Office of Athletics, Health & Physical Education
News Archive
Wrestlers Receive All-County Honors
The District congratulates Bellport High School varsity wrestlers Josh Leidig (fourth place), Wyatt Gentzel (fifth place), Jaiden Green (sixth place), David Hartmann (sixth place) and Jonah Poueriet (sixth place) for receiving All-County honors during the Section XI Tournament, held at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood on Feb. 15.
The varsity wrestling team has made great strides this season, having garnered the League IV Dual Meet Championship, held in Hauppauge on Jan. 22. The Clippers also hosted the League IV Tournament at Bellport High School on Feb. 8, where they secured the highest number of points to win the tournament for the second consecutive year.
Front Row: Josh Leidig 4th, Jaden Green 6th, David Hartmann 6th,
Back Row: Jonah Poueriet 6th, Wyatt Gentzel 5th.
Bellport wrestling wins championship
The South Country Central School District congratulates the Bellport High School
varsity wrestling team on winning the Dual League Championship for League IV, held
at Hauppauge on Jan. 22. The team qualified for the County Dual Meet, also held at
Hauppauge on Jan. 22, but lost to Lindenhurst. Wrestling team captain Joshua Leidig
said that hard work and determination were the prescription for the team’s success
in garnering the Dual League Championship title. “The team has been working hard in
the practice room, at team practices and off the mat, keeping up [its] stamina,” Joshua
said. “The goal of the team is to place as high in the county as possible and to win
another league tournament.”
Courtesy of The Long Island Advance – February 6, 2020
2019 Suffolk Zone Winners
Congratulations to Emily Gentzel and Connor Coleman for receiving the 2019 Suffolk Zone Award for outstanding achievement in physical education. Emily and Connor are both leaders in the classroom and on the athletic field.
* Photo 1 - Pictured left to right: Emily Gentzel, Athletic Director Robert McIntyre and Connor Coleman
* Photo 2 - Pictured left to right: Volleyball Coach Cassandra Watson, Emily Gentzel, Connor Coleman and Football Coach Jamie Fabian
* Photo 3 - Pictured left to right: Connor Coleman and Emily Gentzel
* Photo 4 - Pictured left to right: Emily Gentzel, Bellport High School Principal Tim Hogan and Connor Coleman
Bellport volleyball digs pink
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/14/19)
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bellport High School student-athletes worked to make a dent in raising funds for breast cancer research. On Oct. 10, the girls volleyball program played against Newfield High School during a Dig Pink event. In addition to defeating the visiting team, the program raised $1,410 for the Side Out Foundation to assist with breast cancer research and awareness. The funds were raised by selling paper volleyballs to show support for those impacted by breast cancer, which hung on the gymnasium walls as a reminder of the game’s purpose. For the past eight years, Bellport High School’s volleyball program has raised and donated more than $20,000, one of the largest contributions from a high school volleyball program on Long Island. Pictured: The Bellport High School girls volleyball program raised more than $1,400 during a Dig Pink game to benefit the Side Out Foundation.
Photo courtesy South Country Central School District
Troy Zarba and teammates get a kick out of final game for Bellport (Courtesy of Newsday)
By Owen O'Brien
owen.o'brien@newsday.com
Updated October 23, 2019 9:24 PM
Troy Zarba enjoyed playing in front of a larger crowd size than a typical Bellport boys soccer game, but it was nothing compared to what he experiences online.
The Bellport senior has developed one of the more popular accounts on TikTok, a social media app used to create videos, often featuring lip-syncing to songs or for humor and entertainment. Zarba has 1.3 million followers on his account.
“I was bored and it looked like something I could get into because I like making videos,” Zarba said. “And it’s something that’s grown into something crazy.”
But when he’s not creating viral videos, Zarba, a three-year varsity defender, anchors the backline for the Bellport boys soccer team. He also has the ability to create plays for himself and others. He had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 home victory over Comsewogue on Senior Day in Suffolk League IV Wednesday evening.
Zarba says he has interactions with students and even opponents “every day” about his social media presence. He said he never expected his profile to become as popular as it is, but he enjoys entertaining his followers.
“It’s cool connecting with all these people, especially with a big audience,” Zarba said. “You could make whatever content you want and people enjoy it and you have people that support you.”
Zarba was one of five seniors honored at halftime for playing in their final games for Bellport. Luis Velasco, also a senior, had two goals in the win.
“Those two guys are cornerstones for our program,” said assistant coach Brian Satterley. “They just bust their butts day in and day out at practice and it really translates to the game and I’m glad they got rewarded for it today.”
Although Bellport knew before the game it wouldn’t be advancing to the playoffs, Velasco, playing in front of his parents, wanted to end his varsity tenure on a high note.
“It gave us more motivation to win and to represent our school,” said Velasco with his teammate Chris Ascencio serving as an interpreter. “That’s what we were working toward.”
Brian Taylor added a goal for Bellport and CJ Scricco scored for Comsewogue (0-12).
Bellport (5-6-1) played aggressive from the opening whistle, knowing it was their last time playing on the field together, but wanting to make the most of the experience.
“Especially with a win and all these people in the stands, our school coming out and watching us, that’s the most important thing,” Zarba said. “Being in front of all these people.”
Bellport athletes honored
(The Long Island Advance 8/15/19)
South Country Central School District’s high school student-athletes and 2019 graduates Grace Minikel and Dwan Trent were honorees at the prestigious Butch Dellecave Awards recently. The 19th annual awards ceremony, held in memory of coach Gaetano “Butch” Dellecave, is a partnership between local Suffolk County school districts and organizers of the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, the Butch Dellecave Foundation and Newsday. Athletic directors from 66 Suffolk County school district athletic programs are encouraged to nominate one male and one female from the senior class who are not only top athletes, but also demonstrate academic talent and a commitment to local community service. A tri-sport athlete, Dwan received All-County honors in football, winter track and spring track. He was also named Athlete of the Year and will be attending SUNY Morrisville in the fall. Grace is a three-season runner who excelled in long-distance competition. She earned All-Division honors during multiple seasons and earned a Division II athletic scholarship to Adelphi University. The South Country Central School District congratulates Dwan and Grace on this outstanding athletic accomplishment.
Above: Bellport High School student-athletes Grace Minikel and Dwan Trent were honorees at the 19th annual Butch Dellecave Awards and are pictured with Dellecave Foundation co-directors Guy Dellacave (left) and Mark Dellacave (right).
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/1/18)
Boys' Spring Track 2019 League 4 Champions
Bellport baseball preview
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 3/21/19)
It’s that time of the year again. The weather is getting better, the snow is melting, the clouds are clearing. It’s the most beautiful time of the year, as the famous Vin Scully would say. It is time for Bellport baseball.
The Bellport Clippers will be opening up their 2019 regular season in two weeks, in a nonleague game against West Babylon. Their season has already begun, as they’ve played scrimmages against Center Moriches, William Floyd and Riverhead. After making playoffs their previous four years with a league championship to their name, they want to keep riding that streak and make it five straight.
To do that, they count with the new incorporations of senior Ayden DeGrijze and juniors Nicholas Promutico, Thomas Miller, Matthew Sweeney, Cesar Solorzano, Matt Harper, Sean Vargas, Tyler Walsh and Christian Rountree. They will also be counting with returning players Maxwell Kaczmarek, Maximo Di Giacomo, Thomas Allocca, Samuel Hampson, Christopher Colon and Dimitri Arresto, all seniors.
To add to this, they have three players who will be playing their third and final year on varsity: Justin Maler, Andrew Veit and Brennan Beatrice, who were all vital pieces to the championship in 2017, as well as Carson Nagle, who looks forward to being a utility infielder, and junior Matthew Vasquez, who got the call and trust from the coaches as a sophomore.
This year, Bellport will be in League IV going against Comsewogue, Deer Park, Huntington, North Babylon and West Islip. All of these opponents are familiar; they faced Deer Park and Comsewogue last year and faced Huntington, North Babylon and West Islip in their 2017 championship season.
Last year, the Clippers beat Comsewogue in three out of four matchups and beat Deer Park once. Beatrice, Veit and Maler were part of the team that swept North Babylon and Huntington in the 2017 season. West Islip reached the Class AA Long Island final last year with a 24-2 record, a well-respected rival by everyone on the island.
For the Clippers, Maler ended the season riding a nine-game hitting streak, batting .366 with three doubles and five RBIs. Beatrice batted .365 with 23 hits, 23 RBIs and nine doubles; on the mound he won three games and delivered the game-winning hit that sent the Clippers to playoffs in the bottom of the ninth after beginning the season 3-7. Veit was nothing short of amazing, letting up one to two runs in every start.
“I want to step up more this year as a leader. I want to pass my experience to my teammates so we can be as successful as possible,” said Maler. “It’s my third year on varsity; being a leader is me showing the juniors the day-in and day-out grind of the season,” added Beatrice. He also said how there’s dedication required to make playoffs, and the team has to stick together.
“It means a lot that the coaches have trusted me. My advice to the newcomers is always hustle and play hard — it could go a long way,” added Vasquez.
“There’s no jitters. I know my teammates will have my back and I will have theirs. I am looking to end my last season with a bang,” concluded Veit.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 3/21/19)
Clippers ace it as League 3 champs
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 2/14/19)
With North Babylon’s loss to Deer Park and Bellport’s win against West Islip, the Clippers are the lone champions of League III, their second consecutive title, but they’re all by themselves this time around.
Regardless of the result of the Deer Park-North Babylon game, Bellport needed a win to ensure at least a tie and repeat their league title. They did it without leaving anyone any doubt, defeating the Lions 95-39. They rolled right off the bat, outscoring their opponent 41-9. They controlled the pace and the rhythm in the first half, which lead to a 52-13 lead at halftime. In the second half, they applied the same textbook defense, limiting their opponent to 26 points while scoring 43.
Jarell White made history, becoming the 12th player on Long Island to score over 2,000 points in their high school career. He finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, a block and a steal. Devon Balfour finished with another double-double, nailing 19 points and 11 rebounds along with four assists, two blocks and a steal. Kyle Climan had his highest scoring game of his high school career, finishing with 12 points, three boards and five dimes. Jaylen Trent had 15 points and three rebounds. Andrew Veit had six points, five rebounds and four assists. Shaliq Cochran and Jeffrey Stewart had three points each, while Sean Vargas, Donald Henderson and Mike Alvarado combined for nine points and nine rebounds.
With the Clippers winning their game, they awaited the result of the North Babylon-Deer Park game. After North Babylon built a 10-point lead in the the third quarter, they were outscored 31-13 in the fourth. Malik Edmead, D’Andre Edwards and Jordan Rios scored 28 of the Falcons’ 31 points in the fourth quarter. Edmead and Edwards finished with 25 points each.
Bellport finished with a 15-1 record, while North Babylon finished second with a 14-2 record. The Clippers sacrifice, sweat and extra hours at the gym earned them this league title. They finished the season averaging 77 points per game and allowing 57 points.
