Willow Ridge assistant Kyle Baehler is among four players tied for the lead after one round of the Metropolitan Professional Championship.

It was a perfect day for scoring, and that’s exactly what Kyle Baehler, Sean Farren, Anthony Casalino and Patrick Langan did. The foursome sits atop the leaderboard after one round of the Metropolitan Professional Championship, shooting 5-under 67s at Fairview Country Club or the Golf Club of Purchase.

There are 12 spots in next summer’s PGA Professional Championship up for grabs.

Rob Labritz is alone in fifth place one stroke off the lead. He went back to back in this championship, winning in 2012 and 2013. Sean Quinlivan, Kent St. Charles, Carl Alexander, Josh Rackley and Nick Beddow are all 3-under heading into the second round. The low 60 players and ties will survive the cut Tuesday evening and play the final round at Purchase.

Metropolitan Professional Championship

Fairview Country Club (FV) & Golf Club of Purchase (GP)

Par 72

1. Kyle Baehler (GP), Willow Ridge 67

1. Sean Farren (GP), Creek Club 67

1. Anthony Casalino (FV), Innis Arden 67

1. Patrick Langan (FV), Purchase 67

5. Rob Labritz (GP), GlenArbor 68

6. Sean Quinlivan (GP), Piping Rock 69

6. Kent St. Charles (GP), Willow Ridge 69

6. Carl Alexander (GP), Purchase 69

6. Josh Rackley (FV), Tam O’Shanter Club 69

6. Nick Beddow (FV), Piping Rock 69

11. Mike Meehan (GP), Old Westbury 70

11. Tyler Jaramillo (GP), Saint Andrew’s 70

11. Brian Gaffney (FV), Quaker Ridge 70

11. Ben Polland (FV), Deepdale 70

15. Pete Stefanchik (GP), Elmwood 71

15. James Ondo (GP), Apawamis 71

15. Charlie Meola (GP), Saxon Woods 71

15. Grant Surgeon (GP), Winged Foot 71

15. Paul Dickinson (GP), Atlantic 71

15. Jamie Kilmer (FV), Wheatley Hills 71

15. Kyle Higgins (FV), Inwood 71

15. Craig Thomas (FV), Metropolis 71

15. Anthony Aruta (FV), North Shore 71

15. Frankie Martinez (FV), Patterson Club 71

In spite of questions that remain unanswered, the four Scarsdale High School varsity coaches who have exited this summer said that they are trying to move on.

In a surprising house-cleaning, athletic director Ray Pappalardi recently informed ice hockey coach Jim Mancuso, baseball coach David “Doc” Scholl and softball coach Dave Scagnelli that they were being fired. Each had coached at Scarsdale in some capacity for at least 24 years.

Amid speculation that he, too, would be fired, boys lacrosse coach Brendan Curran showed himself out, resigning because he felt “it was a good time to walk away.”

Brendan Curran, the former Scarsdale varsity lacrosse coach, talks to his team as the played against John F. Kennedy High School May 15, 2004. Curran resigned from his second term as Scarsdale boys’ lacrosse coach last week.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride,” Scholl said. “The outpouring of support has been nonstop, from players from the ’90s to the current team. Part of me is relieved. It’s time to move onto other things that I want to do. I just feel bad for the boys. We had a lot of seniors coming back next year.”

Related: Four varsity coaches out at Scarsdale

Pappalardi and Superintendent Thomas Hagerman have declined to comment on the specific reasons for the changes, with Pappalardi stating in an e-mail to The Journal News/lohud that, “As this is a personnel issue, I cannot comment directly.”

Public school administrators are not legally obligated to provide explanations for the firing of high school coaches.

“Although it can be very frustrating for parents and students, there is no law that requires school board officials to provide the reasons for a personnel decision,” said Emily Gold Waldman, a professor of Law and associate dean at Pace University. “In fact, there are often legal restrictions pertaining to the confidentiality of personnel matters that preclude them from doing so.”

While the coaches, parents and students have expressed disappointment in the lack of transparency, others defended the moves. Pappalardi took over as athletic director last summer after eight years as the AD at Edgemont High School, and indicated that his first year would be used to evaluate all coaches.

“I have full faith in Ray and his decision-making,” said Kathy Coleman, the former president of the Maroon and White Club and a current board member. “I can’t imagine that anyone that’s not there now is totally shocked that they’re not there. Ray’s not that kind of guy that’s going to blindside you. He did his research. He took his time to go a year with all of these coaches before he made any of these decisions.”

In an e-mail to The Journal News, Hagerman noted that “coaching assignments are made on an annual basis,” adding, “Under Ray’s leadership, we will have clear, consistent and high standards for all coaches.”

The fired coaches have stated that they were kept in the dark about any potential changes and that no issues were raised at their end-of-season meetings with school officials.

“The challenging thing for me is that I noticed in (The Journal News) article they talked about we hold our coaches to certain standards,” Scholl said. “Being there for many years, we’ve always tried to maintain our standards. But if something changed with those standards, we should have been told. No one told us anything. I just wanted the opportunity to work on these goals that they have and grow as a professional.” On the day he was let go, Scholl said that administrators brought up that he did not start all seniors on the team’s annual Senior Day.

Mancuso described the conversation in which he was informed of his firing as “pretty short,” and added that, “I was told some people complained about a lack of communication.”

