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Renaissance Girl Rohini Rudra By Jeff Day
Elmsford, N.Y. (January 30, 2012)–Rohini Rudra of Syosset, N.Y. is always up for a challenge. In addition to carrying a 4.0 Grade Point Average while taking advance placement and college-level courses, the senior at Syosset High School is heavily involved in activities both in and out of school, including The First Tee of Metropolitan New York (TFTMNY). Rohini is an Eagle-Level certified participant at TFTMN's Eisenhower Park facility in Nassau County, where she has partaken in programming since 2007. In December, Rohini was recognized nationally as a First Tee Scholar for exhibiting exceptional academic achievements, leadership skills, character development and involvement in the community. The honor was something that both Rohini's parents and First Tee at Nassau County Program Director Mike Wade were instrumental in encouraging her to apply for.
Rohini was the Net winner of the WMGA's Junior Girls' Open in 2010. In addition, Rohini works under Wade's supervision as an MGA Foundation GOLFWORKS intern at Eisenhower Park and is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as a mentor to her peers at both school and The First Tee. The 17-year-old has also been elected as president of Syosset High's Mural Club and vice president of the National Art Society. She even volunteers her free time in support of golf, including a post as the standard bearer for the final pairing of the 95th Met Open Championship held at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in 2010.
Asked how she is able to successfully manage her time despite being involved in such a variety of pursuits, Rohini states that, "I make sure I get eight hours of sleep each night. That means I have 16 hours to try to finish everything that I can. From there, I think hour-by-hour each day."
Rohini makes sure to golf into those precious hours, a sport she's been playing for six years. "I love golf," she exclaims. "I love competition and I always have fun on the course." A talented golfer herself, Rohini carries a 7.3 Handicap Index and is the captain of Syosset High's girls' varsity golf team. She has earned All-County and All-State honors and posted an undefeated match-play record in each of the last three seasons. She was also a 2011 recipient of the Women's Metropolitan Golf Association's prestigious Junior Girls' Fellowship. In addition to her GOLFWORKS internship, Rohini spends her summers playing competitive golf in the Met Area and takes lessons from Wade at Eisenhower Park as well as from Mill River Country Club assistant professional Anthony Aruto.
Rohini's responsibilities as a GOLFWORKS intern include educating kids on The First Tee's Nine Core Values–Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgment–which are crucial principles to both golf and life. "It was a great opportunity for me to spend my summer teaching kids The First Tee's golf and life skills," she said. "Seeing their expressions and happiness when they hit a golf ball in the air for the first time was my favorite part, but it was just nice to see that I've taught them how to do something and that they're excited to do it."
In addition to golf, Rohini is also an art enthusiast and volunteers her time at the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum in Huntington Station, N.Y. In each of the last two years, the museum donated its space for one week in support of an art sale and exhibition that Rohini curated for Syosset High's Mural Club. The effort raised funds for Rohini's passions–golf and art–with proceeds benefitting both TFTMNY and the Birthplace Museum itself.
"I hope to be an art critic one day," Rohini said. "There is a lot of talent in my high school and some of my friends are really good artists, but I am not an artist at all, even though I've tried to be! I got all my friends to donate their artwork and we had a silent auction. I planned the event and we had a live string quartet and jazz band play, hors d'oeuvres, and poetry in spoken words, so it was actually a pretty big art event and people came and bought all sorts of artwork."
The sales were a great success and raised more than $14,000, which will further impress the colleges and universities that Rohini is applying to. While Rohini doesn't know what college she will attend this fall, the standout student does know that she wants to play intercollegiate golf.
"I'm contacting a bunch of college coaches and some are very eager to hear from me and want me to play on their team," she said. "My first choice was Brown [University], but I got deferred. I want to go to an Ivy League school, so Yale is my top choice, but I'm applying to a bunch of places."
As a First Tee Scholar, Rohini is eligible for certain scholarships at certain schools, including New York University in Manhattan. "That would be a great school for me with all the museums in the city," Rohini said. While her sights are set on Yale, she knows that whichever school she decides to go to will offer a tremendous education and experience. It's almost a certainty that Rohini will continue her strong work in the classroom, on the golf course and in the community, but don't be surprised if she becomes involved in even more clubs and organizations; Rohini has time management down to a science and has the proven ability to excel at anything she does.
Zapata Named All-NEWMAC Second-Team
Babson Park, Mass.–Clark University freshman sensation Oscar Zapata (Lima, Peru) has been named to the New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's soccer all-conference second-team; it has been announced by the conference office following a vote of the league's seven head coaches.
Zapata was an instant scoring threat for the Cougars and wrapped up his inaugural campaign in Scarlet and White with team-bests in goal (10) and points (21), totals which ranked second and fourth, respectively in the NEWMAC.
He opened up his career with a hat-trick in the season-opening win over Becker and never looked back, recording game-winning goals in three other contests, including an overtime strike in a thrilling 2-1 win over Eastern Nazarene.
In a win over Plymouth State he scored the game's first goal and then provided his only assist of the season on the eventual game-winner in the 2-1 victory.
