New York Sharks

New York Sharks
Founded	1990s
League	Barnstorming (1990s) WPFL (2000) Independent (2001) IWFL (2002-2010) WFA (2011-present)
Team history	Long Island Sharks (1990s) New York Sharks (2000-present)
Stadium	Aviator Sports Complex
Based in	Brooklyn, New York
Team colors	Black, light blue, silver
President	Andra Douglas
Head coach	Darnell Stapleton
Championships	1 (2002 IWFL)
Division titles	3 conference titles (2002, 2003, 2004 IWFL East) 6 division titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 IWFL)
Mascot	Sharkie

The New York Sharks are a women's American football team playing out of New York City. They are a member of the Women's Football Alliance (WFA). They are the longest running and winningest team in women's football history with the honor of having a signed football in the NFL Football Hall of Fame.

Staff

As of the 2011 season the coaching staff include:

• Head Coach & Offensive Coordinator - Darnell Stapleton of the Pittsburgh Steelers
  
• Defensive Coordinator - Michael Pielech
  
• Assistant Coach - Greg Solla
  
• Assistant Coach - Anthony Rea
  
• Assistant Coach - Rob Miller
  
• Assistant Coach - Nick Vitagliano
  

History

First full-contact game

The New Yorks Sharks originally started as a women's flag football team called the Long Island Sharks. They played in international tournaments and were national champions.

In 1999, the Women's Professional Football League (WPFL) was formed. It consisted of two teams, the Minnesota Vixens and the Lake Michigan Minx. They traveled the country playing each other on what was called the "No Limits" Tour. They had heard about the success of the Long Island Sharks and challenged them to a full contact, tackle football game.

The Sharks accepted the challenge and with two months to prepare, converted their flag football team to a tackle football team. On Saturday, December 11, 1999, the Minnesota Vixens came to New York to take on the Sharks. The Vixens were favorited having played 4 games already, having a 2-2 record.

The Sharks were coached by former New York Jet Bobby Jackson. Before 300 fans on a windy day at Mitchel Field, Long Island the Sharks surprised Minnesota, defeating them 12-6. The Sharks recorded two touchdown passes by quarterback Val Halesworth. One score was on a long pass to Natalie Jufer that led to a 71-yard touchdown. The other score was an 18 yard pass to Valerie Monaco.

Independent Women's Football League

In 2007 season, the Sharks played their home games at the Aviator Sports Complex at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York. They played an 8 game regular season schedule.

Future

For 2011 and beyond, the Sharks will play in the Women's Football Alliance.

Season-By-Season

(not including Long Island Sharks flag football seasons) Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties

Season	W	L	T	Finish	Playoff results
New York Sharks (No Limits Barnstorming)
1999	1	0	0	--	Won Exhibition Game (Minnesota)
New York Sharks (WPFL)
2000	4	2	0	2nd NC East	Lost National Conference Qualifier (New England)
New York Sharks (Independent)
2001	6	1	0	--	--
New York Sharks (IWFL)
2002	7	0	0	1st East	Won IWFL Championship (Austin)
2003	8	0	0	1st EC Mid Atlantic	Won Eastern Conference Championship (Bay State) Lost IWFL Championship (Sacramento)
2004	8	0	0	1st EC Mid Atlantic	Won Eastern Conference Wildcard (Chicago) Won Eastern Conference Championship (Tampa Bay) Lost IWFL Championship (Sacramento)
2005	10	0	0	1st EC Mid Atlantic	Won Eastern Conference Wildcard (Southern Maine) Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Atlanta)
2006	8	0	0	1st EC Mid Atlantic	Won Eastern Conference Wildcard (Miami) Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Atlanta)
2007	6	2	0	1st EC North Atlantic	Won Eastern Conference Wildcard (Manchester) Lost Eastern Conference Championship (Atlanta)
2008	6	2	0	2nd Tier I EC North Atlantic	--
2009	4	4	0	3rd Tier I EC North Atlantic	--
2010	7	1	0	2nd Tier I EC Northeast	Lost Northeast Division Championship (Boston)
New York Sharks (WFA)
2011	5	3	0	2nd NC North	--
Totals	87	22	0	(including playoffs)

