As 2017 is a thing of the past, it’s time for the UNIS community to look back on what a phenomenal year it was for UNIS athletics.

UNIS’s sports teams kicked off the year with a series of victories. On February 16, 2017, the Boys Varsity basketball team won their division with a 71-59 victory against division rivals Trevor Day. A few months later, the Boys Varsity volleyball team earned first place in the states championship, beating York Prep with a score of 3-0 during the spring season. This marked the first time UNIS brought home a volleyball state championship.

In the world of soccer, both Varsity Boys and Girls soccer teams scored important victories over rivals.

The Girls Varsity soccer team made history on October 25th in its 1-0 victory over Columbia Prep, a team which until then had been undefeated in the NYCAL for three years. Right beside them, on the same afternoon, the Boys Varsity soccer team claimed its own division over Trevor Day, winning 3-0.

UNIS also dominated cross country as Matthew Balcer, T4, finished 1st of 37 runners in the NYSAIS Boys Varsity Cross Country Championships as he dashed through the five kilometer course in just 19 minutes and 31 seconds.  Noella Kalasa, T3, also placed 4th out of 25 runners in the Girls Varsity competition, with a time of 24 minutes, 56 seconds in the 5K.

The x-factor played a huge role in each success in 2017.

“I was glad that years of hard work paid off,” said Matthew. He not only participates in cross country, but also plays for the UNIS volleyball and basketball teams as well. “When I looked to the sidelines, I saw my coaches screaming with joy.”

Mr. Barjoud, the coach of the volleyball team and a multi-year UNIS staff member, had a proper send off to his wonderful career at UNIS with a state’s victory and a standing ovation later in the 2016-2017 Athletic Awards Ceremony.

“For soccer everyone had each other’s back for every play,”  said Charles Elder, T4, member of both the championship Boys Varsity basketball and soccer teams. “Basketball was the same. Even though I didn’t know [some of the T4s who left] personally, they were still family. Everyone knew each other and shared a common goal to win the championship.”

It seems like there was more to athletics than just sports for these talented individuals.

Throughout each season, UNIS athletes were able to strengthen bonds between teammates and coaches and create new ones that they wouldn’t have otherwise if it weren’t for sports.

“Last year I had the privilege to play and start on the boys varsity basketball team,” said Christiano Wennmann, T3. “At first I felt very intimidated, I was the only underclassman of the five starting players, but that fear disappeared as I developed new friendships and bonds with the seniors.”

Winning comes in all shapes, ages and sizes, with the championship rosters ranging from T4s to middle schoolers.

It’s evident how much these gifted athletes love the game and the impact competitions has had on their lives thus far.

With 2017 out the door, it is certain that the year has truly made its mark on UNIS athletics history.