In 2011, Island Trees High School student Joe Stanco did not make the baseball team. As a result, he decided to try his hand at Track and Field. In the three years since, this decision has molded Stanco into one of the top “field” athletes in Nassau County.
“He has received honorable mention as a discus thrower and all-county recognition as the Nassau County shot-put champion,” said Track Coach Joe Manna. “An outstanding performer in these two events.”
Unfortunately, after sustaining an elbow injury, Stanco is unable to participate in any of the “field” events this season. Nevertheless, Stanco has reinvented himself and is now leader of the 4×100 sprint relay team. According to Coach Manna, at 6 foot 3, 235 lbs., Stanco is one of the largest
sprinters in the entire conference, and has been a key component in leading the Island Trees High School relay team to win three meets in a row.
“Clearly you do not want to get in his way,” said Coach Manna. “He flies for his size.”
Apart from Stanco, Island Trees High School student-athletes Phil Sellitto, Matt Jorgensen, and John Ramos proved to be key components of what made this award winning track team so successful.
Aside from his success as a sprinter, Stanco is trying to become a long and a high jumper.
“Who knows?” Coach Manna adds. “This may lead to some success in the High School Pentathlon.”
Stanco plans to graduate this June and will be attending Syracuse University in the fall.
More Track & Field:
On April 19, the Island Trees Bulldogs competed in the Cougar Invitational at Bellmore JFK. Over 30 schools took part in this prestigious event. Sophomore Megan Fischer finished in second place in the 800 meter run, while Matt Jorgensen and Phil Sellitto came in first and second in the highly competitive 400 meter run.
Jorgensen’s time of 51.5 seconds and Sellitto’s time of 51.9 seconds have placed them both in the top ten of Nassau County. Sellitto is also among the leaders in the 100 meter and the 200 meter sprints with times of 11.4 seconds and 23.5 seconds, respectfully.
Eugene Lease is in the top ten in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:03.65. Joe Badolato and Zach Milack have been our distance leaders, while Matt Buhse, Mike Mendez, and Charley Kim have been our key jumpers. Dan Dmuchowski has been solid as our hurdler. Island Trees Boys’ Varsity Track & Field is in third place overall, out of the 14 teams in the conference.
In Girls’ Varsity Track and Field, Alexa Dolgos is again among the county leaders in the 400 meter run with a time of 59.7 seconds. Alyssa Mustafa is already in the top ten in both jumping events after coming back from an injury. Freshmen Catherine Zamroz has been excelling in the high jump, while Brittany Jenkofsky and Claudia Rutley have both put forth solid performances as well.
