Delay Likely for Winter Sports

It appears as if the start of high-risk high school winter sports will be delayed again in New York State due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The start of high-risk winter sports was pushed back to Jan. 4 and it looks like it may be pushed back further. High-risk winter sports are basketball, wrestling, hockey and competitive cheer.

The following is a statement from Dr. Robert Zayas, executive director for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association on Wednesday via his Twitter account:

“At this time there is no definitive timeline for authorization of high risk sports to resume competition. We’ll continue working with state officials & our member schools to determine when it is safe to compete. Low/ moderate sports can begin as previously authorized by the state.”

Toussaint, Iowa on National TV

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Joe Toussaint and the University of Iowa men’s basketball will play Northwestern University in a FOX Sports game on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Iowa was ranked third in the nation before losing to No. 1 Gonzaga in a nationally televised game. The Hawkeyes are 7-2 overall, following a 102-95 loss to Minnesota on Christmas.

Toussaint is averaging 5.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game.

Siegrist Wins Weekly Honor Again

Our Lady of Lourdes High School graduate Maddy Siegrist was named the Big East Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season after finishing with 34 points, 19 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in Villanova University’s win over Creighton.

Fifteen of her 34 points came in the third quarter and her 19 rebounds were a career high. The double-double was her sixth of the season, which leads the Big East.

The sophomore forward and 2019-2020 Big East Rookie of the Year also leads the conference with her 24.4 points per game.

Villanova hosts UConn Tuesday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

Hayes Grad Lifts Army by Air Force, Waiting for Word on Bowl Game

Christian Anderson made a lasting impression with the regular season coming to a close as he came off the bench to lead the Army football team on its game-winning drive in a 10-7 victory over Air Force at Michie Stadium in West Point on Saturday.

The victory secured the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy for Army (9-2 overall).

Anderson, a graduate of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, entered the game in the first half after Tyhier Tyler was injured.

Army trailed, 7-3, when Anderson led the team on a 16-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with Jakobi Buchanan scoring on a 1-yard run on fourth down with 1 minute, 13 seconds remaining.

Anderson finished with 85 rushing yards on 18 carries.

“It was really emotional after the game – I struggled to keep those emotions back, I feel like it’s just been a tough year for everybody and the way we won that game, it’s just really hard to describe the feeling that I felt after the game,” Anderson said in the postgame press conference. “I am just really proud of the whole team and how we bounced back on that last drive, it was a really magical experience.”

Army was scheduled to play in the Independence Bowl, but the game was cancelled Sunday after a number of college football programs opted out of playing in a bowl game. ESPN.com reported Monday Army may be an option to play West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 after Tennessee pulled out due to COVID-19 issues.

10 Iona Prep Athletes Sign

Eight football players and two lacrosse players from Iona Preparatory School signed National Letters of Intent to play at the college level.

Six football players — Andrew Berkery, Bronxville, Bryant University; Ethan Robinson, Montgomery, Bucknell; Kevin Rohde, Purchase, Brown University; Khordae Sydnor, Manhattan, Purdue University; Alex Williams, Manhattan, Bryant University; and Darius Wilson, the Bronx, William & Mary — signed with NCAA Division I schools.

Wesley Abraham of White Plains and Thomas Ryan of New Rochelle will play NCAA Division III football at Wesleyan University and Union College, respectively.

Rye’s John Mitchell and White Plains’ Jaziel Rivera signed to play NCAA Division I lacrosse at the College of Holy Cross and Manhattan College, respectively.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IONA PREP

Jenkins Going to West Point

Archbishop Stepinac High School senior Jayden Jenkins has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point.

Jenkins, a running back, was a three-year starter on offense and defense for the Crusaders.

Stepinac and the Catholic High School Football League is scheduled to begin its tackle football season in March if high-risk sports are granted permission to compete by the state. In the fall, the CHSFL had a 7 on 7 flag football season when high-risk sports were not granted permission to compete by the state.

Jenkins chose Army over William & Mary, Sacred Heart, Columbia and Navy.

Army (8-2) hosts Air Force at 3 p.m. Saturday on CBS Sports for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC

Fasolino off to LIU

Archbishop Stepinac High School senior Rafael Fasolino has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Long Island University in Brooklyn.

LIU is an NCAA Division I program competing in the Northeast Conerence.

Fasolino, a Bronx resident and defensive back, was one of 10 players to sign with LIU during the recent signing period.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC

DiLullo Joining Tufts Football

Archbishop Stepinac High School senior Matthew DiLullo has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Tufts University.

The university located in Massachusetts is a NCAA Division III program that finished 4-5 overall in 2019.

DiLullo, a resident of White Plains, chose Tufts over Trinity, RPI, Wesleyan and Marist.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC

Polar Bear Series Begins

The CYO New York Polar Bear Winter Running Program began Dec. 12 with 46 runners competing at St. Augustine in Ossining.

The winners were Joel Richards, Iona Prep, boys and girls K-2, 1:19.9 (400 meters); Gia Ferguson, CYO Club Girls grades 3-5, 6:54.2 (1,000 meters); Logan Raio, Iona Prep, boys grades 3-5, 7:26.5 (1,000 meters); Claire Story, CYO Club Girls grades 6-8, 7:42.5 (2,000 meters); and Gabriel Kramer-Griffith, CYO Club Boys grades 6-8, 7:31.2 (2,000 meters).

Siegrist Gains Honor

Our Lady of Lourdes High School graduate Maddy Siegrist was named Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in two wins.

The Villanova University sophomore forward had 31 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block in a victory over La Salle, and 11 points and nine rebounds in a win over Drexel.

For the season, Siegrist is averaging 22.8 points and 11.5 rebounds in six games.

Villanova (6-0) travels to Providence for a Big East Conference game on Wednesday.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY