Leading off today: Newsday and the
New York Post have been reporting in recent days on a messy high school sports situation percolating on Long Island that needs to be resolved quickly on several levels.
When the Sewanhaka Central High School District school board meets again on Tuesday, it's likely they will hear from parents of Elmont High athletes who want no part of continuing to play against schools from the nearby Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.
The source of discontent in Nassau County: complaints about racial harassment at games that's allegedly taken place over several years.
According to Newsday, Bellmore-Merrick school leaders have conceded that some spectators have engaged in racist behavior but say issues are addressed when officials became aware of the conduct.
The most recent flare-up followed the suspension of an Elmont girls basketball player after an altercation with a player from Bellmore JFK. The paper reported that video subsequently showed that Elmont girl was provoked.
The Post reported that Section 8 revoked the suspension and that the Bellmore-Merrick subsequently suspended its player for two games.
Both media outlets referenced other incidents over the years that have angered players and parents.
While it only rates as a secondary concern given the seriousness of the bigger issue, scheduling in Section 8 could become immensely difficult if schools in one district refuse to compete against those from another. The Sewanhaka district consists of five high schools (Elmont, Floral Park, Carey, New Hyde Park, and Sewanhaka) and the Bellmore-Merrick district contains three (JFK, Mepham, and Calhoun).
The current BEDS numbers for the eight schools all fall in the range of 618 to 906. With enrollments dictating much of the scheduling in Section 8, configuring regular-season divisions would be problematic to say the least, even if only Elmont bowed out -- and that's without even considering the specter of forfeits in sectional tournaments if the Sewanhaka school board accede to the parents' request and stands on principle.
In a statement, Sewanhaka schools Superintendent Regina Agrusa acknowledged the concerns but said many Elmont parents and athletes wish to continue competing. "As a result, the district is carefully reviewing all options in the best interest of our student-athletes before making any formal recommendations about the future game schedule."
A statement from Bellmore-Merrick Superintendent Michael Harrington said the district has "extended our deepest apologies and held ourselves accountable for unfortunate behaviors that have occurred in the past with Elmont Memorial High School."
Gatorade honor for Christ the King star
Gatorade has named Christ the King star Olivia Vukosa its New York player of the year in girls basketball.
The 6-foot-5 junior, who also plays for the Croatian Women's National Team, averaged 19.2 points and an eye-popping 17.9 rebounds a game this season for the Royals.
Previous Gatorade girls players of the year
Hoss returning to Sayville football program
Former Sayville football coach Rob Hoss is returning to the top job with the Golden Flashes following the retirement of Reade Sands, Newsday reported.
Hoss, 51, led the Golden Flashes to 10 appearances in the Suffolk III championship game from 2022-16, winning eight titles. He rolled up a record of 130-29, including undefeated seasons in 2004, 2011, and 2015. Sands followed and guided the program to four Section 11 crowns and a 74-11 mark in eight seasons.
Hoss, who originally retired in January 2017 to spend more time with his family, served as Sayville's offensive coordinator for the past five years.
Uh, ... no
A parent advisory group in New York City wants the PSAL to adopt chess ad a recognized sport.
The Citywide Council on High Schools, a body established by the State Legislature to advise on educational or instructional policies for New York City
high schools, passed a resolution to that effect by an 8-1 vote.
The recommendations will now go to the city Department of Education and PSAL leadership.
The group cited studies touting the benefits of chess in the classroom, including the development of critical thinking and the brain's ability to adapt, the New York Post reported.
"There's a tremendous community of students yearning to play chess -- and families that are supportive of it and having a team in every school," CCHS member Ben Morden told the paper.
The PSAL currently oversees 25 sports ranging from football and basketball to table tennis and double Dutch. The operative word, of course, is "sport." Chess is not a sport, it is a game.
Schools don't need a governing body to create chess clubs within their walls, just like there are clubs for Robotics and academically-oriented programs like Odyssey of the Mind or Math League. Those student groups participate in interscholastic competition just fine without the PSAL's oversight.
One CCHS member recognized as much.
"I agree that chess is competitive and requires strategy, but I would offer that it is not a sport," Lisa Stowe countered. "If we're going to call chess a sport and have PSAL sponsor chess, then I think they should sponsor e-sports and video games."
