With all fall sports concluding about a month ago, the long anticipated Newsday All Long Island teams were announced. The South Shore Press would like to congratulate the following athletes who were named to the All Long Island teams in their respective sports from the following school districts that we cover:
Bellport:
This fall for the Bellport Clippers, the All-Long Island selections seemed a bit lighter than usual as only one member of their athletics program was selected to a team by Newsday despite a nice showing on the gridiron by Quarterback Caleb White and his teammate Trayvon Holland who both made All-County.
The lone selection for the Clippers was Girls Cross Country Junior Ella Masem. She is often overlooked as her competition in Class A just so happens to be All-American Junior Zariel Macchia from William Floyd, but that should not overshadow the fact that Masem had a spectacular year on the course.
Masem finished 9th at the State Championship running a blazing 18:55 5000 meter time. She was also runner-up to Macchia at the Suffolk County Championship prior to the state meet.
Center Moriches:
The Red Devils of Center Moriches had one of their most successful fall seasons yet as they saw both team and individual success this fall.
Despite this, Newsday and their “Sports Writers” seem to not give a damn about small schools unless you're the second coming of Jeremy Ruckert, so they named only one athlete to their All-Long Island roster from Center Moriches.
The school’s lone All-Long Island honoree was Senior Setter Julia Hromada, who was named second team All-Long Island despite leading her team to a Class B State Final Four appearance.
The Long Island media giant also failed to name a single member of the Center Moriches Girls Varsity Volleyball Team to their First Team All-Long Island team despite the fact that they made it all the way to the Class B State Final Four.
Instead, they decided to credit Head Coach Nancy Morrow for all the team's success as she was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year.
Morrow was more than deserving for the award as she helped the Red Devils earn some hardware which they haven’t possessed since 2007. Morrow helped guide her team to the Suffolk Class B title, a Long Island championship win, and state tournament appearance.
The most egregious snub from their list was Senior Running Back Matthew Albino, who was one of the best running backs in Suffolk County as his big play ability was what put fear into opposing defenses all year.
Albino was given pretty much every other honor you can have besides being named his position's player of the year, but he still should have at least garnered a second team nod for his efforts this fall.
Eastport-South Manor:
The Sharks were ready to attack this fall and tons of individual recognition was garnered by their Student-Athletes.
The Sharks would bring home a Long Island Athlete of the Year honor this fall as Amanda Sweeney would take home the honors in her senior season.
Sweeney channeled her inner Joe Namath this fall by not just predicting, but guaranteeing her team would win the Suffolk County Class B Championship. The County title would be the first in team history.
She told Newsday that her individual honor was a shock and that it was completely unexpected as she was more focused on the team than herself.
In her final season as a High Schooler, Sweeney scored a Long Island-leading 19 goals to go along with 10 assists. Her 29 points tied for second most on Long Island.
“(This) was an experience that I couldn’t change anything for,” Sweeney said of her career. “It’s just been a great ride — five years. The first year I was pulled up for playoffs, and they were so welcoming, especially me being in eighth grade. Even the seniors were so welcoming to me. Ever since then, I just wanted to be that for the younger kids.”
Head Coach Ann Naughton was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year for helping her team win their first ever county title while Senior Emma McLean was also given Second Team All-Long Island honors for her contributions towards the Field Hockey team in their quest for glory this fall.
On the Volleyball Court, Outside Hitter Ayden DesLauriers continued the Sharks’ rich history of Volleyball as he was named to the All-Long Island team following a very dominant Junior Season. DesLauriers was elite in 2023, totaling 425 kills, 50 aces, 12 blocks and 207 digs to lead Eastport-South Manor to a Suffolk II final appearance.
Longwood:
Despite making it to the second round of the Suffolk County Playoffs in football, only one athlete in the entire school was named All-Long Island as Running Back and Cipp Award Finalist Nnamdi Nwanyanwu was named to the second team following a stellar senior season that should’ve arguably given him first team honors.
Mt. Sinai:
What a year it was for 8th grader Cali Gabrielson. Before she will set foot in Mt. Sinai High School, the most obvious heir apparent to William Floyd’s Zariel Macchia took part at the Nike Cross Regional at Wappingers Falls, NY where she placed seventh in 18:48.5 over 5000 meters and qualified for the Nike Cross national meet.
That’s right, a middle schooler qualified for a high school national championship meet. Unreal.
She also finished second in the Class B race at the public school state championships in 18:43 flat, second in Class B at the Suffolk state qualifiers in 18:54.29 and 11th at the state Federation championship in 19:07.4.
Gabrielson’s teammate, Paige Schieffele, also received All-Long Island Honors while she placed fourth in the Class B race at the public school state championships in 18:54.3 any was fourth at the Class B Suffolk state qualifier at 19:18.51. She finished her season placing 14th at the state Federation championship in 19:11.2 and 10th at Nike Cross Regionals in 19:11.
