The Detroit Tigers exposed the New York Yankees’ weak bullpen in their opening first series game on September 9, the Yankees losing 12-2. 

With the Toronto Blue Jays leading the American League East Division, the New York Yankees stand vulnerable in the wildcard, a decline from last year’s leading position. 

In the sum up of the regular season before the playoffs, the Yankees stand 80-64 against the Tigers 83-62.

The Tuesday game began with Yankees left fielder Aaron Judge blasting a home run in the bottom of the first inning, then center fielder Cody Bellinger following Judge with another home run in the second inning. 

After two scoreless innings Yankees opening pitcher Will Warren allowed two runs in the 5th inning, Tigers tying the game.

Even with a tie game the crowd cheered in the hopes for the Yankees to win, this before the beginning of the seventh inning blow-out. “I was pretty sure the Yankees was going win today, but like always the bullpen ruined it,” said a Yankee fan, Steven Morales. 

The top of the 7th inning began with Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz relieving starting pitcher Will Warren, the beginning of the blow-out. Fernando Cruz allowed four walks, one hit-by-pitch, lead off double, two RBI singles, two run triple, and one hit-by-pitch, leading the Tigers 7-2. 

Cruz couldn’t finish the inning as Yankees manager Aaron Boone relieved him, bringing in Mark Leiter Jr.

The crowd was not happy, they yelled “BOOO” as Mark Leiter Jr. ran up to the mount. Within the same inning Leiter Jr. allowed a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a wild pitch, 4 more runs for the Tigers, a score of 10-2. 

As the Tigers increased their lead the crowd chanted “TAKE HIM OUT” multiple times as Leiter Jr. kept pitching. 

“Today’s game has been the highlight of the Yankees this year, and yeah they are not making it this year,” said a Yankee fan, Luis Espinal. 

The dreadful inning didn’t finish as Aaron Boone relieved Mark Leiter jr. and brought in pitcher Tim Hill who ended the 7th inning with no runs allowed.

The 8th inning was a scoreless inning for the Yankees, then right after the crowd began to leave with no hopes that the Yankees would catch up.

With the pressure of the playoffs around the corner, the Tigers have a five percentage higher chance of making it to the World Series then the Yankees according to ESPN.

The NY Roadrunners’ Open Runs have a clear goal: to create a close-knit community in each borough to promote healthy habits and connections. They achieve this by setting up weekly runs all year long. 

On Tuesday, September 2nd, they gathered at Brooklyn Bridge Park for the opening run of the Fall season. They will also sponsor runs in other parks, including Canarsie and Highland in Brooklyn, Inwood Hill and Morningside in Manhattan, and Astoria Park in Queens. 

  JP, who preferred not to give his last name, has been volunteering with the Road Runners for almost a year at Brooklyn Bridge Park. He described a typical open run. “This park is a 5K,” he said, meaning five kilometers, or about three miles. “We do several loops. We might skip some of the piers, but they ultimately meet back at the start. I just stay here and watch everyone’s bags.”  

While he jokingly downplayed his responsibilities, the NY Roadrunners volunteers do more than making sure everyone’s property is in safe hands. They make sure the runners are checked in and hand them slips of paper that confirm their involvement. The first open run was held in 2015, and since then they’ve welcomed volunteers

As JP finishes checking in runners – who range from children to the elderly – he turns to an older gentleman named Larry Sillen who is away from the pack stretching. With friendly small talk, JP confirms Sillen’s involvement before wishing him luck.

 Sillen is a longtime runner and has been participating at open runs since the beginning. His ties with the organization go back even further. 

“I’ve been with the roadrunners since 1979, when they started putting on races, which are very popular,” he said. The New York City Marathon is “their baby,” Sillen continued. “This year and last year, they had 52,000 runners do the marathon, both male and female.” Sillen himself has run the New York City Marathon eight times. “I did it for health and losing weight,” he said. “lost about fifty pounds. It’s a love now, you get addicted to it.”

Sillen believes that the NYC Roadrunner’s goal is met, as the weekly runs do assist in keeping New York locals healthy. “Well people keep at it, you can go to different parks on different days.”

In Brooklyn Bridge Park on Sept. 2 about 25 runners showed up. According to JP,  “It varies, there’s always a core group of people who show up week in and week out, no matter the weather.”

The open run goes on smoothly as the first runner finishes the run 30 minutes after it has commenced, with others trailing behind. 

On Tuesday, October 14th at 7pm, NY Roadrunners will celebrate 10 years of their open runs, since the event’s inception in 2015. 

Family, friends, neighbors, and community leaders gathered at the Linden Houses in East New York, Brooklyn to pay homage to a local hero. The corner of Van Siclen and Wortman Ave was transformed into “Wayne Mackie Way” in honor of the legendary NFL official. “No words can describe what I’m feeling right now. I am emotional and inspired by everyone who came out. He is so loved,” states Jade Mackie, Mr. Mackie’s daughter.

Councilman Chris Banks (D-NY) partnered with the President of the Linden Houses Association, Carol Barnes, and the Mackie family to pass the legislation on the street co-naming for Mackie. Banks presented the plaque to the family and, with the help of Mackie’s father, unveiled the street sign on Saturday, September 7th. “This is a great day in the 42nd council district. It’s a great way to honor, immortalize, and commemorate this great leader of East New York,” stated Banks. While the event focused on legacy, residents and local leaders wanted to emphasize community with street co-namings.

