Colts grab 6th county badminton crown

If any team were to define dynasty, it would be the Calhoun High School girls' badminton squad. The team, led by coach Gregg Muscarella, is 138-5 in matches over the past nine years. In that time, the Colts have won six county championships, as well as eight Conference I titles.

The girls handily captured the 2010 county crown recently, defeating Great Neck South High School for the championship, 4 matches to 3. The squad's top player, Christine Strezenec, won the individual title, beating out 48 of Nassau's best singles players. Strezenec, a senior who will attend the College of St. Rose in Albany in the fall, went 5-0 at the county championships.

When it comes to girls' badminton, "it's crazy competitive" at Calhoun, said Muscarella, a 19-year phys. ed. teacher who also coaches wrestling.

Preparation for the spring badminton season begins in October, five months before the start of play in March. The girls begin working out in the gym, hitting birdies and doing calisthenics. Unlike many squads, the team practices every Saturday, and even works out through the April vacation. Hard work and dedication, coupled with an emphasis on technique and teamwork, have given Calhoun the edge over the years, Muscarella said.

"Muscle memory and repetitions are the keys to improving skills," he said.

Saul Lerner, the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District's athletic director, attributes much of the squad's success to Muscarella, whom he described as a badminton master.

Lerner noted that, unlike many sports, there is no feeder program for badminton, as there is with football, soccer, basketball, baseball and softball. Players come to the sport in ninth grade with few, if any, skills. Muscarella spends the next four years shaping and perfecting the girls' game.

To win even one county championship -- let alone six -- "takes a combination of dedicated, quality athletes, but badminton also takes an exceptional coach," said Lerner, adding, "Gregg Muscarella is Nassau County badminton."

Alyssa De Monte, a senior who will attend Molloy College next year, said Muscarella's "passion for the sport and winning is like nothing I've ever seen before. He just gets everyone into the sport."

Strezenec described Muscarella as a mentor. "He just shows character, a lot of class," she said. "He reminds us to always maintain composure, always be a good teammate."

Kaitlin Gallo, a senior who will attend SUNY Oswego, said she was ecstatic that the team once again took the county title. Gallo, who played first doubles this year, said, "All of the girls came together and practiced their hearts out."

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