Alison Kienzle ‘22 Fontbonne Varsity Basketball celebrated their Senior Night over the weekend of Feb. 12, and played against Maria Regina. There Fontbonne clinched a win against the Maria Regina Tigers 40-38.
As the Bonnies come to the end of their season, they have about four games left before the semi finals. At the time of writing, here is how the rest of the season will play out: Thursday February 17th the Bonnies will travel to McClancy High School in Elmhurst Queens. Fontbonne will then go on to play against Notre Dame Academy in Staten Island on February 23rd. The Bonnies also have a game on February 24th against a team that is yet to be determined. The Bonnies don’t know who they’re up against yet or the location, but that’ll wrap up the end of their regular season before the finals. Starting March 3rd, the Bonnies will go up against St Edmund’s Prep at Holy Cross to begin their playoff season.
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Kristen Russo '24 Let's have a warm welcome back for the Fontbonne basketball season! Covid-19 has taken away our past basketball season, but we’re back and better than ever!
JV held three tryouts and cut people as time went on. After players were cut at the first tryout, by the second try out, the coaches decided to not cut any more people. Our team consists of 16 players, the biggest JV basketball team that Fontbonne has ever had. The lineup reads: Maria Dimaggio, Toni Marie Leone, Rebecca Dielo, Christina Stravropoulos, Caitrina Mullally, Sophia Ypslantis, Joan Anastasiades, Valentina Caggiano, Venetiana Garyfallos, Kristen Russo (me), Sharlotte Greene, Allie Wagner, Lauren Brenna, Alexandra Somerville, Leeann Ryan, and Sophia Sterlacci. All the coaches spoke to us before our first practice, where they stated, “When it came to picking the players, we didn’t know what to do. Everyone was so enthusiastic during the tryouts like we’ve never seen before, and we couldn’t break it up.” The season starts in early November and ends in late February, but can go to March depending on playoffs. We play many different teams like Sea, SEP, Preston, Hill, etc. After our first scrimmage against Xaverian High school on Saturday, Nov. 27th, we have our first real game of the season against Holy Cross at Fontbonne, Dec. 3rd at 5 p.m. Come cheer us on and wish us luck. Alivia McCord '23 In April, Fontbonne’s lacrosse team was finally able to get back on the field! Lacrosse started back in 2020 in the beginning of March, but because of Covid-19, no one could play any sports. Our coaches Ralph Bianco, Concetta Durso, Mike Sammon, and Romeo Petric, all worked so hard to get our team back on the field, and they did.
For the start of the season, we had some practices so that the new people on the team could get the understanding of lacrosse. Practices have been scheduled from 4:30- 6:15 every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We have been working really hard so that we could have a great start on the new season. We also have been having practices on some Saturdays and Sundays. Our team is very welcoming to the new players, me being one of them, and we work together to teach each other new things we may not know. In my opinion, it is a very fun sport and it’s different from others. Lily O'Neill ’23 shared her thoughts about being able to be on the field again, “It feels great that our team gets to play lacrosse again because I haven’t been able to do anything in a while and it feels like things are getting better.” On Monday April 26, Fontbonne’s lacrosse team had their first game against Xaverian High School. We lost the game 7-1. But even though Xaverian won, we can learn what to work on for our next game. It was our first game and we were a little nervous to play. We did great despite having two new goalies who did an amazing job. Our team has to work on things like picking up and catching and keeping the ball. For our first game, I think that the whole team could say we did a good job and we are looking forward to future games. Gina Marie Pettignano '21 Fontbonne’s sport teams play a significant role in each student’s high school career. Being able to play any sport during high school is a blessing, and can change a person’s life in so many ways.
