STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— While volunteerism is often carried out without expectation of recognition, plenty of contributors were celebrated for their decades of dedication to youth sports on Staten Island at the annual CYO Community Awards Reception on Tuesday evening at the Old Bermuda Inn in Rossville.

Emceed by CYO County Director Mike Neely, multiple awards were distributed to deserving coaches, officials and administrators throughout the borough.

The evening’s marquee honor — the Spirit of the Catholic Youth Organization Award, named for the late Advance Deputy Sports Editor and sportswriter and St. Joseph Hill basketball coach Jerry Lee — was fittingly presented to Carmine Angioli, a longtime colleague of Lee’s in the newsroom and friendly rival for decades on opposing CYO basketball sidelines as St. Christopher’s and now OLQP’s coach.

Mary Lee, Jerry’s wife, presented the award to Angioli, who said that “my family and I cannot think of a better person to receive the award. It is the perfect choice.”

During his acceptance speech, Angioli encouraged those in attendance to actively seek out others who might be interested in getting involved with youth sports — urging current volunteers to become “recruiters” themselves.

“I’m sure Jerry would want me to say this. He would want me to encourage everybody here to become a recruiter. If you know somebody who might want to coach, work on them, talk to them, convince them. Let them know that volunteering makes you feel good,” said Angioli, who still puts the Advance’s print sports section out each day.

While Angioli is a familiar face on CYO sidelines across the borough, the ceremony also paid tribute to those who make the games possible on the hardwood — its officials. This year’s Sports Official of the Year honor was presented to Scott Rothman, who has been refereeing CYO games for almost 50 years.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized; except when you’re doing a game. If you’re recognized, that usually means something bad happened, so I’m glad that this recognition is finally for something good,” Rothman joked to the audience.

Tony Navarino — a true jack of all trades in the CYO community, having served as both County Director and a basketball coach — was recognized with the CYO Community Service Award, which he described as “humbling.”

“I was very overwhelmed when Mike Neely called me about being honored. All my volunteering is for the kids and for the Staten Island community. It was the hardest decision of my life when I left the position as Staten Island CYO County Director 17 years ago; I have made friends with pastors, coordinators, coaches and refs that will last a lifetime,” Navarino poignantly said as he accepted his award.

As a parish, Our Lady Queen of Peace received dual honors — earning both the Bill Dunn Memorial Award for Parish of the Year and being recognized by the Warren Jaques Memorial Committee for outstanding sportsmanship across all competitions.

A major factor in OLQP’s recognition was its effort to welcome students from St. Christopher’s following the school’s closure in 2023 — an experience that Pastor Rev. Anthony Mizzi-Gili likened to his own childhood as a student at St. Margaret Mary’s.

“When I was a young kid, I used to play soccer there, and when we didn’t have enough members on the team, who else welcomed us with open arms but Our Lady Queen of Peace,” Father Mizzi-Gili said.

“It’s been a beautiful working collaboration with everybody, and it especially gives the kids the sportsmanship and the courage to see what it truly means to be dedicated to charity. It’s been a blessing,” he added.

Three other major honorees on the evening were the recipients of the CYO New York President’s Medal for Volunteer Service, awarded to Ronnie Addington and Elaine Grieco — longtime coaches of the Our Lady Star of the Sea cheer program — and Bob Smith, president of the Staten Island CYO Track and Field program.

“It feels like a combined 82 years [of service] seems like yesterday; thank you to our cheer family for coming to support us, we love you,” Addington and Grieco told the audience after receiving their awards.

The efforts of youth volunteers also didn’t go unnoticed, as Staten Island Academy’s Emma Valenti, St. Joseph by-the-Sea’s Connor Kukal and Xavier’s Dash Arteca Battista were in attendance to receive Gold Medals for their hours of service to the Catholic Youth Organization.

The following individuals also received Volunteer Awards from all of the parishes represented in the Staten Island CYO: Tom Mottola of St. Dorothy’s, Gabrielle Padilla of Bridge Prep, Sean Boyle of Blessed Sacrament, Stephanie Pascale of Holy Child, Prashana Selvarajah of Holy Family, Victoria Turner of Holy Rosary, Hend Gouda of the Islamic Center of Staten Island, Kyle Hand of the Jewish Community Center, Ronald Shamah of Notre Dame Academy, Michael Russo of Our Lady of Good Council, Dave Piasio of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Tracy Tessitore of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Donal Breslin of Sacred Heart, Vianna Passalacqua of St. Joseph-St. Thomas St. John Neumann, Brian Fitzpatrick of St. Ann’s, John Carrescia of St. Charles, John Valenti of St. Clare’s, Jill Benfield of St. Joseph Hill, Mimi Coluccio of St. Patrick’s and Paul Magahis of St. Teresa’s.

Posted 4 June 2025 at 7:01 am

Editor:

Chad Kroening is a mainstay at Medina games, taking photos of students and coaches.

Photography has the incredible ability to freeze moments in time, transforming them into treasured memories.

Medina Mustang Sports Boosters is fortunate to have an instrumental volunteer, Chad Kroening, to capture these moments. Chad is a father of four with a full-time job and still finds time to donate numerous hours to the organization.

Rain, shine, wind or snow, he travels around the campus to attend home games of all of the sports throughout the year as well as multiple away games. Mr. Kroening spends countless hours capturing, editing and sharing photographs. He ensures that families get the best possible images of their children and posts on the Mustang Sports Boosters social media for all families to enjoy, free of charge.

In addition to his photography skills, Chad creates a sense of belonging in the Medina community. His work helps highlight the dedication of not only the athletes but also the coaches and supporters behind the scenes. The impact of his work goes far beyond the photographs themselves; it strengthens bonds among families and friends.

Chad’s impact on the Medina Mustang sports programs is truly invaluable. He embodies the spirit of community and youth sports. The board of directors of the Medina Mustang Sports Boosters are incredibly grateful for his time, energy and unwavering support and appreciate his Mustang Pride.

Board of Directors for Medina Sports Boosters

Upcoming youth camps

June 9-11: FPC Kids Cheer Camp, at FPC 800 gym, grades 2-8, 9 a.m.-noon. Learn cheers, dances, stunts. Cost: $110, snacks provided, T-shirts on final day. Bring water bottle tennis shoes. Information: [email protected]

June 16-18: Flagler Palm Coast Baseball Camp, ages 7-12, at FPC softball field, 9 a.m. to noon. Cost, $150 includes camp shirt. Information: [email protected]

June 16-18: Matanzas Youth Football Clinic, incoming grades 6-8, at Matanzas High School, 8-11 a.m. Cost: $100. bring money for merchandise and snacks, pizza and treats last day. Information: [email protected]

June 16-19: FPC Boys Basketball Camp, incoming grades 5-9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cost: $125 includes T-shirt, last-day pizza party. Information: https://tinyurl.com/YC362A6D

I have been coaching a youth running team for 14 years now. 27 seasons. 570 practices. Hundreds of Personal Records set, and just as many smashed. Thousands of miles. My first team had seven runners and the roster grew over the years to a steady 60-ish. I have had the pleasure of coaching hundreds of kids and working with dozens of other coaches.

On Thursday, I ran my last 5k with the team: an epic, hilly, twisty, creek-splashing trail run in West Chester called the Trail Blazer. I can’t imagine a better place to wrap up.

Here are some of the things I learned while coaching these runners.

— Running is a forever sport. As you get older, there are fewer opportunities to play football, hockey, or soccer. First, because you’re old. Second, because your schedule fills up, so finding a league that fits your busy life is hard. All you need to keep running, though, is a decent pair of shoes and a place to wear them out. Running is also a global sport, so pretty much anywhere you go, you will be able to find a community of runners.

If you find yourself halfway across the country and want to make some friends fast, try the local running store.

— Just because kids are young, doesn’t mean they can’t lead. Every season I have watched runners stop to help someone who was struggling, heard teammates pay compliments to someone who worked through something hard, and had runners tell me that someone else had a tough day at school and could use a boost. At our 5ks, when there are out-and-back sections, the runners on their way back are cheering on their teammates as loudly as the runners on their way out, even though yelling makes running harder. This team has always carried itself.

If you give a third, fourth, or fifth grader the opportunity to inspire others, they will probably end up inspiring you.

— Running is both the easiest and hardest sport there is. It is so easy, most people learn to run before they can even say, “mama.” But it is so hard that coaches of other sports use it as a punishment for their athletes.

In this way, running is like character: You build it one challenging moment at a time.

— I have had some really fast runners over the years, but the chances of me coaching a future Olympian were always basically zero. The chances that I might coach someone who would someday coach youth sports were 100%. I have already had several of my runners return to coach the team with me as high schoolers (and they’re always the runners’ favorite coaches).

