HSMSE’s Indoor Track and Field team competed Saturday, February 22nd at the 2020 PSAL City Championships at the Armory in Washington Heights. At the meet, HSMSE’s boys’ and girls’ teams placed 12th and 21st respectively in the city.
This marks a season-ending event for the HSMSE Flying Dragons in which their star players’ skills were displayed on the city’s greatest stage. Thirteen HSMSE athletes competed in a total of six events against other top schools in the city.
Among the most significant performers in the City Championship was junior Whralston Anderson. He finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 42-5 ½, beating his previous school record by two feet.
Additionally, Anderson tied for second with a 5’-8” high jump. His performances were the Flying Dragons' only top-three finishes in the meet. His triple jump score made him the only HSMSE athlete who qualified for this year’s state meet.
Also, the girls’ pole vaulting team had an outstanding performance. In the event, junior Sophie Levine earned fourth place with a height of seven-feet and eight-inches. Additionally, sophomore Lara Bernard and freshman Penelope Larkin tied for fifth, both with a height of seven-feet and two-inches.
According to coach Thomas Henning, the key to his athletes' success was perseverance and consistency. He believes their stellar performances weren’t anything out of the ordinary; it was the outcome of hard work and commitment.
“People did very much as I expected,” he said.
He also noted sophomore Jillian Darcy’s improvement, who managed to qualify for the city championships for her incredible endurance as a runner. At the meet, she placed 11th in the 3000 meter run with a time of 11:42.67, a minute and nine seconds behind first place.
“She did very well at the end of the season,” he said.
The team's accomplishments have led their school to a new athletic frontier. There is no doubt that the Flying Dragons' boasting multiple medalists was even more impressive with less than 500 students in their school's population. The team looks for an even brighter future next season, with a plan to recruit even more potential champions and train harder than ever before.
- Luis Andino also contributed to this article.
Showing posts with label PSAL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PSAL. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Monday, March 30, 2020
The HSMSE Girls Basketball Team Overcomes Injuries In A Historic Season
The HSMSE Girls basketball team made it to the first round of the 2020 PSAL “B” Division Playoffs after finishing second place in their division. The Dragons maintained a 9-3 record, all while losing two valuable players during the season.
The Dragons were a resilient team, so giving up was not an option. Losing players due to injury did not demoralize the team, in fact, it boosted team morale. They had to play harder in support of their sidelined teammates.
“It gave everyone an opportunity to step up and support their teammates,” coach David Scheiman said.
Before a pre-season scrimmage, starting center Nicole Ogen broke a finger during warm-ups. The Dragons lost another starter midway through the season when shooting guard Barbara Ceci broke her ankle during the first quarter of a league game. Less experienced players stepped up and helped the Dragons take victory.
“[The injuries] makes everyone work harder because everyone wants to come through for that person and win,” junior point guard Agnes Heffner said.
Following the injuries, sophomores Sandy Liang and Taylor Jeffrey filled starting positions, while freshmen Sherry Li and Lily Yan earned more playing time. The Dragons’ ability to deal with adversity sets them up for a strong upcoming season, as their younger players gained valuable experience that will help the team in the future.
- Siddhaarta Venkatesh also contributed to this story.
The Dragons were a resilient team, so giving up was not an option. Losing players due to injury did not demoralize the team, in fact, it boosted team morale. They had to play harder in support of their sidelined teammates.
“It gave everyone an opportunity to step up and support their teammates,” coach David Scheiman said.
Before a pre-season scrimmage, starting center Nicole Ogen broke a finger during warm-ups. The Dragons lost another starter midway through the season when shooting guard Barbara Ceci broke her ankle during the first quarter of a league game. Less experienced players stepped up and helped the Dragons take victory.
“[The injuries] makes everyone work harder because everyone wants to come through for that person and win,” junior point guard Agnes Heffner said.
Following the injuries, sophomores Sandy Liang and Taylor Jeffrey filled starting positions, while freshmen Sherry Li and Lily Yan earned more playing time. The Dragons’ ability to deal with adversity sets them up for a strong upcoming season, as their younger players gained valuable experience that will help the team in the future.
- Siddhaarta Venkatesh also contributed to this story.
HSMSE Girls' Basketball Rising Star: Unni Isaksen
Nearly quadrupling a personal best is nothing but a jaw-dropper. HSMSE junior Unni Isaksen dramatically increased her offensive role this year for the girls’ basketball team.
Isaksen only averaged 3.5 points per game during her sophomore year. It was not until this season where she increased her output to a remarkable 11.4 ppg. HSMSE's girls' basketball coach David Scheiman noted her immense progress this year.
“Her skillset got better [and] her footwork got a lot better,” Scheiman said.“She knows how to hit lay-ups more consistently now, and she knows how to drive to the basket, not being afraid.”
Between her sophomore and junior year, Isaksen didn’t just improve her skills, but she also gained confidence on the court. However, Isaksen’s on-court actions were not the only contribution that caused the change, but a new motivation outside played into it as well.
“I think she understands how important she is to the team, and that she is getting the hang of what her role is,” he said.
Isaksen's ambition to enhance her skills and to devote herself to the game, combined with coach Scheiman’s recent practice changes created the perfect recipe for improvement. With Isaksen on the rise for her senior year, the future seems bright for the Dragons.
- Andy Jiang also contributed to this article.
Isaksen only averaged 3.5 points per game during her sophomore year. It was not until this season where she increased her output to a remarkable 11.4 ppg. HSMSE's girls' basketball coach David Scheiman noted her immense progress this year.
“Her skillset got better [and] her footwork got a lot better,” Scheiman said.“She knows how to hit lay-ups more consistently now, and she knows how to drive to the basket, not being afraid.”
Between her sophomore and junior year, Isaksen didn’t just improve her skills, but she also gained confidence on the court. However, Isaksen’s on-court actions were not the only contribution that caused the change, but a new motivation outside played into it as well.
“I think she understands how important she is to the team, and that she is getting the hang of what her role is,” he said.
Isaksen's ambition to enhance her skills and to devote herself to the game, combined with coach Scheiman’s recent practice changes created the perfect recipe for improvement. With Isaksen on the rise for her senior year, the future seems bright for the Dragons.
- Andy Jiang also contributed to this article.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
HSMSE softball team navigates inconsistent schedule to postseason
The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering girls’ softball team battled an inconsistent schedule to earn a playoff appearance in the 2017 season. The team relied on contributions from all players to navigate their cancellations and make the postseason.
This year the Dragons had six games postponed due to rain issues. The constant inclement weather forced the team to play games on an erratic schedule. During a 19-day span they managed to only play one game; however, coach Crystal Downey viewed the cancellations as a chance for the team to work on their skills.
“We believed that the rainouts were an opportunity to have extra practice,” Downey said. “We used [the postponements] to our advantage.”
Despite all the changes, the Dragons were still able to return to the playoffs after winning the PSAL B League Championship in 2016. The Dragons went 8-6 and placed third in their division. The team had to reposition and move around the players to where they fit best on the field after losing some key starters like Taylor Faulds and Hillary Rodriguez. Captain and pitcher Annabelle Shultz attributed the team’s success to sticking together as a unit and playing as a whole.
“Because we’ve been practicing so much we all bonded together,” Shultz said. “Even though all the rain did mess up our schedule, we still remained a team so we played very well together.”
With the Dragons playing as infrequently as they were scheduled, they had to depend on a strong core to keep the team’s energy up. Nine of the 15 players that were on the roster were first year players, so they had to rely on guidance from the experienced veterans. Shultz was able to ascend into that role and provide the necessary leadership to propel the team into the playoffs.
“I just understood that even though things might not go your way you have to remain positive,” Shultz said. “Keep your team up and that’s all what it’s about, just spirit.”
While the Dragons lost their first round playoff game, the adversity they battled during the season made this year a success. They were able to bring a team that consisted of nine first year players and still advanced to the postseason despite losing key players from last year and an unpredictable schedule.
- Contributing author - Gabriel Cuilan
This year the Dragons had six games postponed due to rain issues. The constant inclement weather forced the team to play games on an erratic schedule. During a 19-day span they managed to only play one game; however, coach Crystal Downey viewed the cancellations as a chance for the team to work on their skills.
“We believed that the rainouts were an opportunity to have extra practice,” Downey said. “We used [the postponements] to our advantage.”
Despite all the changes, the Dragons were still able to return to the playoffs after winning the PSAL B League Championship in 2016. The Dragons went 8-6 and placed third in their division. The team had to reposition and move around the players to where they fit best on the field after losing some key starters like Taylor Faulds and Hillary Rodriguez. Captain and pitcher Annabelle Shultz attributed the team’s success to sticking together as a unit and playing as a whole.
“Because we’ve been practicing so much we all bonded together,” Shultz said. “Even though all the rain did mess up our schedule, we still remained a team so we played very well together.”
With the Dragons playing as infrequently as they were scheduled, they had to depend on a strong core to keep the team’s energy up. Nine of the 15 players that were on the roster were first year players, so they had to rely on guidance from the experienced veterans. Shultz was able to ascend into that role and provide the necessary leadership to propel the team into the playoffs.
“I just understood that even though things might not go your way you have to remain positive,” Shultz said. “Keep your team up and that’s all what it’s about, just spirit.”
While the Dragons lost their first round playoff game, the adversity they battled during the season made this year a success. They were able to bring a team that consisted of nine first year players and still advanced to the postseason despite losing key players from last year and an unpredictable schedule.
- Contributing author - Gabriel Cuilan
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Boys' volleyball: Dragons reach a historic height
The HSMSE boys' varsity volleyball team battled to an eight and two record to make the playoffs this year. Their success was attributed to their growth as team, especially by their seniors.
Four-year players Yussef Elbagory, Will Esseks, and Isaac Draper have been leaders and “go to” players on the court this season. Their experience helped the team focus on higher level tactics and add more variety to their gameplay because they were able to lead and coordinate the team on the court.
“Isaac, Will, and Yussef all improved in terms of consistency and confidence in games,” coach Nick Diunte said.
This improvement in confidence allowed Esseks, Elbagory, and Draper to be leaders on the court and in practice. Draper's setting led the league in assists. His ability to set up plays is critical to the team’s success and without him their road to the playoffs likely would have been much more troublesome than it was.
Many players also made significant improvements in individual skills such as passing and attacking over the offseason. Both his teammates and his coach applauded Damar Mercado-Hastings for improving his swing and approach to hitting since last year.
“Damar improved his swing and got more kills," senior Samson Lin said. "[He] improved in [his] blocks and digging.”
Developing game-like situations during practice helped the team create a positive attitude going into games and reading their opponents. Practice was an essential factor for not only their improvement on the court, but also for their mentality as a team.
“Always just creating competitive situations in practice helps with games and having a group of guys that always want to be on the floor and compete towards playing time," Diunte said. "I think having that atmosphere in practice turned over into the games.”
Their efforts during practice shined on the court as they worked together to read and adjust to their opponents more efficiently than ever before. The team was able to communicate on both offense and defense to implement new plays and control the pace of the game. Their competitive atmosphere during practice also helped the team create stronger relationships with one another and bond during tough games and losses.
“[We] grew a lot as a team in terms of the ability to handle adversity and go forward from it together and come out ahead,” Diunte said.
The Dragons only lost two games, both to Stuyvesant, but they still came together after games, practice, and even during their free time to work on their flaws.
“Coming together after a tough loss and seeing what we need to work on after each game was a team building experience this year,” Lin said.
By: Charles Dicus and Armani Damiron
Four-year players Yussef Elbagory, Will Esseks, and Isaac Draper have been leaders and “go to” players on the court this season. Their experience helped the team focus on higher level tactics and add more variety to their gameplay because they were able to lead and coordinate the team on the court.
“Isaac, Will, and Yussef all improved in terms of consistency and confidence in games,” coach Nick Diunte said.
This improvement in confidence allowed Esseks, Elbagory, and Draper to be leaders on the court and in practice. Draper's setting led the league in assists. His ability to set up plays is critical to the team’s success and without him their road to the playoffs likely would have been much more troublesome than it was.
Many players also made significant improvements in individual skills such as passing and attacking over the offseason. Both his teammates and his coach applauded Damar Mercado-Hastings for improving his swing and approach to hitting since last year.
“Damar improved his swing and got more kills," senior Samson Lin said. "[He] improved in [his] blocks and digging.”
Developing game-like situations during practice helped the team create a positive attitude going into games and reading their opponents. Practice was an essential factor for not only their improvement on the court, but also for their mentality as a team.
“Always just creating competitive situations in practice helps with games and having a group of guys that always want to be on the floor and compete towards playing time," Diunte said. "I think having that atmosphere in practice turned over into the games.”
Their efforts during practice shined on the court as they worked together to read and adjust to their opponents more efficiently than ever before. The team was able to communicate on both offense and defense to implement new plays and control the pace of the game. Their competitive atmosphere during practice also helped the team create stronger relationships with one another and bond during tough games and losses.
“[We] grew a lot as a team in terms of the ability to handle adversity and go forward from it together and come out ahead,” Diunte said.
The Dragons only lost two games, both to Stuyvesant, but they still came together after games, practice, and even during their free time to work on their flaws.
“Coming together after a tough loss and seeing what we need to work on after each game was a team building experience this year,” Lin said.
By: Charles Dicus and Armani Damiron
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Alex West: The rising dragon of HSMSE
Alex West has shown her potential this season as a junior for the High School For Math Science and Engineering’s girls' basketball team. Her impact on the team as a leader and valuable scorer played a large role throughout the season and in the playoffs.
In the 2015-2016 season, West averaged only six points per game. She looked to her team for inspiration for the next season, specifically coach David Scheiman and team captain Annabelle Shultz.
“Mostly Annabelle and Scheiman [have helped me improve] because they knew I had the potential and I have finally been achieving what they always thought I could do,” West said.
West showed great improvement this season as she averaged 14 points per game and led the division in assists. The Lady Dragons finished the season 10-1 and faced Eleanor Roosevelt in their first playoff game, where they suffered a heartbreaking 50-45 loss. West performed well in the playoff contest, scoring 16 points and making key defensive stops.
She attributed their playoff appearance to the strength of the entire team. The team's chemistry improved as the season went along.
“This year we [were] more of a team even [when] we lost," she said. "We are bonded closer together. Scheiman has focused more on the technique behind our shooting and layups, so we have become more consistent and we have had better practice of this.”
Scheiman described technical improvements in West’s play that has raised her confidence on the court. As her role in the offense has grown, so has her output.
“Her dribbling, her shooting, and her on and off-court leadership [has improved], she has been very vocal on and off the court," Scheiman said. "She’s starting to come into her own and feels a lot more confident dribbling and shooting this year.”
As a coach, Scheiman saw potential and growth in West both on and off the court. Since freshman year he was impressed by her athleticism and fierce determination.
“On the court she’s a leader," he said. "She’s a fierce competitor and a lot of the other players will follow her on that effect. Off the court, she is the leader amongst her grade and people look up to her. So pretty much, for Alex for next year the girls [will] look up to her, so if she leads the way they will follow her."
West will be looking forward to playing her last season with the Lady Dragons next year. Scheiman has high expectations for her next season as a leader both on and off the court, as well emerging as a top player in the league with Shultz’s departure.
“I would like to see her anywhere from a 15 to 20 point scorer," Scheiman said. "I would like to see her averaging five rebounds per game. I think she can be a top player in the league, she’s very good in basketball and she can do that next year.”
Although she suffered a crushing loss in the playoffs after improving immensely, West held her head high in hopes of winning it all next year.
“We’ll practice harder, play harder, and I’ll do my best to lead the team,” she said.
Friday, March 3, 2017
Freshmen taking big steps towards a role on the HSMSE basketball team
This season the freshman boys’ basketball players at the High School for Math Science and Engineering have made contributions across the board to a rebuilding basketball team that lost eight seniors. The team has relied upon its younger players for support because of the gaps left at the shooting guard and small forward positions by the graduated players.
Freshmen Jasper Saar and Adrian Wu have been sharing minutes at the shooting guard position, as well as freshman Yahmani Price , who has seen minutes at the small forward position. Price has also made valuable contributions as a rebounder and a scorer. Saar plays well as a ball handler and as a defender. Wu is a sharpshooter who is also a plus defender.
The Dragons went from a 6-10 record in 2015-16 to an 8-6 record this season. This improvement comes after a loss of seven players, three of whom were starting players last year. Their defensive contributions and the ball handling skills of all three players have been valuable assets to the team.
The freshmen have helped to push the offense, especially Price. His playmaking ability is advanced for a ninth grader.
“I’m a good passer and I have [court] vision,” Price said.
This ability is not just an unbacked claim, as he averaged three assists per game which is second only to Jonathan Katzman on the team, who leads the division in that category.
The future looks bright for HSMSE basketball if these freshman continue to develop and get playing time. They show an ability to handle the ball and shoot. If the team can fill the rebounding loss from their departing front court, HSMSE boys basketball will have an opportunity to play post-season basketball once again.
Authored by Charles Dicus and Gabriel Cuilan
Freshmen Jasper Saar and Adrian Wu have been sharing minutes at the shooting guard position, as well as freshman Yahmani Price , who has seen minutes at the small forward position. Price has also made valuable contributions as a rebounder and a scorer. Saar plays well as a ball handler and as a defender. Wu is a sharpshooter who is also a plus defender.
The Dragons went from a 6-10 record in 2015-16 to an 8-6 record this season. This improvement comes after a loss of seven players, three of whom were starting players last year. Their defensive contributions and the ball handling skills of all three players have been valuable assets to the team.
The freshmen have helped to push the offense, especially Price. His playmaking ability is advanced for a ninth grader.
“I’m a good passer and I have [court] vision,” Price said.
 |
| Yahmani Price / Tom Henning |
The future looks bright for HSMSE basketball if these freshman continue to develop and get playing time. They show an ability to handle the ball and shoot. If the team can fill the rebounding loss from their departing front court, HSMSE boys basketball will have an opportunity to play post-season basketball once again.
Authored by Charles Dicus and Gabriel Cuilan
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Nathan Cates: Passion personified
Clank! The ball bounces off the rim and into the big man’s hands. He rises up strong and finishes with contact. The player screams “AND 1!” with ferocity as the crowd cheers him on. This sequence has been a normality in senior Nathan Cates’ high school career, as he’s remained an integral part of the HSMSE boys basketball varsity team.
Cates, who has played three out of the four years, wasn’t always the most dedicated and focused player. During his freshman year, Cates struggled to maintain composure on and off the court and as a result of that, only played in four games his rookie season.
“When you’re younger, you can be hot-headed,” Cates said. “As a captain, you have to keep your head cool.”
Referring to an incident earlier in his career in which he got benched for a scuffle with an opposing player after a foul, Cates said he matured over time. This year he has yet to receive a technical foul and has used his experience to instruct the underclassmen.
“Throughout the years I’ve had a change of attitude,” Cates said. “As I became an upperclassman, I was able to improve through practice and learning from those before me.”
As his focus improved on the court, so did his focus off the court. The only year Cates was not able to participate in varsity sports was his sophomore year of high school, in which subpar grades limited him from playing on the team. Motivated to get back on the team, he began to work harder in school, stating that the desire to play basketball has helped him with his academic responsibilities.
“When I’m doing my classwork I know that it’s necessary to play the game I love,” he said. “It pays off. I used to have academic issues, but it’s not worth missing basketball season.”
The maturing process he has gone through has physically and mentally changed Cates. Averaging a career high 10.7 ppg to go along with 14.7 rpg, his rebounding and his post play has been vital to the Dragons playoff push.
“Rebounding is the beginning of offense,” Cates states. “Every rebound is the start of a new possession. That’s how I get most of my points. Nothing’s better than rebounding.”
Now, as the team gets ready for its first playoff game in five years, Nathan Cates has sustained confidence in himself and his teammates. He believes a title, which would be the first in HSMSE basketball history, is not out of the question.
“We have a great team,” he said. “We have a lot of chemistry. I think we can beat any team.”
Authored by Arik Armstead, Bruce Mayfield
Cates, who has played three out of the four years, wasn’t always the most dedicated and focused player. During his freshman year, Cates struggled to maintain composure on and off the court and as a result of that, only played in four games his rookie season.
“When you’re younger, you can be hot-headed,” Cates said. “As a captain, you have to keep your head cool.”
 |
| Nathan Cates / Tom Henning |
“Throughout the years I’ve had a change of attitude,” Cates said. “As I became an upperclassman, I was able to improve through practice and learning from those before me.”
As his focus improved on the court, so did his focus off the court. The only year Cates was not able to participate in varsity sports was his sophomore year of high school, in which subpar grades limited him from playing on the team. Motivated to get back on the team, he began to work harder in school, stating that the desire to play basketball has helped him with his academic responsibilities.
“When I’m doing my classwork I know that it’s necessary to play the game I love,” he said. “It pays off. I used to have academic issues, but it’s not worth missing basketball season.”
The maturing process he has gone through has physically and mentally changed Cates. Averaging a career high 10.7 ppg to go along with 14.7 rpg, his rebounding and his post play has been vital to the Dragons playoff push.
“Rebounding is the beginning of offense,” Cates states. “Every rebound is the start of a new possession. That’s how I get most of my points. Nothing’s better than rebounding.”
Now, as the team gets ready for its first playoff game in five years, Nathan Cates has sustained confidence in himself and his teammates. He believes a title, which would be the first in HSMSE basketball history, is not out of the question.
“We have a great team,” he said. “We have a lot of chemistry. I think we can beat any team.”
Authored by Arik Armstead, Bruce Mayfield
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
HSMSE baseball team reaches playoffs for first time in school history
The HSMSE baseball team returned to divisional play in 2016 with authority, recording an 11-5 record and making the playoffs for the first time in school history.
After a winless 2014 season, the Dragons were demoted to the SSAL Developmental League for 2015. The boys had a strong showing with a 5-2 record. Team captain and senior Henry Schoenfeld cited determination to get back to divisional play as a main reason for their success.
“We were motivated to move our way back up [to the A League],” he said.
The team's maturation was a large factor towards their improvement. As the players have become mentally and physically stronger, they have contributed more offensively, helping the team win games.
“We had strong leadership, and we were also older this year,” Scheiman said. “When we did divisional play two years ago, the players who were freshmen and sophomores are now juniors and seniors, and they had better team spirit and a more of a meaning for our team.”
Throughout the year the team got significant contributions from their freshmen, most notably Andre Alexander and Gabriel Culian. Alexander batted .350 as the starting first baseman, while Culian batted .294 while serving as the catcher for most of the season. Scheiman realized the impact the freshmen had on the team.
“They were very meaningful to the team,” he said. “They helped us win games.”
The freshmen were helped by the strong leadership of the Dragons, who have eight upperclassmen on the team. With experienced players on the team, it was easier for the freshmen to play well.
“[The upperclassmen] really helped them develop,” he said. "They took them under their wing and showed them they did have a lot of skill and [how] to be confident in themselves.”
Although the Dragons had a great season, they are not satisfied with their accomplishments. The team would like to get back to where they were this year and advance further into the postseason going forward.
“We want to get back to the playoffs,” Scheiman said. “And we want to win a playoff game.”
After a winless 2014 season, the Dragons were demoted to the SSAL Developmental League for 2015. The boys had a strong showing with a 5-2 record. Team captain and senior Henry Schoenfeld cited determination to get back to divisional play as a main reason for their success.
“We were motivated to move our way back up [to the A League],” he said.
The team's maturation was a large factor towards their improvement. As the players have become mentally and physically stronger, they have contributed more offensively, helping the team win games.
“We had strong leadership, and we were also older this year,” Scheiman said. “When we did divisional play two years ago, the players who were freshmen and sophomores are now juniors and seniors, and they had better team spirit and a more of a meaning for our team.”
Throughout the year the team got significant contributions from their freshmen, most notably Andre Alexander and Gabriel Culian. Alexander batted .350 as the starting first baseman, while Culian batted .294 while serving as the catcher for most of the season. Scheiman realized the impact the freshmen had on the team.
“They were very meaningful to the team,” he said. “They helped us win games.”
 |
| HSMSE Baseball Team / Facebook |
The freshmen were helped by the strong leadership of the Dragons, who have eight upperclassmen on the team. With experienced players on the team, it was easier for the freshmen to play well.
“[The upperclassmen] really helped them develop,” he said. "They took them under their wing and showed them they did have a lot of skill and [how] to be confident in themselves.”
Although the Dragons had a great season, they are not satisfied with their accomplishments. The team would like to get back to where they were this year and advance further into the postseason going forward.
“We want to get back to the playoffs,” Scheiman said. “And we want to win a playoff game.”
Friday, May 13, 2016
Dellin Betances living the dream of playing for Yankees
Before Dellin Betances was a star reliever for the New York Yankees, he was a superb pitcher while at Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn, just over 11 miles away from Yankee Stadium. Like many New Yorkers, Betances grew up wanting to play for the Yankees; however, Betances was one of the few to realize his dream.
As a high school freshman, Betances was already throwing a fastball in the mid 80s, showing professional potential in just his first year. He was also on his high school’s basketball team, but he stopped playing after an elbow to the mouth knocked out a few of his teeth. After that incident, Betances focused his attention towards baseball.
During his high school career, he was selected to play in the prestigious Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic in the summer before his senior year. By then, Betances had grown to 6’8" and touched 97 MPH on his fastball, drawing the attention of many major league scouts. He was initially projected to be drafted in the first round, but some teams were worried about his consistency and lack of experience.
As a result of these concerns, Betances fell to the eighth round, where he was selected by the Yankees. Betances struggled with his control for a while in the minor leagues, but made his way to the majors in 2011. Betances was selected to the All-Star game twice in his career, and holds the record for most strikeouts in a single season by a Yankee reliever with 135.
Betances’ career is very young, but he is on the path for greatness. With all of the accomplishments that he earned, none may compare to living the dream of playing for his favorite childhood team.
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| Dellin Betances / Topps |
As a high school freshman, Betances was already throwing a fastball in the mid 80s, showing professional potential in just his first year. He was also on his high school’s basketball team, but he stopped playing after an elbow to the mouth knocked out a few of his teeth. After that incident, Betances focused his attention towards baseball.
During his high school career, he was selected to play in the prestigious Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic in the summer before his senior year. By then, Betances had grown to 6’8" and touched 97 MPH on his fastball, drawing the attention of many major league scouts. He was initially projected to be drafted in the first round, but some teams were worried about his consistency and lack of experience.
As a result of these concerns, Betances fell to the eighth round, where he was selected by the Yankees. Betances struggled with his control for a while in the minor leagues, but made his way to the majors in 2011. Betances was selected to the All-Star game twice in his career, and holds the record for most strikeouts in a single season by a Yankee reliever with 135.
Betances’ career is very young, but he is on the path for greatness. With all of the accomplishments that he earned, none may compare to living the dream of playing for his favorite childhood team.
Monday, April 11, 2016
HSMSE Boys' Basketball makes a great leap forward during the 2015-16 season
The HSMSE boys’ basketball team made a tremendous rise during the 2015-16 campaign from last season by way of the Dragons core players developing from overwhelmed underclassmen to effective leaders. Their impact on the team came from taking responsibilities which they did not have prior to this year.
“It was a big adjustment not only from freshman year to senior year, but from every season in between," senior Yonatan Pechter said. "Each year I was given more responsibility.”
The Dragons held a lowly 2-12 record during the 2014-2015 season; however, this season they climbed to 6-10. This improvement came at the hands of the juniors and seniors who made adjustments to their game this season. Players such as Pechter and Lucian Ramnarase made the necessary changes in their game to help the team to more wins than has been seen in the past several years by the Dragons.
"Maturing seniors [and] developing underclassmen made for interesting possibilities," coach Richard Epstein said.
Ramnarase took the role of the defensive stopper for the Dragons. He greatly increased his offensive and defensive output, averaging six points and six rebounds per game. Prior to this season, Ramnarase received playing time almost exclusively as a defender. This season, not only has he occasionally lead the team in scoring, he has been a locker room leader.
"Lucian [Ramnarase] refused to accept losing, and right from the start, his attitude and effort became contageous," Epstein said. "Once we began to believe we could win, we started winning."
Pechter increased his scoring, taking a larger role within the team’s offensive scheme. He often shot the three ball when the team needed them most. This is a great change from his freshman year.
“My freshman year this team was the first organized basketball I ever played," Petcher said. "I didn’t know how to compete on a competitive team.”
With a mature core of players, Epstein was able to scout and prepare game plans against opponents and have the team execute them. The team's maturation and a hard working culture led to the great improvement in their play.
"We had a group of mature experienced seniors and some very productive underclassmen who learned a lot from the seniors, and developed great work habits, skills, and success," Epstein said.
“It was a big adjustment not only from freshman year to senior year, but from every season in between," senior Yonatan Pechter said. "Each year I was given more responsibility.”
The Dragons held a lowly 2-12 record during the 2014-2015 season; however, this season they climbed to 6-10. This improvement came at the hands of the juniors and seniors who made adjustments to their game this season. Players such as Pechter and Lucian Ramnarase made the necessary changes in their game to help the team to more wins than has been seen in the past several years by the Dragons.
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| HSMSE Boys' Basketball Team / T. Henning |
"Maturing seniors [and] developing underclassmen made for interesting possibilities," coach Richard Epstein said.
Ramnarase took the role of the defensive stopper for the Dragons. He greatly increased his offensive and defensive output, averaging six points and six rebounds per game. Prior to this season, Ramnarase received playing time almost exclusively as a defender. This season, not only has he occasionally lead the team in scoring, he has been a locker room leader.
"Lucian [Ramnarase] refused to accept losing, and right from the start, his attitude and effort became contageous," Epstein said. "Once we began to believe we could win, we started winning."
Pechter increased his scoring, taking a larger role within the team’s offensive scheme. He often shot the three ball when the team needed them most. This is a great change from his freshman year.
“My freshman year this team was the first organized basketball I ever played," Petcher said. "I didn’t know how to compete on a competitive team.”
With a mature core of players, Epstein was able to scout and prepare game plans against opponents and have the team execute them. The team's maturation and a hard working culture led to the great improvement in their play.
"We had a group of mature experienced seniors and some very productive underclassmen who learned a lot from the seniors, and developed great work habits, skills, and success," Epstein said.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
HSMSE Girls' Basketball overcome injuries to make playoffs
During the 2015-2016 season the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering girls’ basketball managed third place in the Manhattan B West division. The HSMSE Dragons' managed an eight and five record while lead by the PSAL girls basketball leading scorer, Annabelle Shultz.
There has been a noticeable progression with this season’s team, as players have come to understand their roles. Having this young core of players allowed the team time to develop. Coach David Scheiman recognized being, “a year older,” as one of the changes to the team this year.
“We haven’t had much roster change this season," Scheiman said, "we don’t have many seniors.”
The Dragons' faced a number of injuries during the season, including their two highest scorers, which impeded upon their success.
When a team loses such a prolific scorer such as Shultz it is difficult to remain competitive. Shultz’s injury was soon accompanied by that of Hillary Rodriguez, the Dragons' second highest scorer, and later freshman Gabrijella Ceni. Scheiman feels that it is due to the fact that these injuries were sequential, rather than all at once, that the team was able to compete and make the post season.
“Thankfully, the injuries did not occur all at once," Scheiman said. "For example, when Annabelle went down it was right before winter break. She had time to rest. Then Hillary went down, but Annabelle was back. When Hillary came back, Gabby went down.”
The Dragons' realized what had to be done to make up for these injuries; greater responsibility was placed on the offensive core. Scheiman has constantly made coaching adjustments throughout the season.
“There always has to be adjustments,” he replied. “Someone has to step up … you have to prep them up in practice for what their new roles are going to be. Certain players have to bear the burden more.”
Players took initiative and motivated one another through the difficult patches. Players created a familial culture. Certain team members took on more of a leadership role during this season. Leaders assisted others in their role changes, often as a result of injuries.
“Were very family like … we keep pushing and cheering each other on. Even when someone is injured for a long period of time we just have to learn from that; some people just have to play a larger role on the team,” Shultz said.
Scheiman feels that the Dragons could have went farther into the playoffs if the team had remained healthy throughout the season. The team's core will remain largely intact next season. If the players remain healthy, the team will likely find more success next year come postseason.
There has been a noticeable progression with this season’s team, as players have come to understand their roles. Having this young core of players allowed the team time to develop. Coach David Scheiman recognized being, “a year older,” as one of the changes to the team this year.
“We haven’t had much roster change this season," Scheiman said, "we don’t have many seniors.”
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| HSMSE Girls' Basketball Team / HSMSE Yearbook |
“Thankfully, the injuries did not occur all at once," Scheiman said. "For example, when Annabelle went down it was right before winter break. She had time to rest. Then Hillary went down, but Annabelle was back. When Hillary came back, Gabby went down.”
The Dragons' realized what had to be done to make up for these injuries; greater responsibility was placed on the offensive core. Scheiman has constantly made coaching adjustments throughout the season.
“There always has to be adjustments,” he replied. “Someone has to step up … you have to prep them up in practice for what their new roles are going to be. Certain players have to bear the burden more.”
Players took initiative and motivated one another through the difficult patches. Players created a familial culture. Certain team members took on more of a leadership role during this season. Leaders assisted others in their role changes, often as a result of injuries.
“Were very family like … we keep pushing and cheering each other on. Even when someone is injured for a long period of time we just have to learn from that; some people just have to play a larger role on the team,” Shultz said.
Scheiman feels that the Dragons could have went farther into the playoffs if the team had remained healthy throughout the season. The team's core will remain largely intact next season. If the players remain healthy, the team will likely find more success next year come postseason.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
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.
"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."
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.
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| 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
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| Girls softball team / H. Hamade |
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
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| Coach Tom Henning with the three qualifiers/ T Henning |
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.”
Friday, February 27, 2015
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.
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
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| Coach Crystal Downey / HSMSE Sports |
“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
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.
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.
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
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| Steven Limeta / NYC Mayor's Cup |
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.
.JPG) |
| Steven Limeta / Limeta Family |
“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
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Dragons kicking off the new season of volleyball
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| Spencer Sharp / Sara Louie |
The roster is going through big changes and that is going to affect their game play. Seniors Ardit Piroli and Yassine Khaliqui were the leaders in kills and hitting percentage last year. With their departure, this year’s team is going to have to designate new attackers. However, coach Nick Diunte does not seem worried about the changes, but does say that there is a lot to do before their first game of the season against Stuyvesant on March 24th.
“There is going to be a lot of work on the fundamentals of hitting during practice this year so that the new players can learn to be more offensive when they play,” he said.
The new placement into the A division will bring increased competition. Last year, they finished with a 7-5 record, tying High School for Environmental Studies for third place in their division. This year’s A division will contain teams from Louis Brandeis, High School for Environmental Studies, Stuyvesant High School, Fiorello H Guardia, and West 50th Street Campus. These teams were all playoff teams last season, but it is possible that they are going through the same changes that the Dragons are facing.
The new division holds many new challenges and the returning players are getting ready to face this year’s competition. Nicholas Jorquera is a bright spot and the only returning sophomore on the team.
“Now that we are in the A division we have the responsibility to improve,” Jorquera said. “Hopefully playing against more competitive teams continue to help us develop new skills.”
Jorquera played in eight of the twelve matches last season and seeks to gain more playing time.
“I know what the games look like, and what I have to improve to be a better volleyball player,” he said
The future for the Dragons is a mystery waiting to be unraveled. All of the teams that are in the division this year with them had a great showing last year, but Diunte stated that the Dragons have played against the other teams in the division and have been competitive with them. Despite the changes, he has high expectations that the team will be able to make the playoffs for a third straight season.
“I am confident in our ability to compete,” he said.
Written by Allan Lee and Yonatan Pechter
The future of HSMSE baseball
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| HSMSE Baseball Team / HSMSE Sports |
“It was our first season transitioning from the developmental league to the B-Division,” he said.
Now that Scheiman has implemented increased training time, he expects the team’s performance to improve.
“Hopefully just their reps, their fielding, and their natural ability [will improve]; things being second-nature to them when they’re playing baseball,” Scheiman said.
This upcoming season is going to look different on the field now, with younger faces from the freshman class. They will be filling in the positions that the seniors left open last season.
“I think they’ll have a big effect because a few of them are pitchers, and a few of our pitchers left last year,” co-captain Henry Schoenfeld said. “A lot of them play infield which is also our big problem, so that fills another big need.”
Now that the HSMSE Dragons have a bigger freshman class on the team, their future looks fortunate. They are aiming for their first B-Division win in the upcoming season; however, they still have a long way to go before they make it to the top.
Contributed by Nicholas Bohan and Muhammad Abid Hasan
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
The Lady Dragons are ready to move upward
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| HSMSE girls' softball team - HSMSE PTA |
In the 2013 season the team had six seniors, which made up more than a third of the team. Fortunately, a majority of underclassmen will make up for the loss of the seniors.The new athletes this season showed their dedication to the team and proved that they are ready play next season.
“The freshman are devoted, they come to every practice and even our games to show their support.” said coach Crystal Downey.
Of the underclassmen this season, freshman Taylor Faulds stands out from the rest of the team, mainly because of her experience as a softball player. Her pitching has been consistent, and made a difference on the team. She ended this season with a 0.70 ERA, which contributed to their undefeated season by giving the opposing teams a hard time to scoring.
The team is putting in more effort with Coach Downey, who is a big factor in their great record this season.The team doubled their practice time from two days a week, to four days a week and even started practicing on the weekends.
“Ms. Downey is a much more thorough coach and always makes sure we are ready for the games,” said second basemen Katherine Marlowe.
contributed by Nasif Chowdhury
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