After a busy schedule of youth Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) tournament games on Oct. 3-5, St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr, Ozone Park, continued its slate of games in its first annual “Battle Against Breast Cancer.”

All proceeds from the three-day tournament, organized by Joe Bode, supported breast cancer awareness.

The tournament featured 20 games from Oct. 17-19 and six eighth grade teams, including St. Stan’s Ozone Park, Gate of Heaven, St. Joseph’s, St. Stan’s Maspeth and St. Helen’s. Both St. Stan’s teams reached the tournament championship, with the Ozone Park team, coached by Jimmy Cooke, earning the title.

A 10th grade division also saw competitive games from 10 teams, with Bode’s St. Stan’s Ozone Park team winning the final game.

“We met so many people that have been affected by this disease by either being a survivor or having a loved one with it or having lost someone…everyone from referees, players, parents, coaches,” Cooke said.

The purpose of the tournament was realized when a mother of one of the players from the St. Stan’s Ozone Park eighth grade team, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and surgery the week before the tournament, was able to be make it to one of the games over the weekend. As a special tribute, the players lined up and each gave her a hug and presented her with a card, flowers and a “Battle Against Breast Cancer” T-shirt.

Below are photos of the championship teams: