Briarcliff Athletics Fall Preseason Begins With High Hopes And Higher Spirits

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

2022-09-02

Near-perfect end-of-summer weather, reconnecting with their teammates and coaches, and, most importantly, looser restrictions, have all contributed to high morale among student-athletes who have recently begun Fall preseason athletics on the Briarcliff High School fields.

The Varsity Football team – at 47 athletes – is the largest it has been in years, according to coach Skip Stevens.

“Our numbers are up, which is nice, and we have 15 seniors, which is great,” he said. “The team has been working really hard. It is a great group.”

The team, which also includes players from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, is holding its first game this Saturday at noon against Woodlands.

“The game will take place at Alexander Hamilton High School and is the first game at this location since the 1980s,” Mr. Stevens said.

According to coach Zachary Rose, morale in Junior Varsity and Varsity Boys and Girls Cross Country teams is trending up.

“We feel very fortunate because all of our runners this year are very dedicated,” he said.

“A lot of people have given up their weekends and their summer days to practice and get ready for the season,” said assistant coach James Tlsty.

Boys Varsity and Junior Varsity soccer is in full swing.

“Half of our team is made up of ninth graders, and the rest are sophomores, with four eighth-graders,” said Junior Varsity coach Justin Coelho. “We are doing well so far, I have high hopes for the season.”

The Varsity Girls Soccer team this year is young, with only three seniors, but coach David Villalobos is using that to create an opportunity for building leadership skills.

“I told all the girls that I want them to step up and show leadership,” he said. “We have four captains this year, but they are not the only leaders – all sixteen players are their own leaders.”

“The girls did a phenomenal job in the first game of the season against Pleasantville, where we won 1:0 in overtime and we have another game on Saturday. I am happy to be back, doing what I love, and we are excited to get going again,” he said.

According to Varsity Girls Tennis coach Denise Hamlin, numbers are high this year.

“We have about forty girls between the two teams in Varsity and Junior Varsity, and we keep growing each year,” she said. “The younger athletes are very skilled, and the older ones are great leaders, so it is a very good combination and can help us move forward.”

Athletics Director Chris Drosopoulos is excited to begin his 24th year in his role at Briarcliff.

“Interscholastic athletics is an immense part of excelling in the educational setting,” he said. “I am proud to work with a winning team in the athletics department administration, with the cooperation of the Board of Education, coaches, student-athletes, families and support staff. We want to wish everyone a happy and healthy school year.”

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.