State Soccer Champs Honored

The accolades continued for Garden City's 2010 state champion girls' soccer team over the past few weeks, beginning with the Nassau County Coaches Association Awards dinner and highlighted by Tuesday night's school board meeting and Thursday night's village board meeting.

At the Nassau Coaches awards dinner the Garden City girls as a team and as individual players were honored for their fantastic season. Receiving All-County honors were Christina Cesarini and Barbara Sullivan; named All-Class A were Amanda Murolo and Michelle Rotondo while Delsey Attardi and Liz Mahoney received All-Conference awards. Cesarini was also awarded the Most Valuable Player in the Class A playoffs for her outstanding leadership and defensive play during the Trojans' run to win the county championship.

New York State honors were also handed out last week and again Garden City was there. Being named to first team All-State was Cesarini, while head coach Mike Heedles was honored as New York State Class A Coach of the Year. 

On Tuesday at the board of education meeting Dr. Robert Feirsen honored district athletic director Nancy Kalafus, Coach Heedles, Coach Scott McCauley and the many members of the varsity girls soccer team in attendance. 

Dr. Feirsen lauded the girls for their combination of tremendous athletic ability along with their high academic standards. The girls and coaches were called up to the front of the room to a round of applause from board members, parents and teachers. The seniors on the team then presented the two coaches, as well as Kalafus, with a mounted canvas championship photo. (Look for it in the high school's trophy case.)

Finishing up the whirlwind tour on Thursday the girls were invited by Mayor Robert Rothschild to attend the village board meeting. As the first order of business Mayor Rothschild spoke of the great success that the girls have had this season. The mayor noted that the girls' success is not only a direct result of their commitment to the sport, but also because of the hard work and dedication of their current high school coaches, Mike Heedles, Scott McAuley and Mark Quigley, as well as the numerous town volunteer coaches that have worked with the girls over the many years they have played soccer for the Centennial program.

Mayor Rothschild then presented a citation to Coach Heedles that read:

'WHEREAS the Girls High School Soccer Team, under New York Class A Coach of the Year, Head Coach Mike Heedles, along with assistant coaches Scot McAuley and Mark Quigley, is to be recognized for their outstanding soccer season, and

"WHEREAS by the extraordinary efforts, this dynamic team has won the New York State Championship title ending the season with an amazing record of 18 wins and 2 losses, 1st Place in the State, 1st place in the County, 1st place in Long Island and 2nd place in the conference, and

"WHEREAS, the excellent performance, dedication and commitment of these young ladies, along with their coaching staff, have proven to be a source of admiration and inspiration to the students of the High School as well as the residents of the Village of Garden City, and

"WHEREAS, the Soccer Team has provided a valuable service to this community by teaching the youth of our community sportsmanship and the competitive will to win, as well as furthering physical fitness and well-being through healthful association with other young women, and

"NOW, THEREFORE, the Incorporated Village of Garden City, Mayor Robert Rothschild and the Board of Trustees commends the Girls' Soccer Team for their fine efforts and ascends this citation to GARDEN CITY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' SOCCER TEAM in fitting recognition and heartfelt congratulations for all your outstanding accomplishments."