Sleepy Teams Eyeing a Strong Start

Sleepy Hollow's football squad is scheduled to start practice at Sleepy Hollow High School today, Friday, Aug. 20.

Last year's Section 1 Class B runner-up is moving up to Class A this season and is ready to take the challenge, according to Athletic Director Chuck Scarpulla.

"We're looking toward another good year where we are competitive," Scarpulla said. "We're looking to be competitive in everything, including football. The kids are working hard, the coaches are working hard. We have a tough schedule but that's the way it is."

The rest of Sleepy Hollow's varsity squads, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls swimming, field hockey, volleyball and cross country, start practice on Monday, Aug. 23. Scarpulla feels confident that all those teams can reach their potential this fall in addition to those that play in the winter and spring.

"The programs are getting more solid and competitive each year in all our sports in the fall, winter and spring," Scarpulla said. "We're excited to see where things are going."

From a football team that played in the Class B championship game, to a boys basketball squad that enjoyed a 14-4 regular season and everyone else in-between, last year was a banner year for Sleepy Hollow sports. Scarpulla explained what has to be done for the teams to continue their success.

He pointed out that the key is just a matter of making sure the teams  continue to develop their programs, from the modified level right through the high school.

"The varsity coach is responsible for coordinating everything that goes on in his or her sport," Scarpulla said. "Their responsible for the fundamental skills, the basic philosophy, what they want to try and accomplish so that the kids in seventh grade can learn it and by the time they get to the high school, they can go on to bigger and better things. We will have to continue to work hard to make sure our modified programs are solid and continue working so things are running smooth between the varsity and modified."

One of the challenges Scarpulla has in getting his teams ready for the season is making sure each of them has ample field availability for their practices at a suitable location.

Besides football practicing at the high school, Sleepy Hollow has its boys and girls soccer teams practicing at Peabody, the field hockey squad at Washington Irving's upper field, swimming at Tarry Crest with volleyball and cross country at the high school.

Scarpulla explains how much of a challenge it is to be able to find room for everyone.

"One of the problems we have in Sleepy, especially in the fall, is there isn't a lot of field space," Scarpulla said. "We don't have any turf fields so we really get hurt when it rains. But everyone is working hard and we spread things out. We got a new field in Washington Irving Lower, which we will probably start using in the first or second week in September."