By Tom Jordan
Boys' win conference, too
Even in the glow of a conference title, boys' varsity soccer coach Alan Freeman blames Bob Bigelow for all of the undue stress he's endured for most of his 30 years at South Side High School.
"Year in and year out, South Side is the number one or number two favorite to win the conference. But winning goes in cycles," Mr. Freeman said. "There is a constant process of building and rebuilding, but South Side is always expected to do well, because of how well the girls have done over the years. That's a tribute to their consistency."
Indeed, the girls have made eleven trips to the state finals in Mr. Bigelow's 20-year tenure, and last week won yet another conference title. They often prepare for big games by scrimmaging the boys' team, as they did last week, before their latest playoff run began.
And maybe the practice has helped the boys, as well. The team has not done too badly in its own right since Mr. Freeman took over in 1979, after having coached the junior varsity team for eight seasons. Just days after they added the finishing touches to their undefeated regular season, the boys clinched a conference title of their own, finishing with a record of nine wins, one loss and five ties.
It is the Cyclones' seventh conference crown under Mr. Freeman. The team has also won 5 county championships.
Of course, there have been close calls and heartbreaks, too. Last year, after eliminating Port Washington, Nassau County's #1 seeded team, they lost 1-0 to East Meadow in last year's Long Island championship game. Mr. Freeman has yet to bring the Cyclones to the state finals.
On how the current team rates as compared to his previous winners, Mr. Freeman said, "That remains to be seen." The Cyclones were set to begin the playoffs at home against Plainview JFK on Tuesday, October 31, as the Herald went to press.
"One thing about boys' soccer is that it's so competitively matched. It's not enough to just play well. You have to play well, play tough, get some divine help... There are five, six, seven teams that believe they have a shot at the title. I think winning last year, and coming in as the defending county champions, had a tremendous impact on us," Mr. Freeman said, who cited the team's five ties as evidence of parity within the conference.
The core of the team, according to the coach, is its triumverate of senior captains: M.J. Serota, Jay Calderone and Dave Barry. Mr. Sirotka is the team's leading scorer, Mr. Calderone it's most physical player, and Mr. Barry, said the coach, is the team's "energy player."
Asked what he thought earned him such a distinction, Mr. Barry said, "I guess it means that I give it my all every single game. I would do anything for this team. This is the the first team in my four years here that I think actually has a shot at not only going to the state finals, but winning it. If we come out ready to play, no team can beat us."
He rejected the notion that last year's defeat of Port Washington was an upset. "South Side is known for stepping up in the playoffs," he said.
