Spring Sports Recap 2023

Read about the highlights of our Spring 2023 sports teams:

Baseball: 

 

Seniors (left to right) Max Del Pino, Ryan Neville, Nick Stellabotte, and Danny Drotos hold their framed plaques on Senior Day. 

The Rams finished the regular season with a 12-12 overall record in “AA” Division play. The team was led by a core group of seniors, seven of which — Danny Drotos, Thomas Skrobe, Michael Lunny, Nick Stellabotte, Nelphie Lopez, Max Del Pino and Hugo Kohnhorst — will play next year at the college level. Over the Easter break, the Rams traveled to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they picked up a win over Edgewood City and dropped a second game to Bowling Green.

After a strong push to end the regular season, the Rams began the playoffs by defeating St. Joes by the Sea on a walk-off single by Hugo Kohnhorst in the third game of the series. After a 6-0 loss to Iona Pep, the Rams defeated Archbishop Stepinac in an elimination game before falling 4-2 to Kennedy Catholic to finish their 2023 campaign. 

The JV team finished the regular season with a 10-10 season. They ended their season with a playoff loss to St. Joe’s by the Sea. The Freshman team finished the regular season with a 12-5 overall record. They ended their season with a playoff loss to Archbishop Stepinac.

Crew: 

Tyler Kane, Griffin Shea, Brian Hickey, Will Conway and Patrick O’Connell help Fordham Prep Crew take home silver at the New York State Scholastic Championship 2023 in Saratoga Springs.

The Varsity and Freshman Crew teams spent their Spring break in South Carolina training and honing their skills, rowing three times a day starting at dawn. The team then had their first spring season race in Philadelphia at the Manny Flick Regatta. Tyler Kane, Patrick O’Connell, Will Conway, Brian Hickey and Griffin Shea won third place in the Freshmen boys 4+ race. 

The Varsity and Freshman Crew later performed well at the 2023 Saratoga Invitational, where Robert Romani ‘24 won third place in the Boys 1x. A week later at the NYS Scholastic Championship 2023 in Saratoga Springs  the Freshmen 4+ boat won second place. The Freshmen boat included Tyler Kane, Griffin Shea, Brian Hickey, Will Conway and Patrick O’Connell.

The Crew teams finished the spring season back in Philadelphia at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the largest high school rowing regatta in the world with over 4,000 competitors and 180 teams from the U.S. and Canada. Robert Romani ‘24 advanced to the second round where he finished in fourth place in 1x race.

Golf:

Varsity Golf spends Easter Break training on beautiful Kiawah Island in South Carolina and were joined for a round by Kevin O'Neill '05.

Varsity Golf finished another impressive regular season led by key performances by Robert Moran ‘23, Timmy Doheny ‘23, Amos Choe ‘24, Cormac Smith ‘25, among many others. A highlight of the season was defeating the previously-undefeated Iona Prep team 3-2 in thrilling fashion. Robert Moran posted the best score of the match with a one-under 35, Cormac Smith turned in an even par 36 and Timmy Doheny won on the first playoff hole. Amos Choe, Nico Conte and James Davis all recorded impressive rounds in the win. The Golf team then finished the regular season with a 5-0 win over All Hallows. Cormac Smith led the field with a one-under 34, Timmy Doheny was even par and Amos Choe was one-over. 

In the first round of the CHSAA playoffs, the Rams swept St. Francis Prep. Amos Choe, Nico Conte, James Davis, Timmy Doheny, Connor Molloy, Robert Moran and Cormac Smith all contributed in the win. The Rams then went on to defeat Iona Prep in a thrilling comeback victory in the semi-final round of the playoffs. Timmy Doheny had the best score of the match with an even-par 36, along with a win on the first playoff hole. James Davis, Connor Molloy, Robert Moran and Cormac Smith all contributed with solid rounds in the win. Amos Choe was the hero of the match, winning on the second extra hole to secure the victory.

On May 30th, Varsity Golf successfully defended its CHSAA championship title against Regis in the longest match in the history of the League. Congrats to another incredible season!

Lacrosse:

Senior members of Varsity Lacrosse gather together for a group photo on Senior Day.

The Varsity Lacrosse team finished with a 9-9 record during the regular season. In early April, the Rams hosted the first annual Jesuit Classic in collaboration with Belen Jesuit and McQuaid Jesuit high schools. During the weekend, the program celebrated Len DeLucia P '09 Day with a pregame community Mass and lunch to honor the legacy of the beloved former Prep lacrosse coach. Over the Easter break, the Rams traveled to North Carolina and dropped a close game to the 2022 North Carolina State Champions, the Cannon School.

Highlights from the Varsity Lacrosse season included a program record of 64 goals scored by PJ Cunningham ‘24, along with key contributions from seniors Charlie English, Tommy Gies, Jack Freel, Jack O’Leary, Lewis Moore, among many others. The Rams ended the season with a 14-6 loss to Iona Prep in the first round of the CHSAA playoffs.

The JV Lacrosse team finished the season with a 9-5 record, ending the season with a loss to Archbishop Stepinac in the CHSAA semifinal round of the playoffs. 

