at Southampton. Her favorite subject is math, and her most memorable high school sports moment was receiving All-State distinction. Her biggest role model is UConn Huskies women’s basketball player Bria Hartley, who graduated from North Babylon High School. Hodges is being recruited by several Division I colleges and hopes to continue her basketball career in college while majoring in science.
Brendan Hughes
East Hampton Bonackers, Baseball
The sophomore is a three-sport athlete at East Hampton, also playing basketball and football. Hughes is a member of the Century Club and performed more than 270 hours of community service. His favorite subject is social studies and his favorite pro athlete is Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano. Hughes’ most memorable high school sports moment has been being able to play three sports at the varsity level. He hopes to play football or baseball in college and major in marketing.
Sean Karl
ESM Sharks, Basketball
The senior, who averages 10 rebounds per game playing center for the Sharks basketball team, is also a football player, who just committed to the University of Virginia where he’ll be playing offensive tackle for the Cavaliers. He holds a 3.0 GPA, his favorite subject is social studies and his favorite high school athletic moment came as a sophomore when the football team made it to the playoffs.
Sydney Katz
Southampton Mariners, Basketball
The sophomore forward had her best game of the season against Wyandanch, coming off the bench to score six points and grab seven rebounds. Katz is a three-sport athlete, also playing volleyball in the fall and running track in the spring. Her favorite subject is English, and her most memorable high school sports moment has been being part of the undefeated Southampton girls basketball team. In the future, Katz says she would like to have a career focused on something health-related, following in the footsteps of her parents, who are physical education teachers.
Hunter Kelsey
East Hampton Bonackers, track
The junior is a sprinter for the East Hampton track team, competing the 100- and 200-meter races and the 4x100-meter relay. He also is a member of the winter track team. Kelsey’s favorite subject is science and he also plays the guitar. His favorite pro athlete is Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, and his most memorable high school sports moment was winning the 4x1 relay with his teammates in meets against Rocky Point and Miller Place. Kelsey hopes to attend culinary school after graduating.
Liam Kessler
East Hampton Bonackers, track
The junior is also a sprinter and is on the 4x1 team. Kessler is a member of the environmental club and key club, and also plays the guitar. His favorite subject is physics and his favorite pro athlete is Eli Manning. Kessler’s most memorable high school sports moment was winning the 100-meter dash in a meet with Miller Place. After graduating, he would like to major in communications and produce TV commercials.
Jessa Laspesa
Southampton Mariners, Track & Field
The junior is a three-sport athlete, playing field hockey in the fall, doing winter track and also running track and field in the spring. She is also a member of the Varsity Club and the French Honor Society. Her most memorable sports moment was breaking the 4x400-meter record in winter track this season with her teammates.
Brandon Maloney
WHB Hurricanes, Lacrosse
The Hurricanes senior captain also plays football during the fall and is committed to Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. His favorite class is AP calculus and his most memorable moment came last week when Westhampton Beach upset cross-town rival Eastport South Manor 6-5.
Dalton McCarthy
ESM Sharks, Basketball
McCarthy is averaging team highs in both points (18 per game) and rebounds (10 per game) and is vital to the Sharks offensive attack. McCarthy is also a standout baseball player and plays on the travel team Middle Island Phantoms. He will be attending the University of Delaware to play baseball. McCarthy has a 3.5 GPA and his favorite class is environmental sciences.
Meghan McManus
Hampton Bays Baymen, Softball
The senior is a three-sport athlete at Hampton Bays, playing softball in the spring, field hockey in the fall and basketball in the winter. She is ranked 16th in the senior class with a 95 average, is part of the National Honor Society, Varsity Club and Key Club. McManus has committed to the University of Central Florida, her favorite class is AP European history and her most memorable moment on the field came back in 2009 when the Hampton Bays softball team won the Suffolk County Class B title.
Luke Mercurio
Hampton Bays Baymen, Basketball
Mercurio, also known as “Pookie,” is the senior captain of the Hampton Bays basketball team and is as much of a threat on the defensive side of the ball as he is on the offensive side. He currently leads the team in scoring with 20.5 points per game and also averages 11 rebounds per game. Mercurio is in the robotics club, has an 85 average and is looking to play basketball in college, possibly at Mount Saint Vincent’s in New York City.
Nicole Miksinski
East Hampton Bonackers, Lacrosse
The senior defender is a three-sport athlete who also plays field hockey and basketball. Miksinki is also part of Chanterelle, a female singing group at East Hampton, and is also a member of chorus and Class Association (student council), as well as Key Club, a community service group, and Natural Helpers, a peer mediation group. Miksinski is also the stage manager for the school plays, is a member of Athletes Helping Athletes and is interested in photography. Her favorite subject is math and her favorite pro athlete is New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. Miksinski’s most memorable high school sports moment was winning a first-round playoff game with the field hockey team during her sophomore year. She will be attending Sacred Heart University in the fall and plans on getting her doctorate in physical therapy.
Trevor Mott
East Hampton Bonackers, Swimming
Along with Brierley, this East Hampton sophomore has been leading the Bonac swim team this season. Mott also swims on the East Hampton Hurricanes YMCA team and surfs in his spare time, and is also a member of the Century Club for performing more than 100 hours of community service. His favorite pro athlete is surfer Andy Irons, and his most memorable high school sports moment was swimming in a 55 degree pool for an hour over Christmas break. Mott would like to go to college in Hawaii or California and become a marine biologist.
McKenna O'Shea
Southampton Mariners, Track & Field
The senior is a three-sport athlete, playing soccer in the fall while also running winter track and spring track. O’Shea is also a member of the student council, the Honor Society, and Natural Helpers, a peer mediation group. Her most memorable sports moment was competing in a 4x800-meter relay in an invitational last year where she ran the anchor leg and passed an opponent to keep her team from finishing last. O’Shea has been accepted to several colleges and plans on majoring in psychology.
Maverick Passaro
ESM Sharks, Wrestling
Passaro championed the 126-pound weight class at the Kujan Brother’s Memorial Tournament at William Floyd High School this past weekend, a week after placing second at the highly regarded Eastern States Classic. Passaro placed second at the Suffolk County Division I Championships last season and wrestled in over 80 matches during the offseason, including the Super 32 national tournament, where he placed eighth. He currently has an 82 average and is looking to wrestle in college at the University of Pittsburgh, Clarion or Binghamton.
Jeremy Pepper
Pierson Whalers, Swimming
The Pierson senior is a member of the East Hampton boys swim team and also runs cross country and plays baseball at Pierson. Pepper has been playing the saxophone since he was nine years old and is also an ocean lifeguard, and likes to surf. Pepper’s favorite subject is AP Government, and his favorite professional athletes are Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte and NFL quarterback Tom Brady. Pepper’s most memorable high school sports moment was when the Bonac swim team beat Brentwood in a meet for the first time in school history, but he said passing his ocean lifeguard test was “a close second.” Pepper hopes to attend either the University of Binghamton, Syracuse or Northeastern in the fall and may study communications and media.
Kristen Polan
WHB Hurricanes, Basketball
Polan scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season in December and is the leading scorer for the Westhampton Beach girls basketball team. She is a three-sport athlete, with volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter and lacrosse in the spring. She currently holds a 92 average, her two favorite classes are AP psychology and journalism and she plays on the volleyball travel team Long Island Blaze, based out of Center Moriches. Polan plans on playing volleyball in college.
Marissa Rizzi
ESM Sharks, softball
Just an eighth-grader, Rizzi has shown she belongs on the varsity squad as one of the team’s better hitters this season. When she’s not playing softball, Rizzi plays volleyball as well as club deck hockey on the ESMSA Bruins in the winter. Her favorite class is social studies and her favorite moment on the field is also defeating Westhampton Beach 9-4 to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Aaron Schiavoni
Pierson Whalers, baseball
The sophomore captain is Pierson’s starting catcher for the second year in a row and was All-League as a freshman. He leads the team in batting average, runs and RBIs. He is a year-round baseball player, competing with the Long Island Titans travel team. Schiavoni is also a member of the Sag Harbor Fire Department Juniors. His most memorable high school sports moment was hitting a two-out, two-run double to tie the game against Port Jefferson, which his team ended up winning in the 10th inning. Schiavoni’s favorite subjects are science and AP world history, and his favorite pro athlete is Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.