But during the last school year, COVID-19 came, As a result, many teams in our school had to cancel their ongoing season or cancel the season before it even began. Sports gives students a way to get into college. Playing a sport can help kids get a full scholarship or a decent amount of money for being talented at a sport. Universities will look at you and show interest in you. But due to COVID, a lot of high school athletes won’t be getting the exposure they need. A lot of students have different opinions on how their sports season is going so far in Fontbonne. One anonymous varsity soccer player told me, “It’s a lot different this year in many ways. The biggest struggle is practicing outside while wearing masks for about 1 ½-2 hours. Our season was delayed until late fall, and playing games are a lot different.” I myself, being on Fontbonne’s varsity tennis team, can say that practice is very different. Playing games aren’t the same anymore, and once we are done playing you can’t properly shake hands with your opponent. Instead, you have to stay at a distance and tap your rackets. Fontbonne’s basketball team can’t train in the gym like they normally do, instead they have to go down to the soccer field on Shore Road and train outside. It isn’t the same as practicing in the gym and being able to use an actual basketball court. By Jacqueline Khorsandi '21 The Fontbonne Basketball team played one of its toughest schedules this season playing quality teams from Staten Island, Manhattan and Westchester along with our usual tough games against our Brooklyn/ Queens opponents.
Coach Atanasio said “Although the team's record was subpar, there were two outstanding moments for the team this season”. The first occurred in the semifinal playoff game against St. Edmund Preparatory High School, with FHA coming from behind with under three minutes left in the game, down by six points, yet winning the game by 4 points. The second outstanding moment that comes to mind was in the diocesan championship against the first place team, St. Joseph High School from Brooklyn. Coach Atanasio recounted, “Again, down early and the score tied at halftime, the team managed to take an eight point lead after three quarters and won the game 38-37 and are the Brooklyn/ Queens A division Diocesan champions!” Although the team lost a hard fought game in the city championship game against Moore Catholic from Staten Island, it wound up being a successful season because of the diocesan championship - even though the team’s overall record does not show it. Coach Atanasio added “The teams success in the playoffs can be attributed to the tough regular season games played and the girls’ overall toughness and hard work throughout the season”. The team had many outstanding players all season long, including Sabrina McCarthy, Chloe Murphy, Maria Grzegorski, Lauren Dean, Corinne Connelly, Emma Davey and transfer student Bridget Rose. Coach Atanasio concluded, “These girls played hard all season and contributed to the teams success in the playoffs”. One of the players, Isabella Chirico ‘20, said, “I'd just say that it was really great to go through the season with my teammates. It wasn't our best or easiest season, but we all formed a bond and got closer with each other!”. Another one of the players, Maria Grzegorski ‘21, also said, “I feel that we really came together and bonded with one another all season long. All our hard work and togetherness was really shown by the end when we concluded our season with a Championship”. The team had an amazing season and let's hope next year they have an even better and amazing season. By Kerry McGouran '21 This school year's cheerleading season began in late May of 2019. After tryouts, the girls began training for cheerleading camp in Pine Forest, Pennsylvania which occurred in late August. The fall tryouts took place in September, where even more girls joined the team. The first competition was on November 23rd, 2019. Their most recent competition, USA Nationals, in Orlando, Florida, was on February 7th, 2020. The competition took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on the Friday of their arrival, where nine-hundred teams cheered.
Although the girls didn’t advance in the competition, they continued to practice and make the best of the Florida trip. On Saturday, the team had the opportunity to visit Disney World and chose any park they wanted for the day. At night, they had a team dinner where a member told me, “It was a great experience, we had a lot of laughs, and really bonded.” On Sunday, they went back to the parks and eventually left that night. Another team member told me, “I’m going to miss the experience so much. I hope we come back next year, not just for the competition, but to bond some more.” The girls are excited for what's to come in the future and the possible opportunities that may come up. By Kerry McGouran '21 The swim team tryouts kicked off on September 10, 2019. The team officially started practices on the 17th, and began preparing for their first meet against Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School on October 6th. The day before the meet, all the swim team members were invited to the freshwomen-only meet at Fort Hamilton High School. Sophomore Olivia Wageman said, “The meet was such a great bonding experience, especially for the freshwomen.”
