As Pat-Med’s students return to school for the 2023-24 scholastic year, it feels like forever since they’ve walked the famous red-and-black maze of hallways. But for our school’s fall student-athletes, it’s just a short walk from the fields, courts, and gymnasiums they’ve been training at for both the competitive summer league and fall sports seasons.
In total, the Raiders are represented in twelve sports in the fall, with many of them participating in summer leagues or having preseason training sessions. These include Football, Boys and Girls Soccer, Field Hockey, Cross-Country, Gymnastics, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boys Golf, Girls Tennis, Cheerleading, and the Raiderettes, Pat-Med’s very own dance team.
The Pat-Med Football program launched back into full swing over the summer. During early July, the team’s summer program began with morning lifting sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Offensive players then practiced on Monday nights and defensive players on Wednesday nights.
Senior Ryan Seevers, who plays both offensive and defensive positions, said that “as players came and went, we developed a core of athletes for JV and Varsity teams.”
He later added that “by buying into our coaches’ teaching points, and accumulating a trust between teammates, I believe we can have a successful season.”
As a personal goal, Ryan proclaimed his desire to “assert himself as a leader of the football team.”
He and the rest of the squad will play on Raider Stadium for the first time this season on September 22nd, hosting the annual “Support the Troops” game.
The Girls Soccer Team had an eventful summer as well. Winning the league championship in summer league, the team had a dedicated group of girls that attended every game they could, giving it their all as often as possible.
Team Captain, Senior Sophia Emr, hopes that this season, “the girls and I can make it to playoffs and have a winning season that consists of giving 100% in matches and practices.”
The team will host Sachem North for their annual “Kicks for Cancer” game on October 4th.
The Raider Gymnastics Team also aspires to have a successful year.
Miabella Neidig, a Junior, says “our team has such a strong bond, and we aim to beat our personal bests from last season.”
Working together to set out equipment, the team supports each other through teamwork and facilitating a positive atmosphere.
Hosting their Senior Night on October 23rd, the Gymnastics Team hopes to maintain the team bond building throughout the season “with the guidance of our supportive and helpful coaches,” adds Miabella.
For the Boys Golf Team, “Summer league was very intense,” says Senior Jesse Wilson.
“During the summer, I practiced almost every day trying to get better and stay at a skill level that would allow me to compete.”
As a Team Captain, Jesse wishes to guide others to a successful season, having fun and improving along the way.
“It’s my responsibility to help the new members of the team develop and learn to get better at the game of golf,” explains Jesse.
“We really want to qualify for playoffs, and then, hopefully, counties. It would mean a great deal for the team.”
The team plays their first home game of the season on September 13th at the Mill Pond Golf Course.
After a successful season last year, the Girls Varsity Tennis Team returned to the courts for preseason training for two weeks to prepare for the team’s first match against Longwood on September 1st.
“We were nervous as it was our first match of the season, but we proved we were ready by winning 5-2,” said senior Gabby Mannix.
“I’m thrilled to see how far we’ll go,” said Ceania Gonzales, another senior.
“I think we may have a great shot at making playoffs this year, which is always cool,” she also stated.
The team will have their Senior Day on the 15th of September, playing Bellport.
Kasey Elorriaga, a senior on Pat-Med’s Cheerleading Team, asserts that “the summer season is really about getting back into the groove, basically freshening up and perfecting fundamentals and figuring out what stunt groups work best together so we can have an easier transition into the fall season.”
After a bid to nationals in Disney World last year, the team will hope to travel again to face off against the best cheerleading squads in the United States.
Kasey also mentions, “We had an immense amount of support from the community in the past few years, helping our program to continue to grow. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for us.”
After cheering on the Raider Football Team at home games in the fall, the Pat-Med Cheerleaders will compete in several competitions, the first of which is on December 9th at Newfield High School.
Summer for our school’s Cross-Country Team was a bit different than that of other Raider sports teams.
“After training by ourselves over the summer and recovering from injuries, our team has built itself back up from a rough area,” says junior Liam Halpin.
The team will strive to help each other get better with each practice, pushing for everyone to achieve their own individual goals.
Liam then expresses that “the team is hoping to do well in divisionals and get a couple of guys to qualify for states, then continuing our running journey into the winter track season.”
Competing at Sunken Meadow State Park, the team will play Sachem North in their first meet of the season on September 12th.
As a captain of the Patchogue-Medford Raiderettes, Bella Boss, a senior, had an amazing time practicing with her team this past summer.
“Getting to create and practice with the team during the summer months is one of my favorite things to do, especially when it means experimenting with new choreography and introducing this great sport to new team members,” Bella said.
Performing halftime shows at home football games, the Raiderettes work especially hard to sharpen their routines and put on the best show possible for the crowd.
Bella later stated, “I’m so eager to kick off the season with my girls, it’s sure to be one of the best and one we’ll appreciate more considering that for many of us it is our last. We hope to see many familiar faces in the crowds cheering us on as we perform!”
Instead of participating in a summer league, the Girls Volleyball Team competed in a spring league.
Senior Sophia DiPrima said that this different approach “gives aspiring Varsity players the opportunity to gain experience on the Varsity court prior to tryouts and the first league match.”
Qualifying for playoffs last year, the team will aim for a spot in the postseason once again “hopefully playing for a league or county title,” says Sophia.
The Girls Volleyball Team will honor former volleyball coach Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano in their annual “Dezy Strong” game on September 22nd, welcoming Ward Melville.
Field Hockey Team Captain and senior Rylee Wassmer is excited about the progress made by the Raider Field Hockey Team in summer league, saying, “It was a great time for all the new and old players to pick up their sticks and have a chance to play some field hockey in our offseason, forming strong bonds with one another that will make playing together in the fall 10 times easier.”
Like other Pat-Med teams, our Field Hockey squad will shoot for playoff qualification once again.
“We really want the chance to play some challenging teams so we can test our weaknesses and strengths,” adds Rylee.
“We all want the best for one another, so we hope for us to grow collectively not only as players, but as individuals.”
On October 10th, Rylee and the field hockey team will host their Senior Night against Riverhead.
One of the most anticipated fall sports programs for the Raiders this year is Boys Varsity Soccer, a team that is coming off two stunning playoff berths, one of which included a remarkable upset against 1-seeded Brentwood.
Star Senior goalkeeper and Team Captain Logan Guzik commented that “the team just wants to keep succeeding, and summer league is a wonderful way to do that, especially since it gives new kids the chance to prove themselves in the squad and allows the team to gather some ideas for the upcoming fall season.”
Ultimately falling short with a loss on penalties to 2-seeded Commack in the summer, the Boys Varsity Team bounced back immediately in preseason with a draw against the same Commack squad, a win against number 5 ranked North Babylon, and a stunning 2-0 victory against the defending private school state champions, St. Anthony’s.
“We really have a promising group of seniors,” says Logan, “and our goals of bringing something memorable back to Pat-Med soccer are shared throughout the entire team and staff.”
Playing Riverhead on October 4th, the Boys Soccer Team will host their Senior Night.
Having to rebound from the loss of so many graduating teammates from the 2023 class, the Boys Volleyball Team had much work to do over the summer to prepare for their upcoming season.
Senior Team Captain Julian Frey says, “Summer league allowed us to get to work with the new guys on the team, without any of the stress or worry of the normal season being affected.”
Julian acknowledges that losing so many seniors “is definitely going to create some challenges,” but hopes despite this that he and the entire team will have fun and qualify for playoffs this year.
Playing a tough Commack side on October 12th, the Volleyball Team will recognize their seniors on Senior Night.
We wish each team a fantastic and fortunate fall season!