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| Ella Masem during the Section XI Championship File Photo |
Senior Rylee Wassmer was named second team All-Long Island in field hockey this fall.
Outside Hitter Julian Fray also received second team honors for his play on the boys varsity volleyball team this fall.
The biggest honor of the year for the Raiders was Goalkeeper Logan Guzik who was named All-State for the 2023 season as he was one of the top goalkeepers on Long Island and in New York.
Rocky Point:
Field Hockey Star Sydney Woods was named All-Long Island for her superb season that saw her put up 17 goals, 12 assists for 29 points, tied for the second most on Long Island. Her offense led Rocky Point to a 13-4 record and a Suffolk Class B semifinal appearance.
Shoreham/Wading River:
Despite an injury late in the year, senior Grace Hillis was a key piece in everything SWR did, helping her receive first team All-Long Island Honors.
After suffering a leg injury, the Wildcats feared losing her late in the regular season. Hillis not only returned for the playoffs, she excelled.
The Old Dominion University commit had at least one point in all five playoff games before suffering a 2-0 loss in the state Class A final. Hillis had 12 goals and seven assists, including five goals and two assists over six playoff games. While also playing lockdown defense, she had both goals in a 2-0 win over Kings Park in the Suffolk Class A final and then had a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Plainedge in the Long Island Class A championship.
Smithtown East:
The East Siders saw two monster seasons from two of the best athletes in the county this fall.
Junior Anya Konopka was named first team All-Long Island following an impressive Junior season for the Red Bulls.
The power-hitting Konopka earned her second All-Long Island selection after winning the Suffolk individual singles title. She reached the round of 16 in the state championships and was 18-1 on the year.
The other All-Long Island recipient from Smithtown East was superstar goalkeeper Diego Flores.
Flores, who has been the Olympic Development Program national team goalkeeper the last two years, posted eight shutouts, giving him 23 over his three seasons as a starter.
Coach Mike Menendez told Newsday that Flores is a “great shot stopper and communicator” and someone who “plays angles well and rarely gives an opponent a second opportunity on (a) rebound.”
Senior Mallory Anderson also received second team All-Long Island Honors for her efforts on the varsity girls soccer team.
Smithtown West:
The fall sports season was very kind to Smithtown West athletes to say the least as this was one of the best years the West-Siders have ever had in terms of program wide success as multiple teams made it to state tournaments while many individuals had standout seasons in 2023.
The highlight of the All-Long Island team nominations was Cornell-Commit Douglas Antaky being named Suffolk County and Newsday’s Runner of the Year as he made the hardest course in the region (and arguably the country) look easy as his 5000 meter time at Sunken Meadow was the fastest the County had seen from a Suffolk resident since the likes of former steeplechase state champion John Lauer in 2016.
Antaky was also unbeaten from the first race of the year up until the Class A State Championship, where he finished second.
Antaky wasn’t the only Bull who was named the Suffolk County Athlete of the Year in his sport as Bucknell commit Sophia Burns was named the County’s best swimmer by Newsday.
Burns was a dynamo in the pool the last two years while authoring a final chapter that was everything she could’ve ever wanted. She would finish seventh in the Federation in the 100 free in 52.45 and sixth in the 100 back (56.99). She was also a member of the state champion 200-yard medley relay team, making the combined Hauppauge-Smithtown swim team two-time defending state champions of the event. The medley relay team has gone undefeated throughout the last two seasons.
Burns was joined by teammates Julia Lucca, Sarah Lucca (who received All-Long Island as an 8th grader), and Mary Grace Waring as All-Long Island honorees for winning the state title in the medley relay.
Head Coach Sean Montalvo was also named Suffolk County Coach of the Year in girls swimming and diving as his team's unbeaten streak has now stretched to 27 consecutive meets.
Another record breaking performance was by soon to be Division 1 Football Commit Jack Melore, as he was named to Newsday’s First Team All-Long Island.
Melore proved to everyone he was the best at the wide receiver position this past fall. He would go on and break the Long Island career record for receptions as he finished his career with 158 this season.
In only nine games, he put up numbers that are borderline “All-Pro” in the NFL. He had 78 receptions for 1,258 yards and 17 touchdowns.
On defense, he also added five interceptions and one defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. Melore scored 21 total touchdowns for the Blue Bulls and he won the Paul Longo Award as Suffolk County’s best WIde Receiver.
Lock Haven commit Brayden Stahl was named second team All-Long Island as he posted the second most passing yards in Suffolk County while also bringing stability to a position that Smithtown West hadn’t seen in a very long time. Expect to hear big things about him as he moves on to college next fall.
Despite the Girls Soccer Team playing in the State Final, Newsday decided that only one Smithtown West player was worthy of the distinction of All-Long Island this fall as Madison DeMaio was the newspaper's pick for the honor.