Many in attendance felt that street co-namings should be named after people who lived, worked, and gave back to the community instead of individuals with no relationship to it. According to Senator Roxanne Persaud (D-NY), “Street namings should always have a significance and connection to the community. Too often, you’ll see a street naming and wonder what this person has done or contributed to the community. With this renaming, we see the growth of the person and what they gave back to the community, and this is why it’s so significant.”

Wayne Mackie grew up on 190 Wortman Street in the Linden Houses in East New York. He attended Brooklyn Tech High School, where he played football until he got injured and pivoted his interest in football towards officiating. He graduated from Colgate University in 1982, receiving a Bachelor’s in Economics. In 1992, he began his career as a referee, officiating the PSAL junior varsity games, and in 1996, he eventually moved up to officiating Division II and Division III collegiate games. 

That following year, he began working full-time for the New York City Housing Association (NYCHA) as the Director of Operations for the Division of Neighborhood Preservation, officiating only on weekends. In 2007, he joined the NFL, becoming a Head Linesman. He got his big break in 2016 when he was one of nine officials chosen out of 121 to referee Super Bowl 50 between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. That following year, he became the league’s Vice President of Officiating Evaluation and Development. 

Despite his success, Mackie always gave back to his community. In 2010, he co-sponsored the NFL/NYCHA Football Officiating Academy. This eight-week program allowed 40-50 NYCHA residents to learn what it takes to be an NFL official. Curtis Williams, the Manager of NYCHA’s Department of Resident Engagement, states and manager of the program, said, “It was an opportunity and a career path for our youth that they didn’t think was attainable.” Manny Moreno, a program graduate, entered as a participant in his first year and started a non-profit, Allegiance Youth Football, in 2011, became an assistant in his second year, and became a consultant in his third year with the program. He eventually became a supplemental college official for two seasons and now sits on the executive board of his non-profit. Moreno remembered that  “he taught me that you have to put in the work years and take officiating seriously.” 

Unfortunately, the NFL/NYCHA program was short-lived and eventually ended due to a lack of funding in 2016. But in 2022, the NFL renamed its officiating program the Mackie Development Program, which scouts officials from high school and collegiate football for an opportunity to work in the NFL. Mackie revamped the program using his decade’s worth of experience, providing resources for technology and making the program more diverse. According to Walt Anderson, former NFL Vice President of Officiating, “Wayne was such a great contributor to the program that it was only fitting to name it after him. We get applications in the thousands, but only five officials get accepted to work in the NFL each year; it’s a very select group.”

Megan Campbell enters her first season as head coach of the Brooklyn College women’s basketball team, inheriting a program seeking its fourth straight CUNY Athletic Conference championship. Campbell’s predecessor, Alex Lang, leaves behind a history of winning in his 20 years as head honcho.

Campbell served as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs’ the last two seasons. During her tenure, she won back-to-back conference titles, and the program’s first ever NCAA tournament win in 2022.

“After I was promoted, Alex told me to be myself, have my own coaching style, and stay consistent,” Bulldogs’ Head Coach Megan Campbell said. “Alex has always been, and will continue to be, a mentor of mine.”

Campbell has continued to push the principles of Lang: ultra-focus on the defensive end of the floor, and everyone holding each other accountable. With that, Campbell made it crystal clear that she would add her own special sauce to Lang’s recipe for success.

“I wanted to establish a culture where we’re not only competing at the highest intensity on gameday, but also during practice,” Campbell said.

For a team that has had as much recent success as the Bulldogs, it’d be fathomable to become complacent.

“I understand that as back-to-back-to-back champions, we have a bullseye on our back, and every team we play is going to give us their best shot,” Campbell said. “That’s why it’s imperative that we raise our intensity level up a notch, even more so than in prior years.”

Before becoming a coach, Campbell was highly touted as a player at Brooklyn from 2013-2015 after playing for Lackawanna College her freshman and sophomore seasons. Campbell led the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots as a junior. She would go on to be named a First Team CUNYAC All-Star during her junior year.

As a senior, she averaged 14.8 points per game, and 9.4 rebounds per game. Campbell was named a First Team CUNYAC All-Star for the second year in a row. She ended her college career with a bang after cashing in on an Eastern College Athletic Conference championship.

Her achievements extend beyond the basketball court. As a student, Campbell earned Capital One/CoSIDA Academic Third Team All-American Accolades her senior year. As a coach, she continues to promote the importance of academic achievement. “Coach Meg really shows she cares by making sure the mental health, and education part of life comes first,” Bulldogs’ small forward Julianna Elkins said.

After college, Campbell played in Ireland for the Institute of Technology Carlow. She added a piece of hardware to her trophy case after winning the Women’s National League Championship in 2017.

Campbell’s coaching career began overseas. She led the Old Leighlin women’s-team to an All-Ireland Club championship.

Her last stop before joining Brooklyn’s staff occurred in the summer of 2021. Campbell was on the American Athletic Union (AAU) circuit coaching with Castle Athletics, a program for middle school students.

Now part of Campbell’s job includes recruiting the best high school students to join the top women’s basketball program in the CUNYAC.

“Before coming to Brooklyn College, I mainly talked to Alex about the transition and recruitment process,” Elkins said. “When he stepped down, Coach Meg texted me regularly to make sure I was ok. My parents were very nervous about sending me to New York from our home in Maryland. Conversations with Coach Meg helped ease the anxiety my parents, and I had.”

