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MHS cross country team runs away with County title
After what were described by head coach Mike Lisa as grueling workouts, both before and during the season, the Massapequa girls cross country team capped off the fall with their first Nassau County title in 12 years. The Chiefs reined superior amongst both the large and small schools in the county meet held on Nov. 4 at Bethpage State Park to allow the runners to head to upstate Warwick, NY to compete in the states. "It was just how hard the girls worked and trained," said Coach Lisa of the reason for his squad's dream season."They really stepped up." Following a 12-1 season with the only loss coming to East Meadow the Chiefs avenged the defeat to the Jets by edging them in the counties. In the meet where the lowest amount of total points wins based on placements in each race, Massapequa received 109 points with East Meadow the next closed at 124 to win the county Class AA title. The Chiefs also defeated Mepham (143 points) to win the open championship, meaning they defeated all of the large and small schools who competed at the meet. "It was really exciting," said Amanda Schmidt, an eighth grader who was in her second year competing on the high school squad, of winning the counties."I was so proud of myself and the team." It was Lisa's first year leading the girls cross country team after coaching boy's indoor track the previous five years. He attributed much of the successful first year to the assistance of volunteer coach Rich Langson, who was a successful runner for Massapequa's cross country team in the 1960's. In the state meet held on Veterans Day in Warwick, NY the Chiefs competed against some of the best teams in the nation including Saratoga and Hilton an eighth grader who was in her second year competing on the high school squad, of winning the counties."I was so proud of myself and the team." It was Lisa's first year leading the girls cross country team after coaching boy's indoor track the previous five years. He attributed much of the successful first year to the assistance of volunteer coach Rich Langson, who was a successful runner for Massapequa's cross country team in the 1960's. In the state meet held on Veterans Day in Warwick, NY the Chiefs competed against some of the best teams in the nation including Saratoga and Hilton and Coach Lisa was proud of how they competed despite not winning the crown."They went up there and ran their hearts out and that's all I can ask for," he said. In addition to the hard workouts Lisa held his part to bring the team together."He did a lot to promote team spirit," said Schmidt. Schmidt added that despite being four to five years younger than many of the runners the age difference was never a factor and she was invited to every team outing throughout the season."We were all great friends," she said. The Chiefs received many post season awards following their county title including two runners garnering All County accolades in senior Michele Grieco and Schmidt. Five Chiefs were named to the All Conference team including sophomore Liz Henry, senior Kristen Grennan, juniors Kristen McMillian, Grieco and Schmidt. Receiving All-Division honors were Henry, Michele Grieco, Schmidt and Grennan. The Massapequa harriers also had success in the classroom with several girls being named scholar athletes. The Chiefs who were able to balance their running with their studying included Tatum Heath; Eunique Martin; Alex Gentry; Kelly Rogers; Melanie Bisetta; Kristen Grennan; Grieco; Nicole Spiteri; Kelly Kramer; Schmidt; McMillan; Mary LaGrassa; Lisa Totino; Henry, Paige McAtee; Emily Marchini;, Grennan; Courtney Sullivan; Megan Francis; Casey Egan; Rachel Bryson-Brockman and Brittany Calcagno. Despite losing some key seniors Lisa has high hopes for a repeat performance in 2006 with five of the top seven runners returning as well as Marchini, a freshman who ran the best time for the Chief's in the states."Hopefully we will return our title to Massapequa next year," he said.
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