86 The QUEE NS Courier • NOVEMBER 21, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com sports PREP POWERHOUSE PSAL ALL-STARS CROWNED BEST IN CITY SFP aiming to keep the good times rolling BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] The St. Francis Preparatory School gymnastics team has become a powerhouse. On Friday, October 25, the team swept all events at the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) championships to win its third consecutive title. Junior Khayla Martinez and senior Nicole Donini led the team and finished first and second in the individual showcase. Senior Madison Kolnsberg won first place in the individual junior varsity championship, as well. “I’m extremely proud,” head coach Kamla Modi said. “It’s a very good feeling, not just to win, but to see their hard work pay off.” The last time the Terriers’ won the title, before the current championship streak, was in 1994. Modi credits their recent success to many players’ out of season training in private gyms. This helps the players to improve consistantly throughout the year, rather than just training at St. Francis, during the short gymnastics season. Top gymnast Martinez has been training in gyms since she was very young. Coincidentally, Modi, herself remembers training in the same gym as Martinez, who was only four-years-old at the time. “Now I’m coaching her at the high school level,” Modi said. “It’s great just to see her grow from a little girl, bouncing around the gym to a fanatic gymnast.” Martinez has won the individual championships two years in a row and Modi is confident she’ll win the title again next year. Also, with just four of the 17 team members graduating this year, most of the St. Francis Preparatory School gymnastics team won their third consecutive championship and aiming to win it all again next year. championship team will be back for the 2014 season. Modi said most of the girls have returned to their gym outside to train for that fourth consecutive crown. Photo courtesy of St. Francis Preparatory School “After year three we have to keep it going,” Modi said. “As long as we are the best, we can’t fall short.” PSAL All-Stars take Mayor’s Cup BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] The Public School Athletic League (PSAL) boys’ soccer is once again the best in the city. The PSAL All-Stars, a combination of the most skilled high school seniors in city public schools, defeated the independent school’s all-star team, which is comprised of the best private school players, in the Mayor’s Cup on November 17 to become city champions. Martin Luther King Jr. High School forward Amara Sesay scored two goals, leading the public high school team to a 2-1 victory. Having won the championship, the PSAL retains bragging rights for another year. The league also won in 2011. “It’s good because we represent the PSAL,” Aviation High School senior midfielder Jonathan Jaramillo said. “I am happy to be representing a public high school.” Sesay’s final goal came in the 78th minute, when he headed in a corner kick by teammate Jethro Dede. With about two minutes remaining in the game, the independent all-star team didn’t have enough time to tie the match. Although PSAL won, teammates found it difficult to instantly bond for the all-star game, after competing against each other during the regular The PSAL boys’ soccer all-star team defeated the independent school’s all-star team to become the best league in the city. season. But, they said they enjoyed the experience. “It was hard but fun at the same time,” Bayside High School midfielder Mohammad Yonis said. “Meeting new people is always fun.” While the championship settles the debate over which of the three leagues is the strongest, between the private schools, the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and the PSAL, it is also a way for the seniors to get noticed by college representatives. “It’s great for the participants, because they get exposed to the college coaches,” said Jeffrey Mohl, of NYC & THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre Company, which organized the event. “Some of these kids can get scholarships and get noticed.” In addition to the PSAL boys’ team, the PSAL girls’ all-star team also defeated the independent girls all-stars, 2-1, to earn the title of best in the city, as well.
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