Four JFK Athletes Commit to Colleges

Four John F. Kennedy Catholic Preparatory seniors signed their letters of commitment to play baseball in college.

The four players are Gary Gill Hill (pictured) of Walden, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Brendan Kenneally of Yorktown Heights, Adelphi University; Russell Hunter of Croton Harmon, Hofstra University; and Pierson McGinnis of Montgomery, Bard College.

The four players were a part of the 2020 Kennedy Catholic baseball team that lost to St. Joseph by-the-Sea in CHSAA City Championship game. They were joined at the signing by their coaches and parents.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KENNEDY CATHOLIC

Lourdes Star Signs with UConn

Our Lady of Lourdes High School senior Ryan VanDeWater signed a National Letter of Intent Nov. 23 to play baseball at the University of Connecticut.

The Hyde Park resident grew up playing in the Hyde Park Little League and with The Bronx Bombers travel baseball program. He pitched and played first base at Lourdes, and chose UConn after receiving offers from Georgetown, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pace.

VanDeWater plans to major in financial risk management at UConn.

“I plan to play the game of baseball as long as I possibly can,” he said. “If that takes me to professional baseball, I plan on playing at the highest level that I can. Eventually, when the game passes me by as a player, I hope to teach and instruct younger players in their pursuit of excellence in the game of baseball.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES HIGH SCHOOL

Anderson Scores in Army Win

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Christian Anderson ran for 43 yards and the game’s first touchdown during Army’s 63-10 football victory over Bucknell in West Point on Saturday.

The senior quarterback saw limited action as his team scored 21 points in each of the first two quarters.

Anderson has run 473 yards and six touchdowns on 72 carries this season.

Army improved to 6-3 overall with its second straight victory and clinched a spot in a postseason bowl for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Black Knights will host UMass at noon Saturday in a game being televised by CBS Sports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WILD/ARMY ATHLETICS

Manhattan College Athlete Finalist for Top National Soccer Honor

Manhattan College’s Sydney Harwood is one of 10 NCAA women’s soccer finalists for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award.

Finalists were selected based on being an NCAA Division I senior with notable achievements in community, classroom, character and competition. Fans, coaches and members will have the opportunity to vote for one of the 10 finalists by Nov. 22. Click here to vote.

Harwood, a graduate student from Monroe in Orange County, is a three-time team captain, who in 2017 was named Manhattan College Female Rookie of the Year and earned second-team All-MAAC honors.

Harwood graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a 3.90 grade point average. She’s now pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering.

Iona Prep Grad Leads William & Mary

Darius Wilson and the William & Mary football team will bring a two-game winning streak into Saturday’s 1 p.m. game at the University of Delaware after defeating Villanova, 31-18.

Wilson, a graduate of Iona Prep, completed 10 of 18 passes for 109 yards and ran for 33 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries for William & Mary. The freshman quarterback has thrown for 957 yards and rushed for 330 yards this season.

William & Mary (6-2 overall) competes in the Colonial Athletic Association. Following its game against Delaware, William & Mary will host James Madison, ranked third in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision poll.

Villanova was ranked fourth in the same poll before meeting William & Mary.

Iona Prep Grad, Cardinal Hayes Grad Meeting in CAA Football Battle

Iona Prep graduate Darius Wilson and the William and Mary football begin a tough three-game stretch on Saturday when it plays at Villanova in a Colonial Athletic Association game.

Villanova is ranked fourth in the NCAA Division Football Subdivision poll. Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Justin Covington, a graduate student and running back, has rushed for 469 yards and three touchdowns on 77 carries for the Wildcats, who are 6-1 overall after a 44-0 win over Rhode Island last weekend.

Wilson, a freshman quarterback, has completed 70 of 110 passes for 848 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 297 yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries. In last week’s 40-14 win over Towson, he was 7 for 12 for 164 yards and one touchdown and added six carries for 48 yards on the ground.

William and Mary (5-2 overall, 3-1 CAA) plays at Delaware next weekend before hosting No. 5 James Madison on Nov. 13.

Anderson Powers Army

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Christian Anderson ran for career-best 236 yards and two touchdowns in leading Army to a 23-10 football victory over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.

Anderson, who averaged 15.7 yards per carry and scored touchdowns on runs of 75 and 72 yards to give Army a 14-3 lead, left the game with an injury. His status for Saturday’s game at Ball State is uncertain.

In Saturday’s win over Miami (Ohio), the senior quarterback topped 100 rushing yards for the second time this season and scored the 11th and 12th touchdowns of his collegiate career. His 236 rushing yards ranks him sixth on Army’s all-time list for rushing yards in a single game.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WILD/ARMY ATHLETICS

Anderson Propels Army

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Christian Anderson ran for two touchdowns and threw for a third in Army’s 52-21 football victory over UConn in West Point on Saturday.

Anderson ran two yards for a touchdown, threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Alston and ran one yard for a touchdown as Army took a 21-0 lead in the first minute of the second quarter.

Anderson, a senior quarterback, finished with six carries for 21 yards and completed both of his passes for 70 yards.

“I think that is exactly what happening, he is gaining more confidence as he plays. He is doing a great job distributing the ball, handling the ball when he needs too, taking care of it when he runs it. I’ve been really proud
of him, I thought he played another really good game,” said Army coach Jeff Monken following Saturday’s win on Anderson.

Army (3-0) hosts Miami (Ohio) at noon Saturday in a game being televised by CBS Sports Network.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WILD/ARMY ATHLETICS

Big Day for Anderson, Army

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Christian Anderson ran for a career-high 119 yards on 22 carries and threw for 77 more yards in leading Army to a 38-35 football victory over Western Kentucky at Michie Stadium in West Point on Saturday.

The senior quarterback completed five of six passes, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Braheam Murphy to give Army a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.

Army (2-0 overall) will host the UConn at noon Saturday in a game being televised by CBS Sports Network.

“I think overall in the first half we were able to execute pretty well,” Anderson said in the postgame press conference. “Then in the second half we started off strong and towards the end I think we got to figure out a way to finish the game a little better. We don’t want to be in a situation where it comes down to an onside kick. I think just for next game, being able to finish off the opponent when we have the chance will be good.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WILD/ARMY ATHLETICS

Anderson Lifts Army

Cardinal Hayes High School graduate Christian Anderson threw a 40-yard touchdown pass and ran for 55 yards and a touchdown to lead Army past Georgia State, 43-10, in the season opener for both teams.

The senior quarterback scored on a 2-yard run on the final play of the first half and threw his touchdown pass to open the second-half scoring as the Black Knights took a 33-7 lead.

In seven games last season, Anderson ran for 419 yards and four touchdowns, and threw for 215 yards and one touchdown.

Army hosts Western Kentucky at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in a game being televised by CBS Sports.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WILD/ARMY ATHLETICS