by Joseph Fitzgibbon
The team, which includes students from Central, South and North high schools, worked hard to make sure there was no repeat of last year. Coached by Blake McCauley, the team includes Central seniors Ray Pabelonia and Mu Tang, South senior John Saravelli, South freshman Stephen Zawislak and North junior Cheryl Radecker.
As the season began, they saw their hard work and preparation pay off. Valley Stream dominated the regular season, finishing undefeated, with 14 wins. Team members never gave their competitors a chance to catch them, outscoring all opponents by wide margins, compiling scores that had not been seen in years. In its final regular-season match, the team defeated defending county champions Sewanhaka by 210 points, amassing a score of 1,106 out of a possible 1,200 points. It was the highest team score since 1995. Pabelonia also made history that day, tying the school record of 288 out of a possible 300 points.
At the county championships in February, last year¹s disappointment was a distant memory, as Valley Stream captured the titles in both the cartridge and air rifle events. It became the first team since Massapequa in 2001 to accomplish this feat, and just the third team in the past 10 years to win both titles. Pabelonia tied the county record in the prone portion of the cartridge event with a perfect score of 100-10, hitting a center bulls-eye with all 10 of his shots. It was only the second perfect score in the past 15 years.
Success in the sport of rifle requires tremendous mind and body control, with competitors focused on hitting a bulls-eye about the size of a period. The slightest lapse in concentration can cost the competitor many points. Under the intense pressure of the state championships, with no room for error, Valley Stream maintained its focus and continued its winning ways in dramatic fashion. Tang scored a career best 287 out of 300 points, while Pabelonia and Zawislak were right behind with near-career-best scores of 282 and 280, respectively. Saravelli and Radecker both turned in impressive rookie performances, scoring 265 and 254, respectively.
When the match ended, Valley Stream was on top, having compiled the second-highest team score in state history ‹ 1,114 out of 1,200 points, behind only the 1,118 points Valley Stream scored in 1993. This was Valley Stream¹s second state title in the past three years, and the first for McCauley.
Valley Stream¹s historic day continued in the individual portion of the state championships. Tang finished in first place overall, leading all competitors in the prone portion of the event with a score of 100-8. Tang will represent New York state at the National Junior Olympics in Colorado Springs March 25.
Pabelonia finished in fifth place overall, and led all competitors in the standing portion of the event with a score of 95 out of 100 points. Zawislak finished sixth, the youngest competitor to make the top six.
The team¹s impressive performance throughout the season is a testament to its talent, perseverance and hard work. In just one year, Valley Stream went from bitter defeat to a historic season that culminating in the state title. The squad earned a place as one the best rifle teams in state history.
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