Campbell has big shoes to fill in replacing Lang, the winningest women’s basketball coach ever in CUNYAC history. He has a record of 340 wins, and 210 losses, along with 10 consecutive 20-win seasons (2011-2022). Lang has won eight coach of the year awards, four CUNYAC championships, and two ECAC championships, cementing his legacy as a head coach.

Lang stepped down from his position as head coach earlier this year, in April. He had coached for 23 years consecutively, with the exception of the pandemic, when there was no basketball season. The pandemic gave him time to take a step back and think about his future with the team.

“I think coaching here for 20 seasons, I met most of the goals that I wanted to meet,” Lang said. “I did a lot of what I wanted to do, and I had no regrets in terms of my coaching career, and I was happy to maybe pass it along to someone else.”

While he still cares deeply about the team, he thought it would be more beneficial for them to have someone with even more energy and passion continue to take the program to new heights.

Now he tries to help out the team in any way he can. Lang has been advising Campbell throughout this whole process because, as he knows, being a first-year coach is not easy.

“I think the most helpful thing I’ve been able to do, is to just provide her with some context for some of the frustrations that she has and explain to her that it’s very natural,” Lang said.

One of those frustrations being the constant struggle that coaches have when trying to motivate the players individually, while also trying to get them to work together as a team.

Lang took over the team in 2002. He turned around a program that was winless the previous season, and two years later, the team surpassed double-figures in victories.

Despite Lang’s rich resume as a coach, he lost his position as interim Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Intramurals early in 2023. He had begun in that position at the start of the pandemic in 2020 after Bruce Filosa retired.

Director Filosa’s tenure lasted 28 years (1992-2020). When Filosa started, Brooklyn’s program was in a dismal state, having fallen out of NCAA Division III and CUNYAC. He led the women’s team back into full Division III and CUNYAC membership. One of the main factors for Filosa’s hire as director was to restart overall Intercollegiate Athletics. He was able to build the program up to 13 intercollegiate teams.

During Lang’s three years as director, he increased publicity for many teams and athletes at Brooklyn College, while hiring coaches for a variety of programs, including men and women’s swimming. He will now serve as assistant director.

Earlier this year, Brooklyn College welcomed its new athletic director, Erik Smiles. He has served as Director of Athletics, Recreation, and Intramurals at Hostos Community College since 2019. Lang, although demoted, will work alongside Smiles, who took the position Lang had held on an interim basis.

“Alex has well-established relationships with staff, and a strong familiarity with the inner workings of Brooklyn College. Smiles is energetic, eager, and ready to share his ideas to lead the athletics department moving forward,” Bulldogs Soccer Coach Luis Flores said. “Together, they make a very powerful administrative team.”

Smiles’ highly-decorated career resume began at Farmingdale State College. He was an assistant coach on the men’s basketball staff before being named Head Coach and Campus Facilities Coordinator in 2004. During his nine seasons at the helm, he led the Rams to four Skyline Regular Season titles, and three Skyline Tournament Championships. Smiles also served as the Athletic Facility Coordinator and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Long Island University – Post, an NCAA Division II program, from 2013 – 2019.

“Without even a full year under his belt as athletic director, Smiles has already contributed in a major way to the sports scene at Brooklyn College,” Flores said. “Starting this spring, all teams will have strength and conditioning coaches to enhance performance on gameday.”

The Brooklyn College men’s soccer team was heading towards another disastrous season similar to last years. The Bulldogs had one measly win in their first 10 games to start the season, an identical record to the year prior. Despite this rough start, Brooklyn ended the season strong, rattling off three wins and one draw in its last four games. But after this dismal start, Brooklyn came close to winning its first-ever CUNY Athletic Conference championship.

Following the 2021 season, half of Brooklyn’s roster graduated, leaving the team with 12 spots to fill. “Recruiting players for our team in 2022 was extremely difficult. The omicron COVID-19 variant in the fall of ’21 limited our opportunities to scout and acquire top talent,” Bulldogs head coach Luis Flores said.

Brooklyn’s ability to recruit players for the 2023 season was crucial to its success. Flores is a high school PSAL soccer coach as well as a coach at the college. He’s been able to develop deep relationships with numerous high school coaches. Flores has also built friendly relationships with his players, and their families. Flores’ connections outside the college led him to freshman midfielder, George Koufos who won rookie of the year CUNY-wide. Flores had met Koufos and his parents while coaching his two younger sisters during a soccer camp a few summers ago.

Bradlej Cupi’s astounding play also helped revamp the 2023 Bulldogs. Cupi was scoreless during the 2022 season. “I analyzed my gameplays very thoroughly, and improved in the areas where I was lacking most. I trained year-round on the field, and in the weight-room,” Cupi said. “The main factor was the team played better. I had better opportunities this season because of my teammates. My job is to finish the play, and put the ball in the net.” This season, Cupi did just that. He finished the year with 23 total points in 15 games played.

“Koufos is a tremendous passer, and Cupi is a deadly shooter,” Flores said. “They were a dynamic duo for us all year long.” Koufos led the conference in assists with nine, and Cupi was the second leading scorer with 13 goals.

Cupi caught fire and carried Brooklyn through the playoffs. After a draw in their regular season match against John Jay, the Bulldogs had eliminated them with a 2-1 victory in the quarterfinals. Cupi stole the ball in front of John Jay’s goal and scored just 12 minutes into the game. He set the tone early, and Brooklyn never surrendered the lead.

