Scholastic Roundup: A clean sweep for the Clippers

December 2, 2022 Andy Furman

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Get the brooms out – it was a clean sweep for Xaverian High School.

Both the varsity and jayvee girls’ volleyball teams copped their GCHSAA “AA” City championship.

It was the fourth consecutive title for the jayvee squad; and for the varsity, well they’re still celebrating their first.

And you can easily call these teams the Xaverian “Roadies” – a flood in Xaverian’s gym forced the girls to play the majority of their contests way from Bay Ridge. The jayvee topped The Mary Louis Academy of Jamaica Estates in the diocesan semifinals to set up the title match with Archbishop Molloy.

The Clippers, after topping MLA for the diocesan crown, swept Maria Regina High School of Hartsdale, N.Y. for coach Marie McGoldrick’s fourth consecutive championship.

The varsity – also coached by McGoldrick – finished a perfect 12-0 and swept Fontbonne Hall Academy to set-up the diocesan championship with St. Francis Prep of Fresh Meadows.

The undefeated City Champs defeated Maria Regina in a three-set sweep.

The past two seasons have seen the Xaverian jayvee record a 29-1 record and the varsity went 31-1 in the regular season.

The varsity fell to perennial powerhouse, St. Mary’s, Lancaster, N.Y. in the state finals.

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LIU women’s swimming has enjoyed a successful start to the 2022-23 season. And one swimmer has had a stellar start to her Sharks career.

Maaike Broersma was named Northeast Conference Co-Swimmer of the Week. The Bodegraven, The Netherlands, finished first in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:02.60) and 100-yard breaststroke (56.23).

She was also part of the 200-medley and 400-freestyle relay teams that placed first. LIU returns to action today (Friday) at the ECAC Championships – both the women and men.

There was strong representation on the NEC weekly award list for LIU men’s swimming.

Giannis Venetos was named the NEC Swimmer of the Week and Emilio Garcia earned Rookie of the Week.

Venetos, the Athens, Greece native earned first in the 100-and 200-yard breaststroke and helped the Sharks sweep St. Francis in a two-day event.

Garcia placed fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.61) and was on the 400-yard freestyle relay team that finished second overall.

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When the Brooklyn College men’s volleyball season open their season at Alvernia University, January 22nd, they’ll have a new coach – Joel Anabilah-Azumah.

He last served as an assistant for the women’s volleyball program at St. Peter’s University. He began his college coaching career at Iona College in 2013 for the women’s program. In his three seasons, he helped lead the Gaels to back-to-back MAAC Tournament appearances.

Anabilah-Azumah owns and operates a transportation business and is a graduate of Union College.

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The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) tabbed Medgar-Evers freshman Isiah Brodie Rookie of the Week. The Spire Academy High School grad played well in Medgar-Evers’ two games – Lesley University and Dean College – scoring eight points (4-6 FG) while pulling down four rebounds in the Cougars 75-71 win over the Lynx. Against the Bulldogs, Brodie scored a team-high 15 points (7-9 FG) and had five rebounds.

The Medgar-Evers women’s basketball team remained undefeated at home, defeating Pratt 56-49, Sunday.

Leading the way for the Cougars was freshman Shelly Quezada with her fourth double-double in six-games with a game-high 21 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. Mariam Gueye finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists and point guard Jennifer Metra added 10 points.

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Cristal Joseph, a Medgar-Evers senior, was named to the CUNYAC women’s volleyball Sportsmanship team. The co-captain registered 244 digs, 81 kills and 36 service-aces for her career.

“It is very gratifying to see her finalize her career be getting saluted by the conference, and I’m very proud of her,” said her coach, Michell Cadet.

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The Xaverian varsity girls basketball team opened their season with an 82-12 whipping over Lincoln High on Thanksgiving eve. Laila Sierra, Callie Mullin, Kara Wehner and Alexandra Carbonaro all scored double-figures for the Clippers.

The varsity boys defeated New Dorp in the Canarsie Thanksgiving Tournament, winning 68-51. Elliot Collet scored 13 – with three threes; Jaiden Cadotte scored 21 points and was named game MVP.

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Collecting nine ribbons, with five third-place or better, the Pratt Institute equestrian team secured their best finish of the season placing third at the Hofstra University ISHA Horse Show last week.

Alin Kutan placed second in the Open Hunter Seat Equitation over Fences and fourth in Open Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat.

In the final show of her career, co-captain Edy Tabor placed third in Intermediate Hunter Seat over Fences and fifth in Intermediate Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat.

Amy Wu collected a pair of second-place ribbons in Limit Hunter Seat Equitation over Fences and in Intermediate Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat.

Libby Linliu claimed fifth in Limit Hunter Seat Equitation over Fences.

Chloe Joyce placed sixth in Limit Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat.

Wren Walker took first in Introductory Hunter Seat Equitation.

Pratt returns to competition at the Adelphi University show on February 26, 2023.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR