Winter Sports Recap 2023

Read about the highlights of our Winter '22-'23 sports teams:

Basketball

Varsity Basketball takes on Monsignor Farrell in the CHSAA Quarter Finals at Mount St. Michael's Academy.

The Varsity Basketball team finished the regular season with an overall record of 13-13 and entered the CHSAA playoffs as the #6 Seed. As a young team comprised of mostly juniors and sophomores, the Rams started slowly but gained momentum throughout the season. The team handedly defeated Cardinal Spellman in the first round of the playoffs before ending the season with a heartbreaking 52-51 loss to Monsignor Farrell in the Quarterfinal Round.

Standout performances throughout the season include the play of point guard, Ryan Jackson '24, who was selected to the 'A' Division All-League Team. He scored 34 points against All Hallows earlier in the season and 26 points against Cardinal Spellman in the playoffs. Matt Kapfer ’24 was also named CHSAA Player of the Week in January, averaging 16 points in three road wins over Monsignor McClancy, Salesian, and St. Joe's by the Sea. 

The JV Basketball team finished the regular season 'A' Division Champions with the #1 seed for the playoffs. They defeated Salesian before before losing to Monsignor Farrell in the Semifinal game. The Freshman Basketball came away with upset win in the first round of the playoffs over #2 Seed Monsignor Farrell led by Brian Kapfer's 29-point performance. Their season ended in the following game with loss against Nazareth. 

Ice Hockey

Gavin Edmonds '23 celebrates after scoring his third of three goals against Iona Prep.

Varsity Ice Hockey finished the season with a 1-12-2 record. The highlight of the season was a dramatic 6-5 win over Iona Prep led by an incredible 3-goal performance by Gavin Edmonds.

JV Ice Hockey finished the season with a 4-10-0 record with wins over Xaverian, Kellenberg, Iona Prep, and Xavier. 

Indoor Track & Field

Jaylin Santiago '24 sets a school record and NY #1 time in the 300m as FP Varsity Indoor Track and Field wins the CHSAA State Championship.

The Varsity Indoor Track and Field Team had a historic season, capturing both the CHSAA City and State Championships. At the NYC CHSAA City Championship in late January, Jaylin Santiago ‘24 was named meet MVP for his 300m win and 55m Dash silver medal. Other Ny City champions included the all-senior 4x400 relay of Dakota Strain, Keegan Doody, Nick Avery and Lucas Chrostowski, who also won the 600m run. Fellow senior Sean Reidy pulled off a dramatic win in the one mile run to turn the tide of the meet. However, it was the Pole Vault and hurdle squads that dominated by sweeping 4 of 5 places each to lock down the title. Led by City Champions David Margand ‘24 and Aden Bedford ‘24, vaulters Christian Quiambao’ 25, Andrew Cook ‘25and OJ Sanchez ‘24, and hurdlers Cristan Camara ‘24, Alfonso Pimentel ‘24 and Jonathan Bailey ‘25 oversaw the points gathering. 

Weeks later on February 18th, the team captured the 96th annual CHSAA State Catholic Championship, scoring the most points in the event since 2009. Christan Camara '24, Aden Bedford ‘24, Alfonso Pimentel ‘24 and Jonathan Bailey ‘25 led a fist-ever 1-4 sweep of the 55m Hurdles; and just as unique, OJ Sanchez '24, Drew Cook ‘25, Dave Margand ‘24 and Christian Quiambao ‘25 swept places 2-5 in the pole vault to put the meet out of reach early. Jaylin Santiago became the Prep’s first-ever 300m NY State Champion, and Bedford, along with Julian Collins-Wilmore '23 placed 1st and 4th in the High Jump. Sean Reidy '23 outkicked the field to win the 1600 meter run, and 12 other athletes helped the team score in all three relays to win by nearly 20 points over St. Anthony’s. 

