The leadership for the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering Girls' Softball team

Team Photo/ HSMSE Yearbook

The High School for Math Science and Engineering girls' softball team improved from a 10-2 record last season, to a 13-1 record in 2015. While their 2014 season was stellar, the players have matured and managed to win all league games played this year, having only lost due to forfeit. The HSMSE softball team has found new leadership in team captains Taylor Faulds and Hillary Rodriguez during the 2015 season.

Faulds and Rodriguez have emerged as great leaders of the team. Both strived to create a drive within the team. The Dragons in years prior were somewhat indifferent to the outcome of the games. This season both captains found themselves evoking a stronger will in their teammates. Rodriguez has attributed the better play of the team to the increased desire of the team members.

Pre-Game Photo/ Hussien Hamade

“I feel like the team members have more ambition, they want to win," Rodriguez said. "Before it didn’t really affect them. I know I started to care for softball more than I did last year. I think it motivates people to do better.”

The HSMSE Dragons girls' softball team’s leadership is more vocal than it has been in years prior. The two team captains tend to be more stern with the players than past leaders. This tough love seemed to motivate the players to improve upon their skills . The players now have a sense of camaraderie. Players no longer play for themselves, rather they play as the Dragons.

“Even though me and Taylor are tough on the team, they’re now more motivated because they know they’re not trying for themselves, but for the team,” Rodriguez said.

The potential for excellence on the girls' track team

The 2015 High School for Math, Science and Engineering’s girls' outdoor track team was made up of a majority of underclassmen. Interestingly, this didn't come as a surprise to coach Tom Henning.

The track team usually attracts a lot of freshmen runners every year. This season was no different, as the outdoor girls' track team consisted of 67% freshmen. These freshmen, Savanna Hang, Anna Mumford, Cindy Zhang, and Yong Yi Zhang used the track team to adjust to high school.

Yong Yi Zhang (l.), Cindy Zhang (r.) /Ed Yaker 

“Track, especially cross country, helped me meet students I wouldn’t have met before,” Mumford said. “Cross Country was before school started so that helped me make friends I wouldn’t normally make. The same thing happened with track.”

Inexperience was a major obstacle that the team had to overcome in order to succeed. Mumford recalled junior Michelle Lee’s excellent leadership which kept the team composed throughout the season.

“Michelle led by example," she said. "She showed up to practice even when she didn’t need to. She was always the fastest runner, the fact that she came to practice everyday displays her excellent leadership”

Success is probable for the next few seasons considering the team’s youth. Their potential for excellence was displayed this year. A motivated Lee and a promising group of rising sophomores will improve with more experience.

Bright future ahead for HSMSE Baseball

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering’s boys' baseball team has dramatically improved from its winless 2014 season. The team followed its 0-13 record from 2014 with a 6-2 record in 2015.

The 2014 season did not go as planned for the boys’ baseball team. The team finished last place in its division and was demoted to the PSAL Developmental League. The team has overwhelmingly improved, with coach David Scheiman crediting this improvement to the team's growing desire to win.

Henry Schoenfeld (pitching)
/ J. Schoenfeld

"I think they want it more [than last year]," Scheiman said. "I think they are taking it more seriously [than last year.]"

Two players who have really stepped up this year are the captains of the baseball team, junior Henry Schoenfeld, and sophomore Max Hines. With only one senior on the roster, the team relies on the captains for its guidance. They have responded admirably, leading by example on the field. Schoenfeld has posted a .333 average with a home run, a double, and four RBIs. Hines batted .417 with a home run, a triple, and three RBIs. Mr. Scheiman attributes the captains’ leadership as a major reason for the team's progress.

"They have really set the tone for the year," he said. "They have set an example on the field for our young players."

Thanks to the captains' leadership and the move to the PSAL Developmental League, the team has been able to gain more confidence. The players' newfound confidence has given them a positive attitude, translating to more wins during the season.

"We probably didn't feel that we were good the previous years," he said. "Since we have more confidence, we believe that we can win any game that we play."

Scheiman feels that the team could move up in the PSAL. With another year of experience, he believes that the team even has a chance of making the playoffs.

“If we do well, maybe we can go into another division," he said. "And our confidence could even get us to be a playoff team next year."

Another successful season for the HSMSE girls' softball team

Girls softball team / H. Hamade

The 2015 spring softball season for the HSMSE Dragons was arguably their best season yet. The Dragons went 13-1 this season which earned them the top seed in the Manhattan B Division.

For just the second time in the history of HSMSE athletics, a team was the number one seed in the playoffs, the first for the softball team. After having a fantastic season in 2014, the softball team came into the 2015 season with high expectations. There were a some doubts when a few seniors left, but when new players filled the void, the team regained their confidence for the season.

“Achieving the number one seed was a great accomplishment,” said coach Crystal Downey in an interview on May 29. “From the start of the season we knew it was going to be a success, so we didn’t let it get to our heads. … We had some new additions to the team so the team was definitely stronger than last season [2014].”

A handful of players were the keys to the Dragons' success in 2015. These players were captains Taylor Faulds and Hillary Rodriguez, as well as freshman Alex West. This trio was vital to the team's success because they provided consistent defense and were always driving in runs for the team. Faulds hit .450, West hit .514, and Rodriguez hit .574. Having a core like these three is the difference between the strong teams and the weaker teams in Manhattan B Division.

“We had a few girls leave, but we had some new additions to the team,” Downey said. “The team was definitely better than it was last year. We played a few challenging teams that we beat, so once we beat them we knew that we were going to be ahead of the game."

