42 The Courier sun • JANUARY 9, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com sports TIGERS ROAR COURIER SPORTS STAR THE QUEENS COURIER PRESENTS ‘SPORTS STAR OF THE WEEK’ Name: THEODORE Gallucci School: St. Francis Preparatory School Grade: Senior Sport: Hockey Position: Forward/Center Theodore Gallucci is a senior forward on the St. Francis Preparatory High School hockey team. Gallucci has helped the team to a 3-1 record, as of January 6. He scored a goal in the team’s most recent game against Xaverian, on December 27, helping his team to win, 4-3. While being a productive member of the team, Gallucci maintains a 92 percent academic average and has been an active member of the school’s Model United Nations organization since his sophomore year. The organization holds conferences to talk about real issues with foreign countries and allows students to meet with other schools’ Model UN groups. Gallucci also knows American Sign Language, which he uses to communicate with his grandparents, who are deaf. Gallucci has already been accepted to Iona College, but has not decided where he will enroll. Why do you play hockey? “I had been playing roller hockey for about 11 or The Queens High School of Teaching Tigers routed the Martin Van Buren VeeBees by 40 points. 12 years. Right before high school my mom encouraged me to play ice hockey. I ended up making the team and I wasn’t that good, but worked hard. I chose hockey over other sports, because it appealed to me.” If you couldn’t play hockey in the future, what would you do? “If I couldn’t do hockey I would try to be involved in something else, maybe crew (rowing) or anything that involves a team. It gives you a chance to bond with people. It’s fun and it’s good to see your team succeed.” What is your favorite class? “I enjoy a lot of things. I like AP European History and CAD (Computer Aided Design) class. It’s a lot of architecture and design. You have a lot of options and you can get creative with it.” What did you learn from being on the Model UN? “It brought me out of my shell. I used to be a shy person, and being in the Model UN I am more comfortable speaking around people. I also learned how to research things better.” Is it hard to balance both Model UN and hockey? “I play hockey at least twice a week and I have a meeting with model UN once a week. It gets tight sometimes.” TIGERS TROUNCE VEEBEES BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com The Queens High School of Teaching (QHST) and Martin Van Buren High School boys’ varsity basketball teams entered the game with the same record, but Van Buren left with an upset. “Both teams really have no idea what to expect,” said Everton Edwards, head coach for Van Buren (4-4), before the game on Monday, January 6. “They’ve worked very hard and it’s just got to do with believing in yourself.” The QHST Tigers (5-3) were a little apprehensive heading into the game without one of their best players, forward Sonny Okorie, but head coach Michael Shelton still expected “a good game.” “This gives other guys a chance to step up,” he said. QHST kicked off the first quarter with a 7-0 run. A series of quick turnovers on both ends of the court ended with Van Buren’s guard Darron Williams getting fouled, and putting his team on the board with two points. But the Tigers smooth passes and ability to control the ball and execute shots soared over the Van Buren VeeBees and they ended the half up by 10 points, 27-17. The second half started up with several stand-out plays from QHST forward Michael O’Leary and guard Brandon Anderson. Both teams continued to be aggressive on steals, amounting to as much as four steals in under a minute. Despite doubling the VeeBees score, Shelton appeared displeased at the referees’ foul calls, but the Tigers continued to score regardless. Just before the quarter ended, QHST guard Keshaun Ellis made a behind-the-back assist and brought the score to 47-23. Several times throughout the game, Van Buren passed the ball directly into the hands of the QHST players. But before the fourth quarter, Edwards took Williams aside to talk strategy for the final minutes. THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes Despite the pep talk and a big block from VeeBees guard Dayvon Lloyd on O’Leary, the Tigers came out victorious and ended the game 69-29. This is the Tigers’ first season in the AA division and as of press time they placed third overall in the borough, behind High School for Construction and Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. “I think we’re doing better than others expect,” Shelton said. He added the majority of his varsity team is underclassmen so he is “excited” for the years to come, building on what they have. “Our future looks bright,” he said. STAR of the WEEK STAR of the WEEK THEODORE GALLUCCI THE COURIER/Photo by Liam La Guerre
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