After an impressive win against higher-ranked John Jay, the Bulldogs were staring down a matchup in the semifinals against the number one team in the conference, Lehman College. During the regular season, Brooklyn had faced Lehman on its home turf and got smacked around: the Bulldogs were shutout 4-0.

But Brooklyn was a much-improved team entering this playoff matchup. A first half goal from Cupi was all the Bulldogs needed to secure the victory. Lehman laid it on heavy in the second half, firing shots at senior goalkeeper, Carl-Henry Obeissant, but he was up for the challenge and held the slim 1-0 lead.

“Carl joined our team late in the season, he was dealing with an ankle injury that kept him off the field for the first six games,” Flores said. “Once he returned, his impact was significant. He had a huge height advantage over our backup goalie, along with experience.”

The Bulldogs’ Cinderella story came to an end against Baruch. Brooklyn was defeated 2-0 in a feisty match that came down to the wire. Julio Ramirez scored a goal for the Bearcats 29 minutes into the game. The score remained 1-0 up until the last two minutes of regulation, when Andrew Kinal sealed the Bulldogs’ fate with a goal to extend Baruch’s lead.

Despite a bitter end to a sweet season, Brooklyn expects to be a contender for the 2024 championship. The Bulldogs’ core will feature a young trio of all-stars, Bradlej Cupi, George Koufos, and Ryan Vukovic. “Our experience from these playoffs, will help keep us composed next season,” Flores said. “I also expect to add more impactful players, to our already talented roster.”

]]> https://journalism.blog.brooklyn.edu/2023/11/a-cruise-for-brooklyn-volleyball/ Thu, 02 Nov 2023 22:05:57 +0000 https://journalism.blog.brooklyn.edu/?p=12053 ...[read more]]]> BY DAMIEN OVALLE

On Halloween Day the Brooklyn College Women’s Volleyball team swept the York College Cardinals 3-0, taking a promising fourth place in the CUNYAC (City University of New York Athletic Conference) and heading into the conference championships with an 11-11 record.

Coming off a two-game winning streak, Brooklyn can hold its head high looking towards a potential championship which has been eluding them for years.

The problem that has plagued Brooklyn is their own mistakes which could cost them numerous points or even be the deciding factor for a game.

“One of our biggest problems is a slow start, but we’ve been able to avoid that for the past five games,” said Head Coach Joseph Agrest.

Going into the first set out of five. Brooklyn sought to take the first, inching closer toward a sweep. (The first to three wins, wins the match)  Brooklyn opened with a serve from number 20 Katia Mercado, and what followed was a 5-0 run where the Bulldogs appeared as if they could not be stopped. York College’s number 11 Madison Plaza halted that surge, giving Brooklyn a vicious hit back in its territory which the team couldn’t give back.

After what seemed to be a promising back-and-forth between the two teams, Brooklyn went on a dominant 8-0 run which would be the deciding factor. Emma Steele (#5)  seemed as if she would never get off her hot streak, helping Brooklyn to run away with the set. Brooklyn closed the first set 25-5.

“This game gave us a lot of opportunity to practice things on our own. When I was serving I focused more on spots, shorts, deeps, and my technique… This game helped us, ”said Steele.

In the second set Brooklyn stormed through the Cardinals 25-8. However, Aleah Rafat (#9) helped Brooklyn break through the Cardinals’ tough defense as they would not go down without a fight. Rafat led the match with seven kills (spikes), most of them in the second set. That same set  Bulldogs started off on a 7-2 run which would come off of the hot hand of Rafat.

“(Brooklyn) is a whole different team and I’m glad that it’s being seen by everyone, not just the players.” Said Rafat.

The final set, where Brooklyn closed the game, was a similar story to that of the first two. Opening with 15 unanswered points, the Bulldogs continued to punish the Cardinals in what seemed to be a lopsided game. The remainder of the game was taken as a chance to start the younger players on the team, Coach Agrest starte Kela Duncan, Olivia Fan, and Shaniya Garcia who all are first-year members of the team.

With the final conference game over, Brooklyn set its eyes on Thursday, Nov 9th, when they will play in the quarterfinals of the CUNYAC championships.

Following four straight losses against New York, the Cavaliers ended that dreadful streak with a 95-89 victory at Madison Square Garden Wednesday night. The Knicks record dropped to two wins and three losses overall while Cleveland improved, matching New York’s record five games into the season.

Entering the night, both teams were short-handed, missing key players. The Knicks were without R.J. Barrett, their leading scorer at 21 points per game, while Cleveland was missing All-Star Darius Garland and the team’s leading rebounder, Jarrett Allen.

Ahead of the much-anticipated matchup, Cavaliers guard and Native New Yorker Donovan Mitchell had struggled in four winless games at MSG last season, the arena he enjoys playing at most. He averaged 20 points per game and shot 37 percent from the field, well below his average.

Wednesday evening was different. Mitchell, a player the Knicks had targeted for a potential trade in the 2022 off-season, put on a show at the world’s most famous arena, scoring 30 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

He set the tone early, scoring the Cavaliers’ first 13 points.

New York led 50-49 at halftime courtesy of 16 points from Jalen Brunson and 14 points from Donte DiVincenzo, who provided a spark off the bench. Mitchell accounted for 23 points, nearly half of the Cavaliers’ total tally.

Cleveland came out red hot to start the third quarter with a 13-5 run and never surrendered the lead.