At the CHSAA Freshman and Sophomore State Championships, the Prep crowned 3 state champions and saw two school records fall as the Sophomores and Freshman took 2nd and 3rd in the State respectively. Freshman Paxton Reyes won an exciting 600 meter dash, and along with Kaiden Rusk, Daniel Sterling and Remy Strain, became the first and only Freshman team in Prep history to break 1 minute 40 seconds in the 4x200 meter relay. Sophomore Drew Cook continued his amazing season with his 5th win in the Pole Vault this winter, and a NY State Catholic Sophomore title under his belt. Gabriel Kramer-Griffith came from behind to capture the 1000 meter state title, while fine races were turned in by Ethan Chen, Christian Quiambao and Adriel Grullon in the 4x400 relay. 

At the State Federations in early March, Jaylin Santiago '24 won first place in the 300 meter run with a blazing 34.14 PR, marking the first time that a Prep athlete has ever won a State Federation Indoor title in the 300meters (and only the 7th individual title in Prep history). Sean Reidy '23 took 5th place in the 1600 meter run in a time of 4 minutes 17 seconds, 4th best in Prep history. Lucas Chrostowski '23 was part of the CHSAA Intersectional relay that defeated 13 of the State’s 14 sections to take a silver medal, and Juniors Christan Camara, Aden Bedford and Ojilvy Sanchez all represented the school and league with distinction. 
 

Swimming and Diving

The Varsity Swimming and Diving team claims 2nd place overall at the CHSAA Championships.

In the CHSAA Championships at Nassau County Aquatic Center, the FP Swim team collectively placed 2nd overall. Henry Amar defended his league title with an All-American consideration time in the 200 freestyle and finished as runner-up in the 100 freestyle. A week later, he took silver in the the 200 freestyle in his last race for the Prep at the NYSPHSAA Federation Championships.

Back at the CHSAA Championships, Kieran Egan garnered the 2nd fastest 50 freestyle,100 backstroke, and 100 freestyle in the program's history also in All-American consideration times. Finals top 8 performances were put in by Ryan Morris 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Ben Korzenik 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Ryan Burke 50 and 100 freestyle, Ben Manigbus 100 Butterfly, Erick Sanchez 200 and 500 freestyle, Christian Burke 500 freestyle, Ryan McDonald 100 breaststroke and Daniel Lezi 100 breaststroke.

Other point scoring performances were put in Kyle Malloy 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Christian Burke 200 IM, Ben Manigbus 200 IM, Cormac Lapolla 200IM and 500 freestyle, Evan Fine 50 and 100 freestyle, Ryan McDonald 50 freestyle, Kevin Oing Diving, James Gonzalez 100 butterfly, Daniel Lezi 100 butterfly, Jackson Cooper 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, AJ Mugno 500 freestyle, Adam Diaz 100 backstroke, and Xander Sohng 100 breaststroke. The team had 16 NY State qualifying swims including all 3 relays with the 200 and 400 freestyle relays making All-American consideration. 

Wrestling

Left to Right: Seniors Angel Villalta, Vaughan Johnson, and Jaziah Moore pose after each placing at the CHSAA City Championships.
 

Seniors Vaughan Johnson, Khaleel Adegoke, Jaziah Moore, and Angel Villalta led the charge for the 2022-23 Varsity Fordham Prep Wrestling team. A few days after Christmas, Vaughan Johnson and Khaleel Adegoke both took home the hammers for Fordham Prep with their victories at St. Anthony's Friar Bash Tournament in the 215 lbs and Heavyweight weight classes, respectively. Johnson later won the CHSAA City Championship and ended his FP wresting career as a two time CHSAA State placer (5th in 2022 and 2nd 2023) winning over 71 matches.

Jaziah Moore placed first in the prestigious Martin Luther tournament and the CHSAA City championship tournament. He finished 2nd in his weight class at the CHSAA State Championship, making him a three-time Catholic State placer (5th 2021, 6th 2022, and 2nd 2023). Villalta placed in the top five at the Martin Luther tournament and third in the CHSAA city championships qualifying him for the CHSAA state tournament.

JV wrestlers finished the year strong at the 2023 JV CHSAA City Championships. Dalton Danza won first place in the 215 lbs weight place. Hudson Marciano (126 lbs) and GianLuca Marchese (172 lbs) both placed second in their respective weight classes.