New York City Fall III 2010 by Ultimate Athlete Magzine

Edito Letter From The Editor

Dear NYC High School Sports Fans, The fall sports season has officially come to a close, and we here at Ultimate Athlete Magazine definitely had a great time featuring some of this season’s hottest teams!

Congratulations to all athletes and teams for putting in the hard work and effort that undoubtedly are the groundings for succeeding in the future. After all, that’s what we’re all about here at UA – encouraging and empowering today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders! In this issue, you’ll read about a DeWitt Clinton High School runner, Jeremiah Obeng Aguyapong, a Truman soccer player, Happy Orere Amadu, and much more, including highlights of the PSAL Championship game that saw Fort Hamilton and Lincoln battling it out at Yankee Stadium – that’s right, Yankee Stadium! So thanks for checking out the New York City edition of Ultimate Athlete Magazine as we close out the season with our fall volume III issue, and remember, for all things Ultimate Athlete, including photos, video interviews and more, check out our website at www.ultimateathletemagazine.com to view, share, or purchase your feature sports coverage. Sincerely,

Ultimate Athlete Magazine

Publisher/CEO

Paul Corace

Executive editor

N.J. Comanzo

JOSE LUIS COVARRUBIAS JOE WEINREB director of development Scott “Scotto” SAVITT senior producer jessica peters graphic editor david stewart distribution manager Richard brooks senior sports editor SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Contributing Writers

robert brewer darlene dowling jerry del priore sean reilly bailey stephens renee keller dr. tom ferraro joe pietaro mike meija gary simeone Cover Photos by Andrew Adler Cover GRAPHiC WORK by Joe Weinreb Contributing photographers

Jessica Peters

andrew adler daniel burnstein moore catholic hs

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ultimateathletemagazine.com Ultimate Athlete Magazine (ISSN 1931-5295) is published 12 times a year by Ultimate Athlete, Inc., 40 Woodbine Avenue, Northport, New York 11768. All contents copyright 2009 by Ultimate Athlete, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or part of the content without the prior written consent of Ultimate Athlete, Inc. is strictly prohibited. All logos and trademarks are the properties of their respective owners. Although the writers and the publisher have exhaustively researched all sources to ensure the accuracy and the completeness of the information contained in this publication, we assume no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or any inconsistency herein. The opinions expressed in all materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Ultimate Athlete, Inc or Long Island’s Ultimate Athlete Magazine.

Fall Volume III 2010

NYC EDITION

Conten

nts FEATURES Features

10 Fort Hamilton

PSAL Football Championship

12 Adlai Stevensen Campus Football

16 Beach Channel Football

18 Benjamin Banneker Track

20 Bronx Science

Girls Volleyball

22 DeWitt Clinton Jeremiah Obeng Aguyapong

24 UA Fitness 28 Lincoln

PSAL Football Champsionship

32 MLK

Soccer

36 Moore Catholic

Football - A Walk to Remember

40 Sports Psychology Recovery

44 Stuyvesant Fencing

46 Truman Girls Soccer Happy Orere Amadu

O C

>>>

Photo by andrew adler

Ishaq Williams thunders in for a powerful sack on Fort Hamiltonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quarterback.

SPEED

SHUTTER

>>>

Photo by Andrew Adler

A Beach Channel receiver leaps in for a perfect catch.

SPEED

SHUTTER

By Jerry DelPriore Photos by Andrew Adler

At the start of the season, first year coach Dan Perez, who took over for legendary coach Vincent Lanio, wanted to establish his own winning tradition at Fort Hamilton High School. After edging top-seeded Abraham Lincoln High School, 8-6, in the PSAL championship at Yankees Stadium on December 7, Perez’s own legacy is off to a great start. It was second-seeded Tigers first title since 2006, and capped a perfect 13-0 campaign. Many of Fort Hamilton’s players were sophomores when Port Richmond defeated them in the 2008 title tilt. In 2009, the Tigers lost in the last minute to Curtis in the semifinals, leaving a feeling of unfinished business that haunted the team. Both years, they went undefeated during the regular season. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Perez said of winning the city crown. “We were undefeated two years in a row in the regular season, and we got knocked out of the playoffs (both times). “These kids, in their senior year, they wanted to finish the job,” he continued. “They came here and they finished the job, and now they’re 13-0 and city champs.” A team loaded with talent, the Tigers had leaned on their best player, two-way senior standout Brandon Reddish, who scored 17 touchdowns, seven of which were in the playoffs, when they needed a game-changing play during the year. After Fort Hamilton recovered a fumble at the Railsplitters’ 45-yard line and move the pigskin, Reddish answered the bell yet again, corralling a 26-yard game-tying touchdown strike from junior quarterback Marvin Centeno with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter. “Once we had that big play, we had to go with Reddish,” said Perez, who was Lanio’s longtime assistant. “I knew

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once the ball was in the air, I knew he was going to comedown with it.” But the Tigers also had an unsung hero, senior H-back Dylan Campili, who caught the go-ahead, two-point conversion toss from Centeno, Campili’s first points of the entire campaign. However, the day before the Championship game, Campili, who missed the beginning of the year due to injury, didn’t look much like a reliable option. It didn’t deter Perez from calling his number, though. “The funny part is that we practiced that play yesterday all day, and he dropped it four times,” the rookie coach laughed. “Now, at crunch time at Yankee Stadium, with the game on the line, he caught it. He couldn’t catch a cold yesterday, but he sure caught that one.” Though plagued by the case of the drops the previous day, Campili wouldn’t let nerves or the frigid temperature disappoint his teammates when it mattered most. “When that play came on in the game and the coached called it, everything ran through my head, and the only thing I could think of is ‘I got to get this ball, I want this ring,’” Campili said. “But I came down with it, and when I got up, it was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.” In addition to Reddish, Centeno and Campili, Fort Hamilton had several other key players who had helped it post a perfect season, including senior Wesley Sumpter, who rushed for 707 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. Plus, six-foot-five, 310-pound Ivan Foy and six-foot-two, 245-pound Kevon Foster, who anchored a gifted offensive line. On the defensive side, the Tigers received great performances from a trio of seniors: defensive end Rasheem Stroud (13

