When one door closes, another one opens and the Varsity Flag Buccaneers ran through that door, right to a flag football championship win.
According to coach Brad Palisi, a few of the St. Virgilius-St. Camillus teammates had asked him to find a league for them so they could continue playing flag football after they had aged out of CYO. Palisi coordinated his three-time Diocesan championship St. Virgilius-St. Camillus team, added one of the top eighth grade players from St. Virgilius-St.Camillus, and two great ninth-grade players from St. Francis de Sales in Rockaway and joined Varsity Flag, based out of Nassau Community College, with teams from all over Long Island.
Palisi noted that SFDS was considered a longtime rival of St. Virgilius-St. Camillus as another championship-winning team. But on the Buccaneers, they’re all one. “These boys competed against each other for years and were happy to compete alongside each other. I think it’s a great reflection of the importance of CYO sports in building character and Community and that carrying over into shaping strong men and women through the Catholic faith,” Palisi shared.
The teammates include Brady Benoit, Paddy Palisi, Daniel Arena, Johnny McCarthy, LJ Santiago, Patrick Palmese, Dylan Frontera, Michael Tubridy, Domenico Latella and CJ Dreizen. The Buccaneers went undefeated and won the championship on Sunday, May 31 with a final score of 48-28.
“This is a great bunch of young men that really enjoy each other’s company. I’m very proud of this group and their awesome parents that drove out there each Sunday for the last few months. Great job, boys!” Palisi said.
