THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27, 2002

Swimming Team
 The St. Matthias Mustangs Boys Swimming Team had a busy week with the CYO Olympics and a regular dual meet against St. Sebastian.
First up were five of the Mustangs chosen to compete in the CYO Olympics at Nassau Community College on December 15. In a large field in each event each contender first had to qualify, then finish in the top seven out of many competitors to medal.
Bantam Vincent Giglio and Junior Michael Fralick both finished high enough in the backstroke event to medal. Bantam Anthony Romano also gave a valiant effort in the backstroke just missing qualifying in a very tough field.
Bantam Kris “Aquaman” Renock continued his great season, medaling in the freestyle event. Bantam Richie Kolb just missed medaling in the free style by less than one second with a great effort.
On Friday, December 20, the team was back at Bayside High School against a tough St. Sebastian’s team.
Swimming in back-to-back events, Thomas Murawski took third place in the freestyle and backstroke, plus he moved up to the Bantam Division for the breast stroke and took third place. Joseph Mikhaiel took second in the free style and fourth in the backstroke
In the Novice Division, Anthony Romano swam freestyle and for the first time did the breaststroke and took fourth place in both events.
In an incredible freestyle relay, the boys Bantam team of Thomas Brock, Kelada Mikhaiel, Mark Crimmins and Frank Postestio took home top prize.
Kelada Mikhaiel took fourth place in the 50-freestyle. Mark Crimmins took third place in the freestyle.
Vincent “The Back” Giglio once again swam an excellent backstroke, taking third place and missing the top spot by just a stroke once again. Vincent was also part of the third place 200 freestyle relay team in the Senior Division.
James Almodoval had a big night taking fourth in the 25 backstroke, third in the 50 backstroke and was the third leg of the second place junior freestyle relay team.
Kris “Aquaman” Renock continued his remarkable season with three events moving to an older age group for all of them and taking third place in the 50 freestyle, anchoring the strong second place finish of the junior 100 freestyle relay and swimming the first leg for the third place finish senior 200 freestyle relay.
Peter Regan in back-to-back events took fourth place in the 50 backstroke and was the second leg of the Junior 100 freestyle relay team that took second place. Richie Kolb, who just finished a tournament basketball game along with swimming teammate Thomas Brock an hour before the meet, showed great stamina, swimming in two relays above his age level as the first leg of the Junior 100 freestyle relay team that took second place and the second leg of the senior 200 freestyle relay team that took third place.
These boys have shown remarkable stamina and determination all season. Being a first year team and having a much smaller roster than the other teams, they are not only asked to swim more than one event but they enthusiastically volunteer to swim as many as three or four events. Sometimes they have just exited the water from one event and only have seconds to get right back in for the next one and the only complaints from these boys is that they want to swim even more.
The regular season for the boys is now over and there will be two playoff dates and a championship with dates to be determined. But whatever happens the rest of the way, St. Matthias swim team, St. Matthias Sports and the parish are extremely proud of this bunch of boys and their coaches who work so hard with them at practice each week.
The girls season will begin in early February and they have been busy practicing and getting ready. If you are a girl between six to 14 and know how to swim and are interested in joining us then please give us a call at 670-3212.
Spring soccer registration
Registration dates will be on December 28 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the school gym.
Teams play in the CYO Soccer League. The season goes from early March to early May. Games are on weekends throughout Queens. Open to boys and girls in grades K-7. One need not be a student at St. Matthias to join. Rosters are limited and registrations for an age group can close before the end of registration because registrations are accepted as first come first serve, so register early.
Track and field teams
 It’s that time again when the very popular track and field team starts getting ready for the new season.
The team is open to all boys and girls in grades K-8 with competition from April to June in the CYO, PAL, Hersheys and other track meets.
Events include but are not limited to 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 meter races, all kinds of relays and medleys, long jump, shotput and more. Uniforms and trophies for all. Meets are on weekends. Team practices on Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. at Victory Field in Forest Park. One practice is required, but participants are welcomed and encouraged to make both. There are also many opportunities to earn medals at the meets and team trophies. A child does not have to be a student of St. Matthias to join.
There will be an early registration date on December 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the St. Matthias gym.
Basketball
 The Boys Novice Team competed over the weekend in the Bob Koch Holiday Tournament at Sacred Heart in Glendale.
Their first match-up was against a powerful 6-1 CYO record team from Sacred Heart who they have not played all season as they are in different divisions.
The Sacred Heart team jumped to an early 7-3 lead after the first quarter. Even though they were a running team with high percentage shooters, the St. Matthias boys played their usual physical hustling game and were only down 14-11 at the half actually having an 11-10 lead at one point in a momentarily stunned gym.
The Sacred Heart boys came out big in the third quarter, outscoring St. Matthias by a 14-2 score to raise the score to 28-13. This did not crush these St. Matthias boys, however as they actually outscored their opponent 11-10 in the fourth quarter. But just to much damage had been done in the third quarter as they fell 38-24.
One of the problems was that St. Matthias big man Ian Perez was in early foul trouble. Despite limited playing time still scored 14 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and made two steals.
Richie Kolb came up with six big rebounds and scored four points off of those rebounds plus had a blocked shot. Nicky Caba helped out with five rebounds and put up two points as Kevin Caba put up four points and grabbed three rebounds.
Thomas Brock (2 rebounds) and Timothy Woisin (1 rebound), who are usually used for their speed to keep up with quick opponents, had their work cut out for them on this night and gave valiant efforts. Jordan Correa (2 rebounds) and Justin Hudson rounded out the team’s strong effort.
The boys were right back in the gym the next morning against St. Margaret’s B. Not only did the boys have to win this one to have a chance to advance but they had to win by at least 10 points and then the team they beat would have to beat the team that beat them by at least 10 points. So with the deck stacked against them, all they did was go out and play a great game taking in a 20-11 victory.
Even though they did not get the 10-point margin of victory, St. Margaret’s last two points actually came on a shot that just beat the buzzer.
With no foul trouble this game, Ian Perez scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocked shots for another excellent performance.
Kevin Caba (4 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) and Richie Kolb (3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocked shots) again had good games, steadily improving all season. Nicky Caba had another
good day with seven rebounds, four blocked shots, one point and a steal.
Matthew Perez (3 rebounds, 2 steals) and Thomas Brock (2 rebounds, 1 steal) showed remarkable hustle and actually caused more turnovers than the stats can credit.
Also playing with outstanding hustle in this game was Jordan Correa with a rebound and a steal. Timothy Woisin (1 rebound, 1 steal) and Justin Hudson (1 rebound) also contributed to this very hard fought
victory.
Matt Perez had to leave the game with an injury and the team hopes for his speedy recovery.
St. Matthias would also like to thank Sacred Heart for their hospitality and for inviting us to your tournament.
Girls volleyball teams
 There are still two openings for girls born in 1993 or 1994 and two openings for girls born in 1990 or 1991, Girls play indoor CYO volleyball from January to March.
For St. Matthias sports information, call 670-3212 or send an e-mail to saintmsports@aol.com.