The Molloy bench clears in jubilation after its victory in the state Federation Girls Class A championship. (An Rong Xu)
When the year started, Marissa Puzino hoped to end her senior year with at least one state title, if any. But after Archbishop Molloy claimed the NYS Federation Class A girls basketball crown she wasn’t the only one hoping she would earn a second.
“We had one [softball] team meeting and we were talking about team work, like the road it was going to take to win a state championship,” the senior said. “And [coach Maureen Rosenbaum] said, ‘Win for all of us and it’s nice if Marissa gets the experience of winning two.’ Well that happened.”
The Stanners topped Kellenberg and then Mount Mercy for the CHSAA state softball championship, the first in program history, on May 31. Puzino, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer and had eight points in the basketball title game, had the final out hit to her at shortstop.
It was an opportunity just 10 years ago that wasn’t to be had at the previously all-boys Briarwood, Queens school.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Puzino, the first Molloy girl to win two different state titles in the same year. “That’s the first thing that I thought about when we won the softball one. I was like, ‘Wow, that’s two in one year.’ It’s just an awesome way to end my senior year and also for the 10-year anniversary for the girls sports.”
Rosenbaum and girls basketball coach Tom Catalanotto spoke about the anniversary at different points in the season. Rosenbaum has been there from the very beginning of the school going co-ed, as a gym teacher and coach, along with assistant and school nurse Kathy Forgione. Catalanotto, a Molloy alum, was an assistant on the school’s girls varsity basketball team in 2002. The basketball team won Federation crowns in 2003 and 2004 and ended Christ the King’s 25-year reign over CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens in 2008.
“They started it and we needed to build off it,” Catalanotto said he told his team of its past players. “I think for a young program overall we have done exceptionally well with all sports. I think a lot has to do with the tradition of Molloy with sports over the years.”
Back in 2001, athletic director Mike McCleary felt it was ambitious to start four sports – soccer, basketball, softball and track – with just 200 girls entering the building. They all started at the junior varsity level. While getting permits for field space for the soccer and softball teams were an early issue, the addition of a second gym made things easier as well as a fine coaching staff. Molloy has since added female sports such as volleyball, swimming and tennis and will have girls lacrosse for the first time next year.
“I’ve learned to never underestimate the talent of the girls who come into the building,” McLeary said.
The Stanners have enjoyed a high level of success in a short period of time. Their girls soccer team had won consecutive CHSAA Nassau/Suffolk Class A crowns before falling in the final this season. The girls volleyball team last won a Brooklyn/Queens title in 2006 and is a perennial contender. The track and field team captured multiple diocesan track titles and the Molloy swimming team ended Notre Dame Academy’s 22-year win streak three years ago.
Many of the girls still see it as a privilege to play at Molloy following its rich history in boys basketball, baseball and track and field. There is also a friendly rivalry.
“There is always a competition between the boys and the girls,” Puzino said. “Everyone says how the girls came into Molloy and the boys [have won before]. Meanwhile we are like, ‘Well, we win.’ We do it all the time. It’s hysterical.”
The softball title was certainly a special win because of the journey it took to get there. In its first trip to states, Rosenbaum just wanted be competitive. Last year they nearly beat traditiona; power St. Joseph by the Sea in the final. They finally broke through this spring after winning a third straight Brooklyn/Queens title and first city championship since 2007.
“When we first started out 10 years ago we didn’t have the players,” said Rosenbaum, who also coached volleyball for the first two years. “It was more of a training type of thing, developing the program.”
Now 10 years later Molloy finds itself amongst the city’s elite when it comes to girls athletics.
“Every sport you see teams going far into the playoffs,” Puzino said. “Most of them going to the championship.”