The Knicks scored just 13 points and trailed the Cavaliers 71-63 entering the fourth.

New York clawed their way back into the game in large part because Mitchell was zero for ten with three turnovers in the second half. The crowd was frantically chanting “Brunson’s better” as Mitchell continued misfiring.

The Knicks were down two with less than three minutes left in the game, but Mitchell came alive on Broadway for the second act and responded with five straight points. “That’s who number 45 is, he’s a guy who can create at the end of games, but he’s got the courage to take big shots and make big shots. If you’re in a game or you have a lead, when you have 45 on your team you have a chance to win it,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said during his post-game press conference.

“We didn’t make shots tonight,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said to the media. “But if we defend, rebound, and keep our turnovers down, we’ll be in position to win.” New York shot a season low 35 percent from the field and turned the ball over 13 times.

The Knicks two-time All-NBA star forward Julius Randle has struggled this season following ankle surgery in the summer. His poor play continued in the game against Cleveland, where he scored six points, missing 12 of his 15 shot attempts. “I don’t doubt Julius at all, look at what he’s done. He’s probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around, I’m sure he’ll bounce back,” teammate Immanuel Quickley said after the game.

All wasn’t lost for New York. To go along with DiVincenzo’s breakout game, Quickley added 18 points off the bench. Quickley was runner-up for the sixth man of the year award last season and has followed it up with a strong start this year.

In his first game back from injury, Caris LeVert scored 19 points in Cleveland’s victory, 12 came in the second half while Mitchell was missing the mark. Mobley wrecked havoc along with LeVert adding 14 points, 11 were scored in the second half. Both players held down the fort until Mitchell shut the door on New York, sending Knicks fans home cold and cranky on a chilly night in the Big Apple.

“This is an embarrassing loss to an undermanned Cavs team,” Knicks fan Richard Simon said outside the arena.

New York will look to bounce back and earn their first win at home this season, Friday night, in an Eastern-Conference clash against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Brooklyn College women’s tennis team lost all six singles and three doubles matches in their last road game of the season at Ramapo College on Monday. The Bulldogs’ record dropped to two wins and six losses overall for the season while the Ramapo Roadrunners remain undefeated at 4-0 after the decisive win.

The first match of the day was a battle between the number two ranked players from each team. Allison Dubrow from the Bulldogs faced off against Mackenzie Dates of the Roadrunners. In a best of 15 match, Dubrow started off hot with a convincing win in the first game, putting her opponent in unfamiliar territory. “Allison’s forehand shot is the strongest part of her game, which gives her a chance against any opponent,” teammate Diana Rezk said.

Things got chippy after Dates, who hadn’t lost a game in her two prior matches, began questioning Dubrow’s out calls as there were no line umpires in attendance. “If she plays her game and doesn’t beat herself she will win,” Roadrunners coach Raza Baig said after Dates dropped the first game.

The match went south for Dubrow after that as she went on to lose the next eight games. “Tennis is a very mental sport so once she started arguing with me, every-time I saw a ball I knew was out, it made me afraid to call it,” Dubrow said after the match.

Many of her first serves throughout the day were put in bounds while keeping her double faults to a minimum, but she was unable to settle into her style of play against the fast-paced Dates. “Her strokes were good during the match but she performs at her best when she slows the game down and gives herself time to set up the shot she wants,” Bulldogs coach David Wallace said.

The second match was a contest between the number one ranked players from each team. Brooklyn’s Veronika Tsiko went head to head versus Ramapo’s Melanie Bretnall. Tsiko won the first game to take a 1-0 lead while showcasing her backhand shot. “The fact that Veronika’s a lefty makes the shot even more deadly due to its spin rate,” Rezk said.

The placement of her serves and return volleys were consistent throughout the match but it wasn’t enough to hold off Bretnall as she stormed back to win eight straight games. “She was able to get almost every single ball no matter where or how strong I would hit it,” Tsiko said after the match.

Tsiko has been nursing a knee injury and it showed as she was seen with k-tape wrapped around her right knee, grimacing throughout the match. Bretnall took full advantage, her ability to place the ball at any quadrant had her running around the entire match on that gimpy knee. “During the match I was hesitant to run faster or jump because I was worried the pain would get sharper and lead to an even more serious injury,” Tsiko said.

The Bulldogs will host their final home match of the season on Thursday at 2 pm against the rival Cannoneers from Pratt Institute.

Luna Park goers were startled to discover a flock of unicyclists cruising down Surf
Avenue on September 1st. The riders, all dedicated members of the NYC Unicycle Festival,
weaved their way hands-free around Coney Island. The festival drew a relatively small number
of participants and was approximately 13 miles along, starting on the Manhattan side of the
Brooklyn Bridge.

The festival, also called Unifest, spanned four days and began on August 31st, which
involved a long distance ride along the Hudson River. It is produced by Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
and brings together riders of all abilities. Unifest has the distinction of being the only such
festival in the city, and has been running for 14 years now. Attendants range from casual
hobbyists to extreme sports players to circus performers.

Nicole, who declined to give her surname, was one of the first riders to arrive. She said
she’s been unicycling for five years. “I started with bicycling,” she explained, “but my dad taught
me [unicycling]. He’s been unicycling his whole life pretty much. He learned when he was, I
think, 10 years old, then took a 40 year break and restarted in his fifties.” To Nicole and her dad,
unicycling is a way of bonding.

