With a record of 10-1, the sixth grade team proved to be one of the most successful teams in sixth grade basketball history! Starting off slowly with a one- point victory against the School @ Columbia in early January, the team steam rolled the rest of the way with big victories against the likes of Allen-Stevenson, St. Hughs, Trevor Day and St. Bernards. The only hiccup was a one-point loss to Town School, which they might have won easily if their shots had just dropped.
The boys were impressive with their knowledge of the game, with understanding and learning the plays, and with being able to set the tempo of each game. But most of all they showed great sportsmanship against their opponents. In games where it was clearly one-sided, the team did not run up the score but gave opportunities for bench players to score and get good playing time. As these boys move up to the 7/8 grade teams next year, I’m looking forward to coaching the successful fifth grade team next season! – Coach David Watson
The fifth grade Panthers had an extremely successful season. Their overall record was 8-1 with the only loss of the season coming in a close match against an all-sixth grade team. In fifth grade basketball a large emphasis is placed on teamwork, sportsmanship and skill development. Of course, it is always nice to be competitive, but at this age level it is most important that we teach the boys how to play the game properly. This team has the fundamental skills to be successful in the upcoming years. We had 29 players on the team. Our greatest success was having all players receive significant playing time in games and enjoying the wins as a team. This group of boys IS extremely talented and enthusiastic about the sport. The team was focused during practice sessions and thus well-prepared come game day. Throughout our nine-game season, we steadily improved as individual players and as a team. – Coach Matthew Brown
Read MoreThe fall ’13 soccer season has come and gone, and what a season it turned out to be! It all started with our annual trip to Camp Mah-Kee-Nac in the Berkshires in late August for our pre-season training. It was a very successful camp with no serious injuries, and I hoped for the same in the upcoming season. Unfortunately it was not to be; within days of the start of term, we lost our senior co-captain, Raf Harvard ’14, with a broken toe, and two other seniors were unavailable for the first three games. With the early results not as good as they could have been, the boys pulled together and showed a commitment and focus that I haven’t seen in a while in a varsity team.
After losing to Columbia Prep, the Panthers went on an undefeated run of three wins and two ties, including a glorious victory against the League and eventual Playoff Champions Lycee Francais 3-2, thus securing a #3 seed in the playoffs against, yes, you guessed it, Columbia Prep.
The semi-final match was a hard-fought, well-played affair, with our opponents taking a 2-0 lead deep into the second half. With the “never say die” attitude that they have shown all season long, the boys pulled one back with two minutes to go and were putting Columbia under pressure when, unfortunately, the final whistle blew. The team had come a long way since the beginning of the season and showed their true colors in a gallant effort in the final game. With a core of young players returning, the future certainly looks bright for soccer at Browning.
As a footnote, the Panthers were awarded The Sportsmanship Team Award from the other League member schools, which could have been their motto this year....’Play hard but fair.’
While not represented on the scoreboard, JV soccer had a successful rebuilding season characterized by significant improvements by individual players and the team as a whole. The boys played our first three games without a single goal or a single player on the bench. After recruiting some extra boys, several of whom were new to soccer, we gradually jelled into a legitimate team. The boys managed to book a win and a tie while tightening the gap between them and each of the teams they re-matched over the course of the season.
Read MoreWhile not represented on the scoreboard, JV soccer had a successful rebuilding season characterized by significant improvements by individual players and the team as a whole. The boys played our first three games without a single goal or a single player on the bench. After recruiting some extra boys, several of whom were new to soccer, we gradually jelled into a legitimate team. The boys managed to book a win and a tie while tightening the gap between them and each of the teams they re-matched over the course of the season.
Read MoreIt took until the last event of the season to discover the true face of Browning’s varsity cross country team, version 2013. Honored and galvanized by the presence of headmaster Steve Clement, Athletic Director West, Director of Physical Education Director Patricia Zeuner, Dr. Miguel Gama-Sosa and his son, Michele Gama-Sosa ’11 (currently running cross country at Yale), our Harriers took an unexpected third place at the NYCAL Cross Country Championships at Van Cortland Park. Christopher Keyko ’15, the team’s best runner this season, was at his finest, finishing fourth in a competitive field. His comrades finished further back in the race, but all embodied the best of what Browning brings to our athletic contests: sportsmanship, engagement and, as always, “grytte.”
These past two years we had excellent individual results but not really a team. This season, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Christopher Keyko ’15, Michael O'Connor ’16, Brandon Keno ’16, Diego Lopez-Liranzo ‘15, Yvan Maslennikov '16, Peter Florescu ’15, Philippe Laffont ’16, Julian Orillac ’16, Andrew Bendo ‘16, Terrell Edwards’17 and Alex Lopez-Velasco’ 17, a cohesive team has been born.
This fall, for the first time in its long history, The Browning School fielded a Middle School cross country team. The students themselves had pressed for its creation and responded in strong numbers when the call for runners went out. Calling themselves the Panther Prowlers, nearly a dozen boys from both Forms I and II met twice a week for endurance and strength-building runs in Central Park. Each Thursday of the six-week season, they traveled to Van Cortlandt Park to compete not only against other independent middle schools, but also against themselves and their own individual times in a 1.5 mile race. Those new to the discipline were surprised how noticeably their efforts improved with practice and applied focus. The more experienced runners also improved and gained a better understanding of the demands of the sport. All our sports teams will be much the stronger for the early start these young men have made with cross country.
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