5/27/14
2013-2014 Year in Review

In the 6 years of running the program we have never had as many kids or sports in action during the school year. On the middle school level we had 5 playoff teams and Democracy Prep Endurance and Harlem Prep Middle school students had a chance to compete for the first time. Players worked hard on learning the sports that they were involved in. They traveled as far as Queens to compete in the sport of their choice.

At Democracy Prep Middle School Coach Scherer and his girls basketball team became one of the teams to beat in the CSAA. Coaches around the league were impressed by the play of Dream Telfair. Coach Saslow and the DPCMS flag football team missed the championship game by one touchdown. Coach Picott and the boys basketball team put together a solid team that learned a lot. Coach Marsek and the Volleyball team made the playoffs and had some of the best team communication in the league. Mr. Marsek and the MS soccer team are in first place now and are looking to make a run at 3rd championship in 3 years. Our teams at DPCMS will be loaded next year and they are hungry for a championship! 

Democracy Prep Harlem Middle school is the oldest middle school in the network. Over the years they have churned out winners and this year was no different. Coach Des Gaines and the flag football team played hard all year but came up short of the playoffs. During the Volleyball season first year coach Carolyn Moran went 5-1 with a strong showing in the playoffs. She will be returning next year and is ready to bring the team to the final round. Injuries and academics plagued the MS boys basketball team in the beginning of the season but the team rallied around Coach Des Gaines and made a playoff run. The boys played hard every game. Coach Rahman and I worked with the girls team. We played for our season in our last game. We won the game on a last minute shot by Imani Martinez. We needed kipp to lose their game so we could take the last playoff spot. Unfortunately they won by one point knocking us out of the playoffs.

Harlem Prep Middle and Democracy Prep Endurance combined forces this year in Flag football and basketball. Coach Daniels and Coach Haynes-Pitts worked very hard with the flag football team. It was a learning experience for all involved but they showed heart every play of every game. They also had the most fans every game. Coach Di Lapi and the middle school girls team played hard all season. Most of the team had never played before so it was a great learning experience. They may have had the most electric 8-1 victories I have ever seen. This year the DPE/HPM boys team had a great opportunity to learn from a great coach. Coach Harrold brought a tremendous amount of experience and a no nonsense attitude that the boys needed. They have a lot of talent and will be a force in the league for years to come. 

On the High School level we had 4 teams play deep in to the playoffs with one winning the championship. Coach Awe and the boys flag football team had a tough year. Mostly all players never played organized football before. They showed the willingness to learn, heart in tough times and sportsmanship in defeat. Coach Marsek and the boys varsity soccer team won 2 games in 2012. This year with more focus and practice time they went 5-2-2. They had to play a play in game for the playoffs but lost to a tough innovation team. They are returning a lot of players next year and will make a strong push for a championship. One of the most impressive teams this season was Ms. Wall and the Lady Dragons soccer team. Coach Wall had 30 players on the roster and maybe 5 of them had played organized soccer before. They went 3-2-3 on the season to make the playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs they won the first ever Varsity girls Soccer team playoff game on penalty kicks! They played their hearts out in the semi-final round but missed the championship game by 2 goals. Coach Freeman and Coach DiMauro built on their volleyball success from last season. The girls posted a league best 7-0 record during the regular season and earned the opportunity to host their first ever home playoff game. The girls lost in the first round but will be returning over half the team for next year. Coach Willis and the JV boys basketball team played hard all season. Their record of 3-5 does not in any way reflect the work they put in. The team is young and will be returning most of their players next season. Mademba Coumare showed that he will be a force in the league. Coach Jenkins and the boys Varsity basketball team went 6-10 on the season but had 3 tournament victories vs. PSAL teams. The team will have great senior leadership next season. Coach Asberry and Coach Jackson put together the best season in the HS. The girls Varsity basketball team went 14-0 on the way to winning their second title. They are 28-1 in the last two seasons earning the back to back championships. The team was led by Senior Mona Barry and sophomores D'lesjah Jones and MVP Bryanna Brown. Coach Soto and the Cheer squad is working harder every practice to become a competition cheer squad. They will be selecting a new team in June. They provided a needed spark in all basketball games. Coach Freeman and Coach DiMauro are working hard to bring Lady Dragon Softball back to the playoff days. This season was a rebuilding year but the team is showing glimpses of winning ways.

Its hard to believe that 6 years ago we had 2 basketball teams. Athletes from around the network will have even more opportunities next year to compete in the best Charter School Athletic Program in NYC. We look forward to the addition of Bronx Prep Middle School and Bronx Prep High School to make this one of the biggest programs in the city. 

“Winning is a habit. Watch your thoughts, they become your beliefs. Watch your beliefs, they become your words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become your habits. Watch your habits, they become your character.”

“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”

“Confidence is contagious and so is lack of confidence, and a customer will recognize both.”

“If you don’t think you’re a winner, you don’t belong here.”

“Don’t succumb to excuses. Go back to the job of making the corrections and forming the habits that will make your goal possible.” -Vince Lombardi

Thanks for all the support and as always GO DRAGONS!!!!