The 2016 summer programs at the Floral Park Recreation Center has just passed its halfway point. The adult volleyball and basketball leagues, with more than 45 teams, have one week of make-up games followed by night time playoffs. Team standings and schedules with courts and times are posted on the village web site, www.fpvillage.org.
There are eight weeks of sports camps. Weeks 5 and 6 included girls playing basketball, while boys enjoyed touch football. The summer sports camps are recreational by nature. On Tuesday, July 26, the playground was very fortunate to take advantage of the expertise of Ed Mack, former football coach at Nassau Community College, who had campers take part in four events that are part of the NFL combine. Fifty-seven boys had a fun time competing in an agility drill, 40 yard-dash, long jump and longest throw. The 40-yard dash champions were James Headquist, with a time of 5.87 seconds for the junior division; and Mike Constable with a time of 4.93 seconds for the senior division. Michael Donovan and Eamon Fortune tied the junior division agility drill with a time of 6.02 seconds. Joe Gorry took home the fastest agility time for the seniors in 5.46 seconds.
The longest throw winner for the juniors was James Headquist (76 feet), and Johnny Kosakowski (120 feet) threw the winning ball for the seniors. Lastly, the long jump winners were Cameron Headquist (6 feet 2 inches) for the juniors, and Johnny Kosakowski (6 feet 11 inches) for the seniors. There are currently 70 boys playing in two divisions, college and pro, in the touch football program. Campers have a great time throwing, receiving and kicking during 90 minutes of daily action. The top players in the junior division in the first week of the program were Matt Brandt, Ryan Connolly and defensive player of the week, James Hedquist. In the pro division Mark Cunningham and Joe Krug were key team contributors. While, Chris Schneider, champion level basketball coach at St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart, had the young girls participating in a very entertaining and instructional clinic. Many thanks to both Mack and Schneider for sharing their expertise with the children of the community. On Thursday, Aug. 4, parents are cordially invited to attend the third Championship Thursday of the summer. Championship times for basketball and football are 9:20 a.m. for the juniors and 10:50 a.m. for the Super Bowl.
Arts and crafts and preschool programs will have Earth Week-themed crafts such as sun catchers, bug jars and thermometers. Using tennis ball cans, children will create a terrarium to take home. Organizers hope you can join them and spread the word about how important the Earth is.
Campers of Week 5 are Ava Quinn and Kevin Hehir. Tennis ball players of the week were Tom Quinn, James Hedquist and Joe Krug.
Kudos to staff, children, and parents, who all did an admirable job combating weather conditions during the past week’s heat wave. The staff instituted extended water breaks and sprinkler playing time on the tennis courts and the playing fields.
—Submitted by the Floral Park Recreation Department
