Parents Collect Funds To Send Athletes Off To State Game With Love

GREENPORT, NY — Nothing sparks Porter pride more than the sight of a Greenport team reaching for the proverbial stars and striving for success: The Greenport High School boys' soccer team is participating this weekend in the New York State Class D Final Four.

If the team wins on Saturday, they will be participating in the New York State Class D state championship soccer tournament. Both take place at Middletown High school in Middletown, NY.

And, as they have in the past, parents and community members are coming together to send the boys upstate with love.

According to Joan Dinizio, funds are being collected to pay for food and other expenses for the student athletes on the trip.

"Let's give these guys a major dose of Porter support," she said. "There are 2,053 high schools in New York State. Only four of them are going to the Class D Final Four for boys soccer this coming weekend and Greenport High School is one of them. As I’ve done in the past, I’m soliciting monetary donations for the team so that families do not have to worry about food expenses, etc. while the boys are away."

Donations must be made by the end of the day Thursday, she said.

The team could also use donations of water, Gatorade and snacks for the ride to Middletown. They will be leaving Greenport at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, she said.

Yvonne Lieblein and Lynette Crowley, moms of two of the players, are spearheading the effort. To donate, Venmo Lieblein at @Yvonne-Lieblein.

"Let’s show these boys our Porter Pride," Dinizio said.

The boys' coach Greg Dlhopolsky also wanted to thank the community for the outpouring of support, Dinizio said.