“I know that I like to do things my way,” Mancuso said. “I also do some things other people’s way. I always try to do things the right way. That was the goal. I was fair to everybody, whether he was the world’s leading scorer or some kid on the fifth line. We all follow the same standards and guidelines, otherwise there is chaos.”

Former Scarsdale softball coach David Scagnelli congratulates Denise Villaneuva at third base during a game against Ursuline on May 9, 2000. Scagnelli will not return as head softball coach at Scarsdale next year.

Scagnelli declined to comment on the meeting in which he was fired, but said, “I’m disappointed that I didn’t get reappointed and I’m looking forward to continue coaching in another district. I coached for 25 years at the high school level, and I plan to continue that until I retire.”

In some instances, parents and students have made pleas to the school to reconsider the firings. And while that scenario seems unlikely, Mancuso said he would be open to the possibility of returning to the Scarsdale bench.

“It’s not an easy decision, but I probably would,” he said. “I have this ideal, I like to keep things black and white. Trouble lies in the gray areas. If we could get to where there’s a mutual benefit for everyone involved, I think I would go back.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Mike Dougherty and Mike Zacchio contributed reporting. 

New Rochelle boys’ soccer won 3-1 at Clarkstown South Sept. 30, 2015.

New Rochelle boys’ soccer won 3-1 at Clarkstown South Sept. 30, 2015.

2016 New Rochelle Huguenots
Coach — Jarohan Garcia
Third year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? Our record last year was 7-7-3 and we lost in the first round of the Class AA playoffs to a hard working and determined Yorktown team.

Who are your key returning players? Omar Tejeda (M/F), Cristian Valencia (M/F), Cristian Torres (D/M), Leonardo Vargas (D), Ethan Manly (M), Marcos Garcia (D/F) and Stevenson Dieudonne (M/F). All these seniors will be relied on heavily as they bring the last two year’s experiences to this year’s squad.

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Luca Sanna, Rodolfo Gil, Santiago Soto and Misael Jimenez. These players were big contributors to our program for the last two years, so filling their shoes will be tough, but I’m sure this year’s group is up to the challenge.

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? This year we did not, but last year we gained two players who are ready to contribute this year at the varsity level, juniors Felipe Tobon and David Lopez.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Omar Tejeda (M/F) and Cristian Valencia (M/F) will be looked upon to lead the team on offense. These two players are dynamic, hard-working and can finish anywhere near the 18-yard box.

The best defender? With three out of four starters coming back and the addition of Felipe Tobon (junior, ex-academy player), we will be looking to Leonardo Vargas and Cristian Torres to lead our defense. We are also very excited about the young talent that is ready to contribute.

The fastest? This is probably one of our biggest assets coming into the season. We have quickness on both flanks and players who are not afraid to show it! Preseason will be a time to set the record straight.

The biggest hustler? Hard work is something this group of young men really takes pride in and this offseason is proof of it. This offseason the hard work has been relentless and workouts have been intense! Our core of seniors will be instrumental in this facet of the game and we will look for Ethan Manly to set the tone.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Staying as injury free as possible. Last year we were hit really hard by the injury bug, so we are looking for this year to stay healthy and maximize on this group’s deep talent.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? I’m not sure about the identity or motto, but for the last two years we have been using the approach of building all-around successful young men. This is an ever ongoing process and we will look to add another layer of success to it.

Up next: Tappan Zee

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Kyra Cox, 16 from South Salem hits a tee shot to the par-3 second hole in the 68th U. S. Girls Junior Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus on Monday, July 18, 2016. Kyra Cox recently played in the 2016 Drive, Chip & Putt National Championship at Augusta National and was the Metropolitan PGA Player of the Year three consecutive times from 2013 to 2015.

Kyra Cox was making birdies left and right on Tuesday at the 41st Junior PGA Championship at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rhode Island, opening with a 4-under 67. The 16-year-old from South Salem had a bumpy front nine. She tuned at 1-over, promptly made five birdies on the way in and wound up three shots off the lead in a fourth-place tie.

Hawaii resident Mariel Galdiano set the pace with a 64.

Cox was a last-minute U.S. Women’s Amateur entry last week. She got in as an alternate, but did not advance beyond stroke play at Rolling Green Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Brent Ito has some work to do. The 17-year-old from Ardsley opened with a 6-over 77 and is tied for 64th. He carded eight bogeys, seven pars, two birdies and one double, and is 11 shots off the lead. The cut to low 30 and ties comes on Thursday.

Rob Labritz tees off at the 16th hole Thursday during the final round of the New York State Open at Bethpage State Park. The GlenArbor director of golf won on the first hole of sudden death.

Apparently, the putter is working again.

Rob Labritz had some differences with the flat stick during the PGA Championship at Baltusrol earlier this month, but the 45-year-old director of golf at GlenArbor shot a second-round 66 on Tuesday and leads the Metropolitan Professional Championship with a 10-under total of 134. He’s five shots up on Innis Arden assistant Anthony Casalino heading into the final round at the Golf Club of Purchase.

Ben Polland of Deepdale, Carl Alexander of Purchase, Tyler Jaramillo of St. Andrew’s and Sean Quinlivan of Piping Rock are tied for third at 4-under. The cut line was 7-over par, so it hasn’t been easy for everyone.

There are 12 spots available for next summer’s PGA Professional Championship in Oregon. Labritz, who won this event in 2012 and 2013, is exempt based on his top-20 finish at this summer’s PPC at Turning Stone.

