Two Msgr. McClancy H.S., East Elmhurst, track runners recently had record-breaking performances. Freshman Syniya Barton set the new school’s new freshman girls’ 400-meter record at 71.1 seconds, while sophomore Kylie Grabler set the school’s new sophomore and varsity girls’ record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 28.11 seconds.
Several local individuals with ties to the diocesan basketball scene had impressive showings in the NCAA Tournament. On the men’s side, St. Peter’s University, Jersey City, N.J., was the talk of the tourney with three impressive victories to become the first-ever No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight. The team’s head coach, Shaheen Holloway, was born in Queens and played Catholic Youth Organization basketball at St. Catherine of Siena, St. Albans.
University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla., head men’s coach Jim Larranaga also led his team to the Elite Eight. Larranaga is a graduate of Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, and a CHSAA Hall of Famer.
On the women’s side, former St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, All-American forward Emily Engstler helped guide the University of Louisville, Ky., to an appearance in the Final Four.
The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Jose Alvarado to a four-year, $6.5 million contract. The undrafted local product played Catholic Youth Organization basketball at St. Ann’s, Flushing, and high school ball at Christ the King H.S., Middle Village.
Two Catholic Youth Organization boys’ basketball teams enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime on March 28 as they took the floor at Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn. The middle school teams from St. Saviour, Park Slope, and Resurrection, Gerritsen Beach, felt just like the Brooklyn Nets during this special exhibition game.