N. Bellmore student 2nd in NFL contest

At first glance, sweetly smiling sixth-grader Ally Murphy of North Bellmore might seem out of place on a football field. Truth is, she feels quite comfortable there, so much so that she captured second place in the Tri-State NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Championships in the 12-13 year-old division at the Meadowlands Arena recently.

"I was so surprised when I came in second," Murphy said of the contest. "It was kind of scary. You had one chance at it." The tri-state challenge required youngsters from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to line up on the field for a one-time shot at each of the three events –– punting, passing and kicking a football –– just prior to the New York Jets game against the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 28.

The competition is part of a nationwide "Play 60 Challenge," a program designed to combat childhood obesity created by the NFL and the American Heart Association that encourages students to take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Murphy became eligible to participate in the tri-state competition after achieving the highest score on Long Island in a contest that took place in East Meadow earlier this fall, according to Gunther School’s physical-education teacher Jim Mulvey.

"Mr. Mulvey taught us how to do everything," Murphy said, adding that she had been among the students representing Gunther School at the regional level in previous years. "Last year I did good, but I was up against older kids," she said.

"She is the first person in the school ever to get 300 total feet" in the pass, punt and kick challenges that Gunther runs, recounted Mulvey, who has spearheaded participation in the local and regional program as part of his physical-education curriculum. He runs a "200 Club," representing a demanding 200-foot benchmark for most students.

"Mr. Mulvey has participated for years, and we have an outstanding record at Gunther," said school Principal Marie Testa.

"I decided I wasn’t going to be sad if I didn’t win," Murphy said of her attitude before the winners were announced. "I got second; that’s amazing, and I already won at East Meadow."

With help from her supportive parents, Murphy overcame a few obstacles in competing at the Meadowlands that day.

First, she was with her family visiting her grandparents in Florida, so her parents decided to fly back with her for that weekend, interrupting an extended Thanksgiving stay.

Once in New York, and at the contest, the weather became an issue. "It was freezing. I didn’t have gloves on," Murphy said. "My dad kept telling me to rub my hands together. I was so worried about the pass; I thought my hands would freeze."

Punting, not passing, is Murphy’s strong suit. "At Gunther, I once punted 128 feet, around 40 yards, I think. That’s as good as an NFL player would do."

Murphy was awarded a special football with a golden "T" for her second-place showing, as well as a New York Jets jersey. All of the participants received special contestant T-shirts.

Although Murphy also plays basketball, athletics is not the only area in which she excels. "Ally is multitalented," said Testa, "and a great student." Murphy is also an accomplished singer and actress. "I want to have my own TV show, with me as a student with all my hobbies," she said.

If family support and a positive attitude have anything to do with acting success, Murphy’s achievement in that field is assured as well.