Metropolitan Professional Championship

Fairview Country Club and Golf Club of Purchase

Par 72

Second round

1. Rob Labritz, GlenArbor 68-66-134

2. Anthony Casalino, Innis Arden 67-72-139

3. Ben Polland, Deepdale 70-70- 140

3. Carl Alexander, Purchase 69-71-140

3. Tyler Jaramillo, Saint Andrew’s 70-70- 140

3. Sean Quinlivan, Piping Rock 69-71-140

7. Anthony Aruta, North Shore 71-71-142

7. Patrick Langan, Purchase 67-75-142

7. Sean Farren, The Creek 67-75-142

7. Kent St. Charles, Willow Ridge 69-73-142

11. Craig Thomas, Metropolis 71-72-143

11. Josh Rackley, Tam O’Shanter 69-74-143

11. John Guyton, Wheatley Hills 74-69-143

11. Nick Beddow, Piping Rock 69-74-143

11. Kyle Baehler, Willow Ridge 67-76-143

11. James Ondo, Apawamis 71-72-143

Despite all of the program’s success on the ice in the last five seasons, head coach Jim Mancuso was not retained by Scarsdale.

I don’t get this one.

How do you spend any time around Jim Mancuso and fail to recognize that he dedicated 25 years to building a reputable hockey program, that he consistently held athletes to a higher standard, that he now has a small army of supporters in spite of the old-school approach. I’m thinking Scarsdale athletic director Ray Pappalardi made a regrettable mistake in letting him go. 

Citing a lack of communication as the primary issue was dishonest at best.

And now the Raiders have a divide in the locker room because the move was motivated by parental complaints. Scarsdale is left with players who are going to miss the passion of Mancuso and players who believe they have a better chance to be named all-league with him gone.

Sad.

Related: Former Scarsdale coaches speak out after firings

Here is a writeup from a Tuesday conversation with Mancuso:

It’s standard procedure for coaches to conduct a post mortem with school officials after each season. According to Mancuso, no issues were raised when he met with Pappalardi earlier this year.

They met again last week.

“I was terminated on Tuesday, met a new grandson on Wednesday and had a birthday on Thursday,” Mancuso said. “It was a pretty short conversation (with Pappalardi), ‘We’re not going to bring you back.’ I was told some people had complained about a lack of communication.”

The news circulated quickly, and the 67-year-old who makes a living in sales began receiving phone calls, emails and text messages from players and parents he’s come into contact with over 25 years.

“I told them, ‘Listen, I was in the paper, but my name wasn’t in the obituaries,’ ” said Mancuso, who’s long ranked among the wittiest coaches in Section 1. “I was on a different page. The outpouring of support has been tremendous. I have some emails that would make you cry.”

Mancuso served as an assistant for one season before taking over and slowly built the program. The Raiders eventually began to compete with traditional powers like Mamaroneck and Suffern, winning Section 1 championships in 2014 and 2015.

Related: Four varsity coaches out at Scarsdale

Over the last five years, Scarsdale went 82-33-3.

The school also decided last October to expand the program, added a junior varsity team. It’s a move that required a fair amount of scrambling.

“I know that I like to do things my way,” Mancuso said. “I also do some things other people’s way. I always try to do things the right way. That was the goal. I was fair to everybody, whether he was the world’s leading scorer of some kid on the fifth line. We all follow the same standards and guidelines, otherwise there is chaos.”

He will miss the players who competed and eventually and the parents who volunteered to fundraise and support the program.

Mancuso is a throwback. He is loud when there’s a breakdown, demanding when the effort slips and passionate about playing the game the right way. According to parents who did not want to be named because their sons are still part of the program, the only controversy this season came after the all-league picks were made.

At least one family responded by complaining to school officials about Mancuso.

“I’m not throwing anyone under the bus,” Mancuso said. “You win with class. You lose with class and you hold your head up.”

There have been numerous pleas to school officials to reconsider the move to dismiss Mancuso, and he would likely come back if asked.

“It’s not an easy decision, but I probably would,” he said. “I have this ideal, I like to keep things black and white. Trouble lies in the gray areas. If we could get to where there’s a mutual benefit for everyone involved, I think I would go back.”

Brian Gaffney from the Quaker Ridge Golf Club waits to putt during the Metropolitan Professional Championship at the Golf Club of Purchase, Aug. 10, 2016.

Carl Alexander from The Golf Club of Purchase watches his tee shot during the Metropolitan Professional Championship at the Golf Club of Purchase, Aug. 10, 2016.

Brian Gaffney from the Quaker Ridge Golf Club watches his tee shot during the Metropolitan Professional Championship at the Golf Club of Purchase, Aug. 10, 2016.

Rob Labritz from the GlenArbor Golf Club, acknowledges applause after sinking his final putt, during the Metropolitan Professional Championship at the Golf Club of Purchase, Aug. 10, 2016. Labritz won the event.

PURCHASE — Unlike most sports, where athletes usually hit their prime in their 20s, golf is a game in which age is often rendered meaningless.

Rob Labritz has been proving that over and over this summer.

The director of golf at GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills is playing the best golf of his life in 2016, with previous wins at the Westchester PGA, the Westchester Open and the New York State Open.

Rob Labritz from the GlenArbor Golf Club, hits a chip shot during the Metropolitan Professional Championship at the Golf Club of Purchase, Aug. 10, 2016. Labritz won the event.

