Athletics

All three winter ’20 sports had stellar results before COVID interrupted their seasons.

BASKETBALL. The Varsity A team started the season at No. 1 and ended in the top spot as well. They dominated their opponents, earned a 24-0 record and won the Section 1 Basketball Championship at the County Center, bringing the gold ball back to Ursuline. They earned their spot in the regional semi-finals but further competition was suspended due to the COVID-19 situation. Sonia Citron and Alexa Mustafaj were both named to The Journal News/Lohud Westchester/Putnam All-Star First team. Also recognized were teammates Meghan Casey and Alexa Quirolo, who received honorable mention. Varsity B Basketball and JV Basketball finished in winning style. The well-deserved honors kept coming for Sonia Citron who was named the 2019-20 Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year on March 6, 2020! On March 30, 2020 Sonia was named Lohud Sports Player of the Year. Sonia also received MaxPreps All American Honorable Mention for the 2019-20 Basketball Season. MaxPreps recognizes the top 50 high school girls basketball players in America.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD. Our running koalas gave competitors a run for their money. One highlight was the New Balance Games where the distance medley team of Claire Wilson, Casey Conroy, Stella Gassman and Daphne Banino took 4th place with a time that was 7th fastest in NYS and 15th fastest in the nation. Nine athletes qualified for Nationals in March 2020, however, the Nationals were canceled out of concern for athletes traveling from around the country and the risks associated with large gatherings. Nevertheless, we congratulate those who qualified: Daphne Banino, Casey Conroy, Stella Gassman, Alexa Grassi, Caitlyn McLean, Haley McLean, Cara Kelly, Kate Nugent, and Claire Wilson. They were competing in the 4 by 8, the 4 by mile, and the triple jump.

We also applaud Daphne Banino, Casey Conroy, Claire Wilson, Haley McLean, Alexa Grassi, Stella Gassman and Kate Nugent, who were selected to The Journal News/Lohud girls Westchester/Putnam indoor Track Team All-Stars.

CHEERLEADING. Both Varsity and JV shined brightly and excelled at the Garden State Championships. Exciting wins came at the Westchester County Championships, where the JV squad defended their Westchester County Champ title and the Varsity squad swept the whole evening by winning County and Grand Champions. At the UCA Nationals competition in Florida, Varsity placed 2nd in the small varsity division II and JV was not holding anything back – they were crowned National Champions in the Game Day JV non-tumbling division!

Collegiate Athletic Signing via Zoom

April 29, 2020 was the day long designated as the Spring College Athletic Recognition Ceremony. Given the circumstances of the pandemic, we celebrated with these members of the Class of 2020 via Zoom.

Casey Conroy - UMass Amherst Track and Field Team, Sofia Dedaj - University of Scranton Volleyball Team, Mia Martinez - Felician University Softball Team, Nina Campos - Sacred Heart University Cheerleading Team, Elena Mugno - Loyola Maryland Swim Team, and Claire Wilson - Boston University Track and Field Team.

Redesignated 2020-21Seasons

Our student-athletes demonstrated tenacity and flexibility, both on their playing surface and with their classwork.

The Fall 2020 Season looked a little different; however our Ursuline athletes showed their resilience and determination as they competed in Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer and Tennis. Stand out performances were turned in by our Cross Country team. The running Koalas won the League Championship! At the Milton meet, Daphne Banino soared past the competition to break the Section 1 girls record and become the Section 1 Champion. Daphne and teammate Tara Doyle were both named to the AllWestchester County Cross Country Team.

The 2021 Winter Season was abbreviated, due to COVID-era restrictions, but our student-athletes ultimately were able to take part in three sports, with a limited number of fans cheering them on. March 2, 2021 was an exciting day as our Varsity A Basketball team won the Southern Westchester Group 1 championship and our JV Cheerleaders won the Section 1 Winter Championship!

Several athletes achieved personal records during the season. On the afternoon of February 24, 2021, Sonia Citron became the first player in Ursuline basketball history to score 2,000 points as she helped lead the team to a victory over White Plains. Teammate Alexa Mustafaj achieved her own record, scoring her 1,000th point on March 4, 2021.