The HSMSE outdoor track big three

Coach Tom Henning with the three qualifiers/ T Henning

The High School Math Science Engineering Boys' Track Team had three qualifiers for the 2015 PSAL City Championship, Austin Carvey, Wayne Chim, and Lucian Ramnarase. The PSAL City Championship puts the best runners throughout the city on display.

The Dragons are excited to qualify for the city championship. The boys  practiced throughout the season to prepare for huge events like this. This is the first time in HSMSE’s two years as a varsity track team that students have qualified for the city championship. Chim qualified in the long jump with an impressive jump of 19'1". Carvey qualified in the 400 IH in 59.5 seconds. Ramnarase’s 4:42 time in the 1600 meter run also earned him a spot in the finals. The boys were close in qualifying in the previous season, which motivated them to improve this year.

“I was really close in qualifying last year, so I was really excited when I qualified," Carvey said

These athletes are competing with the best in the city in their respective categories. Mentally they are going to have to be ready for their toughest challenge this track season. The runners will hope to put on a good showing at the event while representing their school.

“I don’t really think about the race till the night before," Carvey said. "I am a bit nervous knowing that I am competing against the best runners in the city.”

Lone varsity runner on the HSMSE girls' track team

Michelle Lee / Tom Henning

The HSMSE girls' outdoor track team has six members, but only has one varsity runner, junior Michelle Lee. She inherited a leadership role because she is the oldest and the most experienced runner on the team.

Lee did not participate in relays like her underclassmen teammates, and ran only individual races due to her status as the only varsity runner. Even though she did not run with them in the races, she still influenced the younger runners to perform their best. Lee embraced her front runner role by staying positive and setting an example to her younger teammates.

“What I try to do is through all the workouts I just give my all,” Lee said. “If they [the team] see that I’m actually putting in the effort, I want them to be motivated by that.”

This season, Lee ran exceptionally well in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles finishing third in the Manhattan Borough Championships with her best time at 1 minute and 16.6 seconds. Despite a great effort, Lee fell short of reaching the City Championships this season. She has one main goal for next season.

"I would like to make it to City Championships for the girls 400 meter intermediate hurdles [next season]," she said.

Her success gives the team a competitive edge; however, Lee cannot individually run for a whole team.

“We have a really strong freshman relay team right now” she said. “There is one other sophomore, Samantha Chan, and she’s also a really good long jumper and short distance runner. In general we have a very promising team.”

Next season Lee will be joined by Chan on varsity. While they do not have the numbers for a relay team, Lee will no longer have a journey of solitude in girls' varsity track.

Lone senior finishing high school baseball career

Geoffrey Nathan - N. Diunte

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering boys’ baseball team has only one senior graduating this season. Senior second baseman Geoffrey Nathan grew from the only freshmen looking up to everyone, to being a friendly face on a tight-knit team. He concluded his fourth and final year with the Dragons, never having a teammate in his grade.

“I feel honored,” Nathan said. “I do wish I had other people [from my grade], but it’s kinda nice because I can chill with the underclassmen. It’s nice to be the one people can look up to.”

Nathan saw little playing time his freshman year, stepping up to the plate only six times. His role on the team jumped his sophomore year, where he had a .304 batting average in 23 at-bats. Nathan has made consistent contributions for the Dragons ever since.

"We depend more on him for hitting this year than other years," coach David Scheiman said. "He doesn't have to pitch as much."

The team experienced many league changes during Nathan’s tenure on the team. After their 2012 season, the Dragons were moved from the Developmental league to South Bronx B division. This 2015 season was played in the SSAL Developmental league.

“I wish we kept the same [league] the whole time,” Nathan said. “We worked our way up from development league, but then we ended up going back down. At least this year I can help the team get out of developmental.”

A common theme among the HSMSE teams is often the graduating seniors. The baseball team this year will not face this struggle next year; however, Nathan’s contributions and attitude will be missed.

"He's become more comical over the years," Scheiman said. "[He gives] a lot of comedy relief for the team."

HSMSE Dragons show their lack of experience in a tough loss to Brandeis

Coach Diunte (l.) with his team's three seniors / Monicka Chang

In an exciting boys' volleyball match at the Nat Holman Gymnasium on April 29th  the Brandeis Bulldogs upset the HSMSE Dragons for their first win of the season. The Dragons looked good from the beginning of the game, and at one point were up by seven, but the Bulldogs clawed their way back to a convincing 27-25, 25-19 win.

In their previous meeting. the HSMSE boys’ volleyball team defeated the Brandeis Bulldogs on April 13th; however, they were not able to close out the first set in what appeared to be the young team showing their inexperience. This played a part in how the team approached the second set, with the team continuing to make the same mental lapses that caused them to give up a big lead in the first set. This gave the feeling that they were playing defeated from the start of the second set.

This is not the first lead the Dragons have given up this season; it has been a constant problem for half of the Dragons league’s games. Coach Nick Diunte feels it’s not such a physical problem, but more of a mental struggle for the team.

“I think a lot of it is mental at this point," Diunte said in a post game interview. "I think just mentally they need to have the wherewithal to finish plays and be confident enough to take their best swing."

The Dragons learned a valuable lesson from this loss and look to bounce back in their upcoming games with a different mindset.

Contributed by Henry Schoenfield and Mohammed Kabir

HSMSE boys' volleyball team fails to win farewell home game

Evgeni Dobranov - Monicka Chang

The HSMSE boys volleyball team lost their season's last home game against Brandeis, 27-25, 25-19, this past Wednesday at Nat Holman Gym. This home game was very emotional because it was the last home game for three seniors who will graduate this year.

Senior libero Evgeni Dobranov had a productive game with nine digs and four service points. This was his last home game as a member of the team.