On Wednesday, he added to his trophy case with his fourth win of the year, claiming the Metropolitan Professional Championship at The Golf Course of Purchase.

“It feels great,” Labritz said. “My game is going to take me some places. I’ve got to figure out how we’re going to do that, but there are some doors that are going to start to open. I’m a late bloomer. I’m 45 and my eyes are set on the Senior Tour, but I also have four years before I get there. I’d like to do some damage somewhere and make some money.”

Labritz ran away with the title by shooting 14-under for the tournament, seven strokes better than the next closest competitor. He shot under 70 all three days on the par-72 course, finishing with a 68 on Wednesday.

“I kind of separated (on Tuesday) with a 66, and then I made five birdies my first six holes (on Wednesday),” he said. “That kind of pushed me over the edge. I put it on cruise control.”

Carl Alexander, the golf pro at The Golf Course of Purchase, is an old friend of Labritz. They were grouped together on Wednesday, and Alexander acknowledged that he’s seen Labritz take his game to a new level.

“It’s motivating to see that he continues to get better,” said Alexander, who tied for sixth place at 3-under. “He’s hitting the ball so nicely. Every shot looks like it’s right at the flag. The driver is just absolutely crushing it, and it’s fun to watch. He’s been working hard at his game, so it’s nice to see that it’s paying off.”

Brian Gaffney of Quaker Ridge Golf Club was a surprise second-place finisher after beginning the final round at even-par. He shot a tournament-best 65 on Wednesday to finish at 7-under and catapult up the leaderboard.

“I think I got the most I could out of my round,” Gaffney said. “I have not been hitting the ball very well lately, and my expectations were very low going into the round. I just tried to slow down my swing. That really seemed to help.”

The top 12 finishers qualified for next summer’s PGA Professional Championship at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. If they finish in the top 10 there, they’ll get a chance to play in the 2017 PGA Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina.

Labritz played in the most recent PGA Championship at Baltursrol in New Jersey, where he missed the cut. But with the momentum he’s been gaining recently, he’s hoping that his best golf is yet to come.

“My confidence level is really, really high,” he said. “I’m striking the ball great, my putting his been good and my short game has been pretty tidy. I’m looking forward to competing, but I have a few days off here. I’m looking forward to going to the Cape and drinking a few beers first.”

Metropolitan Professional Championship

Fairview Country Club and Golf Club of Purchase

Par 72

Third round

1. Rob Labritz, GlenArbor 68-66-68-202
2. Brian Gaffney, Quaker Ridge 70-74-65-209
3. Ben Polland, Deepdale 70-70-71-211
4. Anthony Casalino, Innis Arden 67-72-73-212
4. James Ondo, Apawamis 71-72-69-212
6. Carl Alexander, Purchase 69-71-73-213
6. Anthony Aruta, North Shore 71-71-71-213
6. Kent St. Charles, Willow Ridge 69-73-71-213
9. Mark Brown, Tam O’Shanter 74-70-71-215
9. Grant Sturgeon, Winged Foot 71-74-70-215
11. Paul Dickinson, Atlantic 71-76-69-216
11. John Guyton, Wheatley Hills 74-69-73-216
11. Tyler Jaramillo, Saint Andrew’s 70-70-76-216
11. Patrick Langan, Purchase 67-75-74-216

Full leaderboard

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

High school football fans, are you ready?

Super 11 logo.

Tonight, at 7 p.m., Josh Thomson will reveal the 25 finalists for The Journal News/lohud 2016 Super 11.

Every year at lohud.com, we honor our Super 11 — the 11 best returning football players in the Lower Hudson Valley. Past Super 11 honorees have gone on to high school glory and later played major college football for some of the top programs in the country. Some have even starred in the NFL.

Looking Back: The 2014 Super 11

Looking Back: The 2015 Super 11

Thomson: What goes into naming the Super 11?

Check back this evening to find out which players are this year’s Super 11 finalists!

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Tappan Zee’s Jack Samett (21) head butts the ball during the game against Byram Hills at Byram Hills High School in Armonk on Oct. 29, 2015.

2016 Tappan Zee Dutchmen
Coach — Jon Jacobs
Fourth year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? 15-3-2. Lost in the Class A sectional final game, our first appearance in our program’s history.

Who are your key returning players? 
Joe Stahl – Jr. Defender
Jack Samett – Sr. Defender
Sam Gould – Sr. Defender
Daesob Lim – Sr. Forward

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation?
James Hennessy
Lukas Puris
Eoghan McGee

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? No.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? The Brothers Shalvey (They are not all brothers but they are all Shalveys) – Thomas, Kyle, and Ciaran.

The best defender? Joe Stahl.

The fastest? Daesob Lim.

The biggest hustler? Paul Kiernan.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Replacing a number of key pieces due to graduation.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.

Up next: Port Chester

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

James Nicholas from the Westchester Country Club lines up his shot on the sixth green during the Stoddard Trophy singles match at the Century Country Club in Purchase, Aug. 11, 2016.

Michael Karger from the Century Country Club watches his tee shot on the second hole during the Stoddard Trophy singles match at the Century Country Club in Purchase, Aug. 11, 2016.

Christian Cavaliere from the Mahopac Golf and Beach Club, chips onto the green on the first hole, during the Stoddard Trophy singles match at the Century Country Club in Purchase, Aug. 11, 2016.