Roster

New York Sharks rosterview · talk · edit
Quarterback 30 Karen Mulligan Running Backs 31 Isabella Bluhm 32 Janea Wilkerson 57 Vivian Alberty (FB/LB) 20 Erica Perez Wide Receivers 11 Charonn Sutton 34 Melodie Abrook (WR/TE) 81 Lauren Pringle (WR/CB) 82 Laura Baden (WR/TE) 84 Jennifer Blum 88 Anaïs Sumnicht		Offensive Line 56 Shana Robinson (C/G) 61 Lena Tankeng (G/T) 74 Melissa Pickett (C/G) 75 Leslie Thompson (G) 78 Ellie Tighe 89 Lorrie Greene (C/G) 90 Sarah Schkeeper (G) 93 Kymm Elliott (T) Defensive Line 77 Manouchka Joseph (DT) 24 Leah Levi (DE) 33 Priscilla Ortiz 67 Tashia Allen 69 Crystal White (DE) 92 Angela Figueroa 98 Melanie Milland (DT) 13 Katie Rose (DE) 79 Ruth Martinez Linebackers 27 Darleen Hall 29 Cheri Eleazer 43 Erica Butler 46 Kristine Elmore 49 Denicka Christopher		Defensive Backs 41 Toni Salvatore (CB) Special Teams 12 Joy Dollison (K) Multiple Positions  2 Val Halesworth (S/QB)  3 Odessa Jenkins (RB/S)  8 Jay Dantzler (CB/RB) 44 Yatia Hopkins (FB/DE) 50 Amy Colon (LB/DE)		Injured Reserve 76 Anne Perissi (OL/DL) -- Roshawn Kelly Exempt List Currently vacant Practice Squad Currently vacant Rookies in italics Roster updated April 11, 2011 41 Active, 2 Inactive, 0 PS → More rosters

Standings

2011

2011 North Division
view · talk · edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	DIV	GB	STK
y-Boston Militia	7	1	0	0.875	364	72	5-0	---	W7
New York Sharks	5	3	0	0.625	212	177	3-2	2.0	L1
Northeastern Nitro	4	4	0	0.500	46	243	2-3	3.0	L1
New England Nightmare	0	8	0	0.000	28	264	0-5	7.0	L8

Season Schedules

2009

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
April 11	New York Nemesis	Away	Won 21-7
April 25	Boston Militia	Home	Lost 7-21
May 2	Philadelphia Firebirds	Away	Won 33-14
May 9	Connecticut Crushers	Home	Won 40-7
May 16	D.C. Divas	Home	Lost 7-21
May 30	New England Intensity	Away	Won 44-0
June 6	D.C. Divas	Away	Lost 18-34
June 13	Pittsburgh Passion	Home	Lost 33-34

2010

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
April 10	Philadelphia Firebirds	Away	Won 64-0
April 17	D.C. Divas	Home	Won 19-13
April 24	Connecticut Crushers	Home	Won 65-14
May 1	Jersey Justice	Away	Won 50-8
May 8	Pittsburgh Passion	Home	Won 12-8
May 15	Boston Militia	Away	Lost 0-31
May 22	Baltimore Nighthawks	Home	Won 38-6
June 5	Pittsburgh Passion	Away	Won 27-10
June 12	Boston Militia (Northeast Division Championship)	Away	Lost 6-25

2011

Date	Opponent	Home/Away	Result
April 2	Philadelphia Liberty Belles	Away	Won 34-20
April 16	Boston Militia	Away	Lost 7-28
April 30	New England Nightmare	Home	Won 48-12
May 7	Northeastern Nitro	Home	Won 27-21
May 21	Boston Militia	Home	Lost 6-43
June 4	New England Nightmare	Away	Won 28-8
June 11	Northeastern Nitro	Away	Won 46-7
June 18	D.C. Divas	Home	Lost 16-38

External links

• New York Sharks website
• WFA website