sacks), safety James Howell, who led the team with 66 tackles and outside linebacker Shaidel Lowman, who added 62 stops. Howell, a type I diabetic diagnosed three years ago, wanted to give up football when he first learned of his disease. But he said that his coaches and parents motivated him to stay with the sport. “I though everything was over at one point,” said Howell, who is being recruited by a handful of Division I colleges. “I thought I couldn’t even play football. I was so discouraged at one point I didn’t want to play football no more. But my coaches inspired me to keep going, and my parents inspired me to keep going.” For Howell, who wears an insulin pump - a small mechanical device worn on the outside of the body that delivers rapid or short-acting insulin twenty-four hours a day through a catheter placed underneath the skin-away from the gridiron - he’s glad he that he continued playing the game he so deeply loves. “It was worth every second of it,” he said of the sacrifices he made in order stay healthy enough for football. “I feel on top of world. I’m the happiest man in the world right now.” A sentiment he shares with every member of Fort Hamilton’s football team.

Story By: Renee Keller Photos By: Andrew Adler

The Adlai Stevenson Ambassadors finished the season strong in second place with an 8-2 record. Now they’re preparing for their first game of the playoffs against McKee /Staten Island Tech High School. The team’s head coach Dennis Mercorelli attributes much of the team’s success to the fact that most of the players are seniors. so they‘ve played together for several years. For the past few years the team has played in the Cup division because of their lack of star power. “We don’t have a junior varsity team so the players don’t get a chance to get seasoned,”

says Mercorelli, who has been the head coach since 1980. There are 31 active players on the roster. Once these players graduate, however, it will be a different story. “ Next year I’ll have to start all over and build a new team,” he said. In the meantime the team remains strong, healthy and ready to take on all of their competitiors. Some of the Ambassadors’ standout players are Nijel Walls, Luis Figueroa, Terrance Carter and Aaron Jackson. Nijel Walls is a “stud player” according

to his coach. ”He is one of the top running backs in the city,” said coach Mercorelli. “He does everything I need him to do.” Walls, who is also the team captain, joined the team as a sophomore. Since then he has “blossomed into a premier player.” Walls made 23 touchdowns this season. Besides playing for the football team, Wall is also on the varsity outdoor boys track team. His speed is an asset to the Ambassadors. “He is able to run fast make cuts on the field,” said the coach. “He can run at full tackle and even with opponents holding on to him, trying to drag him down.” Wall, who is a senior, stands at 5’9 and weighs 180 pounds. Senior Louis Figueroa’s solid frame makes him a strong left offensive tackle. He is 5’7, 230 pounds and is considered the best offensive lineman on his team. “He rarely makes a mistake,” says the coach. “He is a very smart player and he will make a great coach.” Although slight in build at 5’8 and 135 pounds, Aaron Jackson’s strong arm has helped the Ambassadors win games. Jackson is a senior quarterback. Like Figueroa, coach Mercorelli believes Jackson will also make a great coach because he is a very smart player. Last but not least of the team’s key athletes is Terrance Carter, a strong center defensive lineman. Carter, who is a senior, is also on the varsity outdoor boys track team. He is 6’0 and weighs 300 pounds. If they get the chance to play against one more team this season, it would be Lafayette High School, who beat out the Ambassadors for first place. “We want to play them again because they beat us,” said coach Mercorelli. As for their chances of winning the playoffs. the coach believes the Ambassadors have as good a shot as anyone else. “We’re good enough to be mentioned along with the top teams in the city,” he said.

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Beach Channel High School’s football season had momentum and high expectations, but ended in heartbreaking fashion in the PSAL Bowl Division title game, with a 23-20 loss to the Truman High Mustangs. Most teams would nonetheless be pleased with a 10-2 record, a playoff run, and the subsequent reputation earned throughout; and while the Dolphins are as well, there is a part of them that laments on what could have been. “At the end of the day, it was a pretty well played game on both parts,” Head Coach Victor Nazario said reflecting on the game, and the year in general. “I felt that we had a successful season, it just didn’t culminate the way we wanted it to.” “My kids weren’t in awe of the championship setting,” Nazario added, noting that it was a great game from a spectator standpoint. “In the end, the thing that plagued us all season was the point-afterattempts, and they made the difference in such a close game.” While not harping on his players,

Photos By: Andrew Adler

the fifth-year coach isn’t shy about pointing out that the team was at times its own worst enemy this season. That despite their success being somewhat unexpected, they sometimes struggled to display discipline, and checked out early against outmatched opponents like Jamaica High School. “Going into the season we were concerned about a lot of the new players that hadn’t played before, Nazario said. “I think there were times these kids got a little unfocused, but on the whole they did a good job of getting together and being cohesive.” An emphasis on hard work and principles is at the forefront of Nazario’s coaching philosophy largely because he hopes it stays with the players after they are no longer under his charge. “I try to teach these kids to do the right thing on the field and off,” he said. “When you get some kids that’ll never go on to play football at the next level, the thing I concern myself with is how you can prepare these guys for life.” Nazario in ways embodies the

characteristics of discipline and commitment he deems so necessary, and displays them through his presence in the Dolphins’ football program, continuing to serve in his coaching capacity despite his Physical Education teacher job at Beach Channel having been eliminated last year. He is currently in the city’s teacher reserve pool and is working at a school in Long Island City. The character instilled in the Dolphins will hopefully keep them strong despite the loss of 15 senior players this year, among them the receiving duo of Demetrius Pelt and Jahvari Josiah. While Pelt represents the loss of a player who lived up to expectations, Josiah was a proverbial diamond in the rock. “He was a player we weren’t even counting on, Pelt brought him over from the basketball team. In the beginning he didn’t seem disciplined enough, but as the season went on, he really impressed,” Nazario said, adding that he felt Josiah was the unsung hero of the team. Equally impressive was quarterback Patrick Burrello, who got the starting job this season based on his consistency and leadership under center. Burello, for his part, cherishes his time and a job well done helming the offense.