PURCHASE – As the temperature rose Thursday afternoon, the New Jersey State Golf Association’s Stoddard Trophy team was heating up as well.

The Garden State golfers trailed the Westchester Golf Association’s team by 1 ½ points after the morning session of alternate-shot matches at Century Country Club, but thundered back in the afternoon, taking 16 ½ of a possible 24 points in the afternoon singles matches to win the Stoddard Trophy with 22 ½ total points. The Westchester Golf Association’s team was second with 16 ½ points, while the Long Island Golf Association’s team was third with 15 points.

Josh Goldenberg from the Fenway Golf Club hits a tee shot on the seventh hole during the Stoddard Trophy singles match at the Century Country Club in Purchase, Aug. 11, 2016.

Two Westchester pairings – John Ervasti and Connor Daly, and Josh Goldenberg and Christian Cavaliere – collected two points apiece in the morning’s alternate-shot matches. Ervasti and Daly defeated Matt Finger and Jay Blumenthal of New Jersey and Jonathan Jeter and Brett Cooper of Long Island; while Goldenberg and Cavaliere beat Dawson Jones and Thomas LaMorte of New Jersey and Kyle Brey and Rob Ruscha of Long Island.

At the break, Westchester led New Jersey 7 ½ to 6, but the lead wouldn’t last. Six of the 12 players from New Jersey – Dylan Smith, Max Greyserman, Mike Deo, Jones, LaMorte, Nick Desai and Bill Charpek – won both of their afternoon matches, grabbing 12 points among them for their side.

“When we got out in the afternoon, you’re able to get in a rhythm, hitting shot after shot after shot,” said New Jersey captain Brian Komline, who plays to a +1.2 handicap out of Black Oak Golf Club. “I think everybody just started to get used to the golf course and started playing better.”

Komline’s alternate-shot partner, Desai of Baltusrol Golf Club, said that playing alternate-shot matches in the morning made for a long, hot afternoon, as the mercury climbed to 93 degrees Fahrenheit around 4 p.m.

“Normally, we’re so used to playing stroke play in the morning and alternate shot in the afternoon,” Desai said. “The fatigue, all the juniors can handle it a lot better than us seniors. But thankfully, they let us take carts out there in the afternoon. It was hot.”

Despite the heat and humidity, 10 of 12 New Jerseyans picked up at least half a point in the afternoon session.

“We picked the guys who have played the best over the course of the year, and I think a couple guys got out there early and got ahead,” Komline said. “It kinda snowballs, when you hear people are playing well, and kind of pushes you through. You’re playing two matches, but if you’re losing one, it’s important to keep going and get every single point that you can get.”

Twitter: @LeifSkodnick

We will reveal the 2016 Super 11 on Sept. 7 by releasing one name per hour beginning at 11 a.m. Much like last year, those honorees will be announced and introduced on lohud.com and various social media accounts, including  the lohudsports Facebook page , the  Varsity Insider  and  lohudsports  Twitter accounts and on Snapchat and Instagram by @lohudinsider.

Super 11 logo.

Looking Back: The 2014 Super 11

Looking Back: The 2015 Super 11

Thomson: What goes into naming the Super 11?

On Friday, I revealed the 25 players who are finalists under consideration to be named Super 11. You can find the complete list — including each player’s credentials — by clicking here, viewing our photo gallery of the finalists above or watching our sports editor Leif Skodnick discuss them below.

Twitter:  @lohudinsider

Port Chester’s Sal Cabibbo, left, Jose Guzman, Steven Carias, and Marcel Robert celebrate after Carias scored during a varsity soccer game against Mamaroneck at Mamaroneck High School Sept. 18, 2015. Port Chester defeated Mamaroneck 2-0.

2016 Port Chester Rams
Coach — John Cafaldo
10th year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? We finished last season at 14-4 with a Class AA second round loss vs. Yorktown.

Who are your key returning players? Carlos Pineda, Jr. MF; Alex Cayetano, Sr., MF; Jesse Villa, Jr., MF; Kevin Umanzor, Jr., Def.

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? Steven Hernandez, Steven Carias, Favian Reyes, Sal Cabbibo, Kevin Aguirre, Kevin Valdovinos, Marcel Robert, Jonathan Garces, Jose Guzman, Danny Maldonado, Oscar Arreguin, to name a few!

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? Alex Cayetano is in his second year back from Academy soccer.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Our most skilled offensive player is up for grabs. Hopefully, many of our players can challenge for this title.

The best defender? Our best defender is Kevin Umanzor.

The fastest? Our fastest player is probably Bryan Narvaez.

The biggest hustler? Carlos Pineda, Alex Cayetano and Kevin Casteneda are our biggest hustlers.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Our biggest challenge will be experience. We will have a young team and will not have much varsity experience outside of the six or seven guys who are returning from last season. We are also in a new league with new opponents and have a very difficult schedule that will challenge our guys every single day.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? I would like our team to get back to playing as a whole team. I feel like we got away from that the past few seasons relying on one or two superstar players. When we were at our best we had many weapons in many positions. I want to get back to that. Our motto this year is going to have to be one game at a time.

Up next: White Plains

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

Golf.