“The game felt pretty good,"Dobranov said."It felt good to be home and just to be able to play a little bit more.”

Austin Han and Mateusz Zukowski, the two other seniors, will also be graduating. Junior Nicholas Jorquera said there will be a shift in leadership next year with the absence of these seniors.

“A lot of players will emerge as leaders, obviously the seniors are going to be missed but I guess we have to continue; we’ve done that every year,” Jorquera said.

Jorquera had a fruitful game with four digs and six kills to accompany an ace. Sophomore Yussef Elbagoury also played well with an ace, five kills, and six digs. Despite Wednesday's loss, the production from their younger players show a bright future ahead of them.

Yussef Elbagoury - Monicka Chang

“The most important thing is to win as a team. As the season progresses we’ll hopefully get to hit a lot smarter, [and] as a team we will hopefully destroy some other teams,” Elbagoury said. 

Wednesday’s loss was tough; but that does not stop the HSMSE boys' volleyball team from grinding out some wins to finish the season on a good note. Three valuable players will be missed, but the team is in good hands.
 
Contributed by: Bruce Mayfield, Harry Smith

Hall of Famer Omar Vargas returns to CCNY

Louis Brandeis’ boys’ volleyball coach Jose Omar Vargas returned to CCNY, coaching his team to a narrow 27-25, 25-19 victory over the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering on April 29. Vargas was inducted into CCNY’s Hall of Fame in 2009 after starting the college’s mens’ volleyball team, and winning both the CUNY mens’ and womens’ championships.

Jose Omar Vargas points to his Hall of Fame plaque / N. Diunte

“Quite frankly it is like returning home,” Vargas said.

Brandeis' captain and outside hitter Joel Ortiz played extremely well, recording five digs and nine kills. Vargas praised Ortiz after the game.

“He’s always hustling on the court, talking to the kids and making them better,” Vargas said. “He’s a true leader and I love him for that.”

Vargas has transformed Brandeis into a school where volleyball is a popular sport, with more people trying to make the team. Coach Vargas has also established a work-hard philosophy for the team.

“I have the reputation of being a disciplinarian,” he said. “I’m a nice guy, but I don’t play any games. If you give me your time, I’m going to respect you.”

Although Vargas has retired from teaching at Brandeis, he continues to coach the boys’ volleyball team. He cites his true love for the game as the reason he keeps coaching.

“I’m no longer coaching to win a game, I’m coaching for life,” he said. “That’s my legacy; to make young people better, to appreciate the game, and to enjoy it for life.”

Contributed by Michael Stern and Velid Mulic

'Drazen: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of the Mozart of Basketball' book review

Drazen - Todd Spehr

Todd Spehr’s “Drazen: the Life and Legacy of the Mozart of Basketball,” details the life of European basketball pioneer Drazen Petrovic. Spehr captures the winning spirit and tenacity that Petrovic displayed throughout his career. Although Americans only know Petrovic by his two notable years as a key contributor to the New Jersey Nets, his legacy stretches out to be far greater than what he is remembered to be in the United States.

Showing an unparalleled desire to hone his basketball skills from a young age, Drazen Petrovic laboriously sculpted a legendary career in the solitude of an empty basketball court in his hometown Sibenka.

"There is in Sibenka one boy who will be better than 'Kicha' [Dragan Kicanovic] and me ... He is called Drazen Petrovic. Remember the name," said his Yugoslavian club coach Zoran Slavnic.

Petrovic became Yugoslavia’s best player early in his career. Petrovic’s success in Yugoslavian basketball allowed him to change the rules for Yugoslavian athletes of the future. By threatening to disqualify himself from international competition, he managed to enter the Spanish league where he could comfortably transition to the NBA.

“I will go one day to the United States, with the professionals,” he told El Pais. “I just know that no European player has won there. I’ll be the first and nobody can stop me.”

Petrovic was drafted in 1986 by the Portland Trail Blazers, but he did not join the NBA until the 1989-90 NBA season after the Blazers bought out the remaining two years of his contract with Madrid. Petrovic was limited to the bench in his two seasons with the Trail Blazers, as he played on a very talented Portland team. Petrovic grew to be very unhappy with his limited role and demanded a trade in the middle of the 1990-91 season. Portland obliged, trading him to the New Jersey Nets.

It wasn’t so easy for Petrovic transitioning to life in the United States. He was emotionally in pain due to worrying about his family in Croatia. He was also troubled by his teammates reluctance to accept him as one of their leaders. He was driven to become the first European star player to earn his teammates respect.

As Drazen developed on the Nets, he sought the confidence which he had exuded in Euro tournaments. It was in his play against the top NBA talents that he displayed his trademark tenacity. His ability to fearlessly stand up against the greatest opponents earned him the respect of legends such as Reggie Miller.

“One shooter to the other, I envied his ability," Miller said in his autobiography, "I Love Being the Enemy."

Petrovic’s path to NBA stardom ended suddenly on June 7th, 1993. While traveling on the Autobahn in Germany, Petrovic’s car crashed into a truck. Traveling without a seat belt, Petrovic did not stand a chance; he passed at the age of 28.

Spehr’s deep and detailed work is evident in his complete coverage of Drazen’s life in Europe, his success on the Croatian National team, and his accomplishments in the NBA. His prosperity has paved the way for other Europeans such as Peja Stojakovic and Dirk Nowitzki to thrive in the NBA. His legacy can still be remembered at the Drazen Petrovic Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia.

Contributed by Michael Stern, Bruce Mayfield, Harry Smith, and Mohammed Kabir.

Author Todd Spehr gives insight into Drazen Petrovic's career

Todd Spehr is an Australian author who self published “Drazen: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of the Mozart of Basketball,” in 2015 on deceased former New Jersey Nets guard Drazen Petrovic. Spehr follows Petrovic’s life from childhood, up until his untimely death in a car crash on June 7, 1993. Spehr heard about Petrovic from a scout in Oklahoma City, prompting him to look further into Petrovic’s life.

“I wanted to understand why Europeans were thought of in a certain way and how Drazen sought to change that,” Spehr said in an April 2015 interview with the HSMSE Sports Journalism class.

Zoran Citra, a former teammate of Petrovic, wrote an article about the book Spehr was in the process of constructing. The Petrovic Museum, run by the family, noticed the story. The family hurried to support Spehr in his research. The superstar’s life lacked coverage, leaving many basketball fans unaware of his story.

“They appreciate that I am trying to relay what Drazen’s life was about,” he said.

Petrovic’s mother, Biserka, made sure to provide Spehr with as much information as possible about her son’s life growing up and their reaction to his tragic end. The family wants to translate the book so even Croatians can better understand Petrovic’s legacy.

“His mother does not speak any English, but she wrote me two separate letters that were translated,” he said. “Both of them were 8-10 pages; one was about his childhood, and the other was about how they dealt with life after he was killed. It was just unbelievable.”

Petrovic developed a close relationship with New Jersey fans in only two seasons with the Nets. His energy and flashy plays electrified the Izod Center. The shocking news of Petrovic’s death devastated the Nets organization, as well as the family and friends of the Croatian star.

“[Coach] Chuck [Daly] wanted to resign based on Drazen’s death, it shook him up pretty bad. He stayed an extra year, but after that he left, [Derrick] Coleman and [Kenny] Anderson went downhill,” Spehr said. “Even [with] the Croatian national team, same thing happened. They never placed better than third in another tournament.”

Even with his short time with the Nets, Petrovic is remembered well more than 20 years after his passing. Whether it is his number three hanging from the rafters in Brooklyn, or his museum in Croatia, basketball fans are reminded of Petrovic's all too short legacy worldwide.

Contributions by Junior Flores, and Velid Mulic

The benefits of unionization for minor league baseball players

Most baseball fans understand that minor league players face difficulties making ends meet, but what they don’t understand is the extent of these obstacles. Most minor leaguers make less than minimum wage during the season, working 60-70 hours per week without overtime. Due to the low pay and long hours, players can’t even afford to live on their own. Many players live with host families who provide a room and a few other necessities for a cheap price.

Salary Stats // Matt Kuperman

“But even as Major League Baseball is booming, raking in more than $8 billion annually, these players are shut out from the profits.”  Ian Gordon said in a 2014 Mother Jones article. “Since 1976, the rock-bottom salary in the majors has gone up more than 2,500 percent; in the minors, it has gone up less than 70 percent. Starting pay for minor leaguers is between $1,100 and $2,150 a month, and only during the season, which can be as short as three months.”

The upside to having a union would be huge for all of the minor league baseball players, allowing them to make more money and have all the hours they work recognized. Taking a look at the A.H.L. (one of the minor leagues for the N.H.L.) that league has been greatly successful because the players make better wages along with housing allowances. Seeing the success of unions in other minor leagues proves that a union would be greatly accepted by minor league baseball players.

“The lifestyle of an AHL hockey player, relatively speaking, it's pretty good,” said A.H.L. hockey player Justin Florek in a 2015 Providence Journal article.

The negative impact for the minor league baseball teams is financial. One solution though would have the teams paying the players higher wages. One proposed idea to fix the problem of low wage was to increase players’ salaries incrementally each year the player is in the league.

“The first step was already stated. Increase the pay period to include spring training and the instructional league.” Robert M. Pimpsner said in a 2015 Pinstriped Prospects article. “Paying players for this extra time will go a long way to help alleviate the burden. Follow it up with a 25% salary increase the next season, a 20% increase the following season after that, a 15% increase after that and finally a 10% increase the fourth year. At the end of this four year period the minimum salary would have risen from the $1,150 to $2,182, combined with increased pay period will mean a first year players could go from $3,450 a year to over $8,000 annually.”

The low pay that minor leaguers endure have motivated Garrett Broshuis, to file a lawsuit against MLB. Broshuis had his own first hand experience of dealing with these problems because he was a pitcher for six years in the Giants farm system. His minor league peers experienced many financial difficulties on account of the small wage and no overtime. Once Broshuis attained his law degree, he sought to improve the conditions for all minor leaguers. Broshuis believes the conditions minor league players are forced into is atrocious and should be addressed by the league.

“One of my roommates was so starving when he came home he would take the ramen noodle and wouldn't take the time to cook them, just would run it under hot water for 30 seconds put the seasoning on it and chomp down. I wasn’t that desperate,” said Broshuis in a 2015 interview with HSMSE/Sports.

Broshuis finds the salary unlawful because the average minor league player works 60 to 70 hours per week, yet only receives between $1,100 - $2,150 per month. This makes housing and other such necessities difficult to attain. Broshuis believes this is a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The nationwide wide minimum wage stands at $7.25, yet according to Broshuis’ calculations minor league players make several dollars per hour less than this. This alleged violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act is the core of his lawsuit.

This article was co-authored by Bruce Mayfield.

Garrett Broshuis is not the first to try to unionize minor leagues

George Earl Toolson / Yesnetwork.com

Former minor leaguer turned lawyer Garrett Broshuis is currently fighting for the unionization of Minor League Baseball; however minor leaguers have fought for better pay since as early as the 1920s.

