Boys Varsity Basketball games have been full of student participation and spirit. While the boy\u2019s team has endured a journey of many ups and downs this year, the team\u2019s captains are confident about the team\u2019s ability to win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain LJ H. \u201924 explained how, in \u201cpast years, Grace Varsity Basketball hasn’t been too good and it was rough, [yet] we have a team this year that works off one another really well and can win many games in the future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This newfound confidence in the team\u2019s ability has increased LJ\u2019s confidence during games. LJ shares how, \u201cthe team looked good in its first game,\u201d giving the players more confidence to keep up the wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Grace community has supported the team, with a huge student turnout and stellar performances from the cheer team. On Nov. 15th, the Village Cup was held in the Grace gym. There was fanfare and snacks and cheer team performances, leading to a packed and noisy gym. Students witnessed the team\u2019s close-knit relationships on and off the court. Good luck to Boys Varsity Basketball this season!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boys JV Basketball<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The team is focused on development. Rostam S. \u201926 and Felix W. \u201826, the team captains, according to Rostam, are focused on \u201ctrying to develop a team that is both fun and skilled. \u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The team has directed their focus on building skills this year, rather than wins, which is a great approach to mastering the sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe most rewarding part of basketball this season,\u201d Rostam said, \u201cis seeing our practice pay off.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n As they \u201crun the correct play and it works,\u201d the rewarding aspect of their work is exemplified. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Girls Varsity Basketball<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Girls Varsity Basketball has taken Grace by storm. So far, this season, the team achieved a great deal, with a win at the Village Cup and a D1 recruit as one of the captains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Captains Lina M. ’24 and Alana A. \u201924, the recruit, have big hopes for the upcoming season, as students eagerly watch on the sidelines, rooting for their team\u2019s success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lina shared that there is also a prominent sense of community within the Girl\u2019s team: \u201cFor me, the most rewarding part of being a part of a sport at Grace has been the people. The friendships I have made have been some of my best at Grace.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n These friendships have allowed for huge success on the court. Lina’s favorite moment from basketball \u201cwas the secret snowflake both Varsity and JV did together. [We]all bought small gifts for another person and had a holiday party before the break.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The team has been able to achieve a great deal, leading to Alana\u2019s D1 recruitment. . Alana committed to playing basketball for Cornell University before the season began and is happy to know that her recruitment can inspire other basketball players at Grace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alana said her acceptance into a D1 school, \u201csignifies that Grace might not be triple-A, but they do have the facilities to help achieve [students\u2019] goals.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alana sees Grace\u2019s athletic program improving in the future, exclaiming, \u201cI hope it continues to get better and better. I think that each year, we have a team that gets on to be one of the best in their league and we\u2019ve moved up leagues in the past couple of years. Hopefully, we continue to improve and I\u2019m excited to see us improve as a school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Girls Varsity basketball has continued to make a mark on the court and has had a great start to the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Girls JV Basketball<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Last year, a new team joined the winter sports options: Girls JV Basketball, giving more students a chance to try the sport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Miranda H. \u201926 reports that the team has been able \u201cto grow\u2026and improve together,\u201d despite the short time the team has existed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The team also has a strong sense of friendship, with traditions being formed quickly. Miranda shared a story, where the team made \u201cmemories such as secret snowflakes.\u201d The close bond between team members has translated to comradery on the court, leading to a successful season in the first year. With a strong connection between players, Girls JV Basketball is looking forward to a great season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fencing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the more conventional sports offered at Grace, there are unique standouts like Varsity Fencing. Varsity Fencing has proven to be a sport filled with student engagement and competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Capes C. ’25 explains how students enjoy \u201chow fast-paced\u201d the sport is, leading to recurring student participation. The team plans to fight for wins this year against teams that have previously been tough competition. Capes reports that Riverdale and Horace Mann are especially tough, but the team plans to push and hopefully score a win this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Squash Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This season, <\/strong>participation in Squash has risen at the high school, leading to a prediction that this could be a season filled with wins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know we will win,<\/sub>\u201d said Adam H. \u201824, the team captain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another feature of quash is the range of students participating. The squash team builds cross-grade connections, allowing students to make new friendships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adam said team members are able to \u201cbranch out and talk to more juniors, underclassmen, and even our eighth graders.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Squash has proven to be a sport that connects students, and this year Grace\u2019s prospects are promising. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sofia U. ’24, a captain, says Grace plays \u201ca lot of really competitive teams such as Saint Anns and Packer, but [she is] not worried.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n With squash’s broad range of students participating and the team-wide confidence, the wins are looking promising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swim Team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With an increasing number of students diving into swimming, the team has grown a lot this season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sayjel T. ’24, captain of the Varsity Swim Team, is enthusiastic about the team\u2019s improvement, declaring: \u201cTwo years ago when I first joined the team, we had one win for the girls \u2026 and last year, we had 4-5 wins.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sayjel said his year has seen a huge improvement in sign-ups. She continued: \u201cThere were 5 girls last year, but this year there\u2019s 16. We\u2019ve built a bigger family.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Swim\u2019s steady improvement leaves Grace students hopeful for the future of the sport, as participation rises, and wins rise as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indoor Track<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite being in the midst of a cold winter, runners continue their beloved sport at Grace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hallie R. \u201925, a captain, shares a big success for the Girls’ Indoor Track from last year: \u201cWe broke the 4×4 relay record for Grace on the same day as the boys did. It was a great day with so much excitement and joy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The team, described by Hallie, is \u201ca small but mighty team with sprinters and distance runners.\u201d Despite the size of the roster, the team has been successful and this year they continue to set new goals. Hallie explains that she hopes to \u201caccomplish a NYCAL title for the girls.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people, unbeknownst to all that Grace\u2019s Cheer team encapsulates, believe that the team is solely here to support the basketball team. However, this preconceived notion could not be farther from the truth, as this season features a Cheer competition and other independent team activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Captain Kristina E. \u201924, said the team\u2019s goal is \u201cto bring spirit and fun to Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball home games, be able to participate in a Cheer competition later this winter, and grow our stunting and tumbling skills as a team.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The participation in Cheer at Grace is substantial and close-knit, uniting the team members in new ways. Kristina cherishes \u201cthe community they [we] have created within the Cheer team and it is so nice to be able to come together and laugh.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Cheer team, not only being united in itself, also works to unite the entire school. During pep rallies, the team performs routines that support a school filled with spirit. Moreover, during the village cup, the Cheer team was highlighted as an incentive for students to attend, promising routines and high energy. Students responded accordingly, leading to bleachers packed to the brim with students who eagerly awaited each game and the energetic and captivating Cheer performance that ensued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheer is a valuable part of Grace\u2019s athletic roster, bringing school spirit to Grace while holding its own in competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winter sports at Grace have formed a bond across the school, uniting the student-athletes and viewers. The school looks forward to more games, as the season progresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Students can also look forward to the Gazette-streamed basketball games, with a girl’s game on Jan. 11th at 5:30 pm and a boy’s game on Jan. 17th at 4 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Zarina Medeiros is a staff writer for <\/em>The Grace Gazette and a member of Grace’s girls varsity tennis team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Girls’ Varsity basketball games have had large student turnout and interest, making the sport a highlight of community events. At the Village Cup, students showed up to Cheer on the team, shouting in joy each time the players scored a point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/gracegazette.org\/wordpress1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Winter-Athletics-Heat-Up-1024x682.jpg\")