Tennis:

Varsity Tennis gathers as a team before their home match against Xavier High School.

Varsity Tennis led a successful spring campaign with key contributions from both underclassmen and senior leaders of the team. After a close loss to Iona Prep to open the season, the team bounced back with a 5-0 sweep of St. Francis Prep. Griffin Bounds, Sebastian Abela and Fabrizio Sares McCabe all won in singles while doubles remained undefeated. Matteo Antenucci and Cam Kwas at #1 and Julian DiMeo and Finn Evans at #2 all won in straight sets. 

The team finished the regular season with a close 3-2 win over Iona Prep. Sebastian Abela and Julian DiMeo won at #1 and #2 singles while #2 doubles team of Zach Woloff and Reid Chapski clinched the victory. With the win, the Rams secured the second seed in the playoffs.

Varsity Tennis persevered with a huge 3-2 win over Iona Prep in the semi final round of the CHSAA playoffs. Griffin Bounds and Sebastian Abela won in straight sets at #1 and #2 singles while #2 doubles team of Fabrizio Sares McCabe and Reid Chapski clinched the victory dominating the 10-point match tiebreaker. With the victory, the Rams advance to the CHSAA Championship match where they face off against Xavier High School at the National Tennis Center in Queens.

Outdoor Track and Field: 

The Outdoor Track & Field team gathers for a group photo under the roof at a rainy Icahn Stadium as CHSAA City Champions.

Varsity Outdoor Track & Field enjoyed another successful campaign in a busy spring campaign, winning the CHSAA City Championship and narrowly finishing as runner ups at the CHSAA State Catholics Championship. In early April, Coach Chavez’ throwers went out and dominated the inaugural Pierre Chavez meet. Juniors Gaspare LoDuca and Ojilvy Sanchez took first and second in the discus, while Raphael Nieto took second in the javelin. Jaylin Santiago and Dakota Strain went 1-2 in the 400m dash in state leading times, and senior Ergi Agaj won the 1600m run. A few weeks later, both Varsity and JV teams repeated as Jesuit Champions over Regis and Xavier High School. 

At the historic Penn Relays in late April, the 4x400 of Doody (51.24), Chrostowski (50.97), Strain (49.10) and Santiago (49.40) claimed the fastest time of the day at that time. Sean Reidy ‘23 later took home the gold at the Ridge HS Mile (4:20.09) in early May, and Jaylin Santiago broke Chris Balthazar’s ‘19 Fordham Prep Record for the 200m, taking 3rd at the Loucks Games in a blistering 21.74. At the Hellgate Relays, Robel Wondwosen ‘23, Jack Gallagher ‘23, Hayden Padilla ‘23 and David Rosado ‘24 won the distance medley, and Gaspar Lo Duca ‘24 became a Javelin Champ.

The Prep won the CHSAA City & Archdiocesan Champs behind 1-4 sweeps from the hurdlers and vaulters led by juniors A. Pimentel and O. Sanchez. Jaylin Santiago was named meet MVP with 400IH (ranked 4th in state) and 400m wins. Sean Reidy claimed the 800m title and carried the team across the finish line.

At the CHSAA State Catholic Championship, the Freshman Track & Field team took third place, led by 800 meter and 110 meter hurdle champions Paxton Reyes and Wyatt Zachery, and 1-2 pole vault finishers Tyler Williams and Chris Bustamonte. Paxton Reyes also became a Freshman State Catholic 800m Champion. Gabriel Kramer-Griffiths led the Sophs, as he won the Sophomore 800m run and joined Charles Moran, John Canale and Adriel Grullon as 4x400 meter relay champions. Jonathan Bailey continued his hurdle dominance with a win in the 110 hurdles. Wyatt Zachery ‘26  became the first Fordham Prep freshman ever to break 40 feet in the triple jump.

 

Rugby:

Varsity Rugby faces off in a scrum against St. Anthony’s High School.

The Varsity Rugby season started with great expectation with the incoming abilities of the rising JV players and key returning seniors such as Connor Molloy, Stephen Johnson, Daniel McCuster and Michael Spolar. The team gained momentum early in the season by winning key two matches in the annual Jesuit Cup Tournament and defeating St. Anthony’s High School 32-5. 

Over the Easter Break, Varsity Rugby traveled to South America and recorded two victories against tough Argentine opposition. They showed great character on and off the field as representatives of the Prep culture. It was the first time in Prep Rugby history in which Fordham Prep won multiple international matches.

The JV Rugby team finished the regular season with an impressive 7-3 record including scrimmages. The highlight of the season came in a 36-17 victory over Gonzaga Prep from Washington DC.

Volleyball:

Senior Parker Allen is named to the CHSAA Volleyball All-League team.

The Varsity Volleyball team started the season on fire, improving to 4-1 on the season with a 3-0 victory over Sacred Heart. The team finished the regular season with a 6-6 record in division play with key contributions by Eduard Spooner ‘24 and Parker Allen ‘23. Parker Allen was later named to the CHSAA Volleyball All-League Team. The Rams won their first round CHSAA Playoffs against Holy Cross High School. Their season ended with a loss to Iona Prep in the semi final round of the playoffs.