Marascia is Huntington’s Powerful Firecracker
If Jack Dempsey was a “flame of pure fire,” then Maria Marascia is a powerful M-80; no make that a small stick of dynamite. The Huntington High School junior is a three-sport athlete who is all-energy all the time.
She has played a variety of roles during her high school athletic career but some still wonder what makes her tick. It’s really nothing too complicated.
It’s the “battle” that attracts Marascia to sports and the sporting life. It’s a life she hopes to continue for many years to come. She doesn’t spend time thinking about pushing herself since it comes as second nature after so many years around the gym. Being an athlete is part of who she is.
“I participate in athletics because I’m very competitive,” Marascia said. “I love the competition. It also keeps me in shape and it’s fun. I love the adrenalin rush when you are in any game or race.”
Naturally bouncy and upbeat, Marascia doesn’t merely compete. She’s gives it her all and she’s good at it, too. In basketball, volleyball and outdoor track, the dynamo can be seen hustling and always smack in the middle of the action.
“Maria will be a key to our success this year,” Blue Devil basketball coach Brad Reminick said. “If we are going to accomplish anything this year she will have to play a big part. We are a completely different team when she is not on the floor, and I think people saw this against Kings Park.” Marascia was forced to sit out the first game of the year with an ankle injury and the Blue Devils dropped a 46-44 decision.
Marascia, who is also one of the top members of the Huntington High School choir, plays in the off-season with the New York Elite an AAU team coached by Mark Riley that practices at St. John’s University. “My ultimate goal is definitely to go to college and be able to play basketball there,” she says.
“She is a very competitive player that would run through walls for you,” Blue Devil volleyball coach Carrie Postel said about Marascia. “She was a universal player in volleyball and could pick up any position and play it well. Dedicated, hard working and aggressive are words that describe Maria.”
She’s a contributor on both the volleyball and track teams, but basketball is her real love and Reminick is quick to acknowledge all that Marascia brings to the table. “Defensively she is as tough as they get,” he said. “Offensively, she is a very good all around shooter. She is going to be the key cog for us. I honestly think she is a superstar in the making.”
“Maria Marascia, on the basketball court, is tenacious,” said Georgia D. McCarthy, Huntington’s director of athletics. “Maria is an extremely tough competitor and is a big reason for the success of our varsity basketball team.”
While she’s completely focused on her team this winter, Marascia, whose favorite subject is Spanish, has also spent some time mapping out her future. “I would like to major in either business management or sports management,” she said.
Marascia and her teammates hope to make this year a season to remember. After a slow start due to some tough non-league competition and three blown leads, Huntington opened league play with a big win and Marascia demonstrated why she is so important to the program’s ultimate success with her dogged persistence throughout the contest.
“She really worked hard on her game over the last summer and you can tell,” Reminick said. “She is very confident handling the basketball. She is very aggressive on defense and that plays right into our style. All around, she is one of most complete players on the team. There will be times when she needs to carry us and she can handle it. She is one of our best defenders and she is due to have a break out year. We need her on the floor all game for us to be successful.”
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