By: Dylan Grismer ’22

As January comes to an end, the winter sports season at Chaminade is in full swing. One of Chaminade’s most competitive and talented teams, the varsity basketball team, is entering the second half of their season and is looking to gear up for a playoff run. This year, the varsity Flyers are loaded with talent and have a good shot at bringing home the league championship. With a strong group of seniors and promising young group of juniors, the squad’s potential is extremely high.

The Flyers are currently halfway through their league season, and have high hopes that they will continue their success into their remaining games and playoffs. Despite several tough losses and injuries, the Flyers have continued to build up momentum. Chaminade has a total record of 9-6 and a stellar league record of 3-1. Head coach Mr. Robert Paul ’92 credits some of the team’s success to the difficulty of their schedule and initiative of the seniors. He noted, “We play a very competitive league and non-league schedule, and playing against these teams only helps us improve. We also have a very experienced senior class who exemplify outstanding leadership and camaraderie, and I feel very confident going into the playoffs with them leading us.”

The team has been led by a few standout players in particular. Perhaps the most notable is forward Kieran Dorney ’20. Dorney uses his tall frame and long reach to dominate the paint and grab rebounds. He is the leading scorer for the Flyers, and is often able to work through defense to secure buckets for the Flyers. Also leading Chaminade are seniors Matt Coletti ’20 and Matt Young ’20. Both of these players have tremendous basketball experience and are excellent ball handlers. Coletti is known for his lockdown defense and impressive perimeter shooting. Unfortunately, Matt Young suffered an injury earlier in the year, but is recovering well, and many talented players have stepped up to fill that void. Joe Guterding ‘20, Brandon Pizzingrillo ’20, Cooper Francis ‘21, and Darian Parks ‘21 have also made a monumental impact on the Flyers’ season.

The team travels to West Islip this Friday to take on St. John the Baptist, then will meet rival St. Anthony’s in a marquee away match-up this Tuesday. The team’s biggest challenge of the season will likely come next Saturday, February 1st, when they take on highly ranked St. Raymond’s in a non league match-up. If you would like to attend an upcoming game, you can check the schedule here. 

Among the varsity basketball team’s remaining regular season games, four of them are home games here at Chaminade. When asked if he had any final comments on the road ahead, Coach Paul called on the student body—particularly the senior class—for support. He added, “When the stands are packed with cheering students, it changes the entire atmosphere of the game and provides a terrific home court advantage. It really gets the boys into the game and gives them more motivation to win.” So, come out and support your Flyers as they embark on their quest for a championship.

Go Flyers!