The 2010 RKS Fall Season Sports Awards

 

(Please note: These awards are only for teams and players at

the schools we cover. We are aware that each school plays

against different quality of opponents, so this is not meant to

suggest a direct comparison of talent, but rather a judgment

of who is most valuable to his or her team.)

 

Schedule

Tuesday: girls and boys soccer

Wednesday: football and girls volleyball

Thursday: HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Yesterday: best games, top moments

Weekend: start voting for your school’s Fall MVP

 

FALL SEASON SCHOOL MVPs

 

Starting today, all readers can go to our FORUM PAGE, click on the individual message boards and vote to help us select who was the Most Valuable Player for your school’s sports program during the 2010 fall season.

Registration is NOT required...Just vote and post why you chose that player  

 

The Candidates:

 

RKA

Kelsey Ellis, senior, volleyball

Sidorela Ramaj, senior, volleyball

Summer Sofer, freshman, girls soccer

Nathan Heller, senior, boys soccer

Thomas Ghebremicael, senior, boys soccer

Daniel Shkreli, senior, boys soccer

 

JFK

Doruntina Zariqi, junior, girls volleyball

Ashley Herrera, junior, girls volleyball

Jessica Gonzalez, senior, girls volleyball

Stephen Owusu, junior, boys soccer

Bazou Coulibaly, junior, boys soccer

Raheem Bramwell, junior, football

Evans Housey, junior, football

Isiah Sledge, senior, football

 

Fieldston

Oliver Makula, senior, football

Nate Kleinman, senior, football

Kevin Fich, sophomore, football

Sam Jacobson, junior, football

Hana Kaeser, freshman, girls soccer

Kalijah Terilli, junior, girls soccer

Savonnah Rowe, senior, volleyball

 

Riverdale

Russell Johnson, junior, football

Neil Hamamoto, senior, football

Nick Levy, senior, football

Zoe Loveman, senior, girls soccer

Julia Tishman, senior, girls soccer

Lindsay Weissman, senior, girls soccer

Chelsea Baez, senior, volleyball

Megan Martin, junior, volleyball

Charlotte Kassimir, senior, girls tennis

 

 

The Fall’s 6 BEST GAMES

 

#6 and #5: Riverdale vs. Fieldston, girls soccer, both games in season series, 10/6/10 and 10/29/10 

    Two classic battles between two local rivals and the top two teams in the Ivy League. While Riverdale would win both contests by an identical 2-1 score, each meeting could have gone the other way with a different bounce or two.

 

#4: RKA vs. JFK, boys soccer, 10/6/10

    When these two teams first faced off on the opening day of the fall season, it was a one-sided win for RKA. Although the outcome of round two would be the same -- an RKA victory -- the play on the field was much more akin to what you would expect when these two local teams battle in one of the area’s best high school sports rivalries. It was a fast-paced, intense and physical contest that saw both teams suffer injuries. RKA would score the first two goals, but JFK fought back to cut the deficit in half. The Knights had two glorious chances in the final minute of play to even the score, but missed the mark by mere inches.

 

#3: RKA vs. All City Leadership, volleyball - second round playoff game, 11/15/10

    After a perfect regular season and a well-deserved bye in the first round of the PSAL “B” tournament, RKA stormed back from one set down to defeat previously-undefeated All City Leadership in an exciting back-and-forth match that moved the local team through to the quarterfinals.

 

#2: RKA vs. Louis Brandeis, boys soccer - first round playoff game, 10/31/10

    RKA entered the playoffs on a disappointing three-game losing streak and it looked like an early ouster would be in store for the Tigers. Instead, RKA saved its best for the biggest moment of the season and came out on top in one of the     most entertaining games of the past few months. The local team went down early, got a huge breakaway save by goalie Nate Heller and battled back to tie the score midway through the second half. Then, senior Daniel Shkreli scored two beautiful goals in less than two minutes to put the Tigers ahead for good.

#1: Fieldston vs. Riverdale, football, 9/25/10

    Anyone who follows local sports over the past few years could have predicted this game would be on the list...before it was even played. The annual battle on the gridiron between the Eagles and Falcons -- this time a tight, thrilling defensive battle -- was yet again the one-game highlight of the fall season. Riverdale took the lead early in the fourth quarter, but Fieldston came back to score the winning touchdown with just over a minute remaining on the clock. 

 

 

The Fall’s TOP 6 MOMENTS

 

#6: Riverdale Country Tennis Coach Jeff Nerenberg Gets 300th Career Win - 10/2/10

    On Riverdale’s Homecoming Day, the Lady Falcons posted a dominating win over Hackley to give Nerenberg his 300th win in a coaching career that has spanned more than 30 years. Before taking over Riverdale’s boys and girls teams in 2007, Nerenberg also previously coached at RKA and Manhattan College.