Bellport will be the third seed for the Class AA tournament, and their first game will be today against 14th seed Central Islip at 5 p.m. at Randy Smith Basketball Court. With a win, the Clippers would play the winner of the matchup between sixth seed Deer Park and 11th seed Smithtown West this Saturday at noon at Bellport High School.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/14/19)
BELLPORT’S JARELL WHITE REACHES 2,000 POINTS & 1,000 REBOUNDS
Section XI News – February 9, 2019
Congrats to Bellport’s Jarell White on two major milestones. He is Bellport’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder!
Jarell White (36 points, 21 rebounds) leads Bellport past Deer Park
By Roger Rubin (Courtesy of Newsday)
Jarell White has mounted a relentless attack on this basketball season. The 6-4, 230-pound Bellport senior has been terrorizing opponents all through it with his unwavering nose for the basket and his untiring passion for the rebound. On Tuesday evening, he was presented with something he could really sink his teeth into: a game against Deer Park.
A year ago, the Falcons did a number on Bellport. First, they ended the Clippers’ unbeaten season in Suffolk AA-III to snare a share of the conference title. Then they showed the Clippers the door in the county playoffs. “After what they did to us last season,” White said, “Deer Park is a team we all get fired up for.”
That was clear as White ran roughshod over the host Falcons, going for 36 points and 21 rebounds in an 84-66 victory. Bellport (14-1) clinched at least a share of the conference championship. Deer Park (12-3) is still bound for the postseason, but the loss means it will finish no better than third.
One-on-one with Trent and Wilson
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 11/22/18)
After
a heartbreaking junior football season last year, the Bellport Clippers
decided that wouldn’t happen again, being led by seniors Myles Wilson
and DJ Trent in their third and final year of varsity football. Earlier
this week, the Long Island Advance was able to sit down and get a word with them.
Long Island Advance: How did losing the first game shape the rest of the season?
DJ Trent: It
was a really close game and we had it. If you bring the call back, we
win the game, or if we executed in the end zone, it didn’t get our hopes
up, it just motivated us. West Islip is a good team.
Myles Wilson: The
loss hurt a lot. It was a home opener, alumni day and we were up, but
after that we battled back and tried to remain focused on the goal.
LIA: After losing against Centereach, it sparked a run and you guys got four straight wins. How did that fuel the fire?
DJT: Going
into Centereach, we were cocky but not confident. We lost a close one
by three, but that was a wake-up call. Anyone was beatable; it doesn’t
matter who’s on the field — every team was good. The quarterback came
out and we thought it would be simple, but they caught us off guard.
MW: It taught us to be more humble and that we were not invincible. We needed to be all in and bounce back.
LIA: What was it like playing your last game on Joe Cipp Field?
DJT: It
was challenging. Lindy had the No. 1 tight end in the nation, but I
like those types of games. The game was pretty emotional for me; a
couple of blown coverages and not finishing lost us the game.
MW: It was a great game. Lindenhurst was a great team and it was a battle.
LIA: What have these three years of varsity football taught you?
DJT: Very
humbling. It’s a sign of relief, since the first time I played football
my teammates told me I was too small and laughed at me for being a
first-string running back. I came out and had a pretty good year. They
told me I wasn’t good enough to be on the team — that fueled the fire
and after that I worked hard and didn’t take anything from anyone.
Coming in second wasn’t an option.
MW: It taught
me to love honestly. I walked in at 15 and ended at 17. Those three
years flew by and I still can’t believe it’s over, but it taught me how
to love and work hard.
LIA: What piece of advice do you have for future Bellport football players?
DJT: With
rich pride and spirit, never let a man take your heart from you. The
coaches will always be there for you; if you see someone skipping laps,
call it out. It doesn’t mean anything; be on their backs. You can’t let
anyone slack off, because you won’t win a championship that way.
MW: If
I have any advice for my future brothers, I just want them to know you
have to work hard and take it serious at any grade or age. If you’re a
starter or not, it doesn’t matter, because it all goes by so fast.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 11/22/18)
Bellport volleyball wins first round of playoffs
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 11/1/18)
This past Monday at Bellport High School, the Clippers played their first round of playoffs, defeating Centereach. Bellport came into this game as the eighth seed after being undefeated in their league with a 10-0 record. Overall, they were 14-4.
The Clippers swept their entire league, defeating West Islip, Deer Park, Huntington, North Babylon and Comsewogue, and clinched the league title in their senior game when they defeated North Babylon in straight sets, 25-14, 25-18 and 25-12. They visited West Islip, where they dropped the first set, 23-25, but came back and won in four sets, 25-13, 25-17 and 25-14.
It was Bellport’s third league title in six years, displaying how dominant the volleyball program has become. After this game, the Clippers awaited their opponent in the first round, Centereach. They faced Centereach in their seventh game of the season, handing the Clippers their first loss, 25-22, 18-25, 21-25 and 6-25.
After Centereach won seven of their 10 games, they were the ninth seed, which meant a rematch with Bellport. The Clippers were home with a full house. They got their revenge, defeating the Cougars in straight sets, 25-20, 25-18 and 25-20.
“We went onto the court knowing we weren’t ready for this season to end and we could accomplish our goal of getting past the first round of playoffs,” said senior captain Alyssa Mantione. “Losing to them during our regular season gave us more motivation to win and move further in playoffs.”
Jaelyn Conquest and Colleen Shaw each had nine kills and 11 blocks, Jamie Trowbridge had eight kills and 22 digs, Mantione had 15 assists and Tamia Lawson had 16.
“It feels great … [I am] proud to have accomplished this with my team. It’s bittersweet that it’s my last year playing, but glad to have a successful season so far,” said Conquest. “As a captain, it’s important to make sure you keep a positive attitude for yourself and for your team.”
With this victory Bellport earned themselves an appointment with Smithtown West, who were ranked the best team for the playoffs after going 11-0 in their league and 16-1 overall. The Clippers on the road have a record of 6-2, winning 19 of 28 possible sets. This game will be held later today at a time to be determined at Smithtown West High School.
“It’s now or never; once we got on the court all the jitters went away. We knew this was our game and it was our time to dominate,” said Trowbridge.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 11/1/18)
Bellport soccer heads to playoffs
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 10/18/18)
Earlier this week, the Bellport soccer team played Deer Park with one thing in mind: playoffs. They had two opportunities to do so, but assured it after defeating the Falcons.
After being 3-3 in the first half of the season, the Clippers decided to flip the switch for the second half, proving that last year wasn’t just luck.
Coincidentally, the first game of the season was against Deer Park, who they beat 3-0 at home with two goals from Jonathan Cruz and one from Louis Velasco. They then visited West Islip and tied 3-3 and defeated Huntington and Centereach 1-0. Against Huntington, Cruz was the hero with one minute remaining in extra time. Against Centereach, midway through the first half Cruz bagged his seventh goal of the season. When they visited Comsewogue, they took a 2-1 victory through goals from Velasco and Cruz, but then had two difficult tasks on the road against two of the best teams in Class AA division: Newfield and North Babylon. They lost 0-3 and 1-2, respectively.
They got back on track against Smithtown East with a 1-0 victory. Justin Barbecho made a 25-yard free kick with two minutes remaining in double overtime.
With two games left, one on the road and one at home, the Clippers needed just one more victory to assure a spot and they did this past Monday, Oct. 15. Maicon Contreras converted from the penalty spot 20 minutes into the first half, which was enough for the Clippers to win. Goalkeeper Sam Hampson had also been key in the win, keeping a clean sheet in five of these nine games, having 72 saves for an average of eight per game.
Bellport (8-5-1) as of press time played their senior game against West Islip yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 17, and will await their opponent in the first round of the Class AA playoffs on Tuesday, Oct. 23.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 10/18/18)
Bellport football blowout
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 10/18/18)
After an amazing homecoming win, Bellport got back to work last Saturday, on the road visiting Half Hollow Hills East and obtaining another victory.
The Clippers wanted to make another statement, after pouring on 43 points in their last road game. They got off to a slow start, as a series of plays saw Jon Spadafora rush for 2 yards into the end zone as Brandon Peskin added the extra point. But it wouldn’t take much for the Clippers to tie a lead by a couple of rushes between Ka’Shaun Parrish and DJ Trent. A minute later they took the lead, as Parrish aired a 32-yard pass to Myles Wilson; Parrish himself added two more by rushing into the end zone and, with two minutes left in the quarter, Bellport took even more.
Trent created space for himself and rushed for 55 yards across the field to the end zone. Christian Moreno added the extra point to make it a two-possession game. In the second quarter the defense from the Thunderbirds and the Clippers stood out, Trent having an interception and Khyree Wilson with three tackles. Wilson finished the game with 10 tackles, leading the team.
Coming out of halftime, Bellport didn’t want to settle with just a two-score lead. Parrish completed a 19-yard pass to Kyler Pizzo and afterwards rushed for 61 yards into the end zone, as Moreno added the extra point. Five minutes later, Parrish rushed for 14 yards this time and Moreno added the extra point, his third of the day. The Clippers wanted to put the nail in the coffin early in the fourth quarter and after two minutes, Jhamari Bell rushed for 22 yards and scored 40 points for the third time this season. Shaun Bolton rushed for 11 yards into the end zone as well, as Bellport won 47-14.
“After the first loss on the road, we were all brought in and knew we were better than that,” said Wilson. “We started to become closer and started rolling through teams, without taking this for granted.”
Parrish finished the game with five attempts and 148 yards with two touchdowns; Trent finished with eight attempts, 122 yards and two touchdowns as well. Bell finished with 66 yards and a touchdown and Bolton had a touchdown.
Bellport (4-2) will now face Copiague tomorrow at Copiague High School at 6 p.m. The Eagles are winless this season, allowing an average of 35 points per game at home. On the other hand, the Clippers look forward to ending their last road game on a good note before heading back home for the last game of the regular season. The Clippers average 35 points per game on the road.
“We approach every week the same way — records and stats don’t mean anything to us,” said Trent. “We don’t believe in overlooking teams, we celebrate the win and the next day we’re focused on the next game.”
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 10/18/18)
JV and Varsity Girls’ Volleyball team up to fight breast cancer
Bellport football’s homecoming victory
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 10/11/18)
Bellport’s annual homecoming game was celebrated this past Saturday, when they came out on top with a 34-8 victory against Riverhead.
Ahead of the game’s start, Gregg Giannotti of the WFAN “Boomer and Gio” show did the coin toss. Giannotti is an alumnus of the Bellport football program. Although the visiting team began with the ball, it wasn’t long before the Clippers forced a punt. Then, after seven plays and eight minutes of possession, Ka’Shaun Parrish rushed for 10 yards into the end zone, and went for an extra two as Myles Wilson caught the pass.
In the second quarter, the Clippers found their rhythm and, after four plays, Parrish rushed for 41 yards as Christian Moreno added the extra point and Bellport led 15-0. The Blue Waves cut it to a one-possession game when Christian Pace threw a 14-yard pass to Anthony Marcello. Isaiah Barbieri added an extra two with a rush. The Clippers didn’t take long to make it a two-score game again, when a punt return to Parrish saw him end up at the opposing 10-yard line. DJ Trent was in charge of adding six more as he rushed into the end zone, with Moreno adding the extra point.
“We were up two scores, but we humbled ourselves. The game wasn’t over and we needed to put the nail in the coffin,” said Trent.
