*NEW* – Welcoming Alumni & Friends!
Feat. Special Presenter Mr. Jim Sheehan ’75
Molloy Places 6th in Citywide Virtual Enterprise Competition
Over mid-winter break, Molloy’s Virtual Enterprise class (senior elective) competed in the NYC Citywide Business Plan Competition at St. Francis College! 50 total teams gathered for the competition, with the top seven advancing to the national competition in April. The event featured two rounds: a preliminary round with five rooms of ten teams each, followed by a final round of ten teams, including the top two from each room. Molloy’s VE class and their company College Compass finished first in their room and placed 6th overall in the finals, qualifying for nationals in April! Congratulations to Emir Asa ’26 (CEO), Albion Geci ’26 (COO), Justin Totaram ’26 (CFO), Neil Loria ’26 (CMO), Ashley Cajamarca ’26 (VP of Advertising), and Kaitlyn Dailey ’26 (VP of Public Relations), and teachers Mr. Touzin and Mr. Beaudet!
Afro-Caribbean Club Celebrates Black History Month with Hallway Parade
In honor of Black History Month, Molloy’s Afro-Caribbean Club hosted its annual Hallway Parade! On February 27th, Stanners processed through the hallways with music playing and flags in hand, each one reflecting the many cultural backgrounds represented within our school community. Students, faculty, and staff applauded as the group made its way past each homeroom. Thank you to the club and moderator Ms. Barbery for organizing such a vibrant and meaningful celebration!
Robotics Team’s Recent Competitions
On Sunday, February 15th, Molloy’s Robotics Team competed in the VEX V5 Push Back Competition at the Harvey School. Out of 48 teams, Molloy advanced to the quarterfinals and finished 6th overall! Later, on February 21st, the team competed again at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Out of 60 teams, Molloy advanced to the “Round of 16” and finished 16th overall. Congratulations to the team on these outstanding results in just their second year! Congrats to: Alexandros Bazenikas ’26, Avinash Hemraj ’26, Francesko Hila ’26, Westen Lipan ’26, Yosef Naser ’26, Megan Chelius ’26, Valeria Saye-Murphy ’27, Mika Haskalp ’27, Rocco Fasanello ’28, Sophia Caimares ’28, Giannis Raptis ’29, Harlan Healy ’29, Sebastian Martinez-Miguel ’29.
Valentine’s Day Fundraiser for Blue Marists
On February 13th, Stanners celebrated Valentine’s Day and the start of Winter Break with a festive dress down! Students, faculty, and staff wore shades of red and pink, with many adding fun accessories like necklaces, headbands, bows, and sweaters. Participation in the dress down included a $5 donation, with all proceeds supporting the Blue Marists in Syria and their efforts to provide essential food supplies to families facing food insecurity. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this meaningful effort a success.
Campus Ministry Leads Retreat for Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy
On February 11th and 12th, close to 70 eighth graders from Our Lady of Hope Catholic Academy visited Archbishop Molloy High School for a day Retreat. The retreat focused on the theme of “Listening to God’s Call” and how these eighth graders can discern what God is calling them to do as they prepare for Confirmation and to begin their high school careers. The eighth graders were led by eight of our outstanding Stanner Retreat leaders. They shared prayer, reflections, and took part in challenges that brought the theme of “Listening to God’s Call” to life. We truly hope that God calls many of the eighth graders from Our Lady of Hope to Molloy next year as members of the Class of 2030!
