__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD
Your Home is Your Sanctua ry.
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DEADLINE MARCH 31ST
Broadcasting program wins big
Robotics team partake in states
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Vol. 29 No. 12
MARCH 19 - 25, 2026
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Mepham’s Macko captures two state titles Both marks met the national standard for All-American consideration, which recognizes the For years, Johnny Macko top high school swimmers in the tried nearly every sport he could. country. Even with strong times enterBasketball, baseball, soccer and hockey all came and went. ing the meet, Macko said the victory still caught him by surprise. Swimming, however, stuck. N ow t h e We l l i n g t o n C . “It was surreal,” he said. “I Mepham High School junior is a wasn’t seeded that high, and I two-time New York State cham- never really thought I was going pion. to win. When I Macko delivered touched the wall and a historic perforsaw that I won, it mance for the Bellwas amazing, more-Merrick because I didn’t even Sharks at the know I could do NYSPHSAA Boys that.” Varsity Swimming After claiming and Diving Champithe 200 freestyle, onships at Ithaca Macko returned to College on March 8, JoHNNy MACko the pool later in the winning state titles Junior, meet to compete in in both the 200-yard Mepham High School the 500 freestyle — freestyle and the 500an event he considyard freestyle. ers his specialty as a “I’ve lived in Bellmore pretty distance swimmer. much my whole life,” Macko “There was definitely a lot of said. “I started swimming when I pressure,” he said. “But all the was about eight. My mom Section VIII coaches were there pushed me to try it, and I started cheering me on, and my team swimming with my cousin and was supporting me. I just tried to made some friends. I’ve just been have fun with it, and it worked swimming ever since.” out.” The junior captain posted perMacko’s performance highsonal best times in both champi- lighted a strong showing for the onship races. He won the 200 Sharks. Junior captain Ethan freestyle in 1:39.47 and later cap- Cintron also competed in two tured the 500 freestyle in 4:28.31.
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
I
Andrew Francis/Herald
Basketball players on the Association for Children with Down Syndrome Thunderbolts team, in blue, and Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club team, in yellow, get a pregame rundown on the rules and loosen up by stretching.
Association for Children with Down Syndrome takes on Rotary in b-ball By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
The Freeport Recreation Center was filled with plenty of cheers and excitement on Thursday evening, as students from the Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS) in Plainview squared off against the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club in a friendly game of basketball. The contest, which does not track scoring or hold strictly to the rules of basketball, provides a very energetic activity for ACDS students, whose team name is the Thunderbolts, while also affirming values of teamwork, perseverance and friendly competition. The 12 Thunderbolts players took turns subbing in 5 to 6 at a time to face
off with five Rotary players out of the seven total. “It’s all about making them feel good,” Ken Dookram, a member of the FreeportMerrick Rotary Club, said. The Rotary Club has been playing the Thunderbolts at least once a year for the past three years as part of its charitable and community service efforts in the area. Although both squads may lack in competitive basketball experience, all players were able to enjoy the competition and the thrill of trying to score, defend and work with their teammates. ACDS, which provides educational, recreational, therapeutic and social services and programs for children and adults with ConTinueD on pAge xx
just tried to have fun with it, and it worked out.
ConTinueD on pAge 2