Championship Season For Hempstead PAL Lacrosse

The Hempstead PAL lacrosse team of fifth and sixth grade players is celebrating its championship season in the Nassau County PAL Lacrosse League. The Tigers’ 6-1 record was recognized at an awards ceremony at Lincoln Park that brought together players, coaches, family, program boosters and other supporters of the team.

"We had some players return from last year along with several new players who never picked up a lacrosse stick until they joined us," said Coach Alan Hodish. “With the help of so many people, these kids are experiencing a wonderful game and that experience will give them an opportunity for future success in sports and education.”

Hodish is a former lacrosse and football coach at Hempstead High School. An attorney in Garden City, he has coached youth lacrosse on Long Island for many years. This season, the head coach was supported by Coach John Tangel and Coach Bernard Williams.

The Tigers’ championship season included victories over Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, Hewlett, Hicksville, Freeport and New Hyde Park. The only loss was to Plainview and that was by a single goal. Hempstead outscored opponents 45-21.

Hempstead PAL Championship Roster

• Adrian Ayala

• Roberto J. Barrera

• Makai Bell

• Amare Collins

• Jonathan Davis

• Kaeon Grier

• Jhaheem Harvey

• Jhalil Harvey

• Jeremy Henderson

• Xaviah Lewis

• Jaden Locke

• Jayden Polite

• Derick Reynolds

• Eric Rucker III

• Aaden Sarduy

• Adill Sesay-Conteh

• Ramon Washington

• Jalil Watts

A number of supporters, including James C. Metzger, created the program's solid foundation. The founder and CEO of The Whitmore Group of Garden City, Metzger has supported the Hempstead PAL program for its eight seasons. Metzger is a former lacrosse standout player at Half Hollows High School East in Dix Hills and Hofstra University. His support for Long Island lacrosse includes high school leadership awards at the Nassau County Championships and the most valuable player awards for the Long Island High School Championships. Metzger also is instrumental in bringing the high school state championships to Long Island. The games will be played at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium for the next three years.

Season Awards

Each season, the James C. Metzger Award is presented to a player for "his strong work ethic and improvement made throughout the lacrosse season." Metzger presented the award to Adrian Ayala and enjoyed the opportunity to talk with all the players and their families about the fun of lacrosse and the many opportunities the game provides by opening doors for students in high school, college and later in life.

Another special recognition, The Michael J. Piegare Award, was presented to Eric Rucker III. The award was established in memory of a Cold Spring Harbor High School and Pace University lacrosse player to honor a student-athlete who "best displays the character and outstanding attitude that was demonstrated by Michael Piegare in athletics and throughout the course of his life." The award is presented each season by Piegare’s parents.

Each player received an award to commemorate the championship season. Additional awards also were presented to the players.

• Rookie of the Year Award - Ramon Washington

• Mr. Hustle Award - Jonathan Davis

• MVP Attack Award - Jayden Polite

• MVP Defense Award - Jhalil Harvey

• MVP Midfield Award - Jaden Locke and Jhaheem Harvey

• Tiger Award - Xavier Lewis

• Don Ryan Coaches Award (named for the mayor of the Village of Hempstead) - Derick Reynolds and R.J. Barrera

• Bell Ringer Award - Adill Sesay-Conteh

• Bill Beroza Goalie Award (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1973 goalie and Israeli National Team coach) - Jeremy Henderson

• Outstanding Alumni Award - Amara Koroma, Hempstead High School Class of 2019, second recipient of the Hempstead PAL lacrosse James C. Metzger Award and committed to Stratton College in Virginia Beach on a track scholarship.

• John Moore Vaccuum Cleaner Award (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1976 midfielder) - Aaden Sarduy

• Arrion Cross Spirit Award (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1984 defenseman and retired Hempstead police officer) - Kaeon Grier

• Vincent Louther Sportsmanship Award (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1976 midfielder and retired athletic director of Rockland County’s Clarkstown South High School) - Kaeon Grier, Amare Collins, Aaden Sarduy, Jalil Watts, Mikai Bell

• Aaron Jones Most Improved Player Defense (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1983 defenseman and two-time All-American at Cornell University) - Makai Bell

• James Ford Most Improved Player Offense (named for Hempstead High School Class of 1976 high scorer and three-time All-American at Rutgers University) - Amare Collins and Jalil Watts

• Michael J. Piegare Foundation scholarship ($1,500) to the Long Island Recon Summer Lacrosse Tournament Program – Roberto Barrera, Jeremy Henderson, Erick Rucker III and Adrian Ayala

• Academic All-stars - Adrian Ayala, Adill Sesay-Conteh, Amare Collins, Jeremy Henderson, Xaviah Lewis, Derrick Reynolds, Eric Rucker III, Ramon Washington and Jalil Watts

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park published by Theme Park Press. It can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.