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Boys 14U Take the Chip as Castle Boys Dominate at ZQ Nationals
June 12, 2017
The Castle Athletics boys teams continued their fine Spring showing by excelling at the ZG Boys Nationals outside the Boston area, with the Boys 14U squad bringing home the championship. The 12U team almost ran the table as well, losing in the chip to Virginia Academy. But, they were not the only Castle teams that dominated. The 13U boys team won its pool before ultimately bowing out in the Semi-finals and the 17U and 16U teams each won their respective pools 3-0, before losing in Elite 8 bracket play.
Coach Ghandhi Martin of the 14U team said that “the team has really started to jell and everyone is contributing and playing their roles. More importantly, it is great group of boys that enjoy being together and standing tall for each other.”
Coach Jessie Sapp, leader of the 12U squad, also noted that “the season has been a growing experience for the team. We have won tournaments throughout the Spring and the competition has continued to improve. The fact that we have improved as well is a tribute to the boys and their desire to improve and work together.”
The teams continue their tournament schedule throughout June and July (with the older squads competing in Las Vegas) and will play in the NYC playgrounds in August.
Castle Programming Humming Along With NYC Castle Challenge Leading The Way
December 8, 2016
During the Fall and Winter, Castle Athletics focuses its attention on its elementary and middle school aged student athletes. Since late October, the players have been enmeshed in twice weekly practices and academic enrichment sessions and begun play in the Winter League at the House of Sports in Ardsley. Additionally, the student athletes participated in the First Annual Castle Foul Shot Fundraiser, raising funds to help support the program.
But, over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Castle staged The First NYC Castle Challenge at Hostos Community College and displayed how Castle has been reaching deep into the NYC community to develop itself and its student athletes. Held over two days, nine high school boys and girls games were played. Matchups on the Girls side included: Manhattan Center v. Democracy Prep, J.F. Kennedy v. Martin Luther King, Aquinas v. Renaissance, and Holcombe Rucker v. Harry S. Truman. On the Boys side, games were: J.F. Kennedy v. John Bowne, Bedford Academy v. McKee/Staten Island Tech, Democracy Prep v. Kipp NYC College Prep, H.S. for Construction v. Holcombe Rucker and Wadleigh High School v. Brooklyn Law & Tech. Each game was hotly contested and showed that all of the teams were ready to start the their high school campaigns. Teams are already lining up and requesting to participate in next year’s Challenge.
Many thanks go out to Rudy King, Grassroots Coordinator, and Red Collier for coordinating the Challenge and to Ghandhi Martin to help bring it all together. Additionally, many thanks to the Castle coaches and Friends of Castle that volunteered their precious time over a holiday weekend to help pull off one of the finest basketball programs held in NYC.
Photos of the Challenge will be placed online soon.
The Castle Athletics Challenge
November 22, 2016
The Castle Athletics Challenge features both boys & girls high school varsity basketball teams in a two-day event, to be played at Hostos Community College, November 25-26, 2016.
Follow the events on the following:
