2004 | The Sports Year in Review By Bob Liepa The year 2004 is gone, but the memories remain. For local sports enthusiasts, it was a year full of triumphs and heartbreak, victories and defeats, ups and downs. But there were also surprises, unexpected twists and turns, the sort that can make sports a delightful adventure. 2004 was a good year to be a wrestler named Jantzen. Jesse Jantzen, in the final wrestling match of his collegiate career at Harvard University, won a national title. Meanwhile, his younger brother, Corey, started carving out a legacy of his own at Shoreham-Wading River High School, finishing second in New York State as a freshman. It was also a big year for Lauren Biscardi. The Shoreham-Wading River girl made a place for herself among the top high jumpers in the nation. For the second year in a row, the Mattituck High School girls' soccer team experienced the thrill of reaching a state final four, and then the pain of losing in a state final. Meanwhile, the Mattituck boys' soccer team advanced as far as a regional final for the second year in a row before bowing out. It was a year of titles. For some high school programs, such as Riverhead baseball, Mattituck boys' basketball, Bishop McGann-Mercy boys' basketball and Mattituck girls' volleyball, there were championships that hadn't been seen in many years. They were all among the top 10 local sports stories of 2004: 1. Wrestling's Jantzen Brothers. It was Jesse Jantzen's last chance, and he didn't let it slip past him. The Harvard senior from Shoreham won his first National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championship in his final bout, when he defeated his 149-pound opponent, Oklahoma State sophomore Zach Esposito, 9-3, at the Savvis Center in St. Louis. In doing so, Jantzen became Harvard's first NCAA champion since 1938. "Obviously, I have some feelings of relief," said Jantzen, who finished his college career with a 131-13 record. Younger brother Corey Jantzen capped his freshman season with the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats by reaching the state final at 96 pounds. His 8-0 loss to Valley Central sophomore Lou Ruggirello was the only loss Jantzen suffered in a 25-1 season. 2. Biscardi Clears New Heights. Lauren Biscardi just kept jumping higher and higher. The Shoreham-Wading River junior accomplished a lot last year, winning both her second straight state indoor and outdoor titles. But that wasn't all. She won the National Scholastic Indoor Track and Field Championships by clearing 5 feet 8 3/4 inches and the Nike Indoor Championships at 5-8 and took second at the Adidas National Scholastic Track and Field Championships at 5-8. "She's probably the best high jumper Suffolk County has ever had," said Wildcats head coach Paul Koretzki. 3. Tucker Tears. Tears flowed as the pain of going so far and coming so close to its first state championship -- only to fall short in the end -- left the Mattituck girls' soccer team disappointed. With only 48 seconds remaining in the second half, a pinball-like series of bounces produced the goal by Janel Van Alstyne that gave the Tamarac Bengals (24-1) a dramatic 1-0 triumph over the Tuckers (14-2-1) in the state Class C final. Tuckers head coach Tom Farrell, whose team made its third straight appearance in the state final four, told reporters after the crushing defeat, "I don't even know what to say." 4. Sweet As Cande. It was an another successful season for the Mattituck boys' soccer team. The Tuckers (14-7) won their second straight Long Island Class C championship, 3-1, over the Friends Academy Quakers. It was a determined Tyler Cande, who fired 12 shots and scored twice for the Tuckers. But Mattituck's dream of defending its state championship was cut short in the Southeast Region final by the Keio Academy Unicorns, 4-3. Tuckers head coach Mat Litchhult said his players had a lot to be proud about. He said, "We said we would leave the field with no regrets, and that's what we did." 5. 27 Years Later, A League Title. It was a long time coming, but the Riverhead Blue Waves baseball team celebrated its first league championship since 1977, clinching the title with a 6-4 win over the perennially powerful East Islip Redmen. "It's been a while," Blue Waves head coach Scott Hackal said after third baseman/pitcher Sean McGuire dumped a bucket of Gatorade over his head. The Blue Waves (16-8) reached the Suffolk Class AA quarterfinals before losing to the Half Hollow Hills West Colts. 6. Coming Through In the Clutch. Under the guidance of new head coach Paul Ellwood, the Mattituck boys' basketball team enjoyed its greatest season in 25 years. The Tuckers (14-9) won their first county crown since 1979 and reached the Southeast Region Class C final. They came through in the clutch, winning seven games in which they were tied or trailing in the final two minutes, and five games that went to the last possession or overtime. "That's the kind of game we like to be in," said Tuckers senior Chris Flanigan. 7. Schandel Sets Scoring Mark. Eric Schandel, a 6-foot, 2-inch senior forward, finished his basketball career as the Bishop McGann-Mercy Monarchs' all-time leading scorer. Over four years, Schandel put up 1,101 points. He was an instrumental player in a season that saw the Monarchs (19-4) capture their first league title in 17 years and reach the Southeast Region Class D final. "I don't think Mercy is going to see a team like this for a long time," said Monarchs guard Joe Arebalo. 8. Cardiology Does It Again. Yes, Eastern Suffolk Cardiology won yet another Riverhead Men's Slow-Pitch Softball League championship, its sixth in a row. Of them all, though, last year's may have been the most memorable. Cardiology trailed by as many as nine runs and was two outs away from defeat when John Hansen drove out a dramatic walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 17-16 victory over Wedel Signs to win the double-elimination tournament. "I knew it was going," Hansen said. "This is the greatest way to win." 9. A Volleyball Team's Highs and Lows. It was ironic that the greatest day in the history of the Mattituck girls' volleyball team also marked a low point. For the first time ever, the Tuckers (11-3) reached a county final, only to see unforced errors and unsteady serving cost them in a 25-18, 19-25, 25-23, 28-26 loss to the Port Jefferson Royals. "It was an excellent season," Tuckers head coach Frank Massa said. "This would have capped it. We had an opportunity tonight to do something really special, and couldn't get it done." 10. Women's Lacrosse Pioneer Honored. Rosalia Gioia, a part-time Greenport resident, was recognized as one of the pioneers of women's lacrosse by being inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in Baltimore. Gioia played in the United States Lacrosse Women's Division National Tournament from 1953 to 1975, and was selected to the 1956 United States Women's Lacrosse Association reserve team. She played in many international matches in her career, started the lacrosse program at New Hyde Park High School and serves as a women's lacrosse official. Of her induction into the hall of fame, she said, "You could have knocked me over with a feather."
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