Putnam Men’s Champion
William Jones Jr.: 77/$250

Men’s Handicap Division Gross/Net
1st Low Gross
Kevin Degnan: 75/$100
2nd Low Gross
Frankpeter Gabriel: 77/$75
3rd Low Gross
Brian McNamara: 78/$50
1st Low Net
Bill Hammond: 78-66/$100
2nd Low Net
Brendan Lambey: 92-71/$75
3rd Low Net
Tom Guglielmo: 85-73/$50

Men’s Callaway Division
1st Callaway
Michael Sbarra: 88-71/$100
2nd Callaway
Alex Doong: 86-73/$75
3rd Callaway
Rob Wintle: 96-74/$50

Putnam Senior Champion
Michael Gemei: 77/$150

Senior Handicap Division Gross/Net
1st Low Gross
Robert Anderson: 77/$75
2nd Low Gross
Steve Heaslip: 80/$50
1st Low Net
Phil Diasparra: 82-62/$75
2nd Low Net
Nick Anzovino: 88-71/$50

Senior Callaway Division
1st Callaway
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The ongoing heat wave wreaked havoc on the opening of high school football practices in the Lower Hudson Valley Monday. The heat index reached and exceeded 96 degrees in some areas and forced schools to scramble their afternoon schedules.

Nyack junior Sahmeer Tassy drinks water during the first day of football practice Aug. 15, 2016 at Nyack Middle School.

At Nyack Middle School, where new coach Dominick DeMatteo hosted his first practice, the team remained inside after the heat index creeped above the threshhold just before an afternoon session was scheduled to begin.

“We were about to leave our installation meeting to go outside and the heat index hit 97 so we had to go back inside,” DeMatteo said.

Nyack took precautions prior to Monday. DeMatteo and athletic trainer Wes Miller instructed players to focus on staying hydrated more than 48 hours prior to practice.

“In order to stay hydrated, you want to start drinking water and getting hydrated two days in advance or at least the day before,” Miller said. “Once you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated and it’s hard to play catch up.”

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Fiorelli looks to ‘change the culture’ at Hastings

FOOTBALL: Langella’s fun, up-tempo game a draw for Mahopac football

FOOTBALL: Progress ‘day-by-day’ as new Croton staff begins rebuild

FOOTBALL: Despite graduation losses, Putnam Valley coach optimistic

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg

But not even proper hydration was enough Monday. Schools in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association must adhere to its heat index procedures, which require schools to increase water breaks and limit equipment when necessary after the heat index reaches 91. The teams are not allowed to participate in any outside activity once the index reaches 96, as it did Monday.

Athletic trainers, administrators and coaches are expected to monitor the “Feels Like” temperature on WeatherBug.com or the WeatherBug app. (The NYSPHSAA used AccuWeather.com’s ReelFeel index before switching to WeatherBug this year.)

The NYSPHSAA’s heat index procedures.

Players said they take the threat of heat illness seriously.

“If you’re working out or jogging, it’s best to keep it where you’re going at good pace but where you do not push yourself and you’re about to keel over,” said Daniel Iaciofano, a lineman at Hastings. “Always check the weather. If it’s over 90 degrees, I highly recommend you just don’t because you can have a high risk of heat exhaustion and cardiac arrest.”

That risk may decrease somewhat for the remainder of the week. According to the WeatherBug forecast, high temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-to-low 80s into next week.

Like NFL and college teams, schools have attempted to extend the break between their morning and afternoon practices to beat the heat. They face limitations based that only allow them so much leeway when temperatures spike.

“An ideal scenario and kind of the NFL and Division I model is to go very early in the morning and then much later in the evening,” DeMatteo said. “The middle part of the day is for lifting and meetings and such. Obviously at our level we don’t have the facility or the support staff they have at those levels.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Sophomore Eli Jones, 15, works on passing drills during the first day of practice Aug. 15, 2016 at Hillside Elementary School in Hastings-on-Hudson.

HASTINGS ON HUDSON – At the end of Monday’s morning practice session, head coach Anthony Fiorelli was in the middle of talking to his Hastings football players about the team’s afternoon practice when senior Michael Gibbons interrupted him and addressed his teammates.

“Nobody ditches this next practice,” Gibbons said, before warning players that if they missed the practice, “it’s going to be a real problem.” Soon after his captain spoke up, Fiorelli echoed those remarks with his own ultimatum: “If you leave, don’t come back.”

That’s the kind of atmosphere Fiorelli has tried to establish in his first year at Hastings, which is combining with Clark Academy for its football season again this year. The team’s primary focus is to “change the culture,” Fiorelli said, and it starts with Day 1 of practice.

“It’s been pretty rough here,” Fiorelli said of the program’s recent history, which includes a 5-25 record over the last four seasons. “It’s going to take some time, but these are some good kids. It’s hard, it’s hard to change the culture.”

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Langella’s fun, up-tempo game a draw for Mahopac football

FOOTBALL: Progress ‘day-by-day’ as new Croton staff begins rebuild

FOOTBALL: Despite graduation losses, Putnam Valley coach optimistic

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg

THOMSON: Heat, humidity force football teams to scramble

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

Gibbons was doing his part to lead by example on and off the field. When he wasn’t giving pep talks to teammates next to his pickup truck during water breaks, Gibbons was helping to push players on the field in a positive way.

When a teammate finished last on back-to-back sprints, Gibbons positioned himself next to the player and told him, “You run with me.”

Fiorelli has armed the team with an all-star coaching staff that includes former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Kwazi Leverette, former Croton-Harmon head coach and two-time state finalist John Catano, and Hastings alum Matt Adipietro to help rebuild the program.