He also had goals against Nichols, Coast Guard, Regis and Springfield and the Cougars were 5-1-1 on the year when he scored a goal.
Witkowski, Garger Named First Team Academic All-District
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.–Seniors Krystian Witkowski (Rochester, N.Y.) and Tim Garger (Garden City, N.Y.) of the Marist men's soccer team have been named CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-District.
This is the second straight year Witkowski, a Criminal Justice major, has earned Academic All-District honors, as he was named to the Second Team last year. It was the first career All-District honor for Garger, who is majoring in Psychology.
To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 and have at least sophomore standing academically. By virtue of being named First Team Academic All-District, Witkowski and Garger are now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.
The Marist men's soccer team finished the 2011 season with a record of 8-7-5, and advanced to the MAAC Tournament semifinals.
 Genny Goergen at John Carroll University.  Kevin Parma helps anchor the Golden Bears
Megan Nugent, Irish National Team Player Will Join New York
By Pat Grecco
My introduction to Megan Nugent began with a phone call from Steve Marcus, who lives in Manhattan and was referred to me by Susan Hayes, (Susan and Steve are colleagues at work) a true Soccer Mom who lives in the Long Island community. Steve told me that he and his wife Tedda were family friends of the Nugents. We spoke about Megan and I agreed to help with her college search, with a view to playing Soccer at the collegiate level, securing a financial package composed of merit and athletic scholarship money; that was in June 2007.  Megan, wearing black stripes
A month ago, Megan and her Mom, Maria came to the United States, I actually got to meet them up close and personal at the home of Steve and Tedda. I immediately knew she had a genuine love of the game; her enthusiasm radiated. When we first met through the Internet she wrote me and said:
"I began playing Soccer at age six when living in the United States and I immediately fell in love with the game. After moving back to Ireland in 1999, I began playing for a local boys' team, as there was no girls' team for my age."
Megan advanced to the highest level of play in her country, that being the Irish National Team.  Left to right: Tedda, Maria Nugent,
I would like to thank Paul Riley and the Albertson S.C for taking Megan to a few tournaments as a guest player; also to Susan Hayes for her recommendation of my services and especially to Steve Marcus (Mr. In-between) who became the go-to-guy and the link between the U.S. and Ireland.
I'm looking forward to seeing Megan play and meeting with her and her Mom again this Summer.
Grecco to Provide College Guidance for Local High School Athletes
Oneonta, NY— Pat Grecco, Director of Scholarship Programs for the Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL), who has provided college guidelines and counseling to thousands of Long Island area high school student-athletes, will provide insights into the college application and recruiting process at the National Soccer Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, July 14, 2007 at 7:00 PM. The program is open to the public for a $10.00 admission fee. The fee includes a planning book that will serve as a continuing guide to the recruiting process.
Grecco is an acknowledged expert in the field and brings decades of experience. She will provide participants with printed materials to serve as reminders of her guide points and to assist participants well beyond their attendance at the college guidance session. "It's a great service to college coaches," Oneonta State Athletic Director Tracey Ranieri said. "I had several players who were advised by Pat when they were in high school. They were terrific to recruit because they knew a great deal about what they wanted in a college and in a Soccer Program; the process was highlighted and enjoyable due to their perceptive questions."
"Pat has given this session every year on Long Island and I observed it last year," Hall of Fame Manager of Events Pamela Frutiger said. "Her presentation is excellent. I encourage every parent who has a high school student-athlete who intends to play any sport at the college level to be in the audience. She offers very practical advice which can help you save money and time as you search among the hundreds of college choices that are available to today's young person."
Grecco Scores Soccer Scholarships for the LIJSL Latino Team
In the Spring of 2006, Pat Grecco, the Long Island Junior Soccer League Scholarship Committee Chairperson, was watching a completely Latino LIJSL team, the Sag Harbor Jaguars, play at the Peter Collins Soccer Park in Plainview, L.I.
Most of the Jaguars were born in 1989 in Colombia. All spoke Spanish fluently and English at different levels. They are the children of blue-collar workers employed by upper class Hamptons residents. 
Pat Grecco gives an on-the-spot
After the match, all the Jaguars approached Grecco, an East Northport, L.I. resident, and introduced themselves. Grecco had the idea to help these kids earn Soccer Scholarships to college.
So she organized a College Workshop in Spanish at the LIJSL convention in Melville, L.I. last March.
"Special thanks to LIJSL President Addie Mattei-Iaia who offered to send a van to pick up the team out in East Hampton and the league for funding this event," Grecco said.
New York Maritime men's coach Rocco Morelli and SUNY-Old Westbury men's coach Jason Warshaw spoke in Spanish to the Jaguars and their parents about college entrance requirements and the admission process, scholarships, college life and College Soccer.
With half the team graduating from high school this past June, Grecco was able to secure Soccer Scholarships for three players.
But that leaves seven Jaguars, all now high school seniors, with no place to play since half their LIJSL teammates have graduated.
"I want a LIJSL coach and team to reach out to these boys so that they can find a team to be able to continue to play Club Soccer," Grecco said.
"Secondly, I would like other Latino kids to know that you can play College Soccer on scholarship and the LIJSL can help you to do so."
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