Bethpage High School

Bethpage High School
Address
10 Cherry Ave. Bethpage, New York, (Nassau County), 11714 United States
Coordinates	40°45′18″N 73°28′59″W / 40.75500°N 73.48306°W / 40.75500; -73.48306Coordinates: 40°45′18″N 73°28′59″W / 40.75500°N 73.48306°W / 40.75500; -73.48306
Information
Type	Public
Established	1950s
Opened	1959
School district	Bethpage Union Free School District
Principal	Michael Spence
Assistant principals	Kevin Healy and Ralph Tocco
Faculty	150
Grades	9–12
Enrollment	1010
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Golden eagle
Website	www.bethpagecommunity.com/ourschools/bethpage_high_school

Bethpage High School is the only high school in Bethpage, New York. Located in Nassau County on Long Island, the school is situated at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Cherry Avenue, across from the Bethpage Community Park. On average, each class size is between 25 and 30 students. Bethpage High School was once ranked by Newsweek at number 267 of the Best High Schools in America.^[1]

Extracurricular activities

Performing arts

On January 16, 2007, the Bethpage High School Performing Arts Center was unveiled. The Center is home to the Masquers Guild (Drama Club).

Spanish Club

Bethpage High School's Spanish Club embraces both Spanish culture and community service. Each year, the club works to organize cultural trips to museums and volunteers time at Winthrop Hospital at the Hispanic Health Fair. The club also sends aid to Spanish countries and holds an annual Foreign Film Night. The club is open to all students, regardless of language class taken or heritage.

Student Civic Association

The Bethpage High School Student Civic Association is a community service association composed of current attendees of Bethpage High School, open to all those students willing to join. It holds an annual philanthropic talent show and numerous blood drives, and participates in national support programs including Hurricane relief, the annual Marty Lyons Christmas Party for terminally ill children, and various other altruistic endeavors.

Robotics Team

The Bethpage Robotics Team (#2869) has competed in the 2009 US FIRST Competition at Hofstra and at 2 invitational competitions at Deer Park High School. The only award received, so far, is the "Rookie Inspirational Award". The team also competed in the 2010 Competition (the theme was 'soccer').

Long Island Challenge appearance

In 2006, Bethpage High School was chosen to compete on The Long Island Challenge, an academic quiz show featuring Long Island high schools.^[2] Team members included Raman Madan, Karan Sabharwal, Jeff Katz, Vinod Kasturi, and Steve Secchio.^[2]

Athletics

Bethpage is widely known across Long Island for their athletic program each year. Some sports Bethpage is recognized for are football, lacrosse, and wrestling. Football was coached by Howie Vogts, who helped the teams with 5 Long Island titles, 3 Rutger Cups, and 29 Regular Season or Conference Championships. Besides being predominantly known for Football, Lacrosse and Wrestling are second to football for most popular sport. Each year anywhere from a handful to about a dozen of players go on to play collegiate lacrosse. Wrestling is another sport where Bethpage receives respect with the help of Coach Ron Abitelli who is entering his 32nd season who has coached over 30 Nassau County Champions &/or Finalist and 18 All-State wrestlers.

Varsity Kickline

The Golden Girls are a kickline/dance team which has won multiple awards. The team participates in the Kick, Pom, Jazz, and Hip Hop Categories (Lyrical and Team Routine in 2008). In 2006 and 2007, the Varsity Kickline became National Champions in the POM Category, and in 2008 placed 6th at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Championship, where the team also placed 2nd in Kick in 2005. In 2009, the Golden Girls & Company won the Eastern Dance Association's National High Kick Title, as well as the All-Around Champion title, with a 2nd place finish in the Large Pom category. In 2010, the Golden Girls placed 2nd in Kick, and won the Large Pom title.

Lacrosse

The lacrosse team has had success throughout the years that is evident by players committing to play collegiate lacrosse every year. Since 2000, over 20 boys have gone on to play Division I and over 40 more players to play at the Division II & III levels. Here are some notable alumni that either achieved All-American or that have gone on to play Division I College Lacrosse; Todd Lawson, Tom Poggio, AJ Haugen, Rob Coscia, Dave Kelly, Brian Cerci, The Testa Brothers, Brian Soliday, Matt Rekowski, Trevor Michaelsen, Thomas John Michaelsen, Jordan Levine and many others. We have also had the pleasure to watch around 10 players that have gone on to play professional lacrosse. In 1996, Bethpage won their first and only State Championship Title which was helped by then, Assistant Coach Erwin Dill but then took over as the Head Coach from 1997 to 2014.

Wrestling

The Bethpage Wrestling team has been coached by greats and continues to stay in the hands of a great coach who took over in 1982 and has been coaching for the past 33 years. Ron Abitelli is the current Head Wrestling Coach after Lou Candito in 1981 then Al Blau from 1972-1980 then Frank Melone in 1972 & then Al Blau again from 1967 – 1971. They have successfully helped over 100 county place winners ranging from Champions to Six Place Finishers and 18 All-State wrestlers.

Soccer

Bethpage Soccer has been improving since the early 2000's after they won 4 consecutive conference championships from 2001-2004 and during the 2002 season, the team went undefeated.

Notable alumni

• Joe Sambito, Major League Baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox
• Thomas John Michaelsen, professional lacrosse player & Founder of 365lax Inc.^[3]
• Jordan Levine, professional lacrosse player & Head Men's Lacrosse Coach at Mercy College

References