“We want to make sure we’re on a campaign for success,” Leverette said. “Everybody basically has to commit to a goal. The goal is to be a part of a team. The team has a goal, which is to be successful and win football games.”

Players are already buying into the coaching staff’s emphasis on team unity.

“People will get nervous they will just leave … and you’re like, ‘C’mon, man, we’re out here putting in all the work for this so we can become a successful program,’ ” third-year varsity senior center Daniel Iaciofano said, describing past years. “If you have the heart, you will stay. If you don’t, then why are you even playing?”

Twitter:  @Zacchio_LoHud

First-year coach Joe Streany talks to quarterback Toby Murphy during the first day of football practice at Croton-Harmon High School on Aug. 15, 2016.

CROTON-ON-HUDSON – In the midst of their second session on a steamy opening day of practice, Croton-Harmon players lined up to run routes. It didn’t matter for the moment what position they played or that the passes from their new head coach, Joe Streany, weren’t always on target. They were learning a skill and — Streany hoped — enjoying it, utility be damned.

“I want to breed that motivation, that interest in them so that when they leave today they want to come back tomorrow and say, ‘I’m ready,'” Streany said. “‘My shoulder pads are on, my cleats are on.’ I want them to be out there before me.”

The last part may be a stretch considering the 30-year-old Streany is high-energy and a proud Croton alum. But the first-year coach was guardedly optimistic after his first day of practice as he and a young coaching staff aim to rebuild a program short on numbers that is coming off of a 2-6 season.

“This morning I couldn’t believe how much we got done,” he said. “We came back out after lunch and put everyone back together. We were running through plays and I was speechless. It was only two plays so it was basic, but we were running them right.”

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Fiorelli looks to ‘change the culture’ at Hastings

FOOTBALL: Langella’s fun, up-tempo game a draw for Mahopac football

FOOTBALL: Despite graduation losses, Putnam Valley coach optimistic

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg

THOMSON: Heat, humidity force football teams to scramble

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

Right now, Streany has lasered his focus on small victories. Although he has been on staff since 2008, Streany earned most of his experience under longtime coach John Catano last season when he had an active hand in the offense. His assistants are either equally young, have less experience or are both. Ryan Callahan is 29, Dave Occipinti is 22 and Steve Palencsar is the elder statesman at 32. His new brother-in-laws, former star quarterbacks Nick and Jesse Mainiero, will likely guest star at camp as well.

Joe Streany, 30, is a first-year head football coach at Croton-Harmon. Streany, a Croton alumnus, had been an assistant since 2008.

Even so, Streany hopes to add an experienced coach to give the staff wisdom and said that several members of the community of volunteered their services. He also plans to keep a hand extended to Catano, who coached Streany in high school and later led Croton to a pair of state final appearances.

“We’re kind of turning the page, but we’re definitely keeping that playbook to the past open,” he said.

Streany’s main task might just be cultivating the roster. Croton started Monday with just 21 players, combined from all four classes and with no JV program in place. Because of conflicts and previous obligations, Streany still expects to add a few more players this week, but the numbers will undoubtedly be tight.

The youth and those roster limitations are the main reasons he and his coaches have resisted the urge to accelerate the installation of plays and defenses. They believe less could mean more in the long run.

“Hopefully tomorrow I’m as optimistic as today, but it is a day-by-day thing,” Streany said. “I like to take it session by session. If we’re going be go from Point A to Point B, it has to be calculated and we have to be careful.”

Twitter: @lohudinsider

Mahopac High School football player Shane McDonald drinks from a jug during a break in practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

Mahopac High School football players practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

Mahopac High School football player Andrew Ryan cools off with a bag of ice during a break in practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

Mahopac High School football player Andrew Ryan cools off with a bag of ice during a break in practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

Mahopac High School football players practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

MAHOPAC – There’s a new sheriff in town in Mahopac. But it’s more like the deputy has just earned a bigger badge.

After a two-year break from serving as the Indians’ defensive coordinator, a position he held for 14 years, Mark Langella has returned to become head varsity football coach following Tom Donahoe’s retirement.

Langella is wasting no time making changes.

No, the 80 percent-blitz defense he helped develop won’t change.

Langella “keeps that as religion,” senior quarterback Andrew Ryan quipped. And Langella said, “Any success here is based on that style.”

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Fiorelli looks to ‘change the culture’ at Hastings

FOOTBALL: Progress ‘day-by-day’ as new Croton staff begins rebuild

FOOTBALL: Despite graduation losses, Putnam Valley coach optimistic

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

FOOTBALL: White Plains is getting up to speed with Lindberg

THOMSON: Heat, humidity force football teams to scramble

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

But the former Irvington head coach (1995-2000) has overhauled Mahopac’s offense.

While Langella was once a “bump-and-grind coach,” “once” is the optimum word. Gone is the wing-T. In is the spread and with it a much more uptempo approach.

“It’s definitely more modern,” Ryan said. “More throwing, more fakes.”

Langella, who said he was a “little frustrated” when he took his two-year hiatus, hopes the change will lead to more fun.

That’s a main part of his plan – add fun and, in turn, attract more players to Mahopac football.

It already seems to be working with 56 players on the varsity squad.

“It’s a more versatile offense – more option pass,” Langella said. “We have to draw kids back to football.”

That means to football in general and Mahopac football in particular.