Bellport did just that coming out of halftime. A miscommunication in the Riverhead offense and pressure by the Clippers defense resulted in a fumble. Jhamari Bell recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. The Blue Waves had the ball once again as Kyler Pizzo intercepted it and rushed for 21 yards and Moreno added the extra point.
“It was very emotional for me thinking about it, being my last homecoming in Bellport. We needed the win to build a streak,” said Trent. “We [have to] stay focused and locked in and we need to have the same approach for the last three games.”
More than 1,000 fans were in attendance. “The crowd was ecstatic,” said Wilson. “It was live, and it felt great to have them support us when we got into slumps or when we were scoring TDs. I love this. It was the best crowd I’ve seen in a while.” Bellport (3-2) now faces Half Hollow Hills East (1-4) on Saturday at Hills East at 1:30 p.m. The Thunderbirds allow an average of 38 points at home, while the Clippers average 29 points on the road.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 10/11/18)
BELLPORT VOLLEYBALL KICKS OFF WITH A BANG
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)
Last year the Bellport girls varsity volleyball team finished with a 9-8 record (8-2 league) and fell in the first round of playoffs. This year they seek to continue the streak of consecutive years in making the playoffs and to be one of the best teams in League IV, as they have been the last four years. They have seven returning players: senior captains Jaelyn Conquest, Alyssa Mantione and Jamie Trowbridge. They also have Anecya Sutton, Tamia Lawson, Madison Baumann, Mia Suarez and Emma Bautista and have added Colleen Shaw, Sofia Gannon, Eva Colon, Samantha Rieb, Hanna Lupo, Isa-bella Caypinar and Emily Gentzel. “It’s always been a privilege playing with these girls; we’ve always had a good reputation for being a competitive team,” said Conquest.
Their first game began at home with a non-league game against Brentwood, who won one game last year. The Clippers won the game in straight sets 25-8, 25-21 and 25-10. Conquest had four kills, two digs, two blocks and two aces. Mantione had two kills, eight assists, five digs, a block and five aces. Trowbridge had two kills and four aces. Shaw, Gannon, Colon, Sutton and Lawson combined for nine kills and five aces. Baumann had a block and with Rieb, Lupo, Caypinar, Suarez, Gentzel and Bautista combined for 13 digs. With one victory in hand, Bellport was confident going into Hills East. Bellport defeated Half Hollow Hills East in five sets, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16 and 25-23. Conquest had 13 kills, 15 digs, 11 blocks and three aces while serving. Mantione had 22 assists. Gentzel had 11 and 14 digs. Trowbridge had seven kills and 13 digs. Lawson had nine assists. Gannon, Lupo, Caypinar and Bautista combined for 14 digs. This was a good victory for the Clippers to gain confidence early in the season.
Their third and final game of the week was their first league game, where they played Comsewogue at home. They rolled over the Warriors, cruising in straight sets 25-7, 25-9 and 25-9. Mantione had three kills and nine assists. Lawson had two kills, six aces and nine assists. Lupo had four assists. Conquest had four kills and three blocks. Rieb, Sutton, Gentzel, Colon and Gannon combined for eight kills, while Caypinar, Suarez and Baumann combined for six digs. “Having the support of our fans and schoolmates will motivate us and help us rise to the occasion,” added Trowbridge.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)
Bellport football takes convincing victory
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)
After a war between West Islip and Bellport last week ended in a close loss, the Bellport Clippers got back on track, blowing out Smithtown East 48-7.
In last week’s showdown between the Lions and the Clippers, a rematch of the 2016 playoffs, the Lions outdueled the Clippers 29-28 in a game that went down to the wire. Before heading to the road, Bellport had one more game against Smithtown East, who defeated Copiague 42-13 in their first week of the 2018-19 season.
In the opening possession, Ka’Shaun Parrish threw a 40-yard ball to DJ Trent, which looked to be caught by him, as he had the ball in his hands when the play ended, but the referees ruled an interception. Smithtown East capitalized off of this, scoring a touchdown and leading 7-0, but from there on, the home team brought out its artillery.
After the kickoff, Parrish threw a 75-yard pass to Myles Wilson in the first play of the drive for a touchdown and Bellport trailed by one. In the second quarter, the Clippers scored 29 unanswered points. A factor that started this was Wilson blocking a punt inside the red zone with 11:38 remaining. Parrish then threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Pizzo, who ran for two extra points. Four minutes later, Trent found space and ran for 40 yards all the way to the end zone. Christian Moreno was in charge of adding the extra point.
With five minutes remaining, Wilson blocked the punt from the Bulls as Kyler Pizzo recovered the ball and ran for 44 yards all the way into the end zone and Moreno added the extra point. With a minute left in the half, Bellport got the ball back and reached the red zone, where Parrish rushed for six yards for a touchdown. Moreno added his third extra point of the afternoon.
The defense for the Clippers kept holding it down, refusing to let the visiting team convert on fourth down and on third downs, forcing them to punt or give the ball up. In the fourth quarter with a little under 10 minutes remaining, the Clippers were a threat as Jhamari Bell rushed for six yards into the end zone as Moreno added the extra point. The Clippers weren’t done, as Shaun Bolton rushed 60 yards to add six more to the board.
“We knew the game wasn’t going to be easy, but we battled back after facing adversity and came together and got the job done,” said Wilson. “We started clicking on offense and defense and we were happy with the result.”
Bellport (1-1) will now hit the road for the next two weeks, where they will face Centereach (1-1) and Smithtown West (2-0).
“We have to work hard all week; we need to key in on the little things. Most importantly, we have to be disciplined and focus on the little things,” added Trent.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 9/20/18)
Two victories for Bellport soccer
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/13/18)
After reaching the playoffs for the first time in nine years, the Bellport soccer team is looking forward to keeping in that direction this season by winning League III. It won’t be an easy task for the Clippers, as they have Newfield, Smithtown East, North Babylon and Huntington in their division. They also have Deer Park and West Islip, who they defeated in their senior game last year to make playoffs and break the nine-year drought. The team is counting on their senior captains Steven Williamson, Samuel Hampson, Justin Barbecho, Jonathan Ulloa and Gerson Granados. Their first game on Sept. 1 was against Huntington, ranked No. 6 in the county last year. The Clippers got the start they wanted, dominating on their half for the initial 15 minutes, playing with through passes and had two shots on target. After 19 minutes, Josiah Igwe got a chance to break the tie and he converted. From there on, there was an aggression-style of football from the away team, but it was 1-0 headed to the break. After the break, the game changed; three minutes in, Huntington made it 1-1 with an effort inside the box. With little less than a half-hour remaining, Huntington found the space they needed to get a breakaway, and after they got inside the box they wouldn’t miss. Five minutes later Bellport had their chance to tie through Leo Argueta, but was denied by the goalkeeper. In the ending minutes, there was a controversy on a cross to the box. The ball ended up in the back of the net for the Clippers to make it 2-2, but the referee called it back and said he didn’t see it. Coaches on the Bellport side claimed the goalie grabbed it from inside the net, but the game rolled on and the Blue Devils took the victory. “After a good season last year, the boys and I want to improve. We have a great team this year and could do big things if we stay mentally strong and have each other’s backs.” said Ulloa. The next game on Sept. 4 was against Centereach, who tied in their first game of the season against Comsewogue. The Clippers managed to defeat the Cougars 3-1. Throughout the game they passed the ball from side to side, looking for through balls and striking first. Igwe scored his second goal and put his team up 1-0 after 15 minutes. Centereach looked for a counter attack, but Barbecho pressed the man at midfield and intercepted it; he then gave a through ball to Argueta to make it 2-0. With five minutes left in the half, there was a foul inside the box and Centereach cut the lead to 2-1 with a penalty from Eric Beukelaer. In the second half, Bellport continued to have possession of the ball and there was a foul inside the box with 15 minutes remaining, and Maicon Contreras converted from the spot. “We need to have the same mentality to win and become better as a team,” said Barbecho. Heading back home on Sept. 6, the Clippers wanted to make it two straight wins and soon took their first win in front of their fans against Comsewogue, with a convincing 3-0 result. Ten minutes in, a cross from Barbecho at the 40-yard line went in the box, where Cruz converted to make it 1-0. Then Troy Zarba took a free kick and Contreras finished it for his second goal in three games. In the second half, the Clippers maintained the lead and increased it when Cruz got a brace off a Williamson assist. But with four games in five days, the fatigue caught up to the Clippers and they were defeated 7-2 by North Babylon on Sept. 8. Contreras scored his third goal of the year, a penalty, and Igwe did as well. “We have a super-talented team and when we’re playing in form no one can beat us. We just have to stay focused and remain as one,” added Hampson. Bellport (2-2) will now face Newfield (3-0) next Monday at 4 p.m. at Bellport High School.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 9/13/18)
Bellport Goes to Farmingdale
Way to go Bellport! Our Varsity Basketball Team is headed to the semi-finals at Farmingdale State College this weekend! Read more in The Long Island Advance 2/22/18.
Post-Season Honors
Congratulations to the following winter athletes for achieving post season honors:
All League Wrestlers -
195 - Shakeese Byrd – Champion (All – County)
220 - Ben Greene - Champion
106 - Phil Trowbridge - 2nd
132 - Garrett Kusa - 2nd
145 - Charlie Rose - 2nd
182 - D'Andre Russell - 2nd
120 - Robert Belcher - 3rd
138 - James Highsmith
160 - Josh Leidig - 3rd
170 - Randall Ulloa - 3rd
152 - Domenick Nazzaro
132 - Jake Mulle - 4th
285 - Carlos Maldonado - 4th
Kyler Pizzo – All County Winter Track 55 meter hurdles
Bellport High School Star Athletes
Five Bellport High School Athletes were recently recognized by the South Country Central School District Board of Education for their outstanding athletic achievements. Athletic Director Robert McIntyre introduced the athletes. “All [athletes are] recognized tonight as All County or better honors for the fall season which puts them in an elite group of athletes on Long Island in Suffolk County and New York State,” McIntyre said. The following athletes were honored:
• Gerson Granados-Bonilla – All County Boys’ Soccer
• Cole Cipp – All County and All State Football
• DJ Trent – All State Football
• Ryan Baumann – All County Football
• Jarell White – 1,000 points scored – Boys’ Basketball
The young men are not only star athletes, but they are also great role models. Congratulations to all!
Pictured (left to right) are: Superintendent Dr. Joseph Giani, Coach Peter Grossi, Greyson Granados-Bonilla, DJ Trent, Jarell White, Ryan Baumann, Cole Cipp, Coach Joe Cipp, III, Board of Education President Cheryl A. Felice and Athletic Director Robert McIntyre
Bellport Clippers Co-league Champs
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 2/15/18)
The Bellport Varsity Basketball Team took their first regular-season loss this past Saturday against Deer Park. Despite the loss, the Clippers became co-league champions with the Falcons.
This game was painted to be the best game of the whole season, for both teams. In their first meeting at Randy Smith basketball court, Bellport obtained a 73-58 victory. The atmosphere demonstrated by the fans and the style of play form the home team were key to that victory.
It was a game of runs. In the fourth, Bellport went a 13-0 run and Deer Park responded with a 10-0 run of their own. With under 10 seconds remaining, Jarell White grabbed an offensive board and put the ball in the back of the net to make it a 56-56 game. In overtime, Bellport went on a 17-0 run to secure the victory.
