Top Merrick Sports Stories of 2012

It's been a year of accomplishments for the athletes of Merrick. 

Here's a look at some of the top sports stories that were featured on Merrick Patch in 2012.

11. Buckets for Breast Cancer Fundraising Team Hits Their Stride: Buckets for Breast Cancer is a double-elimination three-on-three basketball tournament that kicked off its third year. 

10. Merrick Native Grabs Spot on All-American Baseball Team: Paul Valerio, an outfielder for SUNY College at Old Westbury, was named to the ABCA/Rawlings third-team All-America squad. 

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9. North Bellmore-North Merrick Little League Team to Play in State Final: The North Bellmore-North Merrick Rebels U-12 baseball team defeated Commack 6-1 to move just one win away from the New York State championship.

8. Merrick Siblings Vie for Spot on Irish National Soccer Team: Rebecca and Niamh, both 14, have been playing for The Explosion, an Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) travel soccer team out of East Meadow, for the past ten years.

7. Judith Salerno Inducted into Hall of Fame: Judith Salerno, an administrator in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, was inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

6. Merrick Native Still Rejects Olympic Medal: Merrick Native and current Long Beach resident Kevin Joyce is featured in “Stolen Glory,” a newly published book about the U.S. basketball team that lost a controversial game to the Soviet Union at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

5. North Merrick Staff Takes on Harlem Wizards: The Magic consisted of at least 25 members of the district’s faculty as well as Superintendent of Schools, David Feller.

4. Merrick's Lipsky Takes Top Honors in Tennis Tournament: Scott Lipsky, a Merrick native, and his tennis partner, Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico, recently took home the championship title at the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in the men's doubles finals.

3. Mepham Kickline Continues its Winning Ways: In local competitions, the team has earned Long Island Championship titles in lyrical and in pom for four consecutive years. 

2. Calhoun Baseball Clinches Long Island Class AA Title: In a battle to the very end, the Calhoun Colts were able to claim victory against the Connetquot Thunderbirds and bring home the Long Island Class AA Championship.

1. Kennedy Boys Volleyball Wins State Title: The Cougars clinched the title Sunday with three straight wins against Lake Shore at Westhampton Middle School.