RSS 2.0 FeedNovember 4, 2010, Bellmore Life
Kennedy launches sports mentoring program
Kennedy High School looks out for its future students.
Click here for photos from this program.
Kennedy’s varsity football coach and varsity cheerleading coach have both embarked on an ambitious mentoring program they hope will strengthen their core of football players and cheerleaders in the years ahead.
Nick Martone, first-year head coach of the football Cougars, and Mallory Cogen, former captain of the Cougars cheerleading squad and now their coach, are bringing sixth-grade Bellmore Braves football players and cheerleaders under their wing to show them how it’s done in the “big leagues.”
Recently, Braves football players and cheerleaders met with their high school counterparts at Kennedy, practicing drills on the field and in the gym, learning just what it takes to be a high school football player and cheerleader.
“It’s a really great experience. I want to be just like them when I’m in high school,” said Seth Manger of Shore Road School. Nick Blouin, Eric Brach, Don Brocco, Matt Fox, Anthony Stabile and Anthony Maffucci all agreed they came away learning a lot from the time on the field with their high school mentors.
They learned how to block, get in good formation, and a lot about good teamwork, they all told Bellmore Life.
Coach Martone said it was an exciting day for him to bring the young players in and have them interact with the varsity players. “We want to build a program that will motivate them to be excited to get to this level,” he said. “We want to reach them
Quarterback Adrian Rose, who played Braves football, said of the young sixth-grade players on the field, “It’s great. I never had this. I would have been more motivated to get here if I had this during Braves football.”
Running back Joey Karo, also a former Brave, added that it would give the Braves players something to look forward to for the future, and give them an idea of how the game is played at a higher level.
Meanwhile, Ms. Cogen told Bellmore Life – as sixth-grade Bellmore Braves cheerleaders worked out stunts with the high school cheerleaders in the gym – that “the girls are getting a real taste of what it’s like to be a varsity cheerleader.
“We want to build a program that will motivate them” to make this a goal for when they arrive in this school, she continued.
Varsity cheerleading captain Ashley Brocco, a senior, said she would have loved to have had this experience when coming up with the Braves, as well. “It’s really great for the girls to be here.”
Nicolette Deturris, a sophomore, also said she would have enjoyed having the experience of practicing and learning from the varsity team when she was a Brave. “They can set goals for themselves now,” she said.
Junior Carly Medico added it was an “awesome” experience to be able to show the Braves cheerleaders how it’s done at the varsity level.
Shore Road sixth-graders and Braves cheerleaders Amanda Rudolf and Phallan Grossman both agreed. “It’s fun, it’s difficult but it’s better” because it’s more professional, said Phallan.
The Bellmore Braves football players acted as ballboys and waterboys during the varsity football team’s Homecoming game, while Braves cheerleaders participated in stunts with the varsity cheerleading squad on the field. Kennedy won, 35-7.