Recently, on January 26, 2020, during the B-Champs meet, all the Fontbonne relays came in third place and each swimmer went home with a prize. Sophomore Aly Sanchez took first place in the butterfly and backstroke. She also qualified for A-Champs in the 100 backstroke. Olivia also said the meet was “So much fun, and a great accomplishment for all of us.” The A-Champs preliminaries - which determine which swimmers qualify for the championship - will take place on February 1st at the Nassau County Aquatic Center. The championship finals will then be held the following day. January 28th will be the team’s last practice before finals, “I know my teammates will do amazing in the A-Champs division and we’ll all be proud of them no matter what,” Olivia said. By Kerry McGouran '21 The cheerleading season began in late May of 2019. After tryouts, the girls began training for Cheerleading camp in Pine Forest, Pennsylvania which occurred in late August. The fall tryouts took place in September, where even more girls joined the team. The first competition was on November 23rd, 2019. The girls practiced very hard leading up to the competition. I had the opportunity to interview freshman Julia Teich who told me, “Before competition, the team was very nervous but we didn’t let it get in our way. Our hard work paid off and rewarded us in the end.” The girls competed in the game day JV tumbling division. Schools from a variety of states attended as well. The girls managed to take home a second place trophy. Julia said, “I was so proud of my team and our performance. It was a great feeling to do well at the competition because we worked so hard for it.” After the competition, the girls began practicing for their next competition. This took place on December 8th, 2019, in Long Island, New York. The competition had even more teams than the previous , as well as very talented teams from different states. The girls ended up winning third place. Additionally, they earned a bid to nationals which means they will be attending a competition in Disney in February 2019. “ I am so excited to see what Disney has in store for us. It will be a memorable team bonding experience for us,” Julia told me. The team is looking forward to the opportunity and hopes to take home a first place trophy! By Kerry McGouran '21 Fontbonne Hall Academy’s softball team will be starting off their season in early March of this year. This isn’t just any regular season for the team for they will be going to Florida for a statewide tournament over spring break.
I had the opportunity to interview the junior JV captains, Alia Mansour and Marianna Alonge, who are thrilled for the upcoming season. Alia said, “I’m so excited to see what the season has in store for us this year. We’re especially excited to travel to Florida together and have some team bonding time.” The week-long trip will be a “memorable one,” says Marianna. As far as the rest of the season goes, the team will be going head to head with other talented teams such as Xaverian, Molloy, The Mary Louis Academy, and more. “They’re all great teams and we’ll definitely have to put in hard work in order to win,” Alia expressed. The team has already started clinics and attending the batting cages. We, here at Fontbonne, are cheering them on this season and we hope they can take home a championship! By: Kerry McGouran '21 In late August of this year, Fontbonne Hall Academy’s varsity soccer team began tryouts along with conditioning for their upcoming season. They officially started off the season on October 10th, 2019 against Monsignor McClancy. Although the team lost that game and the next two to follow, they came out of their losing streak stronger, especially as the playoff season neared.
After the loses, Dr. de Carvalho, a science teacher at Fontbonne, stepped into the role of head coach. The next games to follow showed determination and drive amongst the players as they began to tie with teams they had previously lost to. Eventually, the team would go undefeated and put up a strong fight game after game, winning against St. Vincent Ferrar on October 17th, taking them to the quarter finals. Not only was this day happily celebrated because of the teams advancement in the playoffs, but it was also Senior Day for twelfth graders Brianna Alicandro and Stefanie Schnibbe. The next game to follow would determine if the team was off to the championship against St. John Prep at Flushing Meadows Park in Corona, Queens, on October 23rd. Fontbonne was in the lead 2-0 going into the second half. As the half progressed, St. John Prep and Fontbonne wound up tying up at the end. This meant that the teams had to play in overtime for twenty minutes until someone scored. If no one had scored in overtime, both teams would have taken penalty shots. Unfortunately, Fontbonne had lost about half way through overtime. Although they lost and are devastated from the elimination, the varsity team has so much to be proud of because of their improvement throughout the season. They truly worked together as a team and learned how to take advantage of their skills. This was a great 2019 soccer season for Fontbonne all around and we hope to see even more wins next season! |