Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School Wrestling Holds Successful Fundraiser for Local Student

Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School wrestling coaches Paul Harvey and Chris Dowd gathered their players and the community together on March 7 for a fundraising event to help the family of one of their own. With the support of the varsity wrestling program, OBMS student-athletes, parents and local businesses, the Takedown Tournament was held to benefit the family of an eighth grader and former wrestler who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia.

“More than 125 middle school wrestlers from Connetquot, Copiague and Patchogue-Medford took part in our Takedown Tournament,” coach Paul Harvey said.  “Fifteen Connetquot varsity and JV wrestlers volunteered to referee matches and monitor the raffle and gift basket tables.  Twenty-four T-Bird Kid Wrestlers also participated in this important event.”  The sale of tournament T-shirts and bracelets at OBMS and Copiague also contributed to the success of the tournament.  

“Coach Dowd and I would like to thank all the wrestlers, parents and so many volunteers for helping to raise over $2,500 to help the family of our former, and hopefully future, wrestler,” coach Harvey said.  “The coaches, OBMS administrators and family would also like to thank the parents and local businesses that donated gift baskets which were raffled off for this year’s Takedown Tournament.”
Congratulations, and thank you, to the OBMS wrestlers and community for coming together for the benefit of one of our own. 


Varsity Student-Athletes Qualify for National Indoor Track Championships

Connetquot High School track and field coaches Jim Crowley and Mike Austin (girls) and Shelby White and Tim Fischer (boys) are proud to announce that six Connetquot student-athletes have qualified for the 2020 New Balance National Indoor Track championships scheduled for March 13-15.   Five Connetquot High School graduating seniors will be joined by Ronkonkoma Middle School eighth grader Marissa McDougall.

Connetquot’s Chris Andrade, Aidan Harrington, Dominick Katrivanos and James Mastro will attempt to improve on their new school record of 3:28.21 in the 4x400-meter relay, while Jeremy Bertolet will try to improve on his 44’11.5” triple jump. These talented high school student-athletes will be joined by eighth grader Marissa McDougall.

According to coach Jim Crowley III, “Marissa McDougall qualified to run the mile at the nationals by finishing 5:17 in a 1,500-meter run in early December. She placed 10th in the 1,000-meter run at the Long Island championships; fourth in the Suffolk championships (4x400-meter relay); fifth in the League II championship in the 600-meter run and second in the 4x400-meter relay with the fastest relay split on the team.”
Marissa is ranked No. 1 on Long Island for eighth graders in her two best events, the 600- and 1000-meter runs. “Marissa has been an integral member of our varsity team this year,” coach Mike Austin said.  “She is one of the best athletes I have ever worked with, and definitely a young lady with unlimited potential for her age.”