The annual Sprig Gardner Tournament turned out to be a win-win-win situation for all three wrestling teams in the Bellmore school district. more

Before the cold and snow hit, a group of mostly fourth-grade boys from Birch and Levy-Lakeside elementary schools and their dads held their annual Turkey Bowl, a morning of football, fun and loads of father-son bonding. The event was held for the second year at John Street Park in south Merrick. more

Forty Merrick-area coaches recently took part in the Merrick Police Activity League’s inaugural NSCAA/LIJSL State C License Class, which certifies coaches after the three-week course and two exams. New and seasoned coaches alike dedicated their time in an effort to become more effective coaches for the kids in Merrick PAL and beyond, as Merrick PAL opened the course up to coaches from different area clubs. more

unrise Chiropractic of Merrick, owned by Dr. Fred Jones, recently signed on as a 2009 sponsor and official services provider of the Mineola Portugese Soccer Club, defending Long Island Amateur Champions and New York State Finalists. Jones also provides chiropractic services for the Rough Riders, Long Island's professional soccer team. For more information about the Mineola Portuguese Soccer Club or the Long Island Soccer-Futebol League, visit www.lisfl.org . For more information on Sunrise Chiropractic, visit www.sunrise-chiropractic.com more

The first recruiting class of Molloy’s women’s basketball coach Tim O’Hagan will graduate in the spring, but first the Lions have some unfinished business to take care of this winter. more

At first glance, sweetly smiling sixth-grader Ally Murphy of North Bellmore might seem out of place on a football field. Truth is, she feels quite comfortable there, so much so that she captured second place in the Tri-State NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Championships in the 12-13 year-old division at the Meadowlands Arena recently. more

Tzvi Lewisohn, a Calhoun High School senior, loves to win. Basketball, bowling, you name it, Lewisohn is a competitor. But, he is quick to note, more important than winning is sportsmanship. “We always congratulate the other teams,” Lewisohn, a member of Calhoun's Challenger bowling and basketball teams, says with a smile. “We don't want them to think we're out to win; we're just trying to have fun.” Of course, it doesn't hurt that both teams are undefeated for the past two years. They have not lost since the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District started the Challenger basketball league for special-education students with a handful of other Nassau County school districts in 2008. more

The Merrick-North Merrick Little League's 9-year-old Yankees recently won the World Series in the International Division. Celebrating the victory were, top row, from left, Coach Rob Porcelli, Manager Felix Marks, Coach Ed Goldstein and Coach Gary Birke; middle row, Mike Pokorny, Alec Oppenheim, Ben Birke, Ray O'Keefe, Jack Goldstein, David Kantor and Justin Oberstein; bottom row, Haden Levine, Mike Porcelli, Jake Marks, Matt Molzon and Jack Appello; and on the ground, James Hampton. more

Three Mepham High School soccer players were recently awarded All-County and All-Conference honors, including Anthony Ippolito (All-County), Stephen Polimeni (All-Conference) and Anthony Duranona (All-Conference). Joining them at right was James Koester, the boys' varsity soccer coach. more

The Mepham High School varsity cheerleading squad recently placed second at the Universal Cheerleading Regionals. The win earned the team a bid to the UCA Nationals in Orlando, Fla. The team will be conducting fundraising for the trip in the near future. Above are, from top to bottom, Jenna Sidor, Jamie Taratko, Brianne Mulligan, Kayla Donnelly-Smith, Remi Gurdon, Alyssa Barbieri, Nicole Altomare, Breena Sherlock, Lauren Warner, Samantha Sepe, Michelle Cristina, Kristal Sedita, Kathy Tota, Taylor Labate, Stephanie Mojica, Kristen Ferrara, Krista Barbieri, Samantha DeLuca, Nikki Stahurski, Nina Proscia, Erica Schaab, Samantha Maddalena and captains Jahniece Hall and Cali Curry. more