Whether it was a big game win, a regular season accomplishment, or even a playoff title earned, this Spring Season was full of growth and willpower. With four Championship titles and four NYSAIS appearances, our Lions really brought it home — and we couldn’t be more proud. Continue reading for more insight on how our Lions performed in the final athletic season of the 2023-24 school year.

Girls Varsity Tennis | Coaches Tim Heath, Ben Dorman, and Ben Shapiro

Going undefeated (7-0) for the season and shining like stars, it’s our Girls Varsity Tennis team! “By taking the lessons learned from each of us, the team was able to grow as a cohesive unit and achieve a higher level of play,” shared a very proud Coach Heath. This was evident when the team was able to claim victory against Bay Ridge Prep in a hard-fought game that earned them the ISAL Regular Season Championship Title. Shortly after that, the Girls Varsity Tennis team entered the ISAL End-of-Season tournament composed of individual competitions, where our Lions came out on top, winning all of the events! With a successful season under their rackets, the team can’t wait to get back to competition, but will be working hard until then.

Boys Varsity Tennis | Coaches Tim Heath, Ben Dorman, and Ben Shapiro

“Taking care of business” was a common phrase you’d hear if you were around the Boys Varsity Tennis team — and they did just that, as they ended the regular season with a commendable record of 12-3. The team went on to be the Champions of the ISAL and runners-up of the ACIS. 

The coaches shared how nice it was to witness the team develop, building a unified mentality. Everyone truly played a role on the team, but one standout was Josh Racz ’25. Josh was the go-to person for inspiration, as well as information on the opposition. 

When asked what he would be looking forward to the most with the team next season, Coach Heath tells us, “Our goal is to return as a unit and capture the ACIS Regular Season Title and playoffs.” That said, we cannot wait to see the results next spring.

MS Tennis | Coach Stefania Sidoli

The Middle School Tennis season was a great success! The team diligently worked to improve upon their skills — particularly their groundstrokes — showing remarkable progress over the weeks. They gained a clear understanding of the rules and strategies of the game, which enhanced their performance in matches. The season concluded on a high note, as the team had the opportunity to watch and cheer for the Varsity team, gaining inspiration and insight into advanced play. “The experience not only fostered their love for tennis, but also built a strong foundation for their future in the sport,” said Coach Sidoli. 

Boys Varsity Volleyball | Coaches Tiam Chuck, Aaron Colon, and Carmelo Cintron

When you have a returning group of skilled players who are led by passionate coaches, success is within reach. That couldn’t be more true for our Boys Varsity Volleyball team, which has, once again, earned the titles of League and Playoff Champions of the ISAL! 

Some highlights — Tom Ifrah ’24 was an undeniable force on the court as he executed dynamic plays, hustled, and kept the team morale alive. Daniel Barschdorff ’24 proved once again to be a valuable asset to the team, delivering powerful swings in a new position this year. Daniel Born de Andres ’26 and Ethan Cortez ’24 were the team’s setters, hustling on the court in order to transition defensive plays into offensive opportunities for our Lions. Zach Wolf ’25 and Dylan Lytle ’25 both had amazing blocks and aggressive swings that helped get the team hyped up and gain momentum in games. Smashing the ball down, digging, and blocking the opposition, Alex Gingold ’27 went to work this season. Henry McIntosh ’28 had the opportunity to step up and become the team’s libero, and he did not disappoint — in many rallies, he was the back-court hero. 

One memorable moment of this past season — senior Daniel Barshcdorff showed an exceptional amount of dedication and tenacity in the first of many games against Brooklyn Friends. Despite not feeling his best, Daniel went above and beyond to support his team and help them secure the victory. “Daniel has always been a team player, but that was a moment that truly spoke to his character,” said Coach T. “Loyal, selfless, and reliable.”

Although the next season is quite some time away, the members of the Boys Varsity Volleyball team have already begun working toward a higher level of success for next year.

Varsity Rugby | Coaches Heidi Rubenstein, Adam Higgins, and Arnold Chavis

Taking second place in the Met NY Division 2 was our Varsity Rugby team. These Lions have been working hard to develop better tackle technique, strategy, and morale. A treasured win of the season was the victory against New Rochelle, a team that our team has historically struggled against. Our Lions dug deep and pushed on to pull out the win, but for the coaches the real win was seeing the team's growth, determination, and resilience. This season, every player valued the number on their teammate's back, portraying a strong sense of teamwork and sportsmanship. 

Though part of a large team, this year’s five graduating seniors had a massive impact. Matisse Dubois-Pelerin Sanz, our fullback and captain, led by example, consistently putting his body on the line for crucial try-saving tackles. Jack Kuper, the forward and loosehead prop position, held both himself and other seniors accountable, setting high standards for the team. Hayden Lucas, in his first season, quickly grasped the nuances of the game, showcasing how coachable he was. Jonathan (J.J.) Platt, our energetic right-wing player, lifted team spirits with his infectious enthusiasm, while Ale Abdy brought his agility to the field as our left-wing player.