Junior Retreat at MBCE
82 members of the Class of 2027 recently enjoyed their Junior Retreat at the Marist Brothers’ Center at Esopus! The theme of the retreat was “Let Go, Let God.” Stanners reflected on themes of identity, relationships, change, conflict, and how God is present through it all. The retreat included talks, small group discussions, prayer, quiet reflection, dodgeball, and flag! The retreat also included a special gathering in remembrance of our beloved Mr. Rodgers, who passed away on February 7th. (Photos courtesy of the Marist Brothers’ Center at Esopus) (Please continue reading for our remembrance of Mr. Richard Rodgers, published earlier this month)
| Girls Swimming – Congratulations to our City / BQ Champs on being featured in The Tablet! Click Here to read the article. | Congratulations to our All-League athletes including Samantha Shoule ’26, Sarah Mallia ’26, and Aileen Henning ’26! |
| Basketball – Congratulations to our All-League athletes including Molly Trears ’27 (1st Team All-League), Brooke D’Asaro ’27 (2nd Team All-League), and Kelly Griffin Jr. ’27 (2nd Team All-League)! | Boys Freshman Basketball finished as City Championship Semifinalists (18-4-0) | Boys JV Basketball finished as City Championship Semifinalists (18-2-0) | Boys Varsity “A” finished their season 10-15-0 | Boys Varsity “B” finished their season as City Championship Semifinalists (13-5-0) | Girls JV Basketball finished their season as City Championship Finalists (19-1-0) | Girls Varsity Basketball finished their season at 16-6-2 and won their City Championship Quarterfinal on February 26th. If victorious, they will play in the Semifinals tonight against Moore Catholic. A win would put them in the finals this Sunday. |
| Bowling – The Varsity Bowling team is headed to the State Championships on March 1st! The competition kicks off at 10:00 AM at Babylon Bowl in Babylon, NY. Good luck, Stanners! |
| Baseball – After their 2024 State Championship and 2025 City Championship, Molloy Varsity Baseball is ranked #20 in the Northeast by Perfect Game High School Rankings. Good luck to the squad on another historic season! |
| Track & Field – Congratulations to our All-League Athletes including Tim Hider ’28, Michael Mulhall ’27, Travis Hui ’26, Riley Devaney ’28, Liliana Win ’28, Valentina Crescenzo ’28, and Erin Maxime ’28! |
| Track & Field CHSAA Freshman/Sophomore Intersectionals – Top Performers – Tim Hider ’28 placed 1st (4:29.84) and set a school record in the Soph Boys 1600m | Justin Feliciano ’28 placed 1st (40.16) in the Soph Boys Unseeded 300m Dash | Erin Maxime ’28 placed 2nd in the Freshman/Sophomore Shot Put (25-11.5) | Shane Toner ’29 placed 2nd (9-0) in the Freshman Boys Pole Vault | Lugo Hayduk Shaurov Thomas ’29 placed 3rd in Freshman Boys 4x200m Relay, 4th on Molloy’s all-time list. |
| Track & Field CHSAA Intersectional Championships – Top Performers – Tim Hider ’28 placed 3rd (2:38.50) in the Boys 1000m Run and qualified for states | Riley Devaney ’28 placed 3rd (4’10) in the Girls High Jump while setting a record for 4th on Molloy’s all-time list | Adin Thomas ’29 placed 56th in the Boys 55m (7.20), 4th on Molloy’s all-time freshman list | In the Alumni Race (1600m Run), Ryan Contino ’96 finished 3rd (5:48.58) and Dylan Dombrowski ’07 finished 5th (7:19.27) |
| Track & Field Ocean Breeze Elite Invitational – Top Performers – Tim Hider ’28 placed 6th in the Boys 1000m Run (2:34.06), which is a Molloy sophomore record, 5th all-time varsity, and earned him NHSTFXCAA All-American | Adin Thomas ’29 placed 29th in the Boys 60m (7.74), a Molloy freshman record and 5th all-time varsity | Gabriel Gonzalez ’26 placed 18th in the Boys 60 HH (9.37), 11th all-time varsity. |
| Congratulations to our Winter CHSAA Scholar Athletes! Click the thumbnails in the gallery above for the full lists. |
Christopher Flynn ’24 (pictured second from left) is currently a sophomore at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, studying Mathematics and Education. He was selected as a Mindich Fellow, and was able to complete the required internship and fieldwork at Molloy during winter recess. Math teachers Julie Keyes ’09 and Joseph Smallwood ’11 served as Christopher’s mentors during the internship. Also pictured is Christopher’s dad, Assistant Principal Dr. Des Flynn ’97 (far left).
Before mid-winter break, Aditya “Adi” Basant ’23 served as a guest speaker for Molloy’s Pre-Med Career Club! Adi is a “U3” in the final year of his undergraduate year three at CUNY – Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education where he is majoring in biomedical science. As guest speaker he presented on the highly competitive, but rewarding program he is in. One of the benefits, Adi shared, is that the program can be completed after seven years of college and medical school instead of eight. He also discussed how to begin preparing for this career path as a high school student as well as current trends in medicine.
During the same club meeting, Anna Mauro ’24 and Caitlin Trinh ’24 both appeared via Zoom from SUNY – Binghamton and NYU – Tandon (Brooklyn) respectively. Anna and Caitlin talked about their undergrad experiences so far, and shared advice to Molloy’s Pre-Med Career Club members (classes to take, hospitals to volunteer at, etc.). Anna is majoring in Integrative Neuroscience while looking to earn her DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Caitlin is majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and looking to earn her MD at NYU Langone Health.
Thank you to all three Stanners for visiting with our club!
Congratulations to our D1 baseball alumni for a successful opening weekend! Bayram Hot ’22, Steven Mazza ’22, Joey Frazzetta ’23, Patrick DeSarno ’25. Bayram Hot at Louisville is off to a great start batting .355 in his first 8 games. Steven Mazza at Marist pitched 4 innings of three hit ball against powerhouse, Vanderbilt. Joe Frazzetta has been a three year starter at New Haven opened his season facing off against SEC powerhouse, Missouri. Patrick DeSarno led off for UAlbany and went 3-11 against Big12 Texas Tech.
(Information courtesy @molloyhs_varsitybaseball on Instagram)
The Stanner Alumni Center has hosted a number of Pickleball events this winter, connecting alumni and faculty through this fun and growing game! President Richard Karsten ’81, who has spearheaded this effort, shares, “Pickleball has caught on as America’s leading growing sport. We are building a community of alumni and faculty who have a desire to learn and compete together at Molloy. We’re excited to offer more upcoming dates soon, so please stay tuned!”
Pictured left to right: Jim Quent ’89, Kristina Valentino, Victoria Smallwood ’11, Joe Smallwood ’11, Pete Stamm ’07, Rob Rossi ’81, Richard Karsten ’81, Merl Doyle P’19, John Zeni P’15, Amanda Zeni ’15, and Victoria Brown ’16.
Earlier this week, Dr. James Lynch ’83, MD, was cleaning up after the snowstorm when he bumped into one of his new neighbors in Stewart Manor: fellow Stanner Mike Tortorella ’01!
Remembering Mr. Richard Rodgers ’65
Archbishop Molloy High School continues to mourn the sudden passing of our beloved friend and colleague, Mr. Richard “Richie” Rodgers ’65, who passed away on February 7th. Mr. Rodgers served as an educator at Molloy, his high school alma mater, for over 52 years, including the current school year.
After setting several shot put records as a student-athlete at Molloy, Mr. Rodgers attended St. John’s University, where he became co-captain of the university’s Track & Field team in 1969. After graduating from SJU, Mr. Rodgers joined Molloy’s faculty in 1974. During his tenure he taught physical education and served in roles including Physical Education Chairperson, Athletic Director (1989-1992), Shot Put Coach, and Assistant Field Coach. He also famously co-founded and coached Molloy’s first ice hockey team (1998-2008). Mr. Rodgers enthusiastically coached Molloy ice hockey to a Varsity B Division Championship. He was awarded the CHSAA B/Q Field Coach of the Year Award in 1982. Beyond athletics, many Stanners fondly remember Mr. Rodgers as their favorite Driver’s Ed teacher.
Mr. Rodgers made an unforgettable impact on Molloy, with his booming voice and famous games of “Rodge Ball” becoming indelible parts of our school culture. He inspired generations of Stanners, helping us to grow in mind, body, and spirit while always motivating us to work hard and try our best. Mr. Rodgers was also a man of strong Catholic faith who held a deep respect and reverence for the Marist Brothers. He worked side-by-side with the Brothers throughout his career, modeling the Marist Charism every day.
Molloy recognized Mr. Rodgers for his impact as a Marist educator and his mentorship to countless student-athletes by inducting him into the Stanner Hall of Fame. In October 2025, Stanners and friends attended a celebration in Floral Park to honor Mr. Rodgers and commemorate his over 52 years of service to Molloy. During the celebration, Senator Joe Addabbo ‘82 presented Mr. Rodgers with a special Proclamation from the New York State Senate, in recognition of his dedication to his career and his students.
During the week of February 9th, students and faculty gathered to remember and celebrate the life of Mr. Rodgers, honoring his legacy through a Memorial Mass held on Tuesday, February 10th. Students, faculty, and staff also shared prayers and personal reflections, displayed as a tribute to Mr. Rodgers’s presence at Molloy and the meaningful influence he had on so many. These messages were later shared with the Rodgers family.
Please continue to keep Mr. Rodgers and his loved ones in your prayers. Click Here if you would like to watch the Memorial Mass that was live streamed on February 10th.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Michael Angelo Joseph Vitti ’78, who passed away on January 22, 2026. Michael was a proud graduate of Molloy, Fordham University (Summa Cum Laude), and NYU School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. He completed his General Surgery Residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital followed by his Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He devoted his professional life to medicine as a board-certified vascular surgeon, most recently affiliated with Columbia University at the former Lawrence Hospital. He is remembered for his compassion, humility, and kindness. Above all, he was a devoted family man – a loving husband to his wife, Francesca, and proud father to his sons, Michael Angelo Turner Vitti and Marco Andrea Vitti. Please keep Michael and his loved ones in your prayers. | Click Here for Memorial Page
