Consolidation in Corning? The Corning-Painted Post school board heard a proposal Wednesday to combine all varsity sports teams at East and West high schools,
The Leader reported. The district already fields combined squads in several sports, including swimming, wrestling, track, cross country, soccer and golf.
Tim Decker, the district’s AD; Bill Pierce and Nick Kapral, the West and East athletic managers; Lou Fiorillo, the district’s track and cross country coach; and Randy Holden, the former East High varsity football coach, explained how such a consolidation would affect the district.
"We live in a different world economically," Decker said. "This is a discussion about what direction you as the board of education would like to see us take. This discussion is not just happening in Corning. Elmira is having similar concerns."
Dollar amounts were not discussed, but a merger would reduce costs for transportation, salaries and equipment. Decker also noted 29 of 113 coaches in Corning are not properly certified in areas including CPR and defibrillator use.
Holden addressed the concern that fewer teams would mean fewer opportunities, noting fewer than 65 students play varsity football -- including only 26 at Corning East, a 2006 state champion. The East girls lacrosse team only had 16 girls, including four freshmen, last spring.
Superintendent Mike Ginalski did not give a timeline for moving forward with the proposal.
Football forfeit: Sachem East has forfeited its only football win of the season after determining an ineligible player was used against Patchogue-Medford on Sept. 19.
Ed Cinelli, executive director of Section 11, said Sachem self-reported the use of a fifth-year senior after the 23-21 victory. The forfeit makes Patchogue-Medford to 2-1 and drops Sachem East to 0-3.
Family activities: One of the more unusual stories I've seen lately comes via Newsday, which found four Murino sisters playing soccer for Connetquout this fall. Danielle, 17, is a senior; Michelle, 16, a junior; Deanna, 15, a sophomore; and Joanne, who they call JoJo, is a 14-year old freshman.
Connequout got off to a 6-1 start and a No. 9 ranking in Class AA by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Danielle has scored 11 goals this fall, and each of her sisters had an assist when she recorded a hat trick Sept. 5 during aa 3-2 win over Half Hollow Hills East.
"This only comes around once in a lifetime," Deanna said. "Even though we do fight sometimes, we back each other up on the field."
Each of the quartet has played varsity soccer since her freshman year, and each plays the sport year-round. Dennis Murino said there have been weekends in which each of the girls was playing in a different state, giving him all the more reason to enjoy what's happening this fall.
"It's like a dream," he said. "Because you never know if it'll actually happen."
Extra points: Washington, D.C., McKinley Tech won't play its football game at Cumberland, Md., Fort Hill tonight because D.C. Public Schools has not finished its investigation into allegations that racial taunts were directed at Dunbar players by Fort Hill players during a Sept. 19 game, USA Today reported. . . . Red Creek (Class C) and Wheatland-Chili (D), No. 2 in the state in their respective classes, play tomorrow in boys soccer at Red Creek. . . . State golf champion Dominic Bozzelli of McQuaid has given an oral commitment to continue his career at Central Florida. Ian Paddock, a wrestling state champion for Warsaw, will attend Ohio State next fall, the Democrat and Chronicle reported.
