Top Row Coaches: Brian Paturzo (Asst), Ritchie Gomez (Head Coach), Matt Abreu (Asst). Top Row Players: Luca Mineo, Jon Paturzo, Jack Gomez, Mike Abreu, John Paul Nicolaou, Gavin Mullen Bottom Row Players: Ryan Butler, Joe Spungin, John McLaughlin, Peter Cruciata. (Photo courtesy of Brian Paturzo)
Unbeaten OLSS 4th-Grade A boys' team wraps up state crown
Our Lady Star of the Sea's 4th-Grade A boys' team capped off an undefeated regular season and postseason (21-0 record) while winning its second A state title.
In the state title game, OLSS topped St. Gregory of Rockland County, 40-26, last Saturday at Monsignor Farrell as John Paturzo, Mike Abreu and Jack Gomez combined for 28 points.
Gavin Mullen (eight points, five steals) and Peter Cruciata had stellar games, while Luca Mineo played strong defense and John Paul Nicolaou dominated the boards.
The week before at Mount St. Michael in the Bronx, OLSS defeated OLPH of Pelham, N.Y., 31- 22 to claim the Downstate title.
Jack Gomez and Michael Abreu split 24 points, while Paturzo and John McLoughlin combined for 10 assists.
Joseph Spungin (two points) and Ryan Butler (two points and three steals) ignited the defense.
Courtesy of Cory Goodman
Two foul shots lift Holy Family girls to CYO 4th-grade B Island title
They are calling Angelina Guastamacchia “Angie Ice” these days at Holy Family parish, and it’s quite understandable.
With the Holy Family Cardinals trailing 14-13 with 46.9 seconds left in the girls’ 4th-grade B Island title game against Holy Rosary two weeks ago at St. Joseph Hill Academy, Guastamacchia sank two free throws, giving her team a 15-14 triumph.
But the game wasn’t decided until three seconds remaining when Holy Family’s Olivia Farinacci dribbled the ball down the sideline and ran out the clock, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Sophia Ogofa scored eight points, Guastamacchia finished with four and Gabby Peragine added three.
The Cardinals, coached by Cory Goodman and Lou Guastamacchia, advanced to the title game by topping unbeaten and No. 1 seed St. Patrick’s the week prior.
“Their athleticism, sportsmanship and team play was the difference,” said Coach Goodman of the season and the title game. “Their dynamic defense and hard-to-match offense set these girls up for a win to remember!"
Rounding out the championship team are Emma Chiusano, Gabriella Wetherby, Julianna Allegretti, Brya Sweeney, Danielle Mallen and Emily Goodman.
Staten Islanders Alessandra Elliott stands at the top of the podium after winning her third USA Youth Wrestling State Championship last weekend.
Three-time wrestling champ
Alessandra Elliott of Tottenville’s Youth Wrestling program has done it again.
The eighth-grader at the Staten Island School of Civic Leadership in Graniteville (better known as PS 861) became a three-time champion of the USA Youth Wrestling State Championship held last weekend in Johnson City, N.Y.
Her latest gold came in the 136-pound Schoolgirl Division.
"She had a stellar performance dominating all of her opponents," said Tottenville Youth Wrestling coach Anthony Mirra. "She pinned her first two opponents and tech-falled her third and final opponent, 22-5."
Mirra lauded Elliott's hard work and dedication to the sport.
"Becoming a three-time NYS youth champion is not only an astonishing accomplishment but most importantly well deserved," said Mirra. "Needless to say that the hard work and dedication she puts in is recognized through her victories on the mat."
Staten Island Advance
Glenn Sanabria leads Terriers into CIT
It's not the NCAA Tournament or the National Invitation Tournament, but St. Peter's product Glenn Sanabria and his St. Francis Terriers will still be playing basketball this week.
The Northeast Conference-playing Terriers will visit Hampton Thursday in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) at the Convocation Center in Hampton, Va.
The Terriers (17-15, 9-9 NEC) are set to make their first-ever appearance in the CIT. It is St. Francis Brooklyn’s first appearance in a national postseason tournament since it earned an automatic berth to the 2015 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Sanabria, a senior, has been behind a lot of his team's success as he earned All-NEC Third Team honors.
The guard is second on the team in scoring and tied for 17th in the league averaging 12.5 points per contest. Sanabria ranks 12th on the Terriers all-time scoring list with 1,342 career points.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Heiden
I.S. 61 grand 2nd Island hoops crown in 3 seasons
The William A Morris (Intermediate School 61) girls' basketball team claimed its second New York City Middle Basketball League Staten Island championship in three seasons Saturday afternoon.
The team, coached by Kevin Heiden and his assistant Peter Timmins, beat I.S. 24, 37-31, in the title game to improve to 12-1 overall. The squad is awaiting its seeding for the citywide playoffs.
Dorothy Wiese, who scored 13 points, was the title game MVP, while Vanessa McManus added seven points and five steals.
The team has compiled a 33-2 record over the last three seasons, reaching the borough finals all that time.
Rounding out the squad are Chelsea Henriquez, Zaria Lewis, Semia McGhie, Hilani Blanchette, Cherish Rodriguez, Kaleigh Fitzgibbons, Arianna Montanez, Jaydalyn Oropeza, Raya Scheffler, Sanaaya Thompson and Jaice Dorsey.
Staten Island Advance/Derek Alvez
Soccer refeerees needed
Interested in officiating soccer for money?
A soccer official class, conducted by the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association, will be held Saturday and Sunday at St. Clare's Murphy Center (110 Nelson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10308) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Candidates must attend both sessions.
Upon passing the rules test at the conclusion of each course, the new referees will be certified to officiate Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) games with many played near your home. A new official would be given assignments in the easiest games to start and you could potentially advance quickly in leagues such as the Staten Island Youth Soccer League (SIYSL), Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League (CJSL) and Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL).
The fee for the course is $210 which includes a uniform. Click on the link to register: https://enysra.gameofficials.net
Vincenzo Rapacciuolo right, shows off his medal with a member of the USATF at his side. (Family photo)
Hershey Nationals
Vincenzo Rapacciuolo was one of dozens of Staten Islanders who competed in the Hershey Track and Field Nationals last weekend at Ocean Breeze Athletic Center.
Rapacciuolo finished second in the 11-12-year-old boys' shot put. There were a lot of other Staten Island medal winners as well.
The Ocean Breeze WaveRunners competed as well, bringing home numerous titles and dozens of other placings.
For complete results, please visit https://oceanbreezenyc.org/sports/2019/3/15/hershey-national-youth-indoor-championships.aspx
CYO Cheer Snapchat
CYO cheerleading is a borogh staple
Staten Island Advance
Interesting sports news? Send it our way
The Gym Bag will publish every Wednesday on the web and will appear in the Staten Island Advance shortly after. This is where we will feature short stories, tidbits and morsels about your players or teams going forward in place of the daily game results we used to take.
You can send us interesting information about your team after a strong start to the season, a championship season, a first win, a player who did something extraordinary in a particular game or event, etc.
If you have any news or tidbits like that, please email the sports desk at sports2@siadvance.com where we will evaluate the message and see if the content qualifies for our notebook.
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