f Spring - Chaminade High School

Flyers Make Short Work of a Tall Order
It’s a Four-peat, in Three Games, Against a Tough Opponent
P
erhaps the hardest thing to do in
sports is to win a championship. It
is even harder to win a championship
four times in a row – nearly impossible.
Members of the 2005 Volleyball Team, however,
completed their four-peat in a truly triumphant
fashion. “This year’s team exhibited a dedicated
work ethic, a strong sense of camaraderie, and
a series of marvelous successes,” remarked volleyball
coach Mr. Salvatore Trentacoste.
On Tuesday, May 17, 2005, eager fans
packed into Woodruff Hall Gymnasium at
Adelphi University in Garden City for the
Nassau-Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic
Association Volleyball Championship. The
Chaminade Flyers were about to square off
against the Kellenberg Memorial Firebirds.
According to Brendan Hickey ’06, “The game
was a grudge match between two rivals who
had struggled neck and neck all season.”
“Our strategy was to be aggressive and not
allow the Firebirds any opportunity to change
the game’s momentum,” explained Mr.
Trentacoste. When all was said and done, the
Flyers came out on top, beating the Firebirds
25-21 in the first set, 25-17 in the second, and
25-18 in the third. “I won’t lie; we were all a
little nervous going into the game. We knew
we had the better team, but Kellenberg had
played well all season and was hungry for a
championship. I’m proud to say that we rose
to the occasion,” reflected Connor Hickey ’06.
22
by Stephen O’Brien ‘06
Pat Heiman ‘06 surprises the
defense with his middle hitting
ability.
SPORTS
The road to the four-peat,
however, required dedication,
persistence, and a lot of practice.
Faced with stiff competition,
the Flyers had to work
hard if they expected to capture
a fourth consecutive
championship and start what
team members and fans are
now calling a dynasty.
It all began on March 14,
when nearly eighty young men
showed up in Chaminade’s
gymnasium to try out for the
Chaminade Varsity Volleyball
Team. After several sweaty
and grueling days of tryouts,
the team of eighteen was selected:
two freshmen, five
sophomores, six juniors, and
five seniors.
Despite a finalized roster, the
Flyers had not yet completely
gelled, and at the start of their
season, it showed. After only
a few weeks of practice,
Chaminade entered the Port
Washington Tournament;
there, despite a tenacious attitude,
they failed to pass the first
round. A few days later, the
Flyers encountered another setback
in a loss to Floral Park
High School. “Although we didn’t play to our
full potential in the first games, we didn’t lose
our persistence,” recalled James Tuomey ’06.
“In fact, we were inspired to try harder.”
With a new resolve, the team went on to
achieve victories over Holy Trinity, St.
Anthony’s, and St. Francis Prep. On April
15, however, their winning streak came to a
screeching halt in a match against the
Kellenberg Firebirds.
The game volleyed back and forth, each
team claiming two sets, sending the game into
a fifth and final set. But in the end, the
Firebirds pulled out a win and handed
Chaminade their second loss of the season. Although
disappointed by the loss, the squad,
led by senior co-captains Jim Zenker ‘05 and
Andrew Forero ’05, went on a tear, defeating
St. John the Baptist, St. Francis Prep (twice),
Holy Trinity, and St. Anthony’s.
On April 27, the Flyers got a chance to take
out the one thorn in their side, the Kellenberg
Firebirds. The game was another fiery contest,
but this time, the Flyers came out with
the win, defeating their rival in five sets.
Continuing their winning streak, the team
met success at the Plainview Tournament,
where they defeated East Meadow in the semifinals
and Long Beach in the championship to
win the tournament for the first time in ten
years. After this triumph, the team went on to
Team M.V.P. Jim Zenker ‘05 soars through
the air for a spike, propelling the Flyers to a
victory.
beat Holy Trinity and St. Anthony’s.
On May 9, Chaminade returned to Kellenberg
for one last regular-season game and once again
defeated the Firebirds in just three sets. “This
was probably the biggest win of our regular season,”
observed NSCHSAA Player of the Year
Jim Zenker ’05. “We won the final game in the
Chaminade-Kellenberg miniseries, and it really
gave us momentum going into the playoffs.”
Chaminade then went on to beat St.
Anthony’s in the semifinals on May 13. Four
days later, the team conquered the Firebirds for
the last time, earning the NSCHSAA Championship,
the four-peat, and the start of a dynasty.
Along with the championship, the Flyers
also garnered the Sportsmanship Award from
the NSCHSAA Board of Officials. “Receiving
the admiration and recognition of the Board
of Officials was certainly a cherished accomplishment,”
commented Mr. Trentacoste during
his speech at the Athletic Awards Dinner.
With a total team average of 93.1, the Flyers
also earned All-Academic honors.
After a long season, the Flyers captured their
fourth consecutive championship and earned
the right to be called a dynasty. “Through a
lot of hard work, they were able to reach their
potential to make the fourth championship a
reality,” reflected Mr. Trentacoste. “I’m looking
forward to their return next year as we attempt
to ‘strive for five’!”
Tarmac • July 2005