Along with the other unicyclists, they started outside the City Hall, made their way across
the Brooklyn Bridge, and took breaks at places such as Prospect Park. From there, they came
down Ocean Parkway towards Coney Island. The ride lasted from 3 pm to 7 pm, ending exactly
at sunset. Upon arrival, the unicyclists dropped their vehicles into a pile and immediately sought
refreshments from the surrounding establishments, including the popular hotdog restaurant,
Nathan’s Famous.

“It’s exhausting,” Nicole said, “especially with a smaller tire”. She explained that this is
because smaller tires require more pedaling over longer distances.

Pat, who has 20 years of unicycling experience, came with his mother Peggy, who has
even more years under her belt: “I’m proud to say 55!”. Like Nicole’s father, Peggy started
learning when she was 10.

Sitting with them outside of Nathan’s Famous was Jerry, who stated unicycling is “a
delight every time”. For this festival, Jerry rode a 29 inch tire, “which is kinda the middle ground
between 36, which is the biggest, [and] 20” (typically the smallest for an adult).

According to Unicycle.com (where Nicole bought her own unicycle), beginners may
prefer 20 to 24 inch tires, however they can go as low as 16 inches. Tires in the 32 inch to 36
inch range allow riders to move faster across longer distances, but are harder to control.

Pat also used a 29 inch tire, but stated: “This is my first day riding [at the festival]. I’ve
never gotten over a mile.” Peggy convinced him to join only the night before.

“She gets the cool mom award,” Jerry said with a laugh.

The remaining two days of Unifest were dedicated to interactive activities. On September
2nd, the organization hosted games, relay races, and learn-to-ride activities at Cunningham
Park, Queens, while on September 3rd, they held a club meeting at Grant’s Tomb in Manhattan.
The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will likely host the festival again next year, and are continually
seeking more sponsors and volunteers.

As of April 3, the organization CityPickle has taken over the Wollman ice Rink in Central Park and turned it into 14 pickleball courts. Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States right now, as almost 5 million Americans are playing pickleball.

Pickleball is a game similar to tennis in that the objective is to hit a ball over a net without letting it touch the ground more than twice. It can be played in singles or doubles, and anyone can play it. However, it does differ a bit from tennis.

“Pickleball is just faster, it’s cheap, all you need is a paddle and a ball, and it is a lot easier for people who don’t know how to play it right away…. I don’t think you need to be athletic to play, I think that it is a good way to have a good time with friends and family,” said Alexis Sandro, who was recently playing with his friends who were enjoying a sunny day in April.

While Sandro has been playing pickleball for a while now, some New Yorkers haven’t even heard of the sport, let alone how to play it. This was the case for Phil Luna who works in Central Park and is slowly trying to learn the game.

“To me it looks like tennis, just smaller… it just feels like tennis would be more physical and intense then this… you know I’ve been watching for a few weeks now and always wanted to try it, but I just wouldn’t know what to do it looks complicated,” said Luna.

On the surface, pickleball can look confusing or intimidating to someone who has not been playing, but if you are taught the right way it can be a rather easy sport to pick up.

“A lot of people are confused when I first tell them the rules of pickleball, but I always tell them the best way to learn is to just play,” said Pasty Lemoel, a pickleball coach from Staten Island.

Lemoel only recently started coaching, but has been playing for a few years and believes that pickleball is a game that anyone can play.

“You know I don’t think that this is a sport just for old people. I mean I can understand why people may think that it’s not as physical or as demanding as other sports. But I think that’s why anyone of any age can play it,” said Lemoel.

While pickleball has grown nationwide, it has been rather slow to pick up in New York City.

There are some courts like the ones in Bay Ridge and Crown Heights, there are other neighborhoods like Red Hook and Astoria who barely even have one. So, while CityPickle has given this space for people to play and learn about pickleball, some believe there is still more to do.

“I think people would notice it more if there were more outdoor courts, especially in the spring and summer the only one that we go to is in the city and its indoors… we already have a lot of handball and tennis courts around I don’t think it would be that difficult to add a pickleball court,” said Sandro.

CityPickle will only be open until October 4, 2023, as it will then turn back into Wollman Rink for the winter.

NYCFC overtook Nashville FC to win 2-1 on Saturday, April 15 at CitiField in Queens, New York. The comfortable early lead and the roars of the crowd made it a night to remember for the ‘Boys in Blue.’ 

With a season high game, NYCFC goalkeeper Luis Barraza was beaming after the match, as he played a crucial role in the win. Barraza faced the most shoots against him – six – and saved five, with three saved just within the first half.

“One of our toughest games so far,” said Barraza. “But we managed to keep our cool and find the back of the net, which is what we have been working on this week. Just happy to get the result.” 

Coach Nick Cushing has emphasized that the team sees victory when they stick to their attacking play, which he attributes to the win against one of the harder teams in the conference. 

One thing you can guarantee a constant for these NYCFC home games is the home team crowd that consistently fills the stadiums with their cheers and chants, and the combination of these two factors is what Cushing said gave his team the edge of the night. 

“I definitely feel the atmosphere. Like I said in the dressing room before [the match], we know our crowd here feeds off our attacking play,” said Cushing after the match. 

NYCFC Midfielder Keaton Parks and Defender Maxine Chanot both scored their first goals of the season in record games for the pair.

Parks scored his first goal of this season in the tenth minute and Chanot had a high stat game, with one goal in the twenty-fifth minute, a 93% pass accuracy rate, four accurate long balls, one tackle won, and two ground duels won. 

