Newfield High School - Athletics

Athletics

Newfield fields a number of varsity and junior varsity athletic teams, in Section 11, Division 2 of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, including Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball (Girls), and Wrestling.

Although team uniforms use the school's red and white colors, in the late 1990s, varsity teams began using black as a third color to distinguish from junior varsity.

Football. The Wolverines were in the bottom echelon of Division 2 football for many years since the 1980s. Before the 1980s, the team enjoyed some success, and won four league titles. In mid-2000s, the team again had some winning seasons. The Wolverines ended their 2010 season with a record of 8-2. The 2011 season has securely placed the Wolverines in the history books. The Wolverines started out their season 3-0, before losing 3 straight games. During this skid, Newfield completely rewrote their offensive playbook and re-positioned many of their position players. After the 3-3 start, Newfield ran the table, ending up with a 9-3 record. During their run, the Wolverines beat powerhouse East Islip to capture Newfield's 1st ever Suffolk County Division II Championship. They capped their season by defeating Nassau County's undefeated Garden City. This victory earned the 2011 Wolverines the distinction of 2011 Long Island Class II Champions.

Fencing. Newfield is widely recognized for its varsity fencing program, which began in 1964. Noted as the most successful athletic program in the school's history, it is also one of the most storied fencing programs in the nation. Alumnus, Edward D'onofrio was a member of the 1974 Olympic Fencing Team; Robert Piraino and Joseph Amodemo both have gone on to become US National Foil Champions (Winning Division III is not being a national champion). The program has also sent many athletes to represent Long Island in The Empire State Games, the largest amateur athletic games in the nation, earning Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals.

Van Wolosin. Van Wolosin served as the teams coach for over 30 seasons, through 2001. Wolosin, an alumnus of Newfield HS himself, had garnered more League and County Championships than any other boys fencing team on Long Island. He was also chosen as Coach of the year more times than any other coach in Suffolk County history. Wolosin coached well over 100 All-County Athletes, dozens of County Champions and finalists, and earned over 300 dual meet wins, an unbelievable accomplishment. The Newfield Boys Varsity Fencing Team finished as a County Medalist almost every year under Wolosin's guidance, and had even beaten collegiate teams. In his last two seasons, Wolosin led the team to two consecutive undefeated seasons, winning the League Championships and County Championships, earning Coach of the year both seasons, and finishing with multiple Individual County Champions, 8 of 9 starters earning All-County Honors, and almost a dozen Individual County Finalists.

Recent Fencing Accomplishments. In the 2001–2002 season, Jerome Cordero took over after the retirement of Van Wolosin. Cordero continued the fencing team's success earning silver, gold, and another silver medal at the Suffolk County Championships, respectively in his first three seasons. In 2004, Cordero left the program, leaving the position to teacher Keith Gillespie, a former lacrosse and former football coach. Gillespie, who lacks experience in the sport, tied for 3rd (in his first season with the team), and has not been able to return the program to its past glory. With 4th and 5th place finishes over the past two seasons, and less than a 50% winning record, the team has entered its worst slump in over 3 decades. As Gillespie begins to step down handing the program over to a more experienced Coach, Gregory Klein, has nothing but high expectations for the Newfield Fencing Team. Klein (a Newfield Alumni Epeeist) steps up this season (2008–2009) as the Head Coach for the Newfield Boys Fencing and expects big things from the squad he's been training with for the past 3 years. With a knowledgeable and experienced coach at the helm, expect Newfield to reclaim its past glory as the team and coaches are set to finish in the top 3 this year and many years to come. As expected, the Newfield Boys finished 3rd in league this season (2008–2009) and wasn't finished there. At the county championship Newfield tied with Commack (2nd in league) for 2nd place at counties and Newfield pulled the upset of the season by being the only team to defeat the undefeated Ward Melville (1st in league 14-0, 1st at counties).

Girls Fencing. Newfield Girls Fencing team has started to make a name for themselves under the instruction of Don Bahr. Bahr took over the girls team in the 2001–2002 season, with no fencing background. He studied the sport and has become one of the top coaches in the county. His coaching lead Jenna Ellis to become the county champion in both 2003 and 2004 In his last 5 seasons, starting with the 2003–2004 season, his team has finished in the top 4, with one 4th place finish, three bronze medals and this year's 2007–2008 silver medal. In Bahr's seven seasons with the team he has a winning percentage over 50%, coached over ten girls into the county finalists and coached two county finalist champions.

Newfield Fencing Alumni. Some notable Newfield fencing alumni are currently fencing coaches in Nassau County; those alumni are: Kyle Schirmer (Jericho HS; 2007 Nassau Boys Coach of the Year), Robert Piraino (Great Neck South HS; 2009-10 Long Island Outstanding Fencing Coach of the Year, current Section VIII Fencing Coordinator, Past President-Nassau Fencing Coaches Assoc., 2008 Div. III National Foil Champion, 2010-11 Nassau Boys and Girls Coach of the Year). Some notable Newfield fencing alumni are currently fencing coaches in Suffolk County; those alumni are: Andrew Lomeli (Jericho High School 2005-2007), Gregory Klein (Newfield HS), Nicole Schirmer (Newfield HS), Jessica Palmaccio (Newfield HS), Justin Gebhardt (Brentwood HS), Dave Rabinowitz (Walt Whitman HS), Anthony Mattera (Centereach HS). Robert Soria coached at Great Neck South HS from 2006 to 2008 (2007 Nassau Girls Coach of the Year), Jeremy Goun coached at Manhasset HS from 2008 to 2010, Robert Mahling coached at Commack HS for one season, and Joseph Amademo coached at Brentwood HS for two seasons. Current referees also include the following: Christopher Zebuth, Matt Laudicina (Sacred Heart, Assistant Coach), Robert Mahling, Jeremy Goun, Nino Prodigalidad, and Robert Soria.

Girls Varsity softball. The varsity softball program has struggled for years, failing to make playoffs in 7 years. Talented players have fared well with County and Division honors though winning as a whole has eluded the ladies.

Track and Field. Newfield’s Track and Field athletes compete as a single team together with sister school Centereach High school under the name Middle Country. The 2007–2008 year was among the team’s best, especially in the 4X100 relay event

Boys Soccer. The Newfield Boys Soccer Team has been one of the most consistent programs in the School's history. The Program was taken to the post-season 15–18 years under legendary Coach Don Russo from 1979 to 2004. The Team has also qualified 3 out of the last 4 years 05-08 and has amassed over 350 wins in the schools history. The team recently won the 2009 League III championship, the teams 7th in school history.