www.BXTimes.com BRONX WEEKLY June 14, 2020 4
BY JASON COHEN
Mercedes Dukes fell in love
with basketball at a young age
and was a star at Monsignor
Scanlan High School. Now, her
journey has come full circle as
she was recently named head
coach at her alma mater.
Dukes, 36, spent the past eight
years as the assistant coach at
the Throggs Neck school and is
ready to take the reigns. On May
28, she was officially tabbed head
coach.
The promotion came as a surprise
and she had no idea that
Coach Tom Catalanotto was stepping
down.
“We had a beautiful relationship,”
she said regarding Catalanotto.
“I didn’t see it coming.
My goal is to give it my all
and not let anyone down. I’m excited
to be able to represent my
alma mater in the highest position
possible.”
While Dukes starred at Scanlan
and at St. John’s University
between 2002 and 2006, her journey
began many years ago in
Shorehaven.
Her first love was hoops and
she followed in the footsteps of
her brother, Jaquan, 41. She became
a diehard Chicago Bulls
and Michael Jordan fan because
of him.
While she grew up near
Soundview, a rough area, her
mom, Velina, an educator for
40 years, always kept her on the
right path.
“She always made sure we
tried to do the right things,”
Dukes explained.
Dukes did whatever Jaquan
did. Five years apart, she looked
up to him. He played football and
so did she. She learned to throw
and catch, but the court was
where she belonged.
“I always wanted to be just
like my brother,” she remarked.
“Anything he did I wanted to
do.”
As Dukes came out of middle
From left: Chris Gallagher, Monsignor Scanlan Board President, new Monsignor
Scanlan girls basketball coach Mercedes Dukes, Roja McToy, JV girls coach
Courtesy of Monsignor Scanlan HS
school she was one of the most
sought-after incoming freshmen
in the city. Big time basketball
schools like Christ the
King Regional in Brooklyn and
Archbishop Molloy High School
in Queens clamored after her,
but she wanted to stay close to
home.
So, she settled on Scanlan and
thrived there. Coach Chuck and
Keelin helped her mature on and
off the court.
“They had a great influence
on me,” Dukes commented. “Both
of these gentlemen gave me the
opportunity to be the first freshman
to play on varsity.”
When it came time for college
she again had offers from top
schools, but chose to stay local
with St. John’s. Being able to play
in Madison Square Garden was a
surreal feeling, she recalled.
“As a kid from NYC, that was
everyone’s goals and dreams,”
she said.
After playing basketball in
Puerto Rico for a couple years,
she has spent the last decade
coaching.
At first it was an adjustment,
but she soon realized if she applied
her point guard mentality
to coaching, she could connect
with the girls.
“Being a player is totally different
from being a coach,” she
said. “Once I understood the dynamics
of coaching I started to
see how similar they basketball
and coaching really are.”
Dukes felt her time as a player,
assistant coach and tutelage
from Catalanotto have prepared
for her next chapter in life.
“I want to continue his legacy,”
she said. “You can definitely
say this is full circle for
me.”
Spellman High School holds virtual
ceremonies to honor excellence
BY JASON COHEN
Despite the school shut down
since March, Cardinal Spellman
High School held both the
National Honor Society induction
and Block S Sports awards
ceremonies virtually.
After brief congratulatory
remarks by President and
Principal Daniel O’Keefe and
National Honor Society moderator
Trudy Keane, 34 students
were admitted to the Sequere
Deum Chapter of the National
Honor Society.
Cardinal Spellman inducted
the following students from the
class of 2020:
• Bianca Binns
• Bryce Colclough
• Annalese Herriman
• Isabella Miles
• Charlene Ortiz
• Alessandra Payne
• Tatianna Portillo-Diaz
• Sade Sutherland
Students from the class of
2021 were also honored:
• Kamilah Abubakar
• Ishara Baez
• Skylar Bailey
• Milany Bruno
• Zoe Chambers-Daniel
• Alexandra Clarin
• Yamona Coley
• James Demetrius
• Joseph Giraldi
• Darryna Guy Williams
• Sade Henriquez
• Alexis Henry
• Ashley Herriman
• Melissa Hewitt
• Sophia Huang
• Angela Ignarra
• Dana Kien
• Aolani Lopez
• Ayannah McCabe
• Emma McCarthy
• Camila Mendoza
• Grace Mutze
• Shayna Nguyen
• Reina Oates
• Ryan Rolon
• Elizabeth Stewart
Fr. Peter Pilsner, director
of spiritual activities, closed
the ceremony with a prayer.
The Block S Sports Awards
began with an opening prayer
from Fr. Luke Leighton, a
Chris Manhertz,a Spellman alumni
and Carolina Panthers tight end,
spoke to the students.
Photo Courtesy of Cardinal Spellman
Franciscan Friar of the Renewal
serving as assistant
chaplain at Cardinal Spellman.
Fr. Luke lives with the
Franciscan community in the
south Bronx.
The virtual ceremony recognized
the Most Valuable
Player and Leadership award
in each sport. In addition, the
winners of the Schiazza S,
those with seven or more varsity
letters over their four year
Spellman athletic career included:
• Sydney Anderson
• Michael D’Aloia
• Donyah Francis
• Annalese Herriman
• Emilia Hewitt
• Isabella Miles
• Jodi Juliana Powell
• Chloe Tuck
The 2020 Scholar Athletes of
the year were Ethan Butler and
Baylee O’Donnell, while the
2020 Athletes of the Year were
Ethan Ortiz, David Smalls,
Sydney Anderson and Shanice
Sinclair. Additionally, Chris
Manhertz from the Spellman
Class of 2010 and tight end for
the Carolina Panthers congratulated
all the athletes for their
hard work throughout the year
and for the challenges and obstacles
they have overcome.
Dukes named
head coach at
Scanlan High
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