After those two goals, NYCFC were up by two within the first 25 minutes of the game, forcing Nashville to make the extra effort to catch up and attempt to overcome their lead

Overall, the team kept the pressure for the remainder of the game, only allowing one goal in the eightieth’ minute from Nashville FC’s midfielder Hany Mukhtar, a key player in Nashville’s attack. 

Keaton Parks emphasized that, with the pressure that the home team maintained, the game was able to end the way it did. 

“Whether we were suffering or playing well with the ball, everybody gave their all the whole time. We deserve these three points,” said Parks after the match, proud of what the team accomplished at home.

Satisfied with the win but looking towards the future, Cushing said he was happy with the result but maintains his stance on how crucial it is to establish a dominant presence on the field and take any opportunities to be up by larger margins. 

“We get that type of game and the crowd feeds off it. That is when we are at our best. The only disappointment was that we should have been three or four up before we conceded the goal,” said Cushing in the post match conference. 

This win moves the NYCFC side up to fifth in the Eastern Conference and keeps their hopes alive of fighting for the MLS Cup. Their next match up is Saturday, April 22, continuing their home game streak at Citi Field.

New York City FC  fans gathered at Yankee Stadium for the second home game of the season on Saturday, March 18. The home team hosted D.C. United in a game that ultimately led to NYCFC’s triumph, with a 3-2 finish. 

Both teams came into the match with a 1-1-1 record hoping to improve their spot on the table and gain three points. NYCFC entered the match with 0 injured players and a full squad available to play. 

Within the first 11 minutes of the game, D.C. had committed three fouls that led to an eventual yellow card for D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse. NYCFC created many chances, and forward Talles Magno was able to find the back of the net in the 17th minute, with an assist from Braian Cufré. 

First ruled offside, Magno’s disallowed goal call was overturned after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) check that confirmed he was onside, giving NYCFC the early lead.

D.C. United’s defense kept NYCFC at bay until the 37th minute when Santiago Rodríguez took the ball from a fast break, assisted by Gabriel Pereira, and opened up his tally with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner. 

The first half closed with D.C. United leading NYCFC in fouls, 6-3, and trailing in score 2-0. 

The clean sheet didn’t stick for long, as D.C.’s head coach Wayne Rooney even admitted, “I don’t think I can repeat the language I used,” when asked about his halftime locker room talk.  

Within the first 40 seconds of the second half, D.C. United forward Christian Benteke opened his tab with a header after a cross from Mateusz Klich, which would bring the team’s hopes alive of a comeback. 

D.C. United’s Victor Pálsson received the team’s second yellow card shortly after for a bad foul and the match intensified as D.C. trailed in the second by one. The first yellow card to go to NYCFC on the night was shown to Rodriguez for shoving Klich on the sidelines after a tackle in the 53rd.

The NYCFC super fan crowd cheers became more intense each time D.C. United attempted to approach the net, which Head Coach Nick Cushing said played an important role in the win. 

“We have a real responsibility and expectation to win in front of our fans whether it’s here or Citi Field, because the atmosphere is so good, again I can’t praise our fans enough,” Cushing said.

Thiago Andrade was subbed in for NYCFC in the 80th minute, and eight minutes later, put the team up by two goals with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner assisted by Santiago Rodríguez. 

D.C. United tried to respond by scoring a late goal by Steve Birnbaum assisted by Klich from a corner and had opportunities to tie the game with nine additional minutes added, but were unsuccessful. 

The NYCFC side played consistently in the first half with a few weak points in the second but ultimately came out victorious. Man of the match, Talles Magno, credited that to the team’s chemistry and spoke about how the match was special for him as he scored his first goal of the season. 

“I’m very happy, my family is here so I’m happy to score in front of them and happy to score my first goal of the season,” Magno shared post-match in the locker room. 

NYCFC look to improve their record on the road against Houston on March 25, and keep the momentum from this match’s win. 

“We have to go on the road and win football games if we want to be a winning team,”Cushing said, emphasizing the importance of the team’s push in away games and how crucially they affect the season. 

On Saturday, Feb. 25, a group of New Yorkers hosted a viewing party at Yankees Tavern in the Bronx as Major League Soccer began their new season. Among the 11 opening games, this section of New Yorkers were paying close attention to one game as New York City Football Club played their first game of the season.

NYCFC started their season against Nashville Soccer Club on the road, and while they put in a good effort, they could not overcome a two-goal deficit and lost the game 2-0.

While most of the NYCFC’s fan base was in Nashville attending the game, some fans went to show their support at five different viewing parties in New York, including one at Yankees Tavern, just a block away from Yankees Stadium.

Before the game, Angel Gonzales, who was the event organizer and works with The Third Rail, spoke about why this event is so important to the fan base and especially to those in the Bronx.

“You know the whole point is to bring all soccer fans together from the Bronx and enjoy what we all love, which is NYCFC,” said Gonzales.

While this was just one viewing party across the five boroughs, this did not stop a good number of fans from showing up at Yankees Tavern. Among the supporters at the tavern was Felix Palao, a board member of one of the official support groups of NYCFC called The Third Rail.

While most of The Third Rail was in Nashville, Palao knew the importance of having viewing parties in New York City and how the atmosphere is different from home games than away games.

“My responsibility is to provide a space to come and enjoy a match…when we do have a match down the block it’s pretty lively in here, we’re getting loud we get rowdy just like we do across the street,” said Palao.

NYCFC has been in existence for ten years, and every year, Yankees Tavern has always been the go-to place for supporters to get together and enjoy a match around friends.

Phil Dasuk is a bartender who has worked in the bar for 11 years and has seen firsthand just how passionate these fans are.

“The energy in here is better than a baseball game… slowly gradually I’ve seen the supporter coming in and I tell everyone is into the game,”said Dasuk.

While Yankee’s Tavern is the go-to place for NYCFC fans to meet and get together before and after the games, that will not be the case in a couple of years.  The team will be getting a new home stadium in 2027, which will not be in the Bronx, but instead in Flushing, Queens.

Dasuk spoke about how this will affect business.

“We’re going to miss soccer when they go to Flushing,” said Dasuk.

Even though the new stadium will be affecting most of the fan base’s choices as to where their new go-to place will be, these fans of the Bronx will not be going anywhere.

“This will be gameday at least for us in the Bronx. That’s not going to change just because the team will not be playing in the Bronx anymore… where from the Bronx we rep this team like only the Bronx can we just bring that Bronx energy all the way to Queen” said Palao.

While the outcome of the game was not what the fans were expecting, the fact that they got together again and supported this team with all their heart is one of the many beauties of soccer.

February 15th 9:00 P.M.

Senior night is one of the most celebrated days on the calendar for any team, and for the Brooklyn College men’s and women’s basketball teams, last night was no different. Tuesday, Feb. 14  was a day full of achievements and reflections as both players and coaches looked ahead to their futures.

The Brooklyn College Bulldogs held their annual senior night as both the men’s and women’s basketball teams concluded their regular seasons in a double header against the York College Cardinals.

The women’s team kicked off the night with a touching tribute to five senior players –  Nancy Pham, Dasha Goodman, sisters Ericka and Sarah James, and Gianna Gotti – as head coach and acting athletic director Alex Lang mentioned their accomplishments and their importance to the team over the years.  The Bulldogs won the game 85-70 in a dramatic come from behind victory.

After the game, Lang spoke about what senior night means not only to him but to his players.

“Senior night is a great celebration of our team’s seniors. This year we have an awesome group, all five starters. The seniors played awesome Gianna, Dasha and Ericka were our top scorers, but Sarah and Nancy made huge plays as well. It was a great night for that group,” said Lang.

One of the key moments to this win was senior Gianna Gotti putting up 21 points and 7 assists to lead her team and pull away with the win.

“It was high intensity and I think the second half we really showed that we can play as a team,” said Gotti.

But the senior player also gave her thoughts on the night overall and her fellow seniors.

“Senior night I think is an emotional night for all of us. You know you come to a chapter that you’re getting ready to close…I think they did amazing. They always step up and rise to the occasion,”  said Gotti.

Lang also shared about the difficulty of replacing these players, many who are graduating.

“Replacing seniors is impossible… we can’t replace these individuals… but we hope to bring in other quality people to help the team continue to be successful,” said Lang

As the electric crowd at Brooklyn College were still celebrating a very triumphant victory, all eyes shifted quickly to the men’s team as it was their turn to take the court and join in on the festivities.

Much like the women’s game, the men’s team also honored senior players before the game. Head coach Jeffery-Jean Baptiste honored Elisha Park and Kaylin Olajide, and shared a list of their accomplishments.

The Bulldogs won in the final seconds of the game 91-89 to pull off the doubleheader sweep.

After the game, associate head coach Albert Barbosa spoke about what senior night means to him and his players.

“It’s great…they went through the trials and tribulations of being a basketball player…and at the end of the day they never quit, they never wavered, they played together, and they lent their leadership to the team.” said Barbosa.

At the end of the night, both teams came away with wins and the seniors were able to have a grand send off by the home crowd.

New York City’s best high school girls’ and boys’ basketball teams battled for their respective championships at Barclays Center on Thursday, March 17, with schools chancellor David Banks cheering on the teams.

“I am already proud to be here, ” said Susan Wagner High School player Nicolle Melious before the game. “And yes, I hope to see the chancellor. Overall, I am expecting to win.”

But Brooklyn’s South Shore High School again won both the boys and girls PSAL titles, continuing a multi-year winning streak for both of the school’s teams.

In the girls’ playoff, Staten Island’s Susan Wagner went up against South Shore. After a slow start to the game for both sides, the first basket was scored by South Shore’s Zakiya Williams. In the second half, the game got moving, and people were shouting the teams’ names. The game lasted about two hours, with South Shore taking the victory.

In the boys’ game, South Shore triumphed over Eagle Academy. The Eagle Academies were founded by Chancellor Banks, a network of all-male, grades 6 through 12, college-preparatory schools to support young men in challenged urban communities..

Barclays Center, the home of the Brooklyn Nets, hosted about 500 spectators for the championships. Near the front row seats Fran Mitilieri, the borough supervisor for the PSAL in Staten Island, was watching the girls’ game. “I am happy to see the Chancellor here,” she said. “He founded the Eagle Academy schools, which are for boys. They are in the next game. There is no better support than to see him here.”

After the girls’ game ended, the Chancellor presented the award to the winners, the South Shore Campus, and gave recognitions to Susan Wagner, awarding Melious a trophy for scoring the most points for her team.

“I am very happy. It’s very loud, very festive, the girls of South Shore played the game the right way, it’s all about teamwork,” said Chancellor Banks.