Kevin Charles of Thelma Hamilton tutor kids in his free time. (
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Artur Zych is ready for a new challenge.
The Midwood senior attack spent his high school career as one of the best and most decorated boys lacrosse players in New York City. He led the Hornets to the PSAL city championship and an undefeated league season with a 5-1 victory against No. 2 Tottenville in the final. Zych, a two-time All-American selection, scored twice.
He added the PSAL’s Wingate Award, given to the top senior in his or her respective sport, Monday night at St. Francis College. Zych passed up a chance to play lacrosse at a lower level and will try to walk on at national power Hofstra next season. He scored 101 goals and dished out 46 assists during 44 games in his three-year varsity career.
“I wanted more of a competition. I want to get better,” Zych said. “I don’t want to be stagnant and be the same player. I want to get better. The more competition the better.”
Former Hostra player Joseph Fowler, one of Zych’s Empire State Games lacrosse coaches, has already reached out to the Pride coaching staff. Zych plans on attending Hoftra’s camp in the summer and feels his chances increased with the Long Island team graduating players on its attack. The Pride finished 13-3 last season and fell 12-5 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Johns Hopkins.
“It would be awesome,” Zych said. “Even if I was on the practice team it’s still something. I just don’t want to be bored at college, not doing anything.”
Charles tutors to give back: Kevin Charles, named the Heisman winner in alternative boys basketball out of Thelma Hamilton, hasn’t always been successful. He had trouble focusing at Cobble Hill and doesn’t want others to have the same issues. So in his free time, he volunteered as a tutor and at a homeless shelter.
“I just love to be around kids,” he said. “I want them to grow up and be a better person than me. I want them not to go down the same path I did. I want them to be successful.”
The senior wing isn’t doing so bad lately. Charles led Thelma Hamilton to the boys alternative league title, averaging 21.7 points per game and tallying 23 points in the title game. As a result, he was among the PSAL’s top senior student-athletes at St. Francis College on Monday.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I never thought I would be here, doing this. I’m glad I worked hard with my coaches and kept going.”
Calimlim lends helping hand at MSIT: Ross Calimlin is a terrific fencer. He helped lead McKee/Staten Island Tech to the 2011 city title in the foil and won the Roi Green Trophy for sweeping the Season Opener, Invitational and PSAL Individual foil championship in the fall. But, in the spring he doubles as the volunteer assistant to coach Steve Khinoy and the school’s girls teams since he was a sophomore.
“He can’t give everyone individual attention,” Calimlin said. “I wanted to help him be able to work with the people he needed to work with.”
Notes: Tottenville’s girls lacrosse player Megan Kane was named the Outstanding Female Student-Athlete of the year after leading the Pirates to the PSAL Class A championship. Forest Hills bowler Dylan Bustillo, who rolled a season-high 258, took home the award on the boy’s side…. The PSAL also honored outgoing boys basketball commissioners Mel Goldstein and Artie Leitner.
AWARD WINNERS
Fall
Girls bowling: Maria Gumb, Tottenville
Boys bowling: Dylan Bustillo, Forest Hills
Girls cross country: Katherine Currier, LaGuardia
Boys cross country: Aaron Somoroff, Bronx Science
Boys fencing: Ross Calimlim, McKee/Staten Island Tech
Football: Brandon Reddish, Fort Hamilton
Girls golf: Christa Golden, New Dorp
Girls soccer: Niri Halperin, Brooklyn Tech
Boys soccer: Rodolfo Paguada, John Adams
Girls swimming: Krista Caputo, Curtis
Girls volleyball: Shannon Appel, Midwood
Winter
Girls basketball: Ashley Gomez, Murry Bergtraum
Boys basketball: Shaquille Stokes, Lincoln
Girls gymnastics: Chole Hirschowitz, Stuyvesant
Boys gymnastics: V Dal Cummings, John F. Kennedy
Girls indoor track: Claudia Francis, Benjamin Cardozo
Boys indoor track: Richmond Ahadzi, Sheepshead Bay
Boys swimming: William Middleton, Curtis
Wrestling: William Vera, Bryant
Alternative boys basketball: Kevin Charles, Thelma Hamilton
Spring
Baseball: William Jerez, Grand Street
Co-ed cricket: Imdad Khan, Aviation
Double dutch: Keziah Watters, Edison
Girls fencing: Jin Yee Li, Townsend Harris
Boys golf: Xander McDonald Smith, Scholars
Girls handball: Serena Wu, Midwood
Boys handball: Jack Wong, Midwood
Girls lacrosse: Megan Kane, Tottenville
Boys lacrosse: Artur Zych, Midwood
Girls outdoor track: Chamique Francis, Cardozo
Boys outdoor track: Shane Green, Erasmus
Softball: Victoria McFarland, Tottenville & Kayla Hill, Madison
Girls tennis: Leighann Sahagun, Cardozo
Boys tennis: Quinton Vega, Beacon
Boys volleyball: Troy Gaugler, Bryant
Girls rugby: Catharine Perez, South Bronx
Boys rugby: William Rosa, Eagle
Alternative girls basketball: Brittany Allen, Queens Academy