Sonia was recognized with numerous awards throughout the year for her outstanding basketball career at The Ursuline School as well as her future promise. She received the Section 1 Miss Basketball honor for the second year in a row. Sonia also earned selection to the prestigious 2021 McDonald’s All American Game team. She is one of only 24 high school seniors selected from across the United States for that team. Sonia was named to the 2021 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Cup Team. Sonia and her teammates will represent the USA, the reigning FIBA U19 World Cup gold medalist, in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup in August in Debrecen, Hungary. Closer to home, Sonia has been named Miss New York Basketball for the second consecutive year by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York. And, Sonia was named LohudSports Westchester/Putnam Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Joining Sonia with Lohud post season honors were Alexa Mustafaj, a 1st team honoree, and Meghan Casey and Ciara Croker, who received Honorable Mention.

Sonia was named Gatorade NYS Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2nd consecutive year, Max Preps NY State Senior Female Athlete of the Year, Max Preps NY State Girls Basketball Player of the Year and a 2021 Jordan Brand Classic team member. And Sonia’s jersey will be displayed for the next year in the “Ring of Honor,” recognizing high school and college AllAmericans at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, TN.

Although Indoor Track had a limited season due to weather, our team earned All County Honors: Daphne Banino 1st Team in 1500m, 4x800m Relay - Tara Doyle, Daphne Banino, Kate Nugent, Alexa Grassi - 1st Team, Prizila Negrete1st Team in Shot put and 3rd Team in Weight Throw, Claire Cregin -2nd Team in High Jump.

On March 5, 2021, the puck dropped on the ice at the inaugural Section 1 Varsity Girls Ice Hockey game. Aubrey Janniello represented Ursuline as a member of the East Green Wave Team. Forging new paths!

The newly designated Fall 2 Season ran March 8 - April 25, 2021 for Cheer, Swimming, and Volleyball. Even though most of the Cheer competitions were virtual, the teams finished strong. Varsity Cheerleading placed 3rd in the Small

Varsity DII Division. JV Cheerleading was named Game Day Grand Champions, 2nd in the Nation Competitive Champs, and 4th in the Nation Game Day Champs. The Varsity Swim Team competed in 7 regular season meets. In sectionals, senior captain Gillian Camperlengo won the 100 Breaststroke and placed 4th in the 200IM. Varsity Team Volleyball completed the season with a strong 6-3 record. Recognitions. The Spring 2021 Koalas turned

Varsity Basketball, Cheerleading in many dominating performances in Section 1 competition as and Winter Track teams were named they won 6 individual Section 1

NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete Teams Championships! for the Winter ’21 season. This means more Varsity Softball had a great regular than 75% of their team’s roster had season winning the team’s first an average GPA greater than or League Championship since 2016, going 16-2. Congratulations to Head equal to 90 in season. Coach John Pirone and Assistant Danny Vitulli who earned their 200th career win this season. Coach Pirone also was named League Coach of the Year. Pitcher Emily Duhaney was named AllSection as well as the League Pitcher of the Year. Joining Emily on the All Section team was Jessica Tejera. Varsity Lacrosse finished with their most successful season since 2014 and a 12-5 record. Senior Captains Amanda Dolis, Maya Mohring, and Amelia Riccuiti all reached 100 point milestones.

Congratulations Section 1 Champs!

Daphne Banino: 800m, 1500m, 3000m 2021 Section Champion Sofia Nogalo: Girls Golf Individual 2021 Section Champion Prizila Negrete: Discus and Shot Put 2021 Section Champion

Class of 2021 Collegiate Athletic Signings

Gillian Camperlango - Swimming, Bucknell Isabella Chiulli - Swimming, U of Vermont Sonia Citron - Basketball, Notre Dame Sofia Coppola - Crew, UVA Georgette Cosentino - Volleyball, Pace Amanda Dolis - Lacrosse, Robert Morris Kate Fodero - Track, Cathlolic U Adriana Lamari - Cheerleading, URI Maria Leni - Cheerleading, Providence Caroline Lennon - Swimming, Cortland Magdalene Moschetta - Crew, BU Alexa Mustafaj - Basketball, Middlebury Amelia Riccuti - Lacrosse, Villanova Melanie Sanchez - Swimming, Sacred Heart