But this time around, Deer Park sought revenge; people from teams around Suffolk County did not want to miss it and were in attendance. The Falcons took a 71-56 victory.
From the opening tip, Deer Park wanted to show who they were at home. Bellport’s center Kavon Brown suffered an injury in the opening minutes and would not return to the game. Deer Park took advantage of this and jumped to a 21-7 lead after the first quarter, which ended up being the difference at the end of the game. Malik Edmead of the Falcons had 26 points, knocking down three 3-pointers and having five assists. Josh Pismeny had 16 points and 15 boards and Keshaun Jones had 10 points and 14 boards.
For Clippers, Jarell White had 21 points and 11 boards, Kyleim Robinson had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists. Devon Balfour had nine points, while TeAndre Rountree had six points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Still, Bellport obtained a league championship along with Deer Park, marking the first time the Clippers have been champions since the 2008-09 season. They finished with an 18-1 record. They averaged a total of 78 points per game and allowed 59 points per game.
Jarell White finished the regular season averaging 25.1 points per game, connecting on 190 field goals, to add to that, he also had 17 double-doubles. Kyleim Robinson finished the regular season in double figures in 18 of 19 games; one game he did not play due to sickness. He had four games where he scored 20-plus points and one game where he scored 32. He made 98 field goals and 28 3-pointers. TeAndre Rountree had 12 games where he had double figures, and also totaled 120 assists. Jaylen Trent had seven games in double figures and made 43 field goals. Kavon Brown had six double-doubles.
Bellport’s next game will be Saturday, Feb. 17 at Bellport High School against North Babylon at noon.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/15/18)
Clippers Remain Undefeated for 17 Games
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 2/8/18)
Another week, another group put the Clippers to the test. This time, there were three teams – Roosevelt Educational Campus, West Babylon and Hills West – none of which could defeat Bellport.
Bellport began their week traveling to Nassau Coliseum, where they faced Roosevelt, a 14-2 team ranked 10th in Class A. It wasn’t going to be easy, but the Clippers made it out alive with a 57-53 victory. With less than a minute remaining, Kyleim Robinson hit a jumper to have a two-point lead. With 30 seconds remaining, Teandre Rountree hit two free throws that iced the game. Robinson finished the game with 19 points, Jarell White had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rountree had five dimes to add, along his 12 points. Karl Charles and Jaylen Trent had four points each, while Carter Vandiekieft and Kavon Brown had two points each, with Brown also having four rebounds.
Next, Bellport visited West Babylon. The first game at Bellport High School resulted in a 34 point victory, where there were five players from the Clippers that had double figures. This time around, Bellport displayed their artillery once more, defeating the Eagles 91-54. Bellport outscored the home team 48-21 in the first half en route to their 37-point victory. White had 24 points and 17 rebounds, Robinson had 19 points and five assists. Brown had 13 points and seven rebounds, Rountree had nine points and five assists. Vandiekieft and Trent each had six points, while Andrew Veit and Charles each had four points. Lastly, Devon Balfour and Kyle Climan accounted for six points combined.
Last up was Hills West, who came to visit for the annual Bellport Senior game, which became a game to remember.
During the first game hosted at Hills West, both teams looked equivalent. It came down to the final minute. Bellport was down one with 35 seconds remaining, but a putback from White and a layup from Robinson sealed that game, with them accounting for 57 of the 79 total points.
This time around, from the opening tip the Clippers decided to change their style. Instead of being patient, they pushed the pace and unloaded their artillery. In the opening quarter they outscored the Colts 23-7. The crowd played a huge factor, and Hills West seemed nervous, not taking care of the ball, and Bellport took advantage of that, forcing five turnovers. In the second quarter, the Clippers didn’t want to give their opponent any chance at a comeback and they applied the same formula, playing well on both ends of the ball and not giving Hills West any chance at a breather. They went into the locker room with a 40-19 lead.
In the second half Bellport outscored Hills West by 10 points, leading to their 31-point triumph. Seniors Rountree, Brown, Robinson and Charles accounted for 51 of the Clippers’ points. Rountree and Brown also had a double-double with 10 assists and 17 rebounds, respectively. White had 12 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Trent had 13. Climan, Balfour and Vandiekieft combined for six points and 10 rebounds.
“Me and my brothers had to stay focused – we deserved this win,” said Brown after the game.
“We had to keep our head up, we came in together and we had a chance to win this league,” added White.
As of print, Bellport (17-0) faced West Islip this past Tuesday, and will face Deer Park (16-2) at their home court Saturday at noon. With a victory, Bellport could become the undefeated League IV champions.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/8/18)
14 Straight Wins for Bellport
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 2/1/18)
In another week in which Bellport boys basketball’s undefeated and consecutive winning streak was put to the test, this time they faced Eastport-South Manor and Deer Park and defeated both.
In the first game between ESM and Bellport, the Clippers obtained a 93-53 victory at the Randy Smith basketball court. During that game, Jarell White got his first triple-double of his career, nailing 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyleim Robinson also had a big game, scoring 24 points. This time around, Bellport applied the same recipe to obtain their 13th consecutive victory, 85-56. Bellport controlled the game from the tip-off, playing aggressive on both ends of the ball to hold a 26-9 lead after the first quarter. Bellport was the superior team for the rest of the 28 minutes for their seventh consecutive victory in league. Robinson had 17 points and six boards, Teandre Rountree had 17 points and five dimes. White had a double-double, his 12th of the season. Kavon Brown had 10 points and six rebounds. Devon Balfour had nine points, Karl Charles had eight points and seven boards, and Kyle Climan, Jaylen Trent and Andrew Veit combined for eight points.
Bellport laid their eyes on their league rival, Deer Park, and it wasn’t going to be easy.
Deer Park came into the game with a 14-1 and a 7-0 record in league. They faced teams like Westbury and Harborfields to reach this point. They came into this game averaging 70.4 points and allowing 53.5 points. The Clippers came into this game scoring 86.3 points per game and allowing 61 points. This game painted to be one to remember.
And. It. Was.
In the tip-off, Bellport gained possession and found their rhythm early on, going on an 11-1 run to have a 10-point lead. In the second quarter, the Falcons applied their formula to hold the Clippers to a minimum, scoring 17 points and allowing seven points. Coming out of halftime, Deer Park maintained their rhythm, keeping Bellport’s artillery to a minimum and delivering on the other end. They had a 43-37 lead heading into the last eight minutes.
In the fourth quarter—Bellport’s favorite quarter to play basketball—the student section went on their feet and were in charge of making the crowd and their team comfortable. They went on a 13-0 run to begin the quarter and had a seven-point lead. Deer Park didn’t go down without a fight and they went with an 11-0 run of their own, capitalizing with threes from D’Andre Edwards and Josh Pismeny. With a little over a minute remaining, the visiting team held a four-point lead. Robinson hit two free throws to push the lead down to two. Pismeny hit a free throw for a three-point lead.
With 35 seconds remaining, White made both of his free throws, and Bellport had to play the fouling game. They had three fouls to give and Edwards hit a free throw. With nine seconds remaining, Bellport drew up the perfect play. Rountree stormed through the court for a layup but missed and White was there for the offensive rebound, his eighth of the game and the putback, as the clock expired.
In overtime, Bellport took over and made sure Deer Park had no answer. They went on a 17-0 run, capitalized with three-point plays by White. Trent hit a three from corner for an 11-point lead, Deer Park hit two free throws as the clock expired, but Bellport came out on top with a 73-58 victory. White had 30 points and 19 boards, Robinson had 17 points and 10 boards, Rountree had 13 points and six assists, Trent had eight points, and Brown had four points and nine boards.
Bellport (14-0), faced West Babylon earlier this week, and faces Half Hollow Hills West (13-4) today at 5:45 p.m. at Bellport High School at the annual Senior Night.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 2/1/18)
Jarell White Makes Bellport Proud
Congratulations to our very own Jarell White, power forward for Bellport Varsity Basketball! Jarell, a junior at Bellport High School, is known for his relentless offensive rebounding for the undefeated varsity basketball team. Jarell was written up in Newsday. Click here to read all about him in the Newsday article of 1/21/18. (Article by Bob Herzog reprinted from Newsday 1/21/18)
12 out of 12 for Bellport
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 1/25/18)
Last week, the Bellport varsity basketball team disputed two more games, where they put their undefeated record to the test and passed twice, defeating West Islip and Comsewogue.
Bellport had the advantage of putting their 10-0 record in front of their fans, commencing it by facing West Islip, where they obtained an 80-40 victory. In the opening quarter, Bellport was comfortable, shots were falling in, and pick and rolls were happening. There was trust between all the teammates, and they led by 10 after the initial eight minutes. In the second quarter, more of this beautiful offense was displayed, scoring 26 points in the quarter and allowing only 12 points, to build to a 24-point lead at halftime. In the second half, Bellport pushed the pace, maintaining the same rhythm and display of game, outscoring the Lions 36-20.
Kyleim Robinson led all scorers with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Jarell White had 17 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals. Teandre Rountree had 15 points, a rebound, six assists and four steals. Devon Balfour had eight points and two boards. Jaylen Trent had seven points, Kavon Brown had four, and Nyson Jenkins, Karl Charles, Carter Vanderkieft and Kye Climan combined for nine.
In the second game of the week, Bellport faced Comsewogue, where they obtained a 96-78 victory. The momentum from Tuesday’s game built into this game and they gave their fans a game to remember. In the first half, the offense run by Peter Grossi was shown, scoring 53 points and allowing 37. In the second half, they outscored their rivals 40-35 for the 18-point victory. Jarell White led all scorers with 32 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. Robinson had 26 points, five rebounds and six assists. Trent had 12 points and five assists. Rountree had 11 points, four rebounds and six assists. Charles had seven points, Vanderkieft had six and Andrew Veit had two.
With this victory, Bellport is now 12-0, and of publish date faced Eastport-South Manor this past Tuesday and will face Deer Park (13-1) today at 4:30 p.m. at Bellport High School.
(Courtesy of the Long Island Advance)
Bellport Basketball On Fire
Bellport’s Varsity Basketball Team remains undefeated after winning against Deer Park on January 25, 2018. Click here to read the game highlights featured in Newsday’s article, 1/26/18.
CONGRATS, CIPP AND TRENT!
Congratulations to two 2017 Bellport varsity football players for outstanding post-season recognition. Senior captain Cole Cipp and junior captain DJ Trent were selected by the New York State Sports Writers Association to the 2017 All-State Class A high school football team. Cipp was selected as a defensive back and Trent as a running back. Cipp led the team in tackles and receiving yards while Trent led the team in rushing yards, touchdowns and scoring. Great job boys for representing Bellport High School and the South Country community with pride in earning state recognition for your efforts on the field. Pictured are Cipp #88 and Trent #26 together on the field.
Bellport racks up two more victories
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 1/18/18)
Last week the Clippers put their undefeated record to two more tests, first with a tough game on the road versus Half Hollow Hills West and second with a game against West Babylon at home, where they ended up victorious.