It is impossible to describe how it feels to see the runners I knew as third graders mature into the kind of men and women who want to inspire younger runners.

— If you really want to create a winning team, start by being positive all the time. At the end of our practices, we gave out dog tags to a few runners who had done something special at practice. One season, at the first practice, I asked for people to join me for optional sprints. Only five runners joined me. I gave them all dog tags. A week later when I offered optional sprints at the end of practice, every runner put their toe on the line.

That team ended up being the fastest one I had coached up till then.

— I have learned from 26 previous seasons that the first day we don’t have practice is the hardest for coaches. So it was that on Friday at 3:25, when my alarm didn’t tell me to put on my sneakers and leave the office, I felt bereft of the opportunity to see an incredible group of kids do something extraordinary on an otherwise unremarkable weekday afternoon.

I am extremely thankful to all of the coaches I have worked with over the years, and to the parents who thought, “Yeah, I bet my kid would like spending 90 minutes running after school,” for sending your kids our way. But most of all, I am thankful to the runners for pouring their hearts into this team. I’ve known for years that I was getting as much out of this program as they were. In truth, probably more.

Originally Published: June 4, 2025 at 11:01 AM EDT

The Printscape Pony League World Series, one of youth baseball’s most celebrated international tournaments, is proud to announce Dick’s Sporting Goods as the Presenting Sponsor and Official Sporting Goods Retailer of the World Series.

This partnership aligns two organizations with roots in Southwestern Pennsylvania who are fully committed to supporting youth sports. Dick’s Sporting Goods, a leading U.S. based full-line omni-channel sporting goods retailer, brings its long-standing commitment to youth athletics to the Printscape PONY League World Series, a tournament that has showcased the best 13- and 14-year-old baseball talent from around the globe since 1952.

“At Dick’s, supporting youth sports is at the heart of what we do,” said Mark Rooks, VP of Creative, Sponsorships & Entertainment at Dick’s Sporting Goods. “With this partnership, it’s an honor to help create opportunities for these players to grow, compete and be part of something bigger than themselves. We’re looking forward to another season of incredible play!”

With these designations, Dick’s Sporting Goods will enhance the overall fan and player experience via on-site activation while supporting tournament operations and outreach initiatives. The company’s sponsorship will also be visible through a mixture of physical and digital assets associated with the event, including prominent signage, television and livestreaming elements, and social media.

“We have enjoyed a great historical relationship with Dick’sSporting Goods are excited for our partnership with them as the World Series Presenting Sponsor and Official Sporting Goods Retailer,” said Nathan Voytek, World Series President & Chairman. “Their dedication to youth sports and strong ties to the Pittsburgh community make them a vital partner in our efforts to grow the tournament and elevate the experience for both players and fans.”

The 2025 Printscape PONY League World Series will take place Aug. 8-13 at Historic Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, Pa. 10 teams from around the world will compete to be crowned World Series champion in front of more than 30,000 fans, with thousands more tuning in through live television broadcasts and digital streaming platforms.

For more information on the Printscape PONY League World Series, visit plws.org. To learn more about Dick’s Sporting Goods, visit dicks.com.

Printscape PONY League World Series

The Printscape PONY League World Series is an international youth baseball tournament played annually at Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, PA. The World Series annually attracts over 30,000 fans and contributes over $6.3 million to the regional economy, with all games livestreamed domestically and internationally. The tournament represents PONY Baseball’s 13- and 14-year-old age division. PONY has over 500,000 players ages 3-23 in more than 50 countries. More information is available at plws.org.

About DICK’S Sporting Goods

DICK’S Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) creates confidence and excitement by inspiring, supporting and personally equipping all athletes to achieve their dreams. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, the leading omnichannel retailer serves athletes and outdoor enthusiasts in more than 850 DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! stores, online, and through the DICK’S mobile app. DICK’S also owns and operates DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.

Driven by its belief that sports have the power to change lives, DICK’S has been a longtime champion for youth sports and, together with its Foundation, has donated millions of dollars to support under-resourced teams and athletes through the Sports Matter program and other community-based initiatives. Additional information about DICK’S business, corporate giving and employment opportunities can be found on dicks.com, investors.dicks.com, sportsmatter.org, dickssportinggoods.jobs and on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X.