Langella said the program has suffered losses with parents moving kids away from football over concussion concerns. But he said much of the information parents receive concerns the NFL, where “these guys get millions of dollars to tackle any way they can.”

Mahopac emphasizes not leading with one’s head, and Langella, who spent the last two years developing players for the Mahopac Youth Sports Association football program, said that organization has donated a lot of equipment to the high school team this year to allow for more proper tackle training.

“They have gone out of their way to support the new coach,” he said.

But Langella is also promoting underclassmen, explaining that in past years Mahopac has lost top players to Archbishop Stepinac in White Plains and even to Don Bosco in New Jersey.

“A lot of kids didn’t see acceleration,” he said. “I believe in the best athletes playing.”

Langella has five sophomores on the roster. In fact, he’ll have an all-sophomore/junior linebacking corps.

But Langella thinks the key to his team’s success will come from the defensive line, where he’s expecting big things from senior Dino “The Rhino” Milazzo, who’ll also play fullback.

He’s also counting on a major contribution from senior free safety/corner Robert Hoyt.

Hoyt likes Langella’s approach. That included a spring/summer “Indian Pride” program through which players sold team sponsorships to businesses in town and performed community service, participating in the Relay for Life cancer fight fundraiser and planting flowers at Carmel Town Hall.

“It brought the whole team closer,” Hoyt said, adding simply planting the flowers together helped forge a “brotherhood through the team.”

Mahopac head coach Mark Langella during a practice at the school Aug. 15, 2016.

He said players worked out together every weekday through the summer, lifting weights two days, doing conditioning two days and taking reps on the field one day.

“I’m very optimistic. There are a lot of changes I’m excited for,” Hoyt said.

Ryan also shares that excitement, believing the Indians should be looking at no more than a two- or one-loss season.

Langella isn’t making predictions, saying only, “It’s an opportunity to run it my way. We’ll see what happens.”

Twitter: @HaggertyNancy

White Plains High School players work on drills during the first day of practice at White Plains High School Aug. 15, 2016.

New White Plains coach Mike Lindberg, a former star lineman at Clarkstown South who had been a longtime assistant at Arlington leads football practice at White Plains High School on Monday, Aug. 14, 2016.

White Plains High School players work on drills during the first day of practice at White Plains High School Aug. 15, 2016.

WHITE PLAINS — It’s been an offseason of uncertainty and transition for the White Plains football program, but Monday was the time for the Tigers to put all of that behind them.

Mike Lindberg took over for longtime coach Skip Stevens in April, and his new players are getting a crash course on what he’s all about.

“It’s definitely different,” senior Angel Rivera said. “Coach Lindberg is completely different from coach Stevens — from the weight room and how he’s getting everybody in, and how he has the practices set up. Every single little thing is different with coach Lindberg, and it’s nice to learn different things like that.”

Lindberg was most recently an assistant at Arlington High School under Dominick DeMatteo, but he has previous head coaching experience at Our Lady of Lourdes. He was also a standout offensive lineman at Clarkstown South before becoming an All-American at Marist University.

THOMSON:  Mike Lindberg lands coveted White Plains post

FOOTBALL: Ardsley seeks redemption after season was ‘cut short’

FOOTBALL: Fiorelli looks to ‘change the culture’ at Hastings

FOOTBALL: Langella’s fun, up-tempo game a draw for Mahopac football

FOOTBALL: Progress ‘day-by-day’ as new Croton staff begins rebuild

FOOTBALL: Despite graduation losses, Putnam Valley coach optimistic

FOOTBALL: DeMatteo relying on experience in Nyack debut

THOMSON: Heat, humidity force football teams to scramble

SKODNICK: Practice begins indoors for many Section 1 schools

He acknowledged some “growing pains” as he gets to know his new team — and as they get to know him — but he’s trying to make it easier on them by simplifying during this first official week of practice.

“ I don’t want to flood them with too much information, so a lot of times I find myself scaling back,” Lindberg said. “I’m more looking at quality than giving them too much at once. I really want them to be able to feel comfortable. You play a lot faster when you’re comfortable in a situation.”

Under Stevens, who stepped down in January after 15 years of coaching to accept a position as field marshal for the school district, the Tigers were Section 1 champions in Class AA as recently as 2013.

They’ve taken a few steps back since then, going a combined 3-15 in 2014 and 2015, and they’ll lack experience at key positions this coming season.

“We have kids that were on varsity, but not a lot of game-experienced kids,” Lindberg said. “I think we’ve definitely got some good talent — we just have to get them all working together. We have a lot of kids that run great, but they don’t really understand what the line is doing, so they’re missing the cut or missing the hole. The linemen are not understanding the combos or trusting each other’s abilities. We just have to get everybody to mold together.”

The defense, led by Rivera and Nando Spista, is expected to be the strength of the team, and Lindberg is stressing physicality in the running game on offense. They’ll be breaking in a new quarterback in Chris Schiavone, but Lindberg thinks they have the backs to ease the burden on the signal-caller.

Ultimately, Lindberg believes the biggest key to righting the ship at White Plains will be “accountability” among the players.

“Once the kids buy into what the coaches are telling them, and once they become accountable to each other, I think the talent is here to make us successful,” he said. “It’s just getting everybody on the same page. I think once we do that, the wins will come.”

It’s early, but the message seems to be sticking.

“Our coach definitely made that clear to us that we have to lead,” Spista said. “It’s not always him — it’s mostly the players. It’s our team, not his. We make things go.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano