The Brooklyn/Queens Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) has a new president.

Following the 48-year tenure of past president Ray Nash, the CHSAA executive board elected Sal Fischetti, the longtime St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, athletic director, as the league’s new president.

Fischetti’s ties to the diocese run deep. He grew up in St. Margaret’s parish, Middle Village, before attending the Prep.

He then went on to St. John’s University, Jamaica, before receiving his master’s degree in education from Queens College, Flushing.

The 1983 Prep grad started teaching at his alma mater full time in September 1987. This school year marks the start of his 40th at St. Francis.

After a memorable stint coaching varsity girls’ basketball — including capturing a CHSAA New York State championship — he became the school’s athletic director in 1999. He will continue to hold this position alongside both his CHSAA president title and his role as chairperson of the Prep’s health and physical education department.

“We’re still going to operate as we normally do,” said Fischetti, who has also served on the CHSAA executive boards for almost 20 years for the boys’ league, girls’ league, and Catholic state league — primarily as treasurer.

Fischetti will rely on Nash as well as girls’ Brooklyn/Queens CHSAA president Denise Hillig as he adjusts to the new role.

Chris Hardardt — a Christ the King H.S., Middle Village, graduate and president of the Catholic High School Football League as well as former athletic director at Holy Trinity H.S., Hicksville, Long Island — has joined the Prep’s faculty as dean of students and associate athletic director to assist Fischetti with the day-to-day operations.

“You adapt what you’ve learned and institute some new ideas that are going to be beneficial to the association,” Fischetti said. “That’s what it all comes down to. For the most part, I have to take what I have in front of me, and I know how the league operates. It’s all about accentuating the positives and working on the things we need to improve upon.”

In the CHSAA, upholding the Catholic values of sport is what sets the league apart. Fischetti, of course, plans to continue the mission the league stands for through a trickle-down effect: from the CHSAA executive board to school athletic directors to individual coaches, right down to the student-athletes — all buying in to the vision of what makes this league so special.

“It has to be student-centered; it has to be focused on the kids themselves,” said Fischetti, a member of the CHSAA Hall of Fame, Girls’ CHSAA Hall of Fame, and the St. Francis Prep Red & Blue Ring of Honor. “The way we operate today isn’t the same as how we operated even five years ago, let alone 10, 15, or 20.”

Keeping the “C” in CHSAA standing for Catholic is paramount to the league’s structure. Over the past few sports seasons, Bishop Robert Brennan has been a notable presence at high school sporting events, including the diocesan basketball and baseball championships.

“We are very lucky,” Fischetti said. “Bishop Brennan is a great guy, and he understands the importance of what high school sports are. He makes himself visible, and we embrace that. He has done a nice job in enhancing what CHSAA sports programs are all about.”

The CHSAA has also been a pioneer in welcoming new sports into the fold, such as flag football and even esports. The league’s inclusive structure creates more opportunities for student-athletes when a group shows interest and a dedicated coach steps up to help out.

Fischetti said he’s looking forward to working with the diocesan athletic directors at schools of all sizes to make sure their perspectives are heard. There are some new faces throughout the diocesan sports landscape, so he’s tasked with creating a standardized set of procedures for all the schools to follow.

“I hope and expect that we’re going to work together as a group to do great things,” he said. “We’ve had new people come in along the way, so we will embrace the newness of what’s to be.”

Even across the country, our local CHSAA has developed a reputation as one of the smoothest-run high school athletic associations around.

That’s thanks in part to Nash’s tireless dedication for so many years, as well as administrators like Fischetti who have bought into the mission.

The time has come for Fischetti to now shepherd the league’s continued success — relying on the athletic directors and sports chairpeople to keep the league’s Catholic identity intact.

“It’s going to be another great school year in the CHSAA,” he said.