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."