Broshius is leading a lawsuit against Major League Baseball calling for a minor league baseball players union. Minor leaguers average substantially less than minimum wage for the amount of time they dedicate to their work. A minor league player starts with an average salary of $1,100 per month, but they put in about 60 hours of work per week, equating to a salary of less than the $7.25 federal minimum wage. Both Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball are protected under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which means minor leaguers do not have to be paid the legal minimum wage.

The Supreme Court of the United States decided that Major League Baseball was exempt from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act from the case of Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore, Inc. v. National League of Professional Baseball Clubs et. al. The case was argued on April 19, 1922 and decided on May 29 of the same year. Justice Holmes delivered the opinion of the court.

“The business is giving exhibitions of baseball, which are purely state affairs.” he said “It is true that, in order to attain for these exhibitions the great popularity that they have achieved, competitions must be arranged between clubs from different cities and states. But the fact that, in order to give the exhibitions, the Leagues must induce free persons to cross state lines and must arrange and pay for their doing so is not enough to change the character of the business.”

An example of minor leaguers fighting against MLB's exemption from the Anti-Trust Act is the Boise Baseball Club of 1975. The club managed farm teams for the Oakland A’s in the Northwestern area of the United States. Boise went out of business in 1976 due to the A’s interference with sales of player development contracts. After Boise's demise from managing Oakland's farm teams, Boise took court action and blamed Major League Baseball for Oakland cutting them off. They fought to abolish MLB’s exemption from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, but the court refused to re examine the 1922 case that allowed MLB to be exempt from the act and gave no reason to why they refused this notion.

Many players have tried to fight against Major League Baseball’s unfair treatment of minor league players, perhaps most notably George Earl Toolson. Toolson was a member of the New York Yankees Triple A Farm Club Newark Bears. In 1953, Toolson sued the New York Yankees to challenge the reserve clause, which prevented Toolson from being traded and getting a chance to pitch in the the major leagues. The court decided in favor of the Yankees, which kept baseball excluded from the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

Although Broshuis is not the first to try and represent the minor leaguers, he may have the greatest chance to succeed. He now has 43 former minor leaguers supporting his suit and is in a strong position to complete this David versus Goliath case against Major League Baseball.

Written by: Harry Smith and Michael Stern

Minor leaguers reluctant to unionize

Minor league baseball logo - milb.com

Minor leaguers historically have been hesitant to unionize for fear of having their childhood dream of playing in the major leagues taken away. Garrett Broshuis and several former minor league players filed a 2017 lawsuit against Major League Baseball over wage disputes. This case could possibly be resolved in the establishment of a minor league union, but the risk of giving a voice to the cause is stopping current minor leaguers from joining the conversation.

“Every single player you talk to, even if they realize [a union] would be a good thing, is also scared to death to talk to another player about it,” Broshuis said in a 2012 slate.com article. “This is your dream you’re talking about.”

Minor league players currently have a starting salary of between $1,100 and $2,150 per month. A minor leaguer works anywhere between 50 to 70 hours per week. The pay for some players comes out to $4 per hour. In 2012, teams saved an average of $860,000 due to tighter restrictions placed on money spent on draft picks. According to Broshuis, this money could double the salaries of players in Double-A and below.

"The average baseball fan knows that minor leaguers aren't getting rich," Broshuis said in a 2014 motherjones.com article. "But I think the average baseball fan is shocked to know what the salaries actually are."

Broshuis was chosen in the fifth round of the 2004 draft as a pitcher by the San Francisco Giants. He played six minor league seasons and went as far as Triple-A.

He pursued law in hopes of enacting change in the minor league system after retiring from baseball. Broshuis filed Senne v. MLB for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act. He claims MLB paid minor leaguers less than minimum wage and violated local labor laws.

“Minor leaguers aren't represented by the Major League union, and without a collective voice, there hasn't been anyone to stand up for them at all,” Broshuis told USA Today Sports in 2015. “It’s a perfect recipe for exploitation.”

The outcome of Broshuis's lawsuit will change the game for minor league baseball players by expanding their possibilities. If he is successful in creating a minor league union, it could mean a possible long-term life in the minor leagues. If the lawsuit doesn't pass, minor leaguers will continue to live under poor conditions until a possible entrance into the major leagues.

“[A] minor league union would be terrific,” said Broshuis in a 2015 interview with HSMSE Sports. “Ultimately, that would be ideal. At least, they need to start paying them for spring training.”

Written by Velid Mulic and Mohammed Kabir

Garrett Broshuis, former minor league pitcher turned lawyer sues MLB

Out of all the minor leagues in professional sports, minor league baseball players suffer from arguably the worst living conditions. Their salaries are well below poverty level, which results in poor housing conditions and also leads to large amounts of debt. A former minor leaguer turned lawyer, Garrett Broshuis has experienced these conditions first-hand and has decided to try to improve minor leaguers’ salaries and working conditions by filing a lawsuit against the MLB for violation of Fair Labor Standards Act. Broshuis became a lawyer to defend minor league players after his baseball career ended.

Their wages are relatively minuscule when compared to their MLB counterparts. The average salary of a minor leaguer is $1,100 a month for a three-month season, which is well below the federal poverty level. In comparison, the minimum salary of a major leaguer is $500,000 per season.

“While big league salaries have risen by more than 2,000 percent since 1976, minor league salaries have increased by just 75 percent during that time,” Ted Berg said in a 2014 USA Today article. “When taking into account inflation, minor leaguers actually earn less than they did in 1976.”

With such minimal wages, minor league players can't afford sufficient housing.

“Some players shared tiny apartments with each other,” recalled Dirk Hayhurst in a 2014 Bleacher report article.

The shelter they had was not always the safest either; stories of structural damage and mold were common.

“I slept on an air mattress on the living room floor of a two-bedroom Portland apartment because I had the least service time of the three players who were living there,” Broshuis said in the Bleacher report article. “One of us slept on a sleeping bag on the floor.”

Garrett Broshuis / Korein Tillery 

Broshuis was a standout baseball player at the University of Missouri, earning a nomination for the 2004 Student-Athlete of the Year. He finished his 2004 season with a perfect 11-0 record. The San Francisco Giants selected Broshuis in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB draft playing six years in the minor leagues. He finished second in wins for the AA Eastern League in 2008.

Broshuis represents dozens of former minor league players in a wage and hour lawsuit challenging the salaries of minor leaguers. In March 2013, he filed a lawsuit against MLB claiming that they were in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act for continuously paying minor leaguers less than minimum wage and not paying them for overtime. Broshuis explained his decision to become a lawyer recently in an interview with the HSMSE Sports Journalism class.

“I thought I was going to be a major in physiology.” Broshuis said. “I figured out I didn't want to sit in a lab all day.”

By filing the lawsuit, he hopes to raise awareness for the poor conditions of minor league players.

“A minor league union would be terrific," Broshuis said, "at the least they need to pay for spring training. Salaries for amnesties need to be increased as well.”


Written by: Junior Flores and Muhammad Abid Hasan

Garrett Broshuis discusses his lawsuit against MLB with HSMSE's Sports Journalism class

Former minor league pitcher turned lawyer Garrett Broshuis chatted with the HSMSE Sports Journalism Class about his current lawsuit against Major League Baseball. Broshuis discusses how he feels that MLB is in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, requiring minor league players to work many uncompensated hours at wages that are well below minimum wage.

Will the 2015 season shine for HSMSE softball?

The High School for Math, Science and Engineering Dragons softball team is facing several challenges in the 2015 spring season in Manhattan's B-IV Division. With an injured captain, the graduation of four seniors, and a possible shortage of players, the team is looking to work harder to continue their success from previous seasons.

Coach Crystal Downey / HSMSE Sports

The softball team had a strong season in 2014 with a division-leading 10-2 record. Coach Crystal Downey credits that the team has made good progress since starting in the developmental league.

“The team has been successful for the past three years, and we will carry on with that success,” she said.

In the upcoming season the softball team will be without four of last year’s seniors who played key roles in their past accomplishments, especially shortstop Donna Fintzi who had 29 hits and two home runs last season. Downey is confident that her team can overcome this obstacle.

“Last year’s seniors definitely helped us out,” said Downey. “So I definitely think it’s going to have an impact, but we’ll just have to work harder.”

The team’s second baseman and captain, Anya Batista, will be sidelined indefinitely for the upcoming season. A knee injury suffered in the fall will prevent her from playing; however, Downey believes in the girls’ sense of teamwork.

“Her injury will also have an impact since we have another girl down,” she said. “However our girls tend to work harder under pressure, and when they’re in situations that the team has to build together, the team is usually more successful.”

With the imbalance of male and female students at HSMSE, there is a possibility of not having enough players for a safety buffer. A softball team must have at least nine players on the team, and with five less players to start the season, the team needs enough new players to fill up the roster. Despite only 10 players returning, Downey is not concerned, and is sure that they will have a sufficient amount of new players.

“I am confident that we will have enough girls coming out for the team so that won’t be a situation for us,” she said. “We have strong girls coming on the team for the first time so I think we’ll be okay.”

Written by Muhammad Abid Hasan & Mohammed Kabir

HSMSE girls' soccer outlook for the 2015 season

The HSMSE girls’ soccer team won the PSAL B division championship in 2014, but questions surround the team repeating its success as they move to the A division in 2015.

 

HSMSE Girls Varsity Soccer Team / PSAL

The team winning the championship was a very impressive feat by itself, but it is even more impressive because of the small school size. There are approximately 450 students that attend HSMSE.  Not only did the team win the championship, but they also dominated the regular season by going undefeated.

The team will try to repeat its overwhelming success when they move to the Manhattan A Division next season. This move comes with a lot of hard work and dedication, as the girls must respond to the higher level of competition; however, Coach Zafonte is confident in the team, citing past experience and the team’s talent as strengths.

“We have been in the A Division before, so we can expect the faster level of play,” Zafonte said. “ I think we have a lot of talented players who can compete.”

The expectations for the upcoming season are still very high despite the team moving up in the competition. Coach Zafonte does not set expectations that revolve around results, but more so around the effort and intensity the team plays with. This is not the first time the team has been in the A division, which means that they know what to expect and they know how to prepare for the upcoming season.

The preparations that Coach Zafonte are making for the upcoming season have not changed drastically. She plans to have the team do a lot of conditioning and workouts with the team to help prepare for the faster pace of A division. The girls’ team will need this conditioning because they will not be able just outrun their opponents like they have been able to do in B division.

Another challenge Zafonte is facing with the upcoming season is the loss of five seniors. This will leave only 13 returning players for the upcoming season, leaving the team to rely on a strong freshman class of players for the upcoming season.

Co-author Michael Stern.

The sucess of the 2014 Flying Dragons

Lucian Ramnarase / T. Henning

The HSMSE Cross Country team has developed into one of the 20 elite Cross Country teams in the New York City area. The team reached the PSAL Cross Country City Championship of 2014; their success was greatly attributed to their ambition and focus on high paced running.

Coach Tom Henning prides himself on his recruiting skills and applauds the student athletes for their drive to be faster runners.

“I think we’ve been successful because MSE students work hard in anything that they do,” Henning said. “I’ve been very persistent in recruiting students.”

One prime example of an MSE student working hard is varsity runner Lucian Ramnarase. Ramnarase had a breakout season this year, finishing in 39th place out of about 200 other runners in the City Championships,  well above most of his fellow Flying Dragons.

Henning believes the success of his team is also due to coaching changes he made this season. Instead of increasing the mileage the runners run each week, he reduced the miles ran each week in order to develop faster runners instead of slower runners.

“I think I focused on more fast running, more high paced running with rest in between; I certainly took that from my track and field training,” Henning said.

Henning’s unorthodox quality over quantity approach has led to a team that reached the PSAL Cross Country City Championships for the first time. The accolades the team earned in the past year was a result of the enthusiasm the runners had, and the different approaches Henning used this past season in contrast to other great Cross Country teams.

                                          Authors: Bruce Mayfield, Harry Smith

Steven Limeta concludes his high school career with a Mayor’s Cup victory

After four rewarding years playing soccer with the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering Dragons, Steven Limeta finished his high school career with a victory in the prestigious New York City Mayor’s Cup.

Steven Limeta / NYC Mayor's Cup

Playing in the Mayor’s Cup is a huge honor for anyone, especially so for Limeta because he was the first player from HSMSE to participate in the event. The Mayor’s Cup selects the best 20 players in the Public School Athletics League. Since HSMSE is a small school, it is more difficult to be recognized.

Limeta has poured countless hours of training into his craft, playing for both his school’s team and a team outside of school. It is clear that Limeta deserved to represent HSMSE in the Mayor’s Cup, but he was still nervous.

“It felt nerveracking,” Limeta said. “You’re used to having your teammates around. I was really nervous representing our school.”

When Limeta was on the field, he kept a firm grip on his team’s defense. He made sure that everyone knew what was going on and was playing at their best. His key plays kept the score at nil. In one such play, Limeta covered for his teammate, stopped an attacker from breaking to the goal, and cleared the ball from his half of the field.

“If no one was there, they would have scored on us,” Limeta said.

Steven Limeta / Limeta Family

Limeta was a starter on MSE's varsity soccer team for each of his four years at the school. On the team, he played more than just excellent defense. As a centerback, Limeta scored four goals and recorded three assists in his career. Limeta’s defense along with his important role in MSE’s offense will be hard to replace for the upcoming season.

“Steven is gonna be missed as much for his reliable play as for his leadership,” said coach Nick Diunte. “He has a rare combination of both of those qualities that not every high school player has. When he was playing, his teammates knew that his position was locked. He was so fearless when he played, even when it might have been an uneven matchup.”

Despite his intense dedication and college-ready skill, his future with soccer is in doubt. Limeta recently suffered from postinfectious myopathy. He is recovering, but the illness has had a serious impact on his training and ability.

“After high school I'm planning to play college soccer,” Limeta said. “Right now I'm not sure I'm gonna make it because of what happened.”

No matter what ensues, soccer will continue to be an important part of Limeta’s life.

“You know what my first word was? It was not mom, it was not dad, it was goal,” Limeta said.“If I can’t play in college, I’ll just keep playing for fun.”

Coauthor: Junior Flores

A special senior night

HSMSE boys' varsity basketball / D. Islam

The long awaited dynamic duo

Both of the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams played in a doubleheader on February 4th at City College of New York’s gym. The highlight was watching senior forward Lameek White and sophomore forward Eric Abreu play together for the first time in the season. Abreu and White’s skills complimented each other well in the Dragons’ 52-45 win against Manhattan Village Academy.

“When I was out, there was a lot of things that [White] did that I couldn't do,” Abreu said. “The same thing when I came back [and he was out]. We put the puzzle together.”

Another key for the Dragons’ victory was their high intensity from the tip-off. Their energy gave them an 18-8 lead by the end of the first quarter. Both White and senior center Alex Long scored almost double their respective season averages.

“It’s the last home game of the season, [we] had to go out with a ‘W’,” White said.

Lady Dragons improve over previous match-up

The match-up between the Lady Dragons and Chelsea Career and Technical Education was the second of their season. After a 35-26 loss on their January 1st game, the Lady Dragons were determined to show their improvement.

HSMSE girls' varsity basketball team / D. Islam

The team lost their second game against Chelsea 41-35, but despite the loss, there was a silver lining. Though an early full-court press by Chelsea hurt the Lady Dragons, things turned around by the third quarter. The team began to maneuver around Chelsea’s defense while executing their own full-court press with success.

“At first we weren't playing our hardest,” sophomore guard Annabelle Shultz said, “but we always come back in the second half.”

Sophomore guard Hillary Rodriguez played a large role in the game with many steals leading to easy fast-break points. The key for Rodriguez was her great positioning as she played one of her best game this season. Her hustle reflected a team-wide improvement in the second half.

“[The team had] a lot more hustle and nose for the ball,” head coach David Scheiman said. “Being in the right place and the right time was the main thing.”

HSMSE Lady Dragons win PSAL Class B girls’ soccer championship

HSMSE Girls' soccer team - Evgeni Dobranov

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering girls’ soccer team won the PSAL Girls' B Soccer championship 3-1 in a penalty shootout against Julia Richman on Sunday, November 9th. The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of overtime on Randall’s Island Field 10. This tight victory marks HSMSE’s first ever citywide varsity championship.

From the first whistle, the Lady Dragons played aggressive, but couldn't maintain solid control. In the first four minutes, Richman had two corners and forced a save on sophomore goalkeeper Annabelle Shultz.

 “I definitely felt more pressure [over last game],” Shultz said. “Last game, after we scored the first goal, we were so set that we were going to win and kept scoring more and more. In this, we were 1-0 almost the entire game.”

The game soon changed direction when sophomore midfielder Hillary Rodriguez assisted sophomore forward Jacqueline Hall in the seventh minute.

Things got really awkward for the Lady Dragons at the start of the second half. Both senior defender Sahar Saedi and freshman midfielder Alex West were shown yellow cards on consecutive plays. West received her yellow for a delay of game right as Saedi was returning to the field after the action died. On the ensuring play, Saedi received a yellow card for a rough foul.

“[The delay] was because Sahar came back and she was supposed to take the goal kick,” West said. “My foot hurt and so I couldn't kick it that far, and I didn't want them to get the ball and score. I was trying to get away from the ball.”

The nail biting game was the greatest challenge for the Lady Dragons all season. Richman’s 52nd minute equalizer was the first time the Lady Dragons were tied this year. The girls weren’t fazed by this new challenge, as the Dragons fought hard to win the game until the final whistle. With one minute left, Hall found herself past Richman’s goalkeeper with the ball, but two defenders were waiting on goal. Hall’s shot deflected off a defender and hit the post, giving the Lady Dragons the last corner before overtime.

The two teams, weary from 80 minutes of regulation play, faced another 20 minutes of overtime to determine who would win the championship. Both teams teetered on the brink of scoring during the overtime period; however, Shultz managed two great saves to keep the Lady Dragons in the game.

co-captains Yael Saiger and Galit Wiener with Zafonte -  Batya Wiener

The first penalty taker was West, who upon scoring, quickly put on gloves to be the stand-in goalkeeper. To the average spectator, this came as a surprise, but coach Regina Zafonte made the team practice penalties on West during the post-season. West never saved any official penalties, but was mere inches away from stopping Richman’s first. Hall and junior midfielder Taieesa Peshkovsky scored the next two while Richman missed their remaining chances.

“I knew that Alex has been trained to do this and I was so confident in her,” Schultz said.

The undefeated season ended in a deserving championship for the Lady Dragons. According to tradition, the champions will be brought up to A-Division. It will be interesting to see how the team takes on the tough challenge next season. The current seniors are the only players to have experienced the A-Division before the team was dropped to the A-Division in the 2012-2013 season. For now, the only certainty is that the champions have much to be proud of.

“It’s the most amazing experience," said Zafonte. "I’m just happy that all this hard work for the past two months culminated in success and the better team did win today. It feels amazing.”

HSMSE Lady Dragons earn first girls' basketball playoff victory in school history

Lady Dragons after their victory / HSMSE Sports

The Lady Dragons of the High School for Math, Science and Engineering felt right at home Thursday evening in their first round PSAL B Division girls’ basketball playoff game at South Bronx Prep. The Lady Dragons were unaffected by the rabid supporters of South Bronx Prep en route to a 56-35 victory.

The Lady Dragons, who were forced to play as the home team on the road due to a scheduling conflict with City College, came out with a furious full court press that put them up 6-0 after the first two minutes of the game. It was a lead they would never relinquish.

“I think they were zoned in more than anything,” said head coach David Scheiman. “They were just emotionally ready.”

Prep’s Cougars cut the Lady Dragons lead to five points one minute into the fourth quarter, narrowing the score to 36-31; however, they couldn’t get any closer due to the relentless pressure of HSMSE’s defense. With five minutes left in the game, sophomore Hillary Rodriguez hit a three pointer, stole the ensuing inbounds pass, and immediately scored on a lay-up to put the Lady Dragons ahead 43-31. Her five-second, five-point barrage, effectively secured the first playoff win in the Manhattan school’s history.

Hillary Rodriguez / HSMSE Sports

Standing in the way of the Lady Dragons playoff run are the third-seeded Phoenix of Millennium High School. The Phoenix posted a regular season record of 15-1, easily conquering the Manhattan South Division. The two teams will face off on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at John Jay Campus’ Gym in Brooklyn.

With the spring break approaching, Coach Scheiman will let the team enjoy a much needed vacation before focusing their energies on Millennium.

“When they get back to school,” Scheiman said, “it’s time to hit the ground running in preparation.”

Team	1	2	3	4				Total
HS For Math, Science and Engineering @ CCNY	15	9	12	20				56
South Bronx Preparatory	9	8	12	6				35

HS For Math, Science and Engineering @ CCNY
Player	Asst	Rebounds O-T	Fg2	Fg3	Ftm-Fta	Points
ALEX WEST	6	2-4	4	1	2-5	13
ANNABELLE SHULTZ	3	10-21	11	0	4-13	26
ANYA MARCHANT	0	4-12	2	0	0-2	4
GALIT WIENER	0	2-6	1	0	0-0	2
HILLARY RODRIGUEZ	0	4-10	3	1	0-0	9
JADE ARDINEZ	0	1-1	1	0	0-0	2
Total	9	23-54	22	2	6-20	56

South Bronx Preparatory
Player	Asst	Rebounds O-T	Fg2	Fg3	Ftm-Fta	Points
ANGIE ORTIZ ERAZO	6	0-0	2	0	0-1	4
BIANCA MONTANEZ	0	0-0	0	0	0-0	0
DAWN FRANKLIN	1	12-27	4	0	0-0	8
DEBBY SILVA	0	0-0	0	0	0-0	0
DIAMOND FULLARD	0	0-4	1	0	0-0	2
IVANA MONTANO	0	5-5	0	0	0-0	0
KATERA ROBINSON	1	1-7	7	0	0-2	14
SKYLAR HAWKINS	0	0-0	0	0	0-0	0
TAYLOR HAWKINS	0	0-0	1	1	0-0	5
ZAHRA MEDINA	0	0-0	1	0	0-0	2
Total	8	18-43	16	1	0-3	35