Update on the 2008 Fall Sports Season... For an update of the Spring Sports Season as presented by the News Review's Chuck Adams, Joe Werkmeister and Bob Liepa, click on the picture or on >More at the end.

BLUE WAVES 45, EAGLES 0
Complacency isn't in the game plan
By Bob Liepa

RIVERHEAD--The first words out of Leif Shay's mouth may have said more about him than about his football team.
  Asked for his thoughts on Saturday's game, the Riverhead Blue Waves coach replied, "We dropped a lot of balls."
  Typical Shay.
  Judging by his remarks, you would hardly suspect that the Blue Waves had just dusted the Copiague Eagles by 45-0, bringing their midseason record in Suffolk County Division II to a sparkling 4-0. First-place Riverhead and the West Islip Lions (4-0) are the only undefeated teams in the division. >More

BLUE WAVES 28, EAGLES 7
Air game gets more than a passing grade
By Bob Liepa

WEST BABYLON--Sure, the Riverhead Blue Waves have one of the premier running backs on Long Island in Miguel Maysonet, but they have something else: a passing game. >More

BLUE WAVES 33, REDMEN 13
By Chuck Adams

Steve Kimmelman started at quarterback for Riverhead before Tim Velys took over for him in the second quarter. On this play, Kimmelman had his eyes on Tyler Gilliam as a potential receiver. RIVERHEAD--There was a calm, a poise, a presence about Tim Velys when he entered the game -- like a maestro with a football in his hands -- that quickly settled his team.

When Velys came into the game as the Riverhead Blue Waves' quarterback with 10 minutes 22 seconds left in the second quarter, his team was leading the rival East Islip Redmen, 7-6, on Saturday in a key Suffolk County Division II season-opening matchup. Steve Kimmelman had started the game in place of Velys, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, and promptly led the Blue Waves on a 66-yard scoring drive that was capped off with a two-yard touchdown run by Miguel Maysonet. >More

EAGLES 2, BLUE WAVES 1
By Bob Liepa

RIVERHEAD—A little less than an hour before kickoff, Riverhead Blue Waves Coach Maria Dounelis knew who 10 of her starters would be, but there was still some question as to who that 11th player would be. The truth is, given Brigit Burgio’s competitive spirit, it really wasn’t much of a question.
>More

PREVIEW: Making the transition from underdogs to top dogs
By Bob Liepa

No. 1 is a great place to start, but the Riverhead Blue Waves know it's where they finish the 2008 high school football season that really counts.

For the first time in their 11 years under Coach Leif Shay, the Blue Waves will enter a season as a top seed. They know full well, however, that being the preseason favorite to win Suffolk County Division II is a burden as well as an honor. It makes them targets.

"It's nice knowing you're number one, but everyone's coming for you," senior quarterback Tim Velys said. "Everyone wants to beat you." >More

BLUE WAVES 6, BAYMEN 1
Imports give Riverhead eastern European accent
By Bob Liepa

RIVERHEAD—The last names and the accents are a giveaway, but aside from those, one wouldn’t necessarily know that four members of the Riverhead High School girls’ tennis program are eastern European.

Meet Milena Chrzanowska of Poland, Sandra Rattkayova of Slovakia and Gaby Saveneviciute of Lithuania. All three are freshmen doubles players in their first varsity season for the Blue Waves. Another player, Kamila Krupa of Poland, plays for the junior varsity team.

The European imports are no strangers to tennis or the United States. “We’re assimilated now,” said Saveneviciute.

What brought them and their families to this country is something else they share. “The opportunity,” Rattkayova said. “There is something you can reach for.” >More