Staying on top is never easy. The climb to get there is brutally difficult as well, but maintaining your level at that height is daunting for any squad.

Especially in high school football, when roster turnover is constant and other teams are always improving and aiming for you.

The North Shore football team finished its climb to the mountain top in 2021, winning the county and Long Island championships in Conference IV.

A year later the Vikings again returned to the LIC, winning counties before falling in the final game.

The 2023 season saw a bit of a crash back down to earth. North Shore won only half of its eight regular season games, and fell to Locust Valley in the first round of the playoffs to finish with a 4-5 record.

Still, given that three of the four losses were by a touchdown or less, head coach Dan Agovino doesn’t see 2023 as much of a step back.

“We battled and competed and there were just a few situations in each game where we didn’t execute and make the plays we needed,” Agovino said. “Expectations are always high for us, whether we just got to a championship game or not.”

“We have to get back to North Shore football,” senior left tackle Chase Goldenberg said. “We don’t have as much pressure on us this year because we’re not coming in as the No.1 seed, but we put pressure on ourselves because we know we’re better than what we showed.”

The Vikings will be hoping to get back to their past form led by a couple of star running backs. Senior Gianluca Sferrazza scored 11 touchdowns in 2023, and he’ll again be joined by senior Ryan Lau. With Lau’s punishing style and Sferrazza’s outside speed, a chance for a big play is always there.

“I’ve put on more weight and really improved my hip mobility this offseason,” Sferrazza said. “I had tight hips last year, and this season it’ll be easier for me to get through tackles and avoid them.”

Under center will be sophomore James Camardella, a transfer from Chaminade, who as a baseball player has a very strong arm, Agovino said.

“He’s adjusted real well and is just a really good athlete,” Agovino said.

The offensive line will be led by Goldenberg and fellow senior George Manavazian, along with senior Marco Abouelhassan.

“George is a beast in the gym, a total beast,” said Goldenberg, a 6-foot-1, 240 pounder. “And I think going to college camps this summer like some of us have, is going to improve all of us.”

On defense North Shore will be counting on linebacker Charles Godfrey, along with Goldenberg and Manavazian on the defensive line.

Linebacker Jack Damphouse, a senior, also returns to help solidify a group that didn’t give up more than 21 points in any game last season.

As usual, North Shore’s schedule is going to be rough; Wantagh, Plainedge and No.1 preseason seed Seaford are all standing in the Vikings way.

“They call us the black and blue conference, because we’re going to all beat each other up,” Agovino said with a chuckle.

Both Agovino and the players said that while the road will be tough, there’s enough talent in the Vikings locker room to get back to its recent glorious past.

“We’ve got guys who were dying to get their shot at playing last season, and now they have their chance,” Sferrazza said. “If they all come through like I think they will, we’ll be a really good team.”

“The foundation is definitely there, it’s just a matter of executing,” Agovino said. “I really like this senior group and I think we will be right there with everyone in our league.”