Schiavoni hopes to play baseball for the U.S. Naval Academy after he graduates high school, and is attending a leadership camp at the academy this summer.
Wyatt Schmidt
Southampton Mariners, Baseball
Schmidt, a junior, has been a key player for the Southampton baseball team this season. He is among the leaders in hitting and has also emerged as the team’s third starter. Schmidt was the winning pitcher in a 9-7 triumph over Mercy to compete a sweep of the team last week and he also went 3 for 4 with three runs and three stolen bases. Schmidt also starts on defense for the Southampton boys soccer team. His most memorable sports moments were winning the Long Island Championship with the baseball team in 2010 and being part of the undefeated regular season for the boys soccer team this past fall. His favorite subjects are math and history, and his favorite pro athlete is Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano. Schmidt hopes to play baseball in college.
Pat Sloane
Pierson Whalers, Basketball
The junior forward led the Whalers to a 73-57 win over rival Bridgehampton on Friday night, leading all scorers with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Sloane plays AAU basketball and also works out in the weight room when he’s not playing for the Whalers. His favorite subject is documentary film studies and his favorite professional athlete is NBA player Blake Griffin. His most memorable high school sports moment was scoring 20 points in Friday night’s win over Bridgehampton.
Alex Soyars
Southampton Mariners, Baseball
The junior is the starting catcher for the Southampton baseball team and also leads the team in hitting as the number three hitter. He hit a grand slam in a win over Hampton Bays on April 12. Soyars also runs winter track and is planning on playing football his senior year. His most memorable high school sports moment was hitting the grand slam against Hampton Bays. His favorite subject is math and his favorite pro athlete is Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder. Soyars is hoping to go to a junior college to play baseball.
Kenny Stephens
WHB Hurricanes, Basketball
The senior Hurricane recorded career highs with 33 points and 16 rebounds against Bayport/Blue Point on January 19 and averages 16 points per game with 10 rebounds per game this season. Stephens also brings the ball up the court for the Hurricanes, a rarity for a big man. Stephens is an avid bowler who averages a 212 and his best game is a 260. His favorite class is participation in government, his average is an 86 and he’s looking to play college basketball upstate at Mohawk Valley Community College.
Joe Strassfield
Southampton Mariners, Track and Field
The freshman is one of the best young sprinters in Suffolk County and has a bright future for the Mariners. Strassfield competes in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as on the 4x100-meter relay team. He also runs winter track at Southampton. Strassfield is a member of the Southampton Junior Fire Department. His most memorable high school sports moment has been beating seniors from opposing teams in the 100-meter dash this season. His favorite subject is social studies.
Dana Taglioni
ESM Sharks, softball
Although she’s only a junior, Taglioni would like to play softball for SUNY-New Paltz and has a 95 average. Her favorite class is English, she is in the National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society as well as Natural Helpers. Her favorite moment on the field is defeating Westhampton Beach this past week, 9-4, to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
Alex Tanzman
WHB Hurricanes, Wrestling
Tanzman, a junior, is 34-1 with a school record 30 pins to go along with two tech falls and two major decisions. He is currently ranked second in Suffolk County Division I at 99 pounds and is also ranked in the top 10 of his class academically with a 4.0 GPA. Tanzman’s favorite athletic accomplishment was reaching the Suffolk County Division I tournament last season, his favorite class is gym and he is looking to possibly attend Columbia University.
Karlie Troyan
Hampton Bays Baymen, Softball
The junior leads the team in hits with 21 and has driven in 10 runs this season. Troyan is part of the Varsity Club, Yearbook Club and is treasurer in the Student Council. Her favorite class is photography, she is looking to play softball in college and her most memorable moment on the field is when she threw out a runner trying to score during her freshman season.
Nicole Yeager
Hampton Bays Baymen, Softball
When she’s not playing softball, the senior is a cheerleader in the winter and also plays field hockey in the fall. She is currently hitting .370 with two doubles, two triples and a home run to go with 13 RBIs. Her favorite class is English, she holds an 86 average, is part of the Key Club and her favorite moment on the field came a few weeks ago when she hit her first career home run against Comsewogue.
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