“If I could, I would change time and replay this season a million times,” he said. “I love this team and we had an amazing season together. I don’t regret anything.” While he may not be the only one who wishes to replay this past season in perpetuity, those forced to focus on the next one can look forward to the prospect of Diequan Underwood becoming even more integral to the team. The freshman running back/defensive back was a threat on both sides of the ball this year. In addition, the likely future quarterback Breland Archbold will have a viable target in the form of sophomore wide receiver Henry Adegunle. Despite this positive outlook, it is hard to deny that the next season may well be a rebuilding one. This year’s success may be hard to replicate. That said, three of the last five seasons have been .500 or better. So the Dolphins have proven themselves capable of adapting in unsure waters.

Breanna and Bryanna lead Banneker Cross County By Gary Simeone Photo by Andrew Adler Both names sound the same but they are spelled differently. Breanna and Bryanna as in Breanna Cummings and Byranna Chestnut were leaders of the Benjamin Banneker Cross Country team this season. The dynamic duo helped the Warriors gain second place in Brooklyn and eighth citywide. In the girls 5K run in the Marty Lewis Borough Challenge Junior Breanna Cummings placed sixth with a time of 21:52:59. Chestnut who is also a junior placed eighth with a time of 21:58:46. Eon Mattis placed sixteenth for the boys with a final time of 18:11:27. At the DeWitt Clinton Invitational on October 10th Breanna scored a season best with a time of 17:45:50. “We are a very small team co-ed made up of only a few kids,” said Cross Country Coach Isaiah Cherry. “To do as well as we did this season is truly a remarkable feat.” Other members of the girls team include Zahra Bolden, Khadijah Harrison, Nzinga Meadows and Seleah Sheares. Members of the boys include Mattis, Anthony Clark, Miguel Mena, Isaiah Miles, Gabriel Pierre, Naeem Rigaud, Ryan Small and Derrick Smith. “We had trained all summer for these competitions,” said Cherry. “It was one of our goals to finish as one of the best teams in the city and we did that.” “I was so happy that we were able to make it to cities this year,” said Breanna Cummings. “We came closer than we ever have before to making it to states. That will be our ultimate goal for next season.” Next year the Cross Country squad will be reloaded with both Breanna and Bryanna back and the core of the team returning. “Obviously we’d like to make a run at number one in the city,’ said Cummings.

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Story By: Renee Keller Photos By: Daniel S. Burnstein

The Bronx Science Wolverines recently ended their season with a stunning 13-1 record. Although they lost in the quarterfinals to Susan Wagner High School, Head Coach Jeremy Bass said the team was still happy, “because they accomplished their goal of reaching the quarterfinals.” As an added bonus, the Wolverines also wound up with a better record than their nearby rival John F. Kennedy, who finished 10-2. Three seniors will be leaving the Wolverines this year: Eugenie Dubin, Liza Jin Park and Angela Han, but Coach Bass has players ready to take their place. “Next year our team will be more experienced, so we’ll be looking to compete in the city championships,” said the coach. Elissa Shiau is a freshman setter who turned into a star player for the Wolverines. She helped lead the team to a nearly undefeated record by contributing 139 assists this season. Elissa also plays for the NYC Junior Club volleyball team. She is a skilled offensive ball handler, who always delivers the ball to the hitter. “We’ll be stronger in that area for the next three years because of her play,” said Coach Bass. He added that he plans to work on Elissa’s defensive skills, especially her digs. During the 12 matches of the season, Elissa had 26 aces and 10 kills. In the two playoff matches against Susan Wagner High School, she totaled 43 assists, 8 digs and 3 kills for the Wolverines. Other key contributors to the Bronx Science team were sophomores Mary Platt and Dominique Watts. In 11 matches this season, Platt, a middle blocker, tallied 17 aces, 46 kills. In the playoff matches Mary had 10 kills. Dominque Watts, a setter, totaled 28 aces, 7 assists and 44 kills in 12 matches. She tallied 25 kills in the playoffs. As the skills of the Bronx Science Wolverines grow each passing year, so does the team’s confidence. Looking ahead, if they continue to combine their experience and determination with their strong offensive and defensive style of play, they are certain to make the playoffs in the near future. “If we don’t get to the Final Four next year, it will be a disappointing season,” said Coach Bass.