Bellport visited Half Hollow Hills West with a bitter taste. Last year, Bellport faced them in the first round of the playoffs, where the Colts at home obtained a 12-point victory. For the players, having this in the back of their heads meant it was a “revenge game.”
In the opening quarter, everything was going right for the visiting team; ball movement and defensive stops were key points in this game and after a quarter of play, they led by seven. In the second quarter Hills West cut the distance little by little to tie the game at 26 apiece. But the Clippers went on a 13-6 run to preserve their seven-point lead into halftime.
After halftime, Bellport jumped to a quick start, scoring five unanswered points that built up to a 12-point lead. The Colts weren’t going down without a fight, and went on a 16-6 run, which cut the lead to two points. In the fourth quarter it was an exchange of momentums. Bellport had a nine-point lead with over five minutes remaining. Derek Brower Jr. and Brent Bland took over for the home team, scoring their next 12 points and the Colts took the lead by a point. With a little over a minute remaining, they held a three-point lead and free throws by Kavon Brown made it a one-point game.
The ball then fell into the hands of Kyleim Robinson, who was in charge of putting the go-ahead bucket for the Clippers and obtain a 79-74 victory. Jarell White had 30 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Robinson had 27 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and one key block down the stretch. Jaylen Trent had six points. Teandre Rountree had five points and eight dimes. Karl Charles had two points.
“We came into this game searching for revenge, given what happened last year; we had to remain together and we pulled it off,” said White. “Coach told us to trust each other and remain focused mentally.”
“Play hard, stick to the game plan. We had to execute on both ends of the floors,” added Robinson.
With one victory in hand, Bellport looked forward to making it 10 straight. And they did.
West Babylon reached this game with a 2-10 (1-4 in conference) record. The Clippers obtained their 10th victory of the season with a 93-59 win. In the first quarter Bellport outscored the visiting team 28-9. In the second half it was a bloodbath, with the Eagles getting outscored 47-26. Robinson had 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Rountree had 13 points while Trent had 10 points and seven assists to his name. Brown had seven points and nine boards. Kyle Climan and Andrew Veit had three points each while Nyson Jenkins and Davon Balfour had two points each.
Lastly, White had 25 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. This was also special because he scored his 1,000th point as a high school player, the fastest to ever do it. “It’s hard to believe that he’s never had a 3-pointer and that he has 1,000 points. He’s pretty well rounded,” said Coach Grossi.
Bellport (10-0) as of print faced West Islip (1-12) on Tuesday, and now faces Comsewogue today at 5:45 p.m. at Bellport High School.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance 1/18/18)
BELLPORT WRESTLING TAKES 2nd PLACE AT KUJAN BROTHERS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
(Photos by Ray Passaro, The Long Island Advance 1/18/17)
Bellport’s varsity wrestling team took second place at the 33rd annual Kujan Brothers Memorial Tournament held at William Floyd HS on January 13, 2018. Also at the tournament, Bellport’s Randall Ulloa took first place with an 11-0 major decision over Smithtown East’s Zachary Schumer.
Bellport keeps it rolling
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 12/28/17)
Bellport remains untouchable as they took on Comsewogue, Eastport-South Manor and Riverhead this past week.
Bellport began away at Comsewogue, who entered this game with a 4-2 record. In the first league game for either team, Bellport came out on top with an 81-72 victory. After one quarter, the Clippers had a three-point lead and in the second quarter, they outscored 21-12 to build up a 12-point lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the home team outscored the visiting Clippers 24-18 to cut the lead and in the second quarter, they outscored 21-12 to build up a 12-point lead at halftime. In the third quarter, the home team outscored the visiting Clippers 24-18 to cut the lead to six heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth, the Clippers scored 19 more points to hold on to the victory, their fifth of the season. Jarell White led all scorers with 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Teandre Rountree had 19 points and six dishes, Kyleim Robinson had 15 points and seven rebounds, Jaylen Trent added 12 points, Kavon Brown had eight points and eight rebounds and Andrew Veit had two points.
With five consecutive victories, Bellport aimed for number six Thursday against Eastport-South Manor, where they obtained a 93-54 victory. It was a one-point game after one, but the Clippers outscored the Sharks 78-40 in the remaining three quarters of the game for their 39-point victory. White had his first career triple double with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Robinson had 24 points, Rountree and Trent had 10 points each, Veit had six points, Carter Vandiekieft had six points, Karl Charles and Devon Balfour combined for five points, while Brown had four points and 11 boards.
With two victories in hand, Bellport swept the week with a seventh consecutive win.
Riverhead visited Randy Smith Basketball Court, where the Clippers obtained that seventh consecutive victory of the season, 86-74. Riverhead began the game on a 10-0 run, catching fire in the opening minutes. However, the Clippers fought back, cutting the distance little by little, and were only down one after one. In the second quarter, both teams were going at it back and forth, six lead changes happening. Robinson hit a three with a minute remaining to hold a one-point lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Bellport outscored the Blue Waves by five points, the whole team playing with each other and playing well on the defensive end, racking up seven steals in this quarter. With a six-point lead and a little over three minutes remaining, Robinson once against hit another 3-pointer to build a six-point lead.
From there one, the Clippers clung to that lead and it ended in a double-digit victory. “It feels great. We have to keep it up,” said White. “We’re going to rest, refocus and stay together. The stats don’t matter.”
“We have to remain focused, humble and keep working,” said Robinson.
Bellport (7-0) remains one of six teams (Babylon, Amityville, Bayport-Blue Point, Westhampton and Northport) that remain undefeated. The Clippers will now face Westbury (4-3) on Saturday. (Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Bellport football all-star players
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 12/14/17)
This past Monday, Dec. 4, at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association All-County Dinner, Cole Cipp and Ryan Baumann were named to the All-County football team. Both players also received All-Division and Academic All-Division honors. Baumann has been a varsity starter for the past three years. He led the team in sacks from his defensive end. Cipp has been a varsity starter for the past two years and had the most tackles playing outside linebacker. He also led the team in receiving yards and won the Cutinella Leadership Award, which is presented to someone with outstanding leadership, academic achievement, and involvement in community service. He was also named to National Football Foundation’s Golden Eleven Scholar-Athlete team (only eleven players are named), presented to the top scholar-athletes in Suffolk County football. Baumann is committed to the University of Southern New Hampshire for baseball. Cipp is undecided between Cornell, RPI, WPI, Binghamton and Stony Brook.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Congratulations to Cole Cipp and Ryan Baumann
Congratulations to Bellport High School seniors, Cole Cipp and Ryan Baumann, named 2017 All-County Football Players!
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Bellport kicks things off with a bang
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 12/7/17)
Last Thursday, Nov. 30, was the beginning of the 2017-2018 basketball season in Bellport. The team caught fire in their first game, defeating Sachem East 63-49 in a non-league game.
Bellport approaches this season with unfinished business. Last year they finished with a 9-5 record, where they reached the first round of playoffs and were defeated by Hills West. The previous year they also finished with a 9-5 record, reaching the second round of playoffs, where they were defeated by Brentwood.
This year, Bellport looks forward to yet again reaching the playoffs. Their returning players include: seniors Kavon Brown, Karl Charles, Nyson Jenkins and Teandre Rountree. They also count with the return of junior Jarell White and sophomore Jaylen Trent. In their newest additions they have juniors Matt Jazmin, Andrew Veit, Devon Balfour and Kyle Climan; also sophomore Carter Vandekieft. They also count with the addition of Kyleim Robinson, concluding the 12-man roster for the Clippers.
In their opening game of the year against Sachem East, they defeated them at home 63-49. In the first quarter, the offense was clicking early, and they had 21 points and only allowed 13. At halftime they held an 11-point lead. In the second half the offense kept displaying their artillery and had 12 points in the opening five minutes to hold a 10-point lead after three. In the fourth they went back and forth with the Clippers holding their ground strong.
White had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists, as well as one steal. Rountree was flirting with a double double as well, and had nine points, five rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Trent accounted for 12 points, and had two assists and three steals. Robinson had 11 points, two assists and a key block. Brown had 10 points and six rebounds. Balfour in his first varsity game had a 3-pointer and Charles had four rebounds.
Bellport (1-0) now faces Bay Shore (1-0) this Saturday at Bay Shore in a non-league game; the next home game for Bellport will be Friday, Dec. 15 against Central Islip.
Bellport girls volleyball profiles
(reprinted courtesy of The Long Island Advance 11/23/17)
Name: Jordyn LaGrega
Age: 16 GPA: 3.78
Hobbies: Volleyball, basketball and lacrosse.
Inspirations: To be able to play for those that can’t.
Favorite Song: “All the Above” by Maino ft. T-Pain
Quote: “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals.” – Henry Ford
Idol: My family members and Hailey Wagner.
Something interesting about me: I have a sweating condition called hyperhidrosis.
Name: Karen Barrera
Age: 16 GPA: 3.9
Hobbies: Volleyball and art.
Aspirations: To become a physician for sports medicine.
Favorite Song: “Get You” by Daniel Caesar
Quote: “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
Idol: My older brother.
Something interesting about me: I used to run track for five years.
Bellport All-Stars
Senior captains Cole Cipp No. 88 and Ryan Baumann No. 56 were selected to play in the PAL High School Senior All.Star football game Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. on Furrows Road in the PAL complex. Cipp led the Bellport defense in total (88) and solo (30) tackles as well as receiving yards (254) for the offense this season. Baumann was the co-leader in sacks (5) on defense. Both players earned All-County, All-Division, and Academic All-Division honors from the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association.
(reprinted courtesy of Long Island Advance 11/16/17)
Bellport Girls Volleyball Profiles
(reprinted courtesy of Long Island Advance 11/9/17)
Name: Alexandra Krawczyk
Age: 17
GPA: 3.75
Idol: Derek Jeter
Hobbies: Volleyball, softball, weightlifting and spending time with family and friends.
How long playing volleyball: "I have been playing since seventh grade and softball
since fourth grade. I started weightlifting in eighth grade when I realized I wanted to
be a good athlete and in my best shape."
Aspirations: " I want to own my own gym or athletic facility and be a strength and
conditioning coach. I also want to teach young student-athletes how to work to their
full potential, through nutrition and strength training."
Quote: "There may be people that have more talent than you. But there's no excuse
for anyone to work harder than you do." -Derek Jeter
Favorite song: "May We All" by Florida Georgia Line
Something interesting about me: I love animals.
Krawczyk is committed to attending Assumption College, majoring in health science
and playing volleyball next year.
-Andres Rivas
Full Name: Kara Rosenberg
Age: 17
Hobbles: Playing volleyball and lacrosse. I have been playing volleyball since 7th grade
and lacrosse since 2nd grade.
Inspiration: My older siblings are my inspiration to strive with sports and everything I
do.
Favorite Song: "You & Me" by Marc E. Bassy
Quote: "Don't mistake the difficult for the impossible" -Dr. Nido Quebin.
Idol: My older siblings.
GPA: 3.79
Something interesting about me: I'm a cheerful person full of energy.
Full Name: Gillian Donaghy
Age: 17
Hobbies: Art, theatre, longboard cruises and sports. I've been creating art since I was
young. I've always loved It. Theatre was introduced to me in high school and I've made
so many friends through the program Sports are a part of my life, too, and make me the
person I am today.