 

#5: Kennedy Football Team Pulls Off Upset For First Home Win In Two Seasons - 9/24/10

    The last year had been a tumultuous time for the JFK Knights, with a one-win season in 2009 and the resulting dismissal of a popular coach, as well as losses in their first two games of 2010. But, at least for one night, this was all forgotten, as Kennedy crushed Grand Street Campus 32-12 to set off a big celebration, both on the field and among the local fans in the stands. It was the Knights’ first home win in nearly 22 months.

 

#4: Fieldston Boys’ Soccer Team Wins Homecoming Game In Final Minute - 10/16/10

    Overall, it was a rough season for the Fieldston boys on the soccer field, but the Eagles can still say they were involved in one of the most exciting moments of the fall season. Senior Matt Magruder pounded home the rebound of a free kick for his second goal of the day -- and what proved to be the game-winner -- with less than a minute remaining, in front of a big crowd on Homecoming Day.

 

#3: Summer Sofer Scores Five Goals In One Game For RKA Girls’ Soccer Team - 10/21/10

    With several 3- and 4-goal games already to her name in 2010, freshman scoring machine Summer Sofer put in 5 goals for the RKA Lady Tigers in the team’s final game of the regular season -- a 10-0 win over Dewitt Clinton.

 

#2: Fieldston’s Football Dynasty Continues Its Reign - 11/13/10

    After losing star quarterback Cole Marcoux and several other key seniors from last year’s team, many predicted this would be the year that Fieldston would fall. Unfortunately for the rest of the Hudson Valley Football League, it did not     happen. After winning every game during the regular season, the Eagles capped off the year by beating Forman 34-16 in the HVFL Bowl for their fourth consecutive league title.

 

#1: Riverdale Country Girls’ Soccer Team Closes Out Perfect Season With State Championship - 11/7/10

    Winning the Ivy League title is a big achievement in itself, but for the Lady Falcons, it was just the start. Riverdale clinched an unprecedented undefeated season as well as a state championship with a dominant 5-0 win over Staten Island Academy in the NYSAIS tournament finals. 

 

 

FOOTBALL

 

Quarterback of the Year:  RUSSELL JOHNSON, Junior, Riverdale

Before the season started, Riverdale head coach Declan Walsh was not sure if he had anybody on the roster who could throw the ball. In stepped Johnson -- a first-year varsity football player -- who gave the Falcons more options on offense than they have had for years. As is the case with any rookie, Johnson’s timing and accuracy were off at times, but the junior QB got better and better as the season went on, finished with double-digits in touchdowns and was regularly completing passes 40, 50 and even 60 yards down the field. I look forward to seeing what this kid can do next season with an additional year of experience under his belt.

 

Rusher of the Year:  OLIVER MAKULA, Senior, Fieldston

There is no ball carrier in the local area that is tougher to bring down or more difficult to defend than Makula. The senior fullback’s rushing numbers speak for themselves: 86 carries for 753 yards and 13 touchdowns in 8 games. At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Makula is a bruising back that can break tackles as well as run over defenders at will, and he is rarely ever stopped for a loss or no gain.

 

    Runner up:  NICK LEVY, Senior, Riverdale

    What Levy lacks in size, he makes up for with his elusive running style and     deceptive speed. In an offense that used the passing game much more than in     recent seasons, Levy was often still Riverdale’s best bet to move the chains. The     senior halfback had a pair of 200 yard days and several more 100+ yard games,     as well as double-digits in touchdowns.

 

Receiver of the Year:  NATE KLEINMAN, Senior, Fieldston

This is definitely the deepest position, with no less than four local receivers deserving of consideration, but Kleinman earned his spot atop the pack. Regardless of whether it was Sam Jacobson or Kevin Fich in at quarterback, Kleinman was almost always Fieldston’s top target in the passing game. The senior wideout finished with 468 yards on 23 receptions, as well as 6 touchdowns.

 

    Runner up:  NEIL HAMAMOTO, Senior, Riverdale

    Although he is technically a running back, Hamamoto does most of his damage     on offense when catching the ball on short screen passes out of the backfield.     The senior’ best work usually comes after the catch and he was also a frequent     target in the redzone.

 

    Honorable mention:  ARMANDO PEREZ, Junior, Riverdale

    This is a player to keep an eye on for next season. Perez was usually the top     target for his quarterback as Riverdale worked the ball up the field and he     frequently showed explosive speed that enabled him to become a dangerous     deep ball threat while blowing past opposing defensive backs. While more of the     touchdown passes went to Hamamoto this year, the TD totals for Perez will likely     go up in his senior year next season.

 

Defensive player of the Year:  EVANS HOUSEY, Junior, JFK

Housey was one of the bright spots for a Kennedy team that still has a long way to go but was certainly much improved from one year ago. The junior linebacker led his team with 50 tackles, including many for a loss, as well as a half-dozen sacks and directly forced multiple fumbles with his hard hits. Always had a positive attitude and proved to be a great leader, not only for his defensive unit but also the team as a whole.

 

 

VOLLEYBALL

 

Top 5 All-Around Players of the Year

 

First Place:  DORUNTINA ZARIQI, Junior, JFK

The powerful outside hitter is the best overall volleyball player in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area. She can do it all, both offensively and defensively; serve, dig, block and spike. Zariqi should easily be one of the best players in the entire city next year during her senior season.

 

    #2:  KELSEY ELLIS, Senior, RKA - the most talented player in the RKA lineup,     led her team in aces and kills. Will be tough to replace her overall ability.

 

    #3:  JESSICA GONZALEZ, Senior, JFK - one of the best setters in New York City,     led the entire PSAL with 249 assists during the regular season.

 

    #4:  ASHLEY HERRERA, Junior, JFK - combined with Zariqi to make one of the     best hitting duos in the PSAL and led her team in kills. Got better as season went     on and had one of her best performances in JFK’s playoff loss to Francis Lewis.

 

    #5: SIDORELA RAMAJ, Senior, RKA - one of the best and hardest servers in the     “B” Division, significant improvement in her overall play from the previous season.

 

 

BOYS SOCCER

 

   Top offensive player:  THOMAS GHEBREMICAEL, Senior, RKA

Thomas can be streaky at times, but there is no denying his creativity and skills with the ball. The senior midfielder led RKA with 8 goals in 10 games and likely would have had more if he did not miss several games with a broken wrist.

 

Runner up:  STEPHEN OWUSU, Junior, JFK

    Not only did Stephen lead JFK with 8 goals in 11 games, but he also showed a knack for coming through in big spots. The junior forward scored the only goal in JFK’s 1-0 win over Stevenson and the only goal in JFK’s 1-1 draw with city finalist Monroe.

 

Honorable mention: ANDRES PARDO, Junior, RKA

    Talented playmaker and goal scorer will be focal point of RKA offense next season.

    Top defensive player: DREW SKALSKI, Senior, RKA

The number-one two-way defender in the local area. Drew can guard his own side of the field with the best of them, chip in offensively and is one RKA’s top leaders.

 

Runner up:  CLEMRICK CUMMINGS, Junior, JFK

    The huge, yet deceptively fast, sweeper has a strong leg and was very effective in his role as JFK’s last line of defense. 

 

Honorable mention: GILBERT AFRIYIE, Sophomore, RKA

    Solid stay-at-home defender that rarely makes mistakes.

    Top goalkeeper:  NATHAN HELLER, Senior, RKA

This one is a no-brainer. There is no other goalie in the local area in the same league as Nate. With a team in front of him that often had trouble scoring, the senior goalie kept RKA in every game and single-handedly is responsible for one or two wins this season.

GIRLS SOCCER

    Top offensive player:  ZOE LOVEMAN, Senior, Riverdale

The heart and soul of Riverdale’s undefeated state championship team. Loveman can do it all; control the ball, pass, score and is the kind of player that makes everybody around her even better.

Runner up:  SUMMER SOFER, Freshman, RKA

    Summer finished third in the PSAL with 29 goals in 12 games. The scary part is she is just a freshman and can get even better. Has the skills to be best player in all of New York City.

Honorable mention:  HANA KAESER, Freshman, Fieldston

    Another freshman phenom, Hana scored more than 20 goals this season and will lead the Fieldston offense for many years to come.

    Top defensive player:  JULIA TISHMAN, Senior, Riverdale

A rock on defense all season long for the state champions. Whether it is a blocked shot, breaking up a pass, clearing a rebound or leading the ball upfield on an offensive rush, Tishman comes through for her team time and time again.

 

Runner up:  ANNIE SMITH, Junior, Fieldston

    Talented defender had consistently strong performances for Fieldston and will be expected to anchor the Lady Eagles’ back line in her senior year next season.

 

Honorable mention:  COURTNEY SEGAL, Sophomore, RKA

    Up-and-coming defender who got better and better as the season went on. Especially effective at blocking shots and passes near her net to prevent opponents from getting scoring chances.

 

    Top goalkeeper:  KALIJAH TERILLI, Junior, Fieldston

Agile, athletic and aggressive goalie that can beat forwards to the ball, make highlight-reel saves and keeps her team in every game.

Runner up:  LINDSAY WEISSMAN, Senior, Riverdale

    Lindsay never gives up a soft goal and stops just about every tough shot as well. It can easily be argued that the Riverdale senior should be number-one on this list, but the only difference is that she does not face nearly as many quality shots due to having one of the best teams in New York City playing in front of her.