The golf team switched leagues this year. They were put into a very competitive league with two of the best teams in the county, Garden City and South Side. The team struggled until its final two matches which were wins versus Lawrence.

Freshman Faith Francioso, in her third year as a starter on the boys’ team, is the only golfer with a chance to qualify for counties, which are in the spring. She had the best average of anyone on the team this year, low 40’s for nine holes. She plays year round and competes in several tournaments a year.

At Lawrence, Francioso shot the best round of the season, a four over par 39, on a very windy day.

Team captains were Matt Zuelch and Billy Pappas. Pappas’ highlight this year was at the match at Cherry Valley he drove the ball on the first green nearly 300 yards away. He didn’t make the eagle putt. Zuelch had a stunning victory against one of the top golfers in the county, Ryan Walstedt of East Meadow.

Another young lady who made an impact on the team was junior Alexis Ward. Ward won a couple of matches for the team with her solid, consistent play. She often played the four, with Francioso at the three. That way the girls played well when paired together against the oppositions No. 3 and 4 golfers. A number of seniors who contributed to the team were Kyle Akley, Mike Paradiso, Luke Culen and Cliff Heney.

Two younger golfers who cracked the lineup and show promise for next year were sophomore Kyle Hughes and freshman James Tucker.

The team was coached by Pete Kravitz and Rich Colavita for the sixth year.

Despite the frustration of the season and the new league the team played some incredible private country clubs: Cherry Valley in Garden City, the most difficult course the team played this season; Hempstead Country Club; Middle Bay Country Club; and Lawrence Country Club, the latter two were on the water and very windy.

For next season the golfers hope to get back to their former conference and find some young talent.