Aspirations: To create happiness not only for myself but for those around me and to be
the best version of myself.
Favorite Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon
Quote: 'The time is always right, to do what is right."
GPA: 3.6
Something interesting about me: I'm 50 percent Swiss and I can burp on command!
Bellport HS Suffolk Zone Award Winners
Congratulations to Bellport High School Seniors Ryan Baumann and Emma Johnsen, the 2017 recipients of the Suffolk Zone Award! Given by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, this prestigious award is given annually to one male and one female from each high school who have demonstrated excellence both in the classroom and on the athletic field. Nominees are selected based upon outstanding physical education achievement, scholarship in the classroom, exceptional character and leadership qualities. Both students were acknowledged at a recent Board of Education meeting in recognition of their wonderful achievement!
Pictured left to right:
High School Principal Tim Hogan, Board of Education President Cheryl A. Felice, Emma Johnsen, Ryan Baumann, Athletic Director Robert McIntyre and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani.
Pay credit where credit is due
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 11/9/17)
Coming into this year, nobody expected Bellport Soccer to do anything. I mean, let’s face it, after nine years without playoffs and only four victories the previous year, who expected soccer, out of every sport, to do something good this year? Well the truth is, that’s what kept this group of boys motivated: Justin Yanza, Sam Gonzaga, Troy Zarba, Leo Argueta, Jonathan Ulloa, Steven Williamson, Josiah Igwe, Chris Colon, Branden Rasmussen, Samuel Hampson, Gerson Granados, Jonathan Pelaez, Geovanni Vasconez, Yanlee Salinas, Albert Hernandez, Adony Velasquez and captains Josue Arriaza, Kelvin Canales and Justin Barbecho. The truth is, the doubters kept doubting and the people who had faith in them kept it. At the beginning of the season, I wrote an article called, “Bellport looked forward to silence critics,” and that’s exactly what they did. After winning their first three games of the year, things were shaken up, but then they dropped the next three games and went on to win three of the next four games. Then the magic game happened. When the team defeated West Islip, 2-1 at home, and assured a position in the playoffs, the collective “they can’t, they won’t” turned into “they can, they did.” Everyone should remember this group of boys, let by Peter Grossi and Joseph Malandro. The chip on their shoulder this year was doubt, but maybe next year it will be the support from their true fans. There is talent surrounding this team for years to come, and we should pay our respects by acknowledging Bellport Soccer more.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Bellport football ends year with victory
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 11/2/17)
The Bellport varsity football team won its final regular season game Friday night, Oct. 27 against Kings Park, 60-0. It was a bittersweet victory due to the season end.
Bellport reached this game with a 2-5 record. The thing that really hurt the most for Bellport was the close games; four of five of their losses were decided by seven points or less and one of their games was by 14 points. All games were within the minimum; the offense averaged almost 26 points per game and the defense allowed 19.6 points per game.
Kings Park reached this game allowing 27 points per game and scored just about 12 points. Having dropped their previous four games, both teams looked forward to ending the season on the positive side of the coin. Bellport did it with a blowout.
Bellport began the game with the ball on the field and looked forward to taking the lead on the opening drive. A 50-yard run from DJ Trent saw him end in the endzone, for the early advantage. Yanlee Salinas was in charge of adding the extra point with a kick and Bellport took a 7-0 lead. Later in the quarter, Trent had a 15 yard rush for his second touchdown of the night and a 13-0 lead. In the second quarter, Bellport went back to work, this time through senior Teandre Rountree, who rushed 15 yards and the third touchdown of the game for the Clippers. Salinas once again was in charge of adding the extra point. Trent wasn’t done yet, obtaining his ninth rushing touchdown of the season with a 5-yard rush, Salinas added his third extra point of the night and the Clippers held a 27-point lead at halftime.
As if it weren’t enough, to kick off the third quarter, Trent obtained his fourth touchdown of the game and his 10th overall on the season and Bellport amplified their lead with an extra point by Salinas. Bellport defense prevailed throughout the whole first half, and in the second half nothing changed, as Kings Park was held scoreless. In the fourth quarter, Bellport finished bringing out their artillery, and a mistake by Kings Park saw an interception by Myles Wilson, who ran 56 yards for a touchdown; Salinas added the extra point. Rountree had his second touchdown of the game with a 22-yard rush and Salinas concluded with his sixth extra point of the night. Nicky Cornacchiulo had five attempts for 49 yards and had a touchdown to extend the lead to 54-0, a 6-yard rush. To conclude this victory, Kyler Pizzo had an interception and rushed it for 72 yards into the endzone.
Trent concluded with 14 attempts, 169 yards and four touchdowns, Rountree with 11 attempts, 100 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan Baumann had three sacks. Carter Vanderkleft had two sacks. Bellport concludes with a 3-5 record.
Bellport finished the season 3-5, just missing the playoffs.
(Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Bellport soccer reaches playoffs for first time in 9 years
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 10/19/17)
Last Friday Bellport faced West Islip, where assuring a win secured them a playoff berth for the first time in nine years, by defeating the Lions 2-1.
Bellport reached this game with a 6-6 record, having split their last six games with three victories and three losses. They knew how important this game was, given they only had one game left, which was played this past Tuesday. But they didn’t want to wait for the last game; they had their traditional annual senior game in front of their fans and wanted to play their best.
Previously in West Islip, the Clippers conceded a 1-0 defeat. They outplayed the Lions, having more opportunities and more shot on goal, but the ball just didn’t go in the back of the net. Almost three weeks later Bellport got their revenge. From the initial whistle, the Clippers dominated. They maintained the ball on the other side of the pitch and, three minutes in, had their first opportunity with a shot from Gerson Granados. A good intervention from goalkeeper Tim DeLuca kept the game tied. A few minutes later the Lions had the ball on the opposing side, getting a chance through the middle of the pitch, but the Clippers defended their position well and didn’t allow them to get inside the box. Ten minutes later, Bellport drew first blood. An initial pass by Granados to Jonathan Cruz, who ran the ball down, got inside the box and shot the ball, beating DeLuca.
Bellport almost made it 2-0 before halftime. West Islip tied the game at 1. A cross from the right side found Shamus Davidson, who scored after a rebound in the box in the first half. At halftime there were speeches dedicated to the six seniors playing their last game in front of their fans. Jonathan Pelaez, Geovanni Vasconez, Yanlee Salinas, Kelvin Canales and Josue Arriaza.
Beginning the second half, they dominated possession with various opportunities in the first 10 minutes, and after 13 minutes they took the lead. A ball whipped into the box by Justin Barbecho found Granados in the box and after another save by DeLuca, Leo Arguetta was there for the rebound and the Clippers took the lead 2-1. Nine minutes later the Lions looked to tie the game, but a key save from Sam Hampson prevented this. A few minutes later Hampson had another save after a few rebounds in the box. Ten minutes later Arguetta had two opportunities to make it 3-1, but the opposing goalkeeper made two good saves. With five minutes left, Barbecho cleared a key pass from the floor with his head and after the final whistle, the Clippers celebrated their well-earned playoff berth. “It’s an amazing feeling to be a junior captain and lead this team into playoffs,” said Barbecho after the game.
“It feels great knowing we accomplished something great. I thank God,” said Pelaez.
“No words can describe this. [I am] extremely proud of the team—we worked hard and put our hearts out for this game,” added senior captain Arriaza.
“Before the game we were readying up and I saw the fire and desire in the seniors. I worked hard and wanted to take this team far this year,” concluded Salinas.
As of print, Bellport faced Comsewogue on Tuesday and now awaits their rival in playoffs. (Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
A strong beginning for cross country
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/21/17)
After accomplishing League IV champions last year, the Bellport cross country team wants to repeat their league title. However, this year there have been two additional teams that will challenge them for that title, Eastport-South Manor and West Islip. Bellport senior Thomas Brock, who ran a 16:50 for 5000 meters at Sunken Meadow State Park, will lead the team. Bellport also has juniors with experience like Matthew Sabolenko, Michael Foley and Tyler Zapata, who were named to the All-League team this past year. This season, Bellport has defeated Deer Park 24-35 and Half Hollow Hills West 15-50. Their next meet will be against Eastport-South Manor. (Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Bellport soccer defeats Comsewogue
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/28/17)
This past Tuesday afternoon the Bellport varsity boys soccer team defeated Comsewogue High School 2-0.
Bellport reached this match in urgent need of a victory, after losing the last three games. Two weeks ago they faced Half Hollow Hills West and were defeated 2-1, then North Babylon, who had three victories in four games and defeated Bellport 5-1. On Saturday they face West Islip at home for a close game, but the Lions came out on top with a 1-0 victory. The Clippers had three days to regroup before Tuesday’s game against Comsewogue at home.
In the first half Comsewogue attacked within the first 10 minutes, invading Bellport’s side of the pitch but the strong defending from the midfield and the defenders kept the game at zero. The Warriors had their first shot of the game 10 minutes into the match, which resulted in an effective save from Sam Hampson. Five minutes later the Clippers had their first chance to do damage inside the box with a shot from Gerson Granados, but it went wide. The away team kept on pressuring, but Hampson made two more saves, maintaining a clean sheet. Bellport, with five minutes remaining in the first half, kept the ball on the other side but were denied every chance at the net. The score was 0-0 at halftime.
In the second half Bellport began with the ball and lead with a good opportunity from Jonathan Pelaez, but it hit the crossbar. With 17 minutes in, the Clippers had another chance but were denied. Mat Sparhuber deflected the ball and there was a corner kick. After a clearance by the defense, the ball fell to the feet of Kelvin Canales, who launched it with his left foot into the back of the net and Bellport took a 1-0 lead. They had all the momentum and the crowd behind them. Only two minutes later the Clippers doubled their lead; after a clearance by Justin Barbecho, the ball fell to Granados, who ran across midfield and into the area, where he dribbled past Sparhuber and made it 2-0. Eight minutes later Bellport almost made it 3-0, but were again denied.
“It feels great winning for my team; we’re playing hard and leaving everything out there,” said Canales. With this victory, the Clippers snapped their three-game losing streak and obtained their fourth victory. “After three hard losses, it feels good to come back and win a game. We must communicate and believe in each other,” added Barbecho.
Bellport faces Eastport-South Manor today at 4 p.m. at Bellport High School, a team they defeated 2-0 on Sept. 7. “It’s a big win for the team and we’re ready for ESM – we play with intensity,” said Hampson, who finished with 11 saves. (Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Second game, first victory
(By Andres Rivas, The Long Island Advance 9/21/17)
After a bitter loss last week in Westhampton, where they preserved a lead for most of the game, this week Bellport had one objective in mind, to invade Islip field and ruin their homecoming. Bellport looked forward to doing damage from the initial whistle. They took their first victory of the season, defeating Islip 37-20.
“Our coaches were pumping us up because they picked us for homecoming,” said James Highsmith. In the first quarter, Devin Trent made a 21-yard pass to DJ Trent for the touchdown and Bellport was up 6-0. They tried to amplify their lead with a two-point conversion, but it wasn’t successful. The good defensive linemen of Bellport held Islip scoreless through one.