Acting as a vice captain alongside captain Matisse was Ryan Franciscovich ’25. Both of these athletes worked to provide leadership both on and off the field and guide the team through challenges while also inspiring their teammates to give their all.

With only five teammates graduating out of twenty-nine, there's excitement about the potential for next season, as the younger Lions can evolve into key contributors. One thing is for sure, each member of the team is fully capable of earning a spot in the record books in the coming seasons.

Varsity Softball | Coaches Anthony Rodriguez and Shanna Bess

Coach Anthony and the returning players were thrilled when several newcomers took to the plate this season! With diligence and plenty of teamwork, the team bonded and saw much improvement — from the start of the season to their second consecutive ISAL Championship berth against Bay Ridge Prep. After giving it their all, the Varsity Softball team finished as the runners-up. “Even though the season didn’t end with a Championship win, the journey itself was filled with memorable moments, growth, and accomplishments,” said Coach Anthony. 

Lulu Deyer ’25 and Darby London ’25 were instrumental in leading their teammates into competition this year, as the veterans and team captains of the team. The two served as role models for the younger athletes, especially those who were new to the program. Often helping to coach 3rd base and giving insight to the rookies on how to properly lead off 2nd base, Sabella Faccio ’27 was recognized this season for helping the team out of some tight spots and being an encouraging voice on the field; in one game, Sabella hit a homerun and had 6 RBIs. Jazmin Novick ’29 had an amazing highlight this season when she caught a hard hit line drive at second base against LREI. “The joy when she caught it was great to see, and the cheers she got from the team showed her how much of an asset she was. Jazmin had never played softball before, and she was our most improved player this year,” said Coach Anthony. 

Coach Anthony goes on to share how excited he is to see what the future holds; he hopes their love for the game encourages them to push on and develop further.

Varsity Baseball | Coaches Jonathan Ascher and Ted Belcher

This was Coach Belcher’s 10th year coaching either baseball or softball. “In my 10 years, I have never seen such a dominating show on the mound as Max Schoenfeld '25 had this season,” he said. Over 5 games, Max threw 55 strikeouts, averaging over 2 per inning. Connor Janiak ’27 was also on the mound, helping out in some crucial moments. Unfortunately, another key player, Luke DiMaria ’27, had his season cut short due to injury, but not after ending his season with a .571 batting average. 

The team nearly doubled their overall batting average from the previous season and had a total of 47 stolen bases. Twelve of those stolen bases came from freshman Zack Jacobsen ’27. Another key player was Milo Haber '28, who was not only the most trusted person to keep the scorebook accurate, but who also came in clutch pitching this season. In his pitching debut, he struck out two batters — one, a senior! Not a small feat for any pitcher, and a great sign of his success to come.

While the Varsity Baseball team didn’t win the championship this year, the team is looking forward to chipping away at the competition next season and earning a playoff berth to play at MCU Park again. 

Varsity Track and Field | Coaches Holly Nohavitza and Doug Sklar

Going the distance with a roar is our Varsity Track and Field team! The team worked diligently to improve their times, and, as a result, the girls division placed 3rd with some of our top Lions qualifying for the NYSAIS competition!

It was rewarding for the coaches to see their student-athletes attempting unfamiliar events. Several stepped up and accepted the challenge to try longer distances. Helping athletes improve their stamina and guiding them to push past their own limits is what drives our coaches, and they couldn’t be happier with the results this season. The members of the Varsity Track and Field team were able to make advancements and prove to themselves that they can strive for improvement with every step on the track.

The coaches are hopeful that this progression will continue in the future. They look ahead to a full roster eligible to return, hopefully with some new additions for next season. 

Varsity Golf | Coaches Brett Madarasz and Ra Ung

The Varsity Golf team had a terrific season, winning the ISAL! These golfers always aimed high and, as a result, made remarkable achievements. David Rowe ’27, Paul Wilpon ’26, Charlie Greenwald ’27, and William Scibilia ’26 all qualified and had a chance to show off their skills at the NYSAIS tournament this season. “Each player put in a ton of work throughout the season and showed so much progress each and every day. We had a lot of laughs,” said Coach Madarasz. ”This team was a ton of fun to coach, and we look forward to returning all 10 players next year.”

There’s no better way to end the school year than by reflecting on all these achievements and fond memories of spirited competition. Although school is out, allowing our Lions to take a much needed rest, they’ll still need to gear up and get ready for the new school year ahead. The fall pre-season will be here before you know it, but until then, we hope all our Lions get to enjoy their Summer Break!