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DeWitt Clinton Indoor Track Team By Renee Keller Photos by Andrew Adler and Daniel S. Burnstein

Jeremiah Obeng- Agyapong is considered one of the best hurdlers in New York City. Last year, when he was a sophomore, he placed No.3 in the state in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles on the outdoor track team for the Dewitt Clinton Governors. “Jeremiah has such unlimited potential in track,” said the coach of the boys track team, William Wagner. “If he keeps progressing he could become one of the best track runners in the history of the PSAL,” he added. DeWitt Clinton’s track teams have a long history of success. In 2004, the indoor track team won the city championship. In 1991, the outdoor team set national records and had the top 400-meter hurdler in the country. A lot of the team’s success is due to the skilled coaching of William Wagner, who has been the head coach of the indoor-, outdoorand cross-country-track teams for 27 years. “Last year the team was young but now that they have matured we are in a position to make an impact this season,” said Coach Wagner. There are 19 active players on the team. The runners started training in mid-November with weight-training and track and hurdle training. “The 4x100 team will be one of our strongest this year,” said Wagner. Jeremiah will be on that team, as well as several others including the 400-meter hurdles, 55-meter high hurdles, 4x200 hurdles, 110-meter high hurdles and several other individual events. In nearly three decades of coaching, Wagner says he’s seen a lot of great athletes, but most recently he gave high praise to three-year veteran runner Jeremiah, who is 5’10 and weighs 155 pounds. “He is a Division I quality athlete,” said coach Wagner. “Jeremiah also has tremendous competitive instincts, and excellent speed.” Jeremiah initially joined the track team to improve his conditioning as a running back for Clinton’s football team. Soon after, his natural talent for track emerged. “He took to hurdling very quickly,” said Coach Wagner. “He improves every time he runs.” Besides excelling in track and football, Jeremiah is also a star student. He is junior with a 90 percent grade-point average. Jeremiah’s older brother, Stephen, played on the football and track team for John F. Kennedy high school, which is also in the Bronx. Stephen now attends Penn State. While Coach Wagner says he would like to see the team win their events it’s more important that the runners give their best effort and enjoy themselves. “I’d rather see an athlete come in third place with a good running time, then an athlete come in first place with a bad running time,” said Wagner. “The stop watch never lies.”

2010-2011 Schedule for Indoor Track Meets 11//26/2010 - Mayors Cup Relay Championships-the armory - 9:00AM 12/5/2010 - Jim McKay Games-the armory - 8:45AM 12//26/2010 - PSAL Holiday Games-the armory - 1:00PM 12/30/2010 - A Night at the Sprints-the armory - 1:30PM 1/12/2011 - Millrose Trials-the armory - 4:00PM 1/17/2011 - 40th Annual Martin Luther King Relays/Invitational-the armory - 8:30AM 1/28/2011 - Millrose Games-

Madison Square Garden - 6:00PM

2/14/2011 - Bronx Borough Championships - the armory - 4:30PM 2/25/2011 - PSAL Indoor Track & Field City Championship-the armory - 8:45AM 3/6/2011 - Frosh/Soph City Championship- the armory - 8:45AM

FITN

FITNESS

Did you know that your arm muscles are involved in a lot of upper body activities that you do each day? In addition, it’s important to do some resistant training for your arm muscles to look even better in that halter-top dress! One muscle to focus on while training your arms is your biceps. Your biceps can be trained when using lighter weights three non-consecutive days a week. For example: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

What’s Your Goal? You need to decide if your goal is endurance and lean muscle or to bulk up. If your goal is to pack on lean muscle you need to do 2-3 sets of 12-16 repetitions. This also depends on how many exercises you want to do. If you do 5 exercises for your biceps, you only have to do 2 sets. If you choose 3 exercises, 3 exercises is better.

Bicep Exercises -

Here is how you do a bicep curl:

The most common bicep exercise is the bicep curl but there are a number of exercises that work the bicep in different ways. This is important when following a workout routine. You don’t want your body getting used to the same exercise every time. Bicep Curl- Choose dumbbell weights that are right for you. If you are beginning, I would choose 5-7 pounds. If you’re more advanced I would choose 10-12 pounds.

1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6:

Stand with feet about hip-width apart, tilt you pelvis to engage your abs. Hold the dumbbells in front of your thighs. Always remember to SQUEEZE! Squeeze the biceps and bend the arms to curl the weights up towards the shoulders. Bring the weight as high as you can without moving the elbows. Slowly lower the weights, keeping a slight bend in the elbows at the bottom (Do not lock your joints) Repeat for 2-4 sets of 8-15 reps.

NESS C

Changing the hand position can make an exercise challenging in a different way. Doing hammer curls with regular curls or barbell curls will target the full range of the biceps and the forearms.

1: 2: 3: 4: 5:

Stand with feet about hip-width apart, abs engaged as you hold dumbbells in front of the thighs. Turn the hands so that the palms face each other and squeeze the biceps to curl the weights towards the shoulders. Keep the elbows stationary and only bring the weight as high as you can without moving the elbows. Slowly lower the weights, keeping a slight bend in the elbows at the bottom (e.g., donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lock the joints and try to keep tension on the muscle) Repeat for 2-4 sets of 8-15 reps.

The barbell bicep curl is a great way to work both heads of the biceps. This is a great compliment to dumbbell curls which allow you to work each arm individually.

Concentration Curls- This is a great exercise to put at the end of your biceps workout to really get the blood to your muscles.

1: 2: 3: 4:

Sit and hold a dumbbell in the right hand.

Bend forward, keeping the abs tight and hold the right elbow against the inside of the right thigh. Contract the bicep and curl the hand towards the shoulder without moving the elbow. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to touch your shoulder. Lower all the way down and continue for (2-4 sets of 8-16 reps on each side)

FITNE FITNESS

Tricep Exercises

Tricep Extension Using Rope or Bar

Stand with feet hip width apart with a slight bend and your pelvis tilted so that your abdomen is tight. Holding the rope, bend your arms at a 90 degree angle. Extend your arms straight down by moving your forearm only. Keep your upper arms stationary and close to your body.

Skull Crushers

Using a barbell, grip the bar on the inner grips using an overhand grip. Bring the bar up to your chest and lay down on your back. Extend your arms straight up above your chest. Keeping your elbows still, lower the bar until it is about an inch from your forehead (this is why it is called a skull crusher!). Then, slowly extend your arms back to the starting position. Do not lock your elbows when you are at starting position.

Triceps Extension

Sit on a bench or ball and hold one dumbbell and take it straight up overhead with the arms next to your ears. Lower the weight behind your head until elbows are at about 90 degree angles. Tighten and squeeze the triceps to straighten the arms without locking the joints. Repeat for 2-4 sets of 10-16 reps.

Bent over Dumbbell Kick Backs

Hold a dumbbell in both hands and bend over until your torso is parallel to the floor. Keep a slight bend in the knees and keep your abs tight. Bend your arms and pull your elbows at your torso level. Holding that position, straighten your arms out behind you. Make sure to focus on the muscle you are working by squeezing the triceps muscles. Bend the arms back to starting position and repeat until you feel it burn! (About 12-20 reps) Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to remember that when you are working your triceps, only move the forearm and keep your arms close to your body.

Story By: Robert Brewer

The Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters (12-1) held the number one ranking in the PSAL and were undefeated coming into the PSAL Football League Championship Game. However, Lincoln’s bid for an undefeated season fell just short as they were on the losing end of an 8-6 final score in the PSAL Championship Game against the Fort Hamilton Tigers at Yankee Stadium on December 7th. While it was a crushing defeat for Lincoln, Head Coach Shawn O’Connor knows that his program has come a long way since going 1-8 two years ago and coming to within two points of claiming the school’s first PSAL title since 1993. “I am definitely proud of the kids. It’s a testament to the type of kids that they are and all the hard work that they put into the program. To get to this point, playing for the title in a great venue like Yankee Stadium, and to battle the entire game with this kind of effort, it was great to see,” said O’Connor. “It’s a tough way to

Photos By: Andrew Adler end the season, but it was a great experience for the entire team. It was a very well played game and I give Fort Hamilton a ton of credit.” Railsplitter senior lineman Wayne Williams is very confident that his senior class has put Lincoln’s football program in great shape for the future. “The season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but we have a lot of future Division 1 athletes on this team and we worked so hard to get to the title game,” said Williams. “Two years ago, nobody would have thought that we would get to this point, but we did it. When you talk to most people about Lincoln High school, the first thing they think about is our basketball program. After the season that we just had, people are going to start thinking about our football team as well.” The most distinguished future Division 1 athlete for Lincoln’s football team is the 6-foot-6 inch defensive end/tight

end Ishaq Williams. An imposing figure on the grid iron, Williams won the 2010 Gatorade New York Football Player of the Year Award. While protecting their two point lead late in the fourth quarter, Fort Hamilton’s play calling was clearly influenced by the presence of Williams. The Tigers were able to consume over five minutes on their final offensive drive as most of their running plays were designed to run away from Williams. “It was a great game plan by Fort Hamilton. They ran away from our best defender and they executed down the stretch, and that left us with very little time when our offense finally got the ball back. We just couldn’t make the plays on third down to get off the field. You have to take your hat off to Fort Hamilton, they played a great game, and that’s why they are the champions,” said Coach O’ Connor. Lincoln did manage to draw first blood in the PSAL Championship Game. With just seconds remaining in the first half, the Railsplitters finished off a 95-yard scoring drive that lasted over 12 minutes with a 1 yard touchdown run by junior Kareem Folkes. However, the most crucial moment in the drive came with 1:49 remaining as Lincoln was faced with a fourth down and inches to go from the Tigers’ four yard-line. Before the critical fourth down, Coach O’ Connor used a timeout to discuss the next play with his team. “I told all of my offensive linemen that I’m putting this play in your hands. This is your chance to have a Derek Jeter clutch moment. We went through this situation in practice, all you guys have to do is execute. We ended up scoring and had a 6-0 lead at halftime so we obviously felt very good at the break.” said O’ Connor. However, it was a mistake by Lincoln that opened the door for Fort Hamilton in the third quarter. Lincoln fumbled on a quarterback-halfback exchange on their own 44 yard-line with 5:19 to go in the period. On the ensuing drive, Tiger quarterback Marvin Centeno found his senior receiver Brandon Reddish down the middle of the field on a play-action pass for a 26- yard touchdown throw. On the two-point conversion attempt, Centeno rolled right and found his senior tight end Dylan Campili for the go-ahead score. As for Fort Hamilton, the 2010 PSAL Championship now gives them three this decade. The Tigers also won city championships in 2005 and 2006.

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It wasn’t supposed to end like this. After getting back to full strength finally, after regaining the services of two players lost to suspension, the Martin Luther King Boys soccer was supposed to cruise to their 15th straight PSAL league final. They had the talent in star striker Moriken Sangary and others, the veteran coach in Martin Jacobson and history was on their side. Unfortunately, none of that mattered when they took on Beacon High School in the semifinal round. As many

Photos By: Andrew Adler

teams have learned before them, the soccer gods don’t often care who is supposed to win as Beacon slipped past King, 2-1, in overtime leaving Jacobson and his players stunned and defeated. “The sport we’ve grown to love… sometimes is not so beautiful,” Jacobson said after taking several days to reflect. “It was a day that was not meant to happen for us.” The loss resonated for many reasons, but high on the list was that it meant

that for the first time in 15 years, MLK wouldn’t be a part of the PSAL final. For the three seniors on the squad, it’s over. Jacobson, who himself has grown accustomed to success at the highest level, didn’t try to make excuses. “Of course, I’m disappointed,” Jacobson said. “For the first time in 15 years, we didn’t play for NYC title, that’s not easy. It must have been in the stars, we outplayed them, I felt. All the excuses in the world do not matter. They beat us.”