In the second quarter, Islip took the lead. Junior Valentino Rosselli had a 25-yard rushing touchdown; Kris McDonald converted the extra point. The Clippers didn’t take long in regaining the lead, Trent (RB) had an 11-yard rushing touchdown and this time around they converted the two-point conversion with a pass from Trent (QB) to Cole Cipp and that was the score at halftime.
After the initial whistle to the second half, the defensive linemen from the Clippers and the Buccaneers held their position and it was a one-possession game heading into the further quarter. That changed quickly as Nicholas Barry had a one-yard rushing touchdown to give the Buccaneers the lead back, with McDonald once again converting the extra point. The Clippers kept on fighting and so (RB) Trent had a 54-yard rushing touchdown, for his third touchdown of the day. Equahn Lewis rushed across the end zone for the two-point conversion. The Buccaneers failed to go down with ease and so in a kickoff return Justin Ashman rushed for 75 yards, but failed the two-point conversion. They failed to convert the additional two points and trailed by two points.
The Clippers looked forward to ending the game with a statement. Trent had his fourth touchdown of the day; this time he rushed for 28 yards into the end zone. A pass from Trent (QB) to Highsmith made it a 10-point lead for Bellport. Trent (RB) concluded with 201 yards and four touchdowns. Bellport added one more touchdown at the end of the game with an interception from DeaSean Jackson, who ran 66 yards. Ryan Baumann added the additional point.
Carter Vandekieft had 10 tackles and two sacks. Baumann also had five tackles and a sack. Myles Wilson added an interception and seven tackles.
“It feels pretty good. We needed the win to prove to ourselves and to others that we can get the job done and go all four quarters,” said Trent (RB).
With this victory, Bellport is now 1-1, while Islip falls to 0-2. Bellport has scored an average of 37.5 points and has allowed an average of 31 points. With East Hampton’s forfeit, they will be 2-1 and now face Sayville (2-0), who have allowed 14 points in each of their two games and have scored an average of 27.5. That game will be at Bellport High School next Thursday at 4 p.m.
“We have to come out strong and be aware of our surroundings and we have to defend home field,” added Trent (RB). (Courtesy of The Long Island Advance)
Two wins for girls volleyball
(By Andres Rivas, Long Island Advance 9/21/17)
Last week, Bellport girls volleyball defeated West Islip and North Babylon. They began the week fresh off two victories against key opponents like Deer Park and Huntington at home, and looked forward to doing more damage.
The West Islip Lions concluded last season with an 8-3 record and had begun this season with two victories in two games. Still, the Clippers took the victory in four sets, 26-24, 27-25, 23-25 and 27-25.
There was a lot of volleyball to be played; three of the four sets went to an additional point. Senior Alex Krawczyk had three saves, received well eight serves that were hit to her, nine serving points, two defensive digs, 14 assists and nine kills. Senior Gil Donaghy had a defensive dig, five kills and three dinks. Senior Kara Rosenberg received well 28 of the serves that were hit to her; she also had 13 defensive digs and 15 good passes. In the second set, it went to two additional points, with the Clippers winning both.
But the Lions weren’t going down without a fight.
In the third set, it was 23-23 when West Islip put the pressure on as they won the next two points to win the set. Bellport wasn’t done, as they grabbed the fourth and final set of the game, winning in OT, 27-25. Junior Jaelyn Conquest had nine kills, 13 effective dinks, 26 blocking assists and one kill. Junior Alyssa Mantione had nine defensive digs, a save, seven serving points, 23 blocking assists and a team-high 21 assists. Sophomore Pim Benjatismongkol had four saves, three defensive digs and three kills. Junior Jamie Trowbridge had seven kills. “Considering we went into the game both undefeated, it felt great coming out with the win,” said Conquest.
On Monday, Sept. 18, Bellport traveled back home, where they faced North Babylon, who came into this game losing both of their previous season games. The Clippers defeated the Bulldogs 25-11, 25-13, 25-21. Krawczyk had 10 serving points, four aces, two kills, 10 serving points and seven assists. Rosenberg had four defensive digs, defended well four serves and one good attack. Donaghy had an ace and two serving points. Tamia Lawson had two defensive digs and three aces. Karen Barrera and Emma Bautista combined for three serving points, an ace, three assists, a kill and a dink. Mantione had six assists. Samantha Murray had two aces and a kill. Talaya Guirantes had five blocks. Jordyn LaGrega had two kills and two serving points. Madison Baumann had a serving point and 10 blocks.
With these victories, Bellport is in sole possession of first place with a 4-0 record and will face Eastport-South Manor next Monday. Also with this victory, coach Lawrence Auth obtained his 350th victory as a coach in his 22nd year. “One game at a time. ESM is a very solid program; we have to be blocking. They’re solid all the way around and they’re going to be good. We have to be ready for them,” said Auth. Courtesy of Long Island Advance
(reprinted courtesy of Long Island Advance 9/2916)
Halfway
through their 2016 regular season schedule, the Clippers have built a
four-game winning streak and are proving a growing contender among the
13 varsity football teams in Suffolk Division II.
Ben Erkan and his teammates want to enjoy repeated success during his
senior season. “It definitely feels [good] to be winning again,” said
Erkan, a senior linebacker-fullback. “The guys have been putting in a
lot of work and it definitely pays off. There is a lot of joy. Our
community is excited. In the beginning, a lot of people doubted us. Now
we are getting the community together again.”
The 2016 Bellport players are all eager to redeem themselves because
they recall the team’s dismal 1-7 season a year ago. The Clippers are
the highest-scoring Suffolk team (averaging 45.6 points per game) and
have a versatile offense sparked by senior quarterback Jimmy Morrell,
wide receiver Dequan Wilson and sophomore running back D.J. Trent, who
has scored a touchdown in every game.
After opening with a 28-7 victory over 12th-seeded Smithtown East, the
10th-seeded Clippers have dominated 11th-seeded Centereach 36-20,
13th-seeded Copiague 56-0 and sixth-seeded Deer Park 63-6. Head coach
Joe “Sonny” Cipp is pleased, but he’s not bragging. “We have a low seed
and are playing weak teams,” said Cipp. “Our opponents are 4-10. We are
upbeat and in good spirits, but we have beaten the teams we are
expected to beat. We had dogfights in two of them [against Smithtown
East and Centereach].”
The Clippers are also a big favorite for their fifth game, hosting
winless Riverhead Saturday at 2 p.m. at Joe Cipp Field. Eighth-seeded
Riverhead is scoreless in its three games. Erkan, a 5-foot 8-inch,
165-pounder, is proving a steady team leader and a persistent aggressive
defender. “Our biggest leader vocally is Ben Erkan,” said Cipp. “He is
not that big, but he is all over the field [and has] a lot of energy.”
Erkan has made a team-high 42 tackles (22 solo hits), three sacks and an
interception. “I try my best on every play,” said Ekan. “We say ‘JYD.’
That means Junkyard Dogs [a longtime nickname for Bellport defenders].
We say that a lot around here. It means a lot to us.” Stephen Schwicke,
a former All-County defender for the Clippers, keeps the defenders
motivated, said Erkan. Other leading tacklers include Rocale Reyes and
Jake Gennusa. Morrell, an agile QB, has helped produce 17 touchdowns in
the first four games. He has completed 29 of 52 passes for 646 yards,
10 TD passes and one interception. Morrell has rushed 41 times for 325
yards and seven touchdowns. “He is active and fast,” said Cipp. “He is
definitely the leader of the offense. Jimmy has improved his
escape-ability in the pocket and he is maturing in fundamentals.” For
the rushing attack, Trent has gained 345 yards and five TDs on 39
carries for offensive coordinator Jamie Fabian. Wilson has caught 11
passes for 329 yards and kicked 11 extra points. Justin Rountree has
grabbed eight passes for 185 yards. As for the defense, Ryan Baumann
has three sacks and 18 tackles. Defensive tackles Issaiah Wallace and
Shawn McGorty also contributed, along with Anthony LaGrega, Cole Cipp,
Nicky Cornacchiulo, James Highsmith and Teandre Rountree.
Erkan knows the Clippers still have to challenge second-seeded West
Islip and fourth-seeded North Babylon. “Our schedule is going to get
harder,” said Erkan. “We have to keep evolving and working hard.”
Bellport Standout Joins Texas Tech Women's Basketball
(reprinted courtesy of Long Island Advance 5/26/16)
Aurella Guirantes feels more confident, more mature and she feels
happy to join a new family atmosphere. One of the premier athletes in
Bellport history, Guirantes has chosen to continue her basketball career
by signing with Texas Tech. She's gained a full athletic scholarship
and will soon attend summer school on the Lubbock campus.
"I really like the fit," Guirantes said. "I wanted to go to a big-time
school and this is an opportunity to make a big impact [as a freshman]."
She was recruited by more than 30 colleges and selected the Lady
Raiders. Her other two final college choices were Rutgers and Louisiana
State. "I am really looking forward to the challenge; I have no doubts
in my body," she said.
Texas Tech coach Candi Whitaker arranged for Guirantes to pose for color
photos wearing her new jersey. "Arella is an elite scorer," said
Whitaker. "She has the ability to score at all three levels and has
great instincts on both ends of the court. I love her vision and passion
for the game." Currently, she's back home practicing at the Boys and
Girls Club of the Bellport Area with her father, Robert. She completed a
post-graduate season at an elite prep school in Florida. She averaged
33 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 blocks for IMG Academy.
During her final Bellport season, she made first-team All-State and
became a 2,000-point career scorer in Suffolk County.
National recruiting services ranked the 5-foot-11-inch wing as the No.
44 prospect in the country and judged her the No. 17 wing in 2016 by
ESPNU HoopGurlz. Recruiting analyst Dan Olson of ESPNU described her: "A
proven scorer with deceptive quickness; fills the state sheet with
consistent mid-range production; triple threat athlete; exploits the
defender, draws contact and delivers at the charity stripe; among the
elite scorers in the class of 2016."
Guirantes said Texas Tech made her feel at home and she's confident she
can adjust more than 1,000 miles from home. "I think it might be fun,"
she said. "I will be fine. Florida [living in a dorm at IMG Academy with
many new people] was a test to see if I was comfortable being away from
home. I was able to do it." Starting in November, Guirantes will get a
repeated taste of top-level NCAA Division I basketball competition in
the Big 12 Conference. Texas Tech will challenge nationally ranked teams
like Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma.
Suffolk Zone Awards Recipients - James Jankowski and Natisha Scott
The Suffolk County Chapter of the NYS APEHRD annually recognizes one
male and one female physical education student from each high school for
outstanding leadership, character and overall success in physical
education. The awards are chosen by the high school physical education
staff.
This year's Suffolk Zone Award Recipients are James Jankowski and Natisha Scott.
Pictured, left to right, Mr. Nelson Briggs, Asst Superintendent for
Personnel and General Administration, James Jankowski, Natisha Scott and
Mr. Robert McIntyre, Athletic Director.
Suffolk Zone Awards Recipients - Nick Fountis and Courtney Pabst
The Suffolk County Chapter of the NYS APEHRD annually recognizes one male and one female physical education student from each high school for outstanding leadership, character and overall success in physical education. The awards are chosen by the high school physical education staff.
This year's award recipients are Courtney Pabst and Nick Fountis.
