Saturday, Jun 28th

GirlsWrestlingGirls Wrestling TeamMaroon and White recognized signed athletes and winter Sectional Champions at a celebration in the gym on Wednesday May 8, 2025.Cindy Parrot, Scarsdale Athletic Director along with Jeff Weigel, Assistant Athletic Director warmly greeted the many athletics, parents, relatives, and friends that came out to cheer on and support the 11 senior students athletics who will participate and compete on the college level in the NCAA Division 1, Division 3 and also USports RSEQ conference in Canada next year.

Ms. Parrot began the program by first honoring the Scarsdale High School athletes and teams that won their winter sports sectional championships. At the first ever sectional tournament for girls wrestling, the SHS girls wrestling team brought home the championship. The team, Daisy Bennett, Felicity Bennett, Jaqueline Goldberg, Grace Liebman, Iman Maroof, and Emma Steggall were the first to be honored with applause and photographed in front of the SHS Raiders logo step and repeat. Daisy Bennett and Iman Maroof were also named sectional winners in their respective weight classes.

IasielloTommy Iasiello

In Boy’s Wrestling, senior Tommy Iasiello was named sectional champion and won his weight class for the third consecutive year in a row. Ms. Parrot mentioned that he was honored at the Fall Signing Day when he committed to wrestling and lacrosse at Roger Williams University.

IndoorTrackIndoor Track - Julia Scheffler and Adriana Pettinelli

There were three section champions named for Indoor Track. Julie Scheffler won the 1500 meter race walk. Maria Roberts won the 300 meter race and Adriana Pettinelli won the 1500 meter event. Ms. Parrot called up the last sectional champions from the Boys Swimming and Diving team. Avi Stahl who won the 200 meter freestyle and Kieran Lee who won the individual medley.

BoysSwimandDiveBoys Swimming and Diving: Avi Stahl and Kieran Lee

Calling up the Division 1 senior athletics first, Ms. Parrot named Varvara Mankova who will be fencing at The Ohio State University as well as Hannah Wasserman who will be playing basketball at Yale University.

WassermanHannah Wasserman

VarvaraVarvara Mankova

She then continued to honor the senior athletics signing at Division 3 universities and called up Rishi Shadaksharappa who will be competing in Cross Country and Track and Field at Washington University in St. Louis.

RishiRishi Shadaksharappa

She also named Lilsa Hambazaza who will be fencing at NYU next year.

LilsaLilsa Hambazaza

Zane Kohn will be playing squash at MIT and Giana Marks will be playing tennis at Carleton College.

ZaneZane Kohn

GianaGiana MarksEmma Lee will play D1 Golf at Yale University

EmmaLeeEmma Lee

SamSaeedSam SaeedSam Saeed will also be playing tennis for Pomona College.

UmanskyLeo UmanskyLeo Umansky will be playing tennis for the University of Rochester.

StreicherLily Streicher

Lilly Streicher will be running Cross Country and Track and Field at the University of Rochester.

DuganDugan

Dugan who will swim at Bryn Mawr College.

SatoYusuke Sato has committed to McGill University in Canada. Though McGill is not part of the NCAA in the US, Canada has their own collegiate conference, the USports RSEQ. At McGill he will be playing soccer.

Ms. Parrot closed the ceremony with congratulations to all the athletes on their amazing accomplishments and future wins and success as well as a reminder to the parents, friends and family that they should “enjoy every minute of it!"

SignedAthletes

 

PaquinSenior Chloe Paquin (#11) reaches high to grab a pass for the 1-point conversion.The undefeated Scarsdale Flag Football traveled to New Rochelle on Wednesday April 24 to take on a tough New Rochelle team. The Raiders scored two touchdowns in the first half and held on for a 14-7 win in a hard-fought game. The Raiders next play Yonkers City at home on April 25th.

Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game
To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/

NewRo1Junior Leah Brown (#9) breaks free after catching a short pass.

NewRo2Senior Naomi Fischer (#5) reaches to try and grab the flag of a New Rochelle runner.

newro3Senior Allison Kahn (#6) scans the field as she starts her punt return.

NewRo4Senior quarterback Lilly Tessler (#4) scrambles out of the pocket.

NewRo5 Junior Talia Arovas (#14) runs after catching a pass on a crossing route.

NewRo7Naomi Fischer (#5) tries to outrun a New Rochelle defender.

NewRo8Leah Brown (#9) dances in the open field as part of a long run after her catch.

NewRo9Lilly Tessler (#4) sits in the pocket and eyes the field ready to make a pass.

NewRo10Talia Arovas (#14) makes a valiant effort to haul in a pass.

NewRo11Leah Brown (#9) splits two defenders while running after her catch.

newRo12Junior Gia Asen (#2) sprints in the open field after catching a short pass.

 

LAX1Senior midfielder Jane Hoffman (#20) tries to get around her defender.The Scarsdale Girls Varsity Lacrosse team opened their season on Friday April 4 taking on the Briarcliff Bears at Briarcliff High. The Bears started strong and while the Raiders kept fighting, they couldn’t close the gap. The end result was Briarcliff winning the game 17-8. The Raiders play four straight road games to open their season. Their home opener is April 14 against Pearl River.

Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of Game.
To see more game photos and/or download photos, please click here

LAX2 Senior midfielder Lexi Kiley (#7) looks for open teammate.

LAX3Junior attacker Skylar Katz (#3) tries to put pressure on her opponent.

LAX4Lexi Kiley (#7) maneuvers around her defender to take a shot on goal.

LAX6Freshman midfielder Penny Wagg (#15) takes the open space before passing the ball.