Of course the season itself had its share of ups and downs too. Things got serious when two of MLK’s most talented players -- striker Tarek Beckles and midfielder Ibrahim Diaby -- got in a fight on Oct. 26 in the last game of the regular season. The incident attracted the attention of the refs and both were given red cards and suspended for two games. “I knew it was coming,” Jacobson said. “I warned them when they were arguing. That was devastating to the whole team. What can I say? … Hopefully there were lessons learned.” The loss of two strong players like Beckles and Diaby could have been devastating for the Knights. But Jacobson knew that he a good mix of veteran players with experience, such as senior captain Moulaye Traore and young players ready to step up, like freshman Jethro Dede. Of course, it didn’t hurt that this is a program steeped in a winning culture with confidence brimming over. “Yeah we need them definitely,” Traore said of his suspended teammates. “But, I knew we could do it. We’ve got a lot of young talented players.” And they did it. After breezing past Fort Hamilton in the opening round 5-0, MLK made it a bit more interesting against Curtis but escaped, 2-1, on the strength of goals from Dede and Sangary. After getting two of their stronger players back, the mountain overcome, the bolstered Knights returned to face Beacon. It turned out not to matter, although, Jacobson did express his belief that without the suspension the team would have been able to gain better rhythm heading into the match against the Blue Demons. “I think it would have been great had the kids been back earlier,” he said. “You get what I call ‘playoff fever,’ some synchronization. But I can’t change the past. So kids learn from their lessons. That did happen.”

That echoes Jacobson’s belief that soccer is about more than goals and wins. And this season, with all of its adversity held plenty of lessons for the players. “It taught that we have to live with disappointment,” Jacobson said. “That maybe through the pain that each and every kid felt …. Maybe these kids will come back, because I’m only graduating three kids, in some way stronger.” The Knights, rest assured, will be back. Their roster is too complete, full of some of the best young international talent in the world, to not compete year in and year out. Much of that sustainable success is due to Jacobson. “He’s great,” Traore said of his coach. “He gives us a lot of support on and off the field.” Jacobson is just one of the factors drawing talented players to MLK. One of the largest draws to the Knights’ program, the coach feels, isn’t about soccer at all; it’s about graduating and the life success that can bring. “Playing soccer is about getting a better life,” Jacobson said. “Hopefully these kids emerge from here and find that.” For the three departing seniors, that’s Jacobson’s wish. For those returning, he warns, MLK’s “story isn’t over yet.”

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Story & Photos By: Darlene Dowling

Johnny Ray would have been a senior this year so many of his friends walked for him. The Mavericks have a homecoming tradition at the homecoming ceremony the seniors give their mother a rose. This year Johnny Ray’s senior teammates stood in for him, and presented his mom with a rose. Team sprit is alive and well at Moore Catholic High School. Their deaths had a deep impact on the team, the school and the community. So much so that on October 24th, homecoming weekend, which was the anniversary of Johnny Rays death, they held The "Walk to Remember” to honor their teammates, as well as others who had died in the community. The Moore Catholic Mavericks are having a pretty successful season, and if you caught our pre season story on them, you surely know that this is a team to watch out for. Coach Rocco, who has been with the Mavericks for the last four years and has

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twenty years of coaching experience under his belt, says that they can “always do better”, but he’s happy with their 6-5 record, and his team. Especially after last season, when the Mavericks had more than their fair share of tragedy. Jared Scotto and Johnny Ray, members of the Moore Catholic football team, who more than likely never met because they played years apart, died tragically. These young men both loved football and being part of the Moore Catholic Football family. Jared Scotto, a former Mavericks and Iona College defensive lineman, died New Year’s Day at the age of 23 after battling cancer. Johnny Ray died at the age of 16 in a tragic car accident after the Homecoming game, in which he ran 184 all-purpose yards and had an 80-yard kick return resulting in a decisive touch down. The Mavericks celebrated with a 16-14 win over Henry Snyder (N.J.), but the win was muted when word of Ray’s death came later that night. By all accounts and their stats, both Jared Scotto and Johnny Ray were gifted athletes. Scotto

was named the Mavericks Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, the varsity’s Most Consistent Defensive Lineman from 2001 to 2003, and he was team captain in 2003. Rocco remembers him as being “a handsome, well educated, beautiful human being that was a friend to everyone,” as well as “a tremendous athlete, a caring friend and a young man that will be remembered for his courage during his illness.” Johnny Ray was a rising star on the Moore High School baseball and football team, and by all accounts he was a likable and talented athlete, whose absence is still felt by the Mavericks. Last season he had 210 receiving yards and three touchdown catches, as well as being a promising kick returner. Coach Rocco says at times he was hard on Johnny Ray, which didn’t always sit well with Ray. At one point he quit and re-joined, but after that their relationship was stronger than ever, so much so that he says Johnny Ray was “the closest thing to a son I could ever have. One of the best football players I ever coached, a smile that could light up the darkest room and a young man who I will always talk to during my toughest times.” When you talk with the coaches and team members it’s clear that the loss of these young men hit the tight knit Moore Catholic community hard, especially when they were so close together. So much so that on October 24th, homecoming weekend, which was the anniversary of Johnny Ray’s death, they held the “Walk to Remember”. Coach Rocco was the mastermind of the walk, and his intention was two fold – to honor the Ray and Scotto, as well as boost school spirit. The Walk to Remember was a big success, and they raised $52,000 for the Moore Catholic Memory Garden, which they hope will be a place for the Moore community to reflect and remember in the hard times and in good ones. They intend to have a ground breaking ceremony in spring 2011. The parents of Jared Scotto and Johnny Ray were involved in the planning of the walk, and according to Coach Rocco, “every faculty member, 95 percent of the students, alumni, and administration participated” in the event. The team was creative and steadfast in raising money; each member had a goal of raising $150. Some brought in corporate sponsors who donated $500, while others saved their pennies, asked for donations from friends and family, and one young man had a mini-fundraiser of his own at Wendy’s. During the event many participants wore t-shirts honoring Ray and Scotto, while others wore especially designed T-shirts and wristbands, in the Mavericks colors - red and black. Johnny Ray would have been a senior this year so many of his friends and teammates walked for him. The Mavericks have a tradition at the homecoming ceremony in which the seniors give their mother a rose. This year, Johnny Ray’s senior teammates stood in for him, and presented his mom with a rose. Team sprit is alive and well at Moore Catholic High School.