Nick is an All-state football player and captain. He is also standout lacrosse player. Nick demonstrates leadership on and off the field and exemplifies what it means to be a student athlete. Nick is ranked 25th in his class and has a 94.32 average.
Courtney is the second Pabst to win this award. In 2011 her sister Caitlyn also received this award. Courtney is a three sport athlete who recently signed a national letter of intent to play lacrosse at Pace University. Courtney is a standout soccer player, an avid runner and an exceptional lacrosse player. She is a leader amongst her peers and epitomizes what it means to be a student athlete. Courtney is ranked 24th in her class, has a 94.36 average.
Both Nick and Courtney have had a perfect 100 physical education average throughout high school.
Varsity Football
The varsity football team finished the regular season as Division 2 Champions and Big Four Champions.
Coach Joe Cipp III was awarded Coach of the Year for division 2.
The following football players received All-County honors after the 2014 fall football season:
Andrew Trent received special recognition from the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association for being voted as the most outstanding receiver in Suffolk County. He broke school records for most receiving yards in a single season this year and most career yards. Andrew was also voted "All-State" by the New York State Sports Writers Association.
Conor Haverty made school history this season by surpassing John Fernandez (1996) as the leader in career total tackles making him the second player ever to record over 300 tackles. Conor is a two year All-County player and a three year varsity starter.
Adrien Del Rosario - Ranked second this season in tackles and second in rushing yards. While other players seemed to get recognition for their accolades on the field, Adrian went quietly about his business. The coaches of Division 2 took notice of him and unanimously voted him all-county. Adrian played a key role in winning the division title.
Nick Fountis is a team leader who started at quarterback for the past 3 years and broke the school record as a kicker for successfully kicking 59 extra points. His leadership on and off the field also earned him "All-State Honorable Mention" by the New York State Writers Association.
Volleyball
The volleyball team finished the season 12-0 in league 4 and earned the title undefeated league 4 champions.
Samantha Colombo is a four year varsity volleyball player. She is an outside hitter and Captain. She was named Team MVP, League MVP, All-County and Suffolk County Elite 8. She ranks #3 all-time in career digs with 860. Sam was the focal point of our offense.
Toni Parenti - Is a four year varsity player. Setter, Captain, Team MVP, All-County and has the following career stats: Ranked #2 all-time in serving percentage at 96.06%, Ranked #2 in assists in a season with 587 and Ranked #1 all-time in career assists with 1,426.
Hailey Wagner - Right Side/Setter, Academic All-County. At the All-County dinner Hailey was recognized as the number 1 academic volleyball player in Suffolk County. Last spring she was recognized as an "Academic All-American" in lacrosse. This fall Hailey applied for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award which is awarded to one male and female student in each high school in New York State. There are over 1000 public and private high schools in New York State. Out of all those students Hailey was chosen as the number 1 female award recipient in the state. Hailey is a tremendous 3 sport athlete and has excelled academically to the top of her class and the top of New York State. Earlier this fall Hailey signed a National Letter of Intent to play division 1 lacrosse at Marist College.
League Sportsmanship Award Fall 2014
The following teams received the league sportsmanship award for the fall 2014 season:
* Varsity Boys' Cross Country
* Varsity Boys' Soccer
* Middle School Boys' 8th Grade Football
New York State Scholar Team
The following teams received the New York State Scholar Team distinction:
* Girls' Varsity Tennis
* Girls' Varsity Soccer
* Girls' Varsity Cross Country
* Boys' Varsity Cross Country
* Girls' Varsity Volleyball
New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference
Kreamer Street Phys Ed Teacher, Kerry Hogan, was asked to be a presenter at the 77th annual NYS AHPERD Conference, (NYS Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance). Kerry presented on the use of technology in the physical education setting. Kerry is the first physical education teacher from the South
Country School District to present at a State Conference.
Fall Sports Update - October 17, 2014
Click here for more information
Board of Education Honors Bellport Athletes Satchel Johnsen and Matt Posch
At the June 18th Board of Education meeting, Bellport athletes
Satchel Johnsen and Matt Posch were recognized for their outstanding
accomplishments.
Satchel Johnsen: Satchel is a three year captain of the Boys Golf Team
and has attained many honors as a Bellport golfer. Some of those honors
include: 2014 league champion, four time All-Division golfer, three time
All-Conference golfer, two time All-County golfer and two time player
in the NY State Golf Championships. Satchel is ranked 15th in his class
academically and will be attending Messiah College in the fall, where he
will continue his golf career.
Matt Posch - The BOE recognized Matt Posch as the most accomplished Boys
Lacrosse player in school history. Matt finished his career with 234
total offensive points. As a freshman, Matt was rookie of the year in
conference two. He was named All-Division four times, All-County three
times and is a three year Team captain. Matt signed a Division I
scholarship to play lacrosse at Sacred Heart University. Matt is ranked
28th in his class academically.
Bellport Athletes Participate in Special Olympics Spring Games
On Sunday May 18th, nine athletes from Bellport High School and Bellport Middle School participated in various track and field events at the Special Olympics Spring Games hosted by Southampton High School. Athletes from a variety of Suffolk County Schools competed for gold, silver and bronze metals. Mr. Patronaggio and Mr. Grossi volunteered to chaperone the event and were joined by high school students from the “Athletes Helping Others” club.
The athletes trained for a month in various events with Mrs. Clark at Bellport HS and Mr. Giacomin at Bellport MS. At the games, the athletes were cheered on and supported by the “Athletes Helping Others” club, Mr. Patronaggio, Mrs. Quatrale, Mr. Grossi, Mrs. Bodnarchuk, and Mrs. Giacomin.
Our athletes did an excellent job and are looking forward to next year’s competition. Below is a list of participating athletes:
Bellport High School
Deanna Boylan: 1 silver medal
Jillian Kelvas: 2 gold medals
Joe Maddalone: 2 gold medals
Kyshauwn Maynes: 1 gold medal
Bellport Middle School
Thomas Spiotta- 2 gold medals
Sa'Von Liggins- 1gold, 1 bronze
Ethan Wilson- 1 gold 1 silver
Taishawn Augustin 1 gold 1 bronze
Jimmy Garcia 1 gold 1 silver
Congratulations and good luck next year!
Bellport High School Senior, Haley Gibbons, signs "Letter of Intent"
Bellport High School Senior, Haley Gibbons, signed her "letter of intent" to play college soccer at Queens College, a Division II University.
Bellport Dance Team Places 2nd in Nationals
The Bellport High School Clipperettes Dance Team placed second in the NDA National Championship Competition, recently held in Orlando. Outsized by most of their competitors, the Clipperettes worked hard to be a viable force in the competition finals. Click here to read the article in the Long Island Advance 3/26/14.
Bellport Wrestling Wins Glen Cove Cup
Under the direction of Wrestling Coach Chuck Maragioglio, Bellport Varsity Wrestling won the Glen Cove Wrestling Tournament on January 11th. Click here to read the article from the Long Island Advance 1/14/14
All-State Linebacker, Honorable Mention 2012 and 2013
Congratulations to Bellport High School Senior, Connor Cipp, who made Honorable Mention All-State Linebacker for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In addition to his football achievements, Connor excels in the academic field as well, proudly earning the following accolades during his High School career.
Three- time All-Division Football player 2011, 2012, & 2013
Two-time All-County Football player 2012 & 2013
Two-time All-State football player 2012 & 2013
National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame Top Scholar-Athlete member (inducted 2012)
Suffolk County Academic All-Division 2011, 2012, & 2013
Runner-up for the LaBue Award (Suffolk County football top scholar-athlete)
Ranked #3 of 360 in his class academically.
HOBY Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Award Ambassador 2012
Rensselear Medal Award Top Math /Science Student 2013
National Honor Society Vice President 2013
Math Honor Society Treasurer 2012 & 2013
Science Honor Society 2011, 2012, & 2013
National Latin Exam Summa Cum Laude perfect score 2012
National Latin Exam Magna Cum Laude 2013
Science & Research Awareness Series Program (SARAS) SUNY at Stony Brook 2013
Perfect 800 score on SAT II math II exam 2013
Board of Education Commendations
Bellport High School Students and Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach Larry Auth were recognized at the January 8th Board of Education meeting. Superintendent of Schools, Joseph Giani and Board President, Chris Picini, presented certificates to the following :
Mariah Jno Charles- All County, Girls Cross Country
Connor Cipp- All County, Football
Arella Guirantes- All County, Volleyball
Connor Haverty- All County, Football
Chris Swenson- All County, Boys Cross Country
Matt Posch- NYSAHPERD Suffolk Zone Award
Nina Puglisi- NYSAHPERD Suffolk Zone Award
Coach Larry Auth - 300 Victories for Girls Varsity Volleyball.
All County Honors
Congratulations to the following students, who attained All-County honors in their respective sports during the fall of 2013.
Mariah Jno Charles – Cross Country
Connor Cipp – Football
Connor Haverty – Football
Arella Guirantes – Volleyball
Christopher Swenson - Boys Cross Country
Bellport Star Scores her 1,000th Point
Congratulations to Arella Guirantes, Bellport High School Varsity Girls Basketball star, who scored her 1,000th point recently in the recent Bellport vs. Shoreham-Wading River game. Arella sank a free throw 16 seconds into the fourth quarter of the game at Shoreham-Wading River High School, becoming the third player in Bellport history to reach the 1,000-point mark. The game was stopped and her achievement was announced on the public-address system. Click here to read the article in the Riverhead Review.
NYS AHPERD Suffolk Zone Awards - Nina Puglisi & Matt Posch
On December 4th, Matt Posch and Nina Puglisi were recognized by the Suffolk County Chapter of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD) for outstanding achievement in physical education. Each year every high school in Suffolk County selects one male and one female senior for the Suffolk Zone Award. Matt and Nina received their award and recognition at a dinner held at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppague. There were over 600 people in attendance.
Fall National Signing Day - Megan Schaffer and Matt Posch
On November 13, Fall National Signing Day, Megan Schaffer and
Matt Posch were honored by the Bellport Athletic Department with
a formal scholarship signing event. Matt signed his letter of
intent to attend Division 1 Sacred Heart University to play
lacrosse. Matt is an honors student ranked 30th in his class.
Matt was the Suffolk County rookie of the year in 2011 and was
named All-County in 2012 and 2013. Megan, a standout defensive
lacrosse player, signed her letter of intent with Division 2
Franklin Pierce University. Megan has a 95.8 GPA and is ranked
19th in her class.
Arella Guirantes - Division One Basketball Prospect
On Sunday, October 27th, Arella Guirantes raised her stock as a Division 1 Basketball prospect. During the Metro Classic, Long Island verse New York City, Arella led all scorers with 20 points and was named the MVP after Long Island beat NYC 88 – 82. Guirantes, only a junior, is in conversation with many Division 1 schools and has yet to make a decision. Some of the players that she competed with and against on Sunday are already committed to schools such as Duke, South Carolina, Michigan and Delaware. Arella competes all year in AAU travel basketball tournaments all over the country. This past summer she played in the junior nationals in Washington D.C., The Nike, Adidas, and Harlem “Goat” tournaments. Arella is a scholar athlete that is making her family and Bellport proud.