DeMaio was definitely a star as the former gymnast scored crucial goals in the County Championship and Long Island Championship. With season totals of 17 goals and four assists while scoring in 13 straight games before reaching the state tournament, the Monmouth University commit was definitely one of the best players on Long Island and she was an easy selection.
DeMaio’s head coach Emily Fey was also named Suffolk County’s Coach of the Year as she led the Bulls to the programs second ever appearance to the state championship and the program’s best season to date.
On the boys soccer team that also reached the State Final Four, Senior Defenseman Alex Tylar made the All-Long Island first team as he was the anchor of a defense that yielded one goal or less, including seven shutouts, in 10 of 11 games prior to the Class AA state semifinals.
Tylar, who switched to defense from center back this season, scored six goals this fall for the Long Island Champion Bulls.
Coach A.J. Gercke described Tylar to Newsday as “big, strong, fast, technical with both feet, dominant in the air, dangerous on set pieces,” and added that he “reads the game extremely well.”
Tylar’s teammate Gavin Reis was also named All-Long Island, receiving second team honors.
Last but certainly not least, the Bulls saw Isabella Spilotros come home with second team honors following a successful senior season on the tennis court.
Ward Melville:
Another fall show eason, another successful season for Ward Melville. It’s become a guarantee that is just as certain as death and taxes.
Robert Hauss was the most dominant soccer player in Suffolk County in 2023. It’s not up for debate as he scored 27 of his team's 55 goals on the year while assisting on 10 more, accounting for over half of the Patriots goals scored in 2023.
He was especially clutch in their postseason drive to the Class AAA title game, with three of his goals and two of his assists coming in the run. He eclipsed the program’s previous single-season record of 22 goals.
Despite only being a Junior Outside Hitter, Kyle Hagan established himself at the best of the best this year as he was named Newsday’s Player of the year for Boys Volleyball.
In the Suffolk Division I semifinals, he totaled a mind boggling 46 kills, three blocks less and two aces in a come-from-behind 3-2 win over top-seeded Bay Shore. He followed that up with 43 kills, two blocks and an ace in a 3-2 win over No. 2 West Islip in the finals. This gave him the honor of being the Suffolk County Championship Tournament MVP.
After leading his team – who was a 5 seed in the Suffolk Playoffs – to their first county title since 2005 and first Long Island title ever. Coach Brian O’Shaughnessy was named Newsday’s Coach of the year.
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Smithtown West's Swim Medley Relay hasn't lost in two years (Pictured: Julia Lucca,
Sara Lucca, Mary Grace Warning, and LI Swimmer of the Year Sophia Burns) File Photo
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Despite standing at 5’3” and playing the forward position – where you ideally need some height – Costello doesn’t strike you as the most imposing force on a field by measurables. However it’s a different story on the pitch.
Costello was the centerpiece in back-to-back state championship seasons for Ward Melville, capped off by scoring 15 goals with four assists this year as Ward Melville won the state Class AAA championship in a 19-0-3 season.
Peyton’s younger sister, Maddie, was also named to the All-Long Island first team as she was one of many Ward Melville athletes to garner the honor.
Adriana Victoriano (Soccer), Griffin Kramer (Football), Peyton Phillips (Field Hockey), Alexa Kidd (Field Hockey), and Shawn Legge (Volleyball) all received All-Long Island Honors as well.
Westhampton Beach:
Tennis Superstars Matilda Buchen and Julia Stabile were the doubles team to beat in 2023. They were so good that the duo were named Co-Suffolk County Players of the Year by Newsday for their efforts this fall.
In their final season together – since Stabile will graduate this upcoming spring while Buchen will have one more year to go before graduating in 2025 – The Hurricanes tandem defended their Suffolk individual doubles title and capped a phenomenal season by capturing the NYSPHSAA individual doubles championship.
The Duo were even dynamic in singles play as they split time between singles and doubles in team play – each going 9-0 at singles – as Westhampton reached the county title match. Their record together in doubles was 19-0.
William Floyd:
It would be a crime if Zariel Macchia somehow lost Long Island Runner of the Year following another stellar season where she dominated the competition not just at the State Level, but the National luhjevel as well.
Macchia won the Foot Locker Northeast Regional at Boston’s Franklin Park in 17:13. She won the state Federation championship at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls in 17:59.4, a week after finishing second at the Class A public school state championship in 17:44.3.
The Junior mega-star also won at the Suffolk Division championships, the Suffolk Class A state qualifier, the Eastern States Championship, the Boston Mayor’s Cup and the Nike XC Town Twilight Classic at the Historic Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Despite losing in the LIC to powerhouse Massapequa, Coach Longo’s Football team saw two of their superstars names to second team All-Long Island.
Cornell-Commit Caden Lesiewicz was named second team following another successful season both as a safety and a kicker. He has become the best kicker in New York State according to some scouting sites while also winning Suffolk County’s Safety of the Year award last fall.
Linebacker Wally Crane also had a big season for the Floyd defense as he anchored their front seven and led them to a Suffolk County championship this fall.