SPORT Sports Psychology

The Psychology of (Caring for the Injured Athlete)

Recovery

There are over 17 million sports related injuries per year in America. Soccer players tear ACL’s, baseball players blow out shoulders, and lacrosse or football players get concussions. The list goes on and on. The standard procedure is to send the injured athlete to a doctor, get some rehab and expect them back as soon as possible. It all sounds so simple. But the fact is that sport injury often wreaks havoc upon the young athlete’s life. This is often denied or minimized. But not by the one who is suffering from it.

There are over 17,000,000 sports related injuries in America each year.

It is easy to understand why injuries are so pervasive in sports. High levels of competition, overtraining and lack of downtime is now standard in most sports. When an athlete pushes too hard for too long, injury will result. In addition an athlete who has too much stress in his or her life is vulnerable to injury. When a family goes through divorce, moves to a new school or faces a death in the family this is a heavy burden that can distract and lead to injury. Overtraining causes fatigue and then injury. The nature of sport itself can be dangerous. The

speed of hockey, figure skating or gymnastics brings the risk of injury. The quick movements of lacrosse and soccer and the violence of football, baseball, or wrestling produces injury. The career of an NFL player is expected to last only 3 ½ years. I once asked the Knick basketball star Dave DeBusschere if his sport was violent and he remarked, “Well I’ve had my nose broken seven times, does that answer your question?”

TS Psy Injuries are typically caused by overtraining, fatigue or bad luck.

The injured athlete will often wind up feeling alone, isolated and left behind.

Injuries are inevitable. The question becomes â&#x20AC;&#x153;How do athletes typically react to these injuries and the loss it brings?â&#x20AC;? The losses that come to bear on the injured athlete will vary depending upon the severity of the injury and how important the sport is to him or her. But whatever occurs they must deal with some if not all of the following:

A: B: C: D:

Grief Reactions: The stages of grief include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. This can take years. After the initial shock of the injury most hope for a fast return but when this does not occur then the emotional trouble sets in. The athlete will need time to talk, ventilate and work through the loss. Loss of Identity: Most serious athletes have devoted years to their sport and their identity becomes deeply connected it. When they can no longer play they experience withdrawal. They can no longer feed off of the excitement of the crowds and the competition itself. They will then feel confused about who they are and this takes work to help them develop a new stable sense of self. Loneliness and Separation: The athlete who loses his sport loses structure, friendships and purpose. They often become apathetic, aimless and vulnerable to other forms of recreation including drug use and night life. The sad tale of Michael Phelps is a good example of an athlete with too much time on his hands. Fear and Anxiety: The pain of injury, the indefinite nature of recovery and the threat of lost income or scholarship money produces real anxiety. This can be overwhelming and this must be managed as well. Loss of Confidence: When an athlete rehabilitates it is one thing for the team physician to say they are okay to play but it is quite another for the athlete to actually feel ready to return. The fear of re injury produces hesitation and doubt in the player. All this needs to be dealt with so they can regain their former speed and skills.

SPOR T Sports Psychology

Treatment: Sport injury produces great emotional pain and turmoil. Uniformly athletes will benefit from some form of psychotherapy which helps them to face and work through this trauma. If given time they can be helped to ventilate feelings, develop a better perspective on the loss, and find the patience to recover fully. Here are some of the techniques we use in the psychologists office to help: Psychotherapy to discuss the loss. This eases the recovery process and helps work through the depression and anxiety. Imagery: We use imagery to teach athletes how to rehearse motor skill when they are injured. It keeps them ready. It can also be used to shift blood flow which facilitates healing. Communication Skills Training: This helps the athlete to speak more effectively both with their doctors and coaches.

Usually psychotherapy can help an injured athlete resolve depression, anxiety or loss of confidence.

Grief Counseling: This can help facilitate the mourning process and resolve any depression.

Injuries that occur on the playing field are far more then broken bones. They consist of broken dreams and broken spirits. The emotional damage is as painful as the physical and will often require treatment to resolve. It is easy to deny this fact but ask any injured athlete and they will agree. I believe it is every injured athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to seek out and find the psychological support they need and deserve. And when the mind heals along with the body, the athlete will make a successful return to the playing field.

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By Darlene Dowling Photos by Daniel S. Burnstein From year to year, high school fencing doesn’t change all that much - but this year is different. In fact, for this season coaches and players had to gear up for lots of changes, including broadening the kinds of weapons being used, in addition to the standard foil they’ve added in the epee which has a heavier thrusting blade and its own set of scoring rules. Not only does each weapon get its own division, they’ve also made some pretty sweeping changes to the overall scoring and format requirements for the entire league, including instituting Olympic scoring. Even with these changes, one of the standouts this season is the Stuyvesant High School Boys Fencing Team led by Coach Joel Winston. For the 2010 season, they took the gold in the championships, battling it out in the end with Staten Island Tech, who took the Silver. In fact, since Coach Winston took the helm of both the girls and boys teams, they’ve won six gold medals – three for the girl’s team and the three for the boys. While the girls team went through some changes this season, including the loss of Nzingha Prescod, an internationally ranked fencer, the boys team is still on point – and Coach Winston says that the girls are going to “get back the championships next season.” According to Coach Winston, the new changes to fencing, especially the addition of the epee division, have been challenging. But the boys epee team, which includes Captain An-

dre Tapai, a nationally ranked fencer, as well as Josef Omar, and Rienzi Gokea who made the jump from Sabreist to Epeeist, had an outstanding performance this season. Also honorable mention goes to Chris DeBalsa, who by anyone’s estimation, is a very talented Epeeist, and was added as a sub to the championships line up. While in the end their performance sealed the deal in the championships, Coach Winston is very proud of his foil team too, including Phillip Shin, Adam Schorin, and Collin Li. During the championships, Winston was confident in their skills, but the new changes added another layer of difficulty to winning the championships. However, they did their part to make getting the gold a reality. With so many wins under their belt it would be easy to assume that Coach Winston is a professional fencing coach, bringing with him a life long passion for the sport, but that’s not the case. Unlike many other high schools in the division, Stuyvesant does not have a coach deep in fencing roots. Winston is actually a technology teacher who came to fencing later in life. In fact, in many ways Winston was the reluctant fencing coach back in 2003 when he first started. He was interviewing for a teaching position at Stuyvesant, and they just so happened to need fencing coach. He started taking fencing lessons the year before he started coaching, and fell in love with its sportsmanship, elegance and strength. He had no intentions of coaching, but Martha Singer, who was the athletic director at the time, got wind of Winston’s interest in fencing from a student who had seen him training, and knew he was interviewing for a teaching position at Stuyvesant. Very simply, they needed a coach, and Singer wanted him for the job, but Winston wasn’t on board yet. However, he didn’t stand a chance – the kids wanted him, they told their parents, their parents called Winston at home, and all he could do was say yes. Winston spent his summer getting up to speed, which meant doing what he now expects his team members to do – practicing, working hard, being resourceful and having fun. He did drills, took lots of classes, and had private lessons with Joe Brodeth, the former fencing coach at St John’s. His hard work and dedication, along with some perfectionist tendencies and a completive streak paid off because now seven years later he’s still coaching one of the hottest fencing teams in the league. They have 68 straight wins under their belt, have graduated internationally ranked fencers, and widely known, the boys team has taken the gold three years in a row. While some of the team members are graduating, Winston has his eye on the future and says “it’s looking good for next year.”

By Renee Keller Photos by Andrew Adler

One of the first things you notice when you speak to Happy Orere -Amadu is how soft-spoken she is. She is a young lady of few words. As soon as she gets on to a soccer field though, her feet do all the talking. Happy is a senior midfielder for Harry S. Truman High School in the Bronx. She started attending Truman just two years ago after arriving from Nigeria with her family, including her three brothers, Thank You, Victory, Good Luck, Ambrose, and a sister, Blessings. Good Luck also attends Truman and will graduate with his sister. At the end of this season, the Mustangs placed third with an 8-4 record. In 11 games played, Happy made 57 shots, scored 23 goals and made 14 assists. She placed, placed sixth in the PSAL list of top soccer varsity players. The team entered the playoffs as the No. 25 seed and played against No.8 seed Benjamin Cardozo. Although the Mustangs lost in the first round, they were still happy because they worked together. “My teammates and our coaches combine our skills when we play a game,” said Happy. One of her teammates, Shanique Stewart, also happens to be her best friend. Like Happy, Shanique also came to the United States two years ago. She is from Jamaica. Shanique is a junior mid-fielder and co-captain of the Truman girls varsity soccer team. Shanique is also on the girls varsity indoor and outdoor rack teams. Shanique, who is a sprinter, has unbelieveable speed, according to the Mustangs’ soccer coach, John Burke. The Mustangs’ second-year head coach, John Burke, is extremely proud of his team’s efforts, but he is particularly

“I love soccer,” said Happy. “I’ve played ever since I was a little girl. I’d love to play in college and someday play for a professional league.”

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impressed by Happy’s talent. “I’ve never seen a player with such a skill set,” he said. “Happy has such athletic ability. She can kick with her left-foot or right-foot and she can kick the ball up to 5o yards.” When the Mustangs play against top teams. Burke will sometimes place Happy at sweeper because she is fast enough to dribble the ball past any opposing defenders. Besides being a gifted athlete, Happy is also a hardworking scholar. She has a 90 grade-point average. ”I love English and science,” she said. Happy has been offered a scholarship from St. Peter’s University, a Division I school, but she has to wait to receive her school transcripts from Nigeria and then send them along with her most recent transcripts to the NCAA Clearinghouse for approval. The schools in Nigeria, which are under the British system, are much different than those in the United States, so it has been a long process. “We are hoping to hear response from the Clearinghouse by January, “ said Kate Cosci, ,Happy’s guidance counselor. Happy has been fortunate because of all the help she has received from the school administration. Ms. Cosci, coach Burke and Truman’s principal, Sana Nasser, have all been working together to ensure that Happy gets into the college of her choice. Happy wants to study Pre-Med in college. For the past few months, Happy studied diligently to pass her SAT. “With God’s grace, I will pass,” Happy said. She took the SAT exam a few weeks ago. She prepared for it by attending tutoring sessions almost everyday after school, in addition to attending soccer practices and working at Burger King three

days a week to help support her family. Coach Burke has been supportive in helping Happy by sending emails and videos of the soccer star to college coaches. Happy says she is appreciative of all the assistance her coach has provided. “I love soccer,” said Happy. “I’ve played ever since I was a little girl. I’d love to play in college and someday play for a professional league.” In the meantime, coach Burke asserts that he will continue to help Happy get into college and pursue a degree in whatever she chooses. “What is the purpose of a sports program if it’s not helping kids improve their life for the future?” he asked. “After these players leave high school, they should be able to go on to college and prepare themselves for whatever career they want.”