LAX7Senior goalie Kamila El Moselhy (#8) closely watches play near the Scarsdale goal.

LAX8Junior defender Tessa Franco (#13) gets ready to pass the ball up the field.

LAX9Sophomore midfielder Ali Greco (#24) runs toward the goal before passing.

LAX11Sophomore attacker Caitlin Jeremiah (#12) fires in a shot.

LAX10Lexi Kiley (#7) congratulates Jane Hoffman (#20) after she scored a goal.

BoysLax7Scarsdale students brave the weather to cheer on their team.The Scarsdale Boys Varsity Lacrosse team battled a tough Pelham team under cold and rainy conditions on Friday April 11. The hard-fought game was very competitive throughout and finished in a 6-all tie at the end of regulation. The Pelicans came out on top 7-6 by scoring early in the second overtime period.

The Raiders are now 3-3 on the season. Their next game is home against Yorktown on April 25.

Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game
To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/

Boyslax1Senior Oliver Chai (#11) looks to make a pass upfield.

BoxLax2Senior Tommy Iasiello (#24) closely eyes his shot on goal in between 3 defenders.

Boyslax1Senior Jackson Starr (#8) gets ready to shoot and score.

BoysLax4Sophomore Turner Mauro (#14) breaks free from 2 Pelham players.

BoysLax5Sophomore Gavin Wellen (#7) tries to apply pressure and stay with his man.

BoysLax6Freshman Sam Stahler (#33) applies pressure while his opponent takes a shot.

BoysLax8Jackson Starr (#8) makes a pass in an offensive set.

BoysLax9Turner Mauro (#14) fires in a long range shot.

BoysLax10Tommy Iasiello (#24) takes an overhand shot.

BoysLax11Junior Colin Brennan (#22) breaks free into open space before taking a shot.

BoysLax12 Turner Mauro (#14) tries to make a pass while under pressure.

hockeyThe Scarsdale Board of Education held a special Budget Forum on Monday, March 24th which garnered a robust crowd who all seemed grateful for the opportunity to share their comments and concerns regarding the District’s proposed budget.

Superintendent, Dr. Drew Patrick began the meeting with a brief slideshow providing viewers with an overview of the proposed budget and some of what it accomplishes. A few of these accomplishments can be seen below:  

learning

Also find answers to frequently asked questions here.

The $191.5mm proposed budget represents a 3.55% increase over the prior year but will only mean a 1.77% increase for Scarsdale residents and a decrease of .23% for those in the Mamaroneck strip. For a Scarsdale homeowner with a house assessed at $1.32 mm, this will translate to a $415 increase in school taxes for next year. The budget meets the tax cap calculation and will require a majority vote to pass.

After the presentation, Dalya Khan was the first community member to speak, and read a prepared statement on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale. The letter declared the League’s support for the Proposed 2025-26 Scarsdale School District Budget and recommended that the Scarsdale community vote “YES” to approve the final proposed budget on May 20, 2025, at Scarsdale Middle School.

The letter went on to highlight the League’s appreciation for several components of the proposed budget including the District’s thorough plan to convert to an electric fleet as required by New York State mandate, the District’s support of special education students in Scarsdale throughout the significant rise in the number of classified students over the past 10 years, and the District’s continued focus on issues of belonging and inclusion in the curriculum, of which the letter states, “Even though the District no longer works with a consultant, and encourages the District to ensure that belonging and inclusion remain areas of consideration across the Scarsdale schools.”

Although the League’s statement praised the District for developing a Long Range Financial Plan, their letter states that they also “Look forward to seeing how the District uses it to plan for challenges and find solutions to a variety of issues facing the District, including those related to revenue shortfalls, excess expenses, the tax cap, program changes and expansions, unexpected events, and high inflation, in a financially sound way.” In particular, the statement outlines the League’s concerns about the continued unsustainable use of and reliance upon the fund balance to offset the following year’s tax levy.

In closing, Khan read from the statement saying, “The League commends the Administration for providing a budgeting process that prioritized open communication, clarity, and transparency. This transparency allows the community to better understand the District’s rationales and helps ensure a greater degree of confidence that the final budget represents the best balance between advancing the program and gaining taxpayer support.”

To view the League of Women Voters full statement, see here.

Scarsdale PTC President, Meryl Satler also read from a prepared statement on behalf of the PTC. Like the League of Women Voters, the PTC expressed their appreciation that the proposed budget reflects many shared goals including: maintaining small elementary class sizes, supporting a broad range of course offerings at the high school, the importance of maintaining both sanctioned and non-sanctioned sports programs, and the prioritization of student mental health and physical safety.

Also like the LWV, the PTC expressed concern about the District’s dependence on the Fund Balance to deliver a proposed budget that stays within the state mandated tax cap. The statement reads, “The PTC is appreciative of the effort that has gone into formulating a budget that stays within the tax cap, but we also have concerns regarding the increasing use of Fund Balance. The current practice of using a fixed amount to balance the budget each year, coupled with the dependence on these funds to cover budget shortfalls, is unsustainable.”

While the PTC statement recognizes and appreciates the District’s efforts to support the personal and academic growth of our students, it also urges the District to consider community concerns in regard to the Reveal Math Curriculum and urges them to carefully consider the costs while expanding the Special Education program.

Satler ended her statement by thanking the District for prioritizing transparency and communication with our community. To view the PTC’s full statement, see here.

Moira Crouch shared a prepared statement on behalf of Maroon and White which largely detailed the organization’s support of a proposed budget that can be inclusive of the needs of the sport teams the students passionately pursue.

Their statement emphasizes the importance of including a synthetