Lady Mustangs Bring ‘A-Game’ To Samuel Field Y

They might have an impressive 9-2 record for the season, but it turns out the young women of the 2010 Lady Mustangs of Monroe College value service just as much as winning.

Visiting the the Samuel Field Y on Tuesday, the players ran a basketball clinic for youngsters enrolled in the Y's 'Afterschool Special Services Program,' a group made up of kids with disabilities. 

"Being the holiday season, we felt it was important to give a little back to the children here who aren't able to do all of the things we can," said Ja'Taeilah 'JT' Forde, a shooting guard for the team.

And while they weren't keeping score during Tuesday's event, the Lady Mustangs were definitely counting their blessings.

"My teammates and I are all fortunate to be in college, healthy, and able to play basketball everyday," Forde said. 

At Tuesday's event, the players weren't the only ones who said they felt blessed to be part of things.

Lady Mustangs coach Seth Goodman, who grew up as a self-described "Y kid," reveled in the experience of coming home to share his love of the game with the Little Neck community. 

"I spent a great deal of my youth here at the Y… played in all of the leagues they have, and today is an especially rewarding experience for me," Goodman said.

Tuesday's basketball boot-camp also struck a personal chord with Lady Mustangs' strong forward Simone Victor.

"My brother has Downs, so being here today has special significance for me as well," Victor said. "I want others to know that these kids are just like everyone else… They love to laugh, play, and do all the things that we enjoy – even sports."

Perhaps no one at the Y on Tuesday knew that better than Jeri Mendelsohn, associate executive director at the Samuel Field Y.

"Events like these are great because they expose our kids to activities they wouldn't normally get elsewhere," Mendelsohn said. "So today is a win-win for everyone." 

The Y hosts a wide array of Neurotypical sporting activities like Tuesday's basketball clinic throughout the year for the children in their 'special needs' after school programs.  

"It's very important to start these children off at an early age interacting with people outside of their families, who are not special needs, and to involved them in activities not traditionally viewed as suited for their needs," Mendelsohn said. 

And it seems no one appreciates this approach more than the parents who take advantage of the services offered at the Y.

"I love this place," said Jennifer Kumar, whose son, Alex Laroia, is a member of the afterschool special needs program at the Y.

According to Kumar, the Y is always coming up with exciting ways to engage her son that other places don't.

"Plus the staff is great... and the activities they host are just incredible," Kumar said, as she lovingly watched as her son run sprints, dribble up the court and shoot free throws alongside the Lady Mustangs. "Coming here is the highlight of Alex's day."

Quite possibly the proudest parent of all in the gym that afternoon however, was vice executive director Steve Goodman, who's also the father of Lady Mustangs Coach Seth Goodman.

"My son is very modest about his accomplishments, but a father loves to brag," Steven Goodman said. "And with Seth's winning record of 245-34 as head coach, what's not to celebrate."

Goodman was quick to point out that his son Seth never missed an opportunity to come home and help out here at the Y either.

"It really is nice to see a father and son working so closely together to benefit the children of Little Neck with special needs," Mendelsohn said. "Today's event is a real family affair."  

But in the end, Tuesday's basketball clinic was all about the children.

"We're all thrilled that we could come here today," said Jessica Previlon, power forward for the Lady Mustangs. "It's important to help these kids feel good about themselves."