Jason A. Turek

Jason A. Turek

Sports Writer with education in journalism and over five years of experience writing for a local newspaper. Vast knowledge of sports history and statistics. Resourceful researcher with a keen focus on accuracy and fact-checking information.
TAPinto •

Walter Panas Ends Somers’ Winning Streak

SOMERS, N.Y.— During its three-game winning streak, the Somers softball team had everything clicking. The Tuskers had solid pitching and defense and scored a combined 48 runs. Somers, however, ran into Walter Panas, a team that gave the Tuskers their most lopsided loss earlier in the season. Although the score was much closer the second time around, the outcome was the same with the Panthers scoring another victory over the Tuskers, 7-2, at Van Tassell Memorial Park in Somers. Somers had its o
Mahopac News •

New Coach Expects Big Things from Mahopac

MAHOPAC, N.Y.— The Mahopac softball team has a new head coach for the upcoming 2017 season, but it’s a person they are already familiar with. Amanda Gambacorta, who was an assistant under former coach Brian Hunt the last two seasons, will lead the Indians. Her familiarity with the girls on the team as well as her passion for the sport of softball, much like her predecessor, made her jump at the opportunity. “Coach Hunt was a great role model. He kept the girls motivated throughout the season a
The Somers Record •

Somers Comes up Short on Senior Night

Photograph by Rob Diantonio SOMERS, N.Y.— The Somers boys basketball team has been in many close contests, both on the winning and losing end in the 2016-2017 season. On its senior night, the team found itself in a battle with Pleasantville on Feb. 10. The Tuskers gave it everything they had, but Pleasantville’s senior tandem of Mike Manley and Quentin Lupo proved to be just too much to overcome in a 58-55 defeat. The final setback came with 5.5 seconds left after senior guard Matt Pires made a 3-pointer to cut the Pleas
North Salem News •

Brewster Outlasts North Salem in Overtime

Photograph provided by Rob Diantonio NORTH SALEM, N.Y.— The North Salem boys basketball team had itself a battle against Brewster on Sunday, Jan. 29. The second half saw both teams put together runs and were tied after four quarters. Yet it was the Bears who had the final run of the game, scoring all seven points in overtime to defeat the Tigers 53-46 at North Salem High School. “We battled today,” North Salem coach Henry Sassone said. “Brewster did a good job stopping our penetration inside with great help defense.” North Salem
Mahopac News •

Mahopac Holds Off Feisty John Jay-CR

Photograph by Deena Bell BREWSTER, N.Y.— Leading 2-1 with seven minutes to go in the second period against John Jay-Cross River, the Mahopac ice hockey team registered its final shot on goal. To come out victorious, the Indians needed its goaltender to keep the puck out of his net against John Jay. That’s exactly what senior Peter Siolas did, stopping 24 shots until the final buzzer as Mahopac survived with a 2-1 win Friday, Jan. 27 at Brewster Ice Arena. “In my mind, he’s one of the best goalies in the section,” Maho
Mahopac News •

Mahopac Dispatches Rival Carmel

Photograph by Deena Bell MAHOPAC, N.Y.— The Mahopac girls basketball team defeated Carmel 41-26 on the road Jan. 4 and looked to have the same success Friday evening, this time on its home floor. Despite troubles on offense in the first half, the Indians’ defense held the Rams in check until the offense came alive in the second half, pulling away with a 47-28 victory on Jan. 20. At the beginning of the season, Mahopac coach Chuck Scozzafava wanted his team to hold the opposition below 40 points. With Friday’s win, his
TAPinto •

Somers/North Salem Skates to Hard-Fought Tie

Photograph by Deena Bell BREWSTER, N.Y.— Sunday’s hockey game at the Brewster Ice Arena pitted two evenly matched teams in Somers/North Salem and Brewster/Yorktown. That ended up being the case at the end of 50 minutes of play. Both teams played hard and put on an entertaining game, but each had to settle for a 3-3 tie. “It was a fun game. Our kids skated with their kids over the summer,” Somers/North Salem coach John Veteri said. “It was a hard-fought game. Both teams competed very well.” Things didn’t start out well
Mahopac News •

Mahopac Ices Carmel, Edges White Plains

Photograph by Deena Bell BREWSTER, N.Y.— The hockey game between Mahopac and Carmel pitted two rival teams in a battle on the ice Friday night at the Brewster Ice Arena, but they were both playing this game for a cause. Mahopac was hosting its annual “Pac Hockey Fights Cancer” game, with proceeds going to Community Cares and Cure Pancreatic cancer—The Lustgarten Foundation. The Mahopac hockey players also donned pink jerseys to show their support. They raised a total of $1,500. “I’ve been in the program for four years
North Salem News •

Golden Goal gives North Salem Section Title

Photograph by Rob Diantonio SHRUB OAK, N.Y.— With nearly 100 minutes played, players exhausted and leaving at stretches due to cramping and exhaustion in a scoreless game, it was a player with fresh legs who came through for the North Salem boys soccer team at the most critical time. Senior Michael Dutt, who was inserted back into the game in the second overtime period after sitting out the entire second half, broke through and scored with 11 seconds remaining to give the Tigers a thrilling and hard-fought 1-0 victory ove
The Somers Record •

Somers Dominates Henrick Hudson in Sectional Opener

Photograph by Deena Bell SOMERS, N.Y.— The two-time defending Section 1 Class A champion Somers girls soccer team began its defense Saturday, Oct. 22, on a cold, windy afternoon against No. 16 Hendrick Hudson at home in the opening round. Despite the conditions, the Tuskers put on another dominant showing as senior captains Jenna Menta and Melina Couzis each scored twice and had two assists apiece in besting the Sailors by a 4-0 score to advance to the quarterfinals. Somers, which ran its record to 13-2-1 after the vi
Mahopac News •

Mahopac Edged by White Plains in Shootout

Photograph provided by Bill Kennedy MAHOPAC, N.Y.— On a foggy Friday night under the lights at Mahopac High School, where at times it was hard to see the field of play, what people saw in attendance were two teams going back and forth with each team’s offense on display. In the end, it was White Plains’ ground game that bested Mahopac’s air attack by a single point, 38-37, on Oct. 21 in a non-playoff game. The season hasn’t gone the way Mahopac (2-6) wanted, with key injuries on both sides of the ball, especially defensively. “
North Salem News •

North Salem Boys Soccer Rebounds with Sound Victories

File Photo provided by Halston Media Drin Brahimaj and North Salem closed the regular season by winning two of its final three games. NORTH SALEM, N.Y.— North Salem boys soccer coach Ron Hendrie was a bit concerned about how his team would respond against Carmel at home on Friday, Oct. 14, after a tough defeat at the hands of Haldane the day prior. Despite dominating play against the Blue Devils, the Tigers were on the losing end for
North Salem News •

North Salem Girls Soccer Plays to Scoreless Draw

Photograph by Rob Diantonio NORTH SALEM, N.Y.— Earlier in the 2016 season, the North Salem girls soccer team faced Putnam Valley on the road in over 90-degree heat after playing the day prior. They were on the losing end of a 2-0 decision that Saturday afternoon, but with calmer weather conditions and six days since its last game, had a chance to make amends on Friday, Oct. 7 on its home field against those same Tigers. North Salem didn’t pull out a victory, but did have a better outcome as it played to a scoreless draw w
The Somers Record •

Somers Soccer Settles for Tie with John Jay

Photo provided by Halston Media CROSS RIVER, N.Y.— The Somers boys soccer team has been racking up the wins all season and faced an opponent it had already defeated by a 2-0 score 16 days earlier. On Saturday, the Tuskers had many factors against them in the rematch with John Jay-Cross River. They showed some glimpses of the type of play that has given them success this season, but it wasn’t enough to pull out another win, settling for a 1-1 draw against the Indians. The Tuskers, whose record ran to 12-1-1 after the tie, wer