Recently, two Gladiators, senior Alexa Stec and sophomore Mason Berardelli, have advanced their athletic careers significantly. Alexa Stec has been selected to play on the Polish National Women’s Lacrosse Team, and Mason Berardelli has qualified for the Eastern Surfing Regional Competition. Both have dedicated substantial effort to reach these milestones and were ecstatic upon receiving the news.
“When I heard the news that I had made the team, I was really proud of myself,” Stec said. “I didn’t know what to expect going into the tryouts, but I worked really hard for it, and I told myself even if I don’t make it on the team, I already gained the best experience just by being invited to tryout. I went in with high hopes, and everything turned out alright.”
“I felt very happy to hear that I made it into the Eastern Surfing Association regional competition. The hard work that I put in over the seven years of my surfing journey really paid off when I heard I made it into the competition,” Berardelli said. “I have been a competitor for four years, and this is my second year qualifying for the ESA Northeast regional competition.”
Both Stec and Berardelli continue to put in the hours to make sure they are prepared for the journey that is ahead of them.
“Ever since the national team tryouts, I have been training with Sarah Reznick. She’s a goalie from the University of Florida who played for Athletes Unlimited, the only professional women’s lacrosse league in the U.S. I have also been running the track during my free periods, and I go to the gym whenever I can,” Stec said.
“The competition was from May 10 to May 12, and I had to surf in the cold conditions during February, March and April, focusing on my fundamentals. This prepared me for the rough conditions that Ocean City, Maryland held. I was also able to warm up in Ocean City on Thursday May 9,” Berardelli said.
To Stec, this opportunity is a way to honor her family and prepare herself for her future with the Adelphi Women’s Lacrosse Team.
“No matter what the outcome of the competition will be, I’m just honored to be able to get the chance to represent the red and white and make my family back home in Poland proud. It’s a great stepping stone to get ready for college and whatever comes next in my lacrosse journey,” Stec said.
For Berardelli, qualifying for the Eastern Regional Competition is a significant reward for his dedication and practice.
“This competition means so much to me as it is a very exclusive and difficult event to get into. At the event, there were over 50 competitors. These people were chosen from the entire northeast, from Virginia up to northern New England,” Berardelli said.
Senior Alexa Stec, committed to Adelphi for Lacrosse, has ambitious goals for her collegiate and international career as a lacrosse player.
“I believe that in the next four years, I have a chance of winning the NCAA national championships with Adelphi,” Alexa said. “They were runners-up this year, and I believe that they will be back in the finals soon. As for Poland, if we place high enough in the European championships, we will qualify for the world championships in 2026. Lacrosse has also been added to the Olympics for 2028 so that’s another possibility, but I just want to take it one step at a time and focus on the Euros and getting ready to play at the collegiate level.”
Sophomore Mason Berardelli plans to continue surfing, as it is a source of joy and relaxation for him.
“I am expecting to continue competing through high school and possibly even college,” Berardelli said. “My involvement in surfing throughout my life has made me very joyous and calm, as the beach became my happy place. I will always hold surfing close to me, even after I stop competing. Surfing is a great way to relax and stay connected to nature, which made me pursue competitions like the ESA regional competition.”
Alexa Stec has achieved significant accomplishments in her athletic career as she looks forward to continuing her lacrosse journey in college and on an international level. She will wear her high school number 23 and represent New Hyde Park in the Women’s European Lacrosse Championship starting on July 10.
Mason Berardelli’s surfing journey amassed over seven years, paying off with his qualification for the Eastern Regional Competition. Practicing during cold temperatures to qualify for the competition has made his accomplishment extremely rewarding. Berardelli hopes to be continuously involved in surfing, even if it is noncompetitive, as it is a way for him to connect with nature and relax.
Both these Gladiators have demonstrated remarkable commitment in their athletics careers, and NHP wishes them the best of luck in their upcoming athletic competitions.
