Bethpage-Tribune_1992-06-05

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YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Senfing Bettipage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage and Plainview
VOL. 25 NO. 30 JuneS-Mny 11 1992 25 CENTS
MARINE FITNESS TEAM TAKES 7th IN U.S.
by Mike Fenster
It has been four years since the
Bethpage H.S. Marine Physical
Fitness Team first qualified and
competed in the Marine Corps'
Youth Physical Fitness National
Championships, in each succeed­ing
year, the Bethpage Boys Fit­ness
Team has gradually
improved its status nationally.
Inching its way up the ladder of
places. This year, the team placed
7th overall, out of a field of the top
25 boys and girls teams in the
United States.
In the 4 years that coach Michael
Fenster has been running the BoyS
Physical Fitness Program at Beth­page
H.S. this years team has
given him the most pride. He is not
only proud of the teams best ever
finish nationally (7th), but he is
extremely proud of the hard work
and dedication that the 7 young
men competing in the nationals
displayed. The 7 team members
are: Steve Frey (Sr.), Frank Pro-cloa
(Jr.), James McGlynn (Jr.),
Steve Franzke (So.), Tom Meyer
(Fr.), Troy Gorman (Fr.) and Chris
DeBella (Fr.).
For those students participating
in the high school physical fitness
program, especially the national
competitors, participation
involves many varied activities.
The high schools main physical
fitness program consists of 3 five
day per week classes for boys and
girls. Throughout the school year,
students in the fitness program
take part in a comprehensive
physical fitness regimen which
improves, develops and tests the
abilities of each student in every
aspect of physical fitness
(strength, power, speed, agility,
flexibility and endurance). The
students are periodically tested
in the 5-part Marine Physical Fit­ness
Test (sit ups, push ups,
standing broad jump, pull ups,
300~yd. shuttle run). From the
class, students willing to qualify
for the nationals are selected. The
fitness team, adds to the class­room
workout by participating in
rigorous evening workouts at
various times throughout the year.
In addition, team members are
involved in various fund raising
endeavors in order to finance all
aspects of the program, as well as
cover the expenses incurred when
competing at the Emmaus H.S.
(PA.) Invitational and the National
Championship in San Diego. In
addition to ail of the activities the
team members are involved in
within the fitness program, each
student participates In 2-3 team
sports throughout the year, are
active In various student organi­zations,
and all maintain academic
averages of A's & B's.
In order to qualify for the
nationals, the team travelled to
Emmaus, PA and competed in the
Emmaus H.S. Invitational Meet.
Some of the top teams Inthe nation
participate in this meet. The boys
team placed a highly respectable
5th, knocking off some of ttie top
national teams In the process
(including South Bronx H.S. and
Wilson, PA). Theteam scored 1971
points out of 2500 possible points
(500 point scale x top 5 team
scorers). The team easily eclipsed
the score needed (1875 points) to
qualify for the nationals. Senior
Steve Frey (420 points) and Fresh­man
Tom Meyer (419 points) led
the way for the Golden Eagles.
The National Championships
were again held at the Marine
Corps recruiting depot (San
Diego, Calif.) on May 15-16. This
year, the 25 boys and girls teams
representing 10 different states,
were given a special treat as the
President's National Physical Fit­ness
Chairman Arnold Schwarze­negger
was the guest speaker at
the opening ceremonies. Mr.
Schwarzenegger spoke exten­sively
about the importance and
need for developing sound phys­ical
fitness, nutritional, and aca­demic
qualities within all of Amer­ica's
children. He also mentioned
the need for an emphasis (not de-emphasis)
on developing and
maintaining sound physical fit­ness,
physical education and
athletic programs within our
nations schools. Lastly, he con­gratulated
the 300 competitors
and coaches for being the best in
the country in regard to physical
fitness, as well as being leaders
in the area of physical fitness.
Eighty-eight year old retired Major
General Walter Churchill closed
out the opening ceremonies and
declared the beginning of the 1992
National Championships. Major
General Churchill is extremely
special to this program, as 35
years ago^he started the Youth
Physical Fitness Program in the
United States. It must also be
noted that 70 years ago (1922) he
enlisted in the Marine Corps - this
ffter being turned down by a
recruiter at age 13 as he tried to
enlist during World War I. It was
a special privilege to meet 2
outstanding leaders of physical
fitness at this year's competition.
As mentioned earlier, the team
placed 7th overall. This Is the
team's highest place ever. More
importantly, this finish moved the
team in with the group of the elite
teams in the nation. The team
scored an outstanding 1964 points
in a competition which was pre­cisely
judged by the Marines. In
placing 7th, Bethpage knocked off
2 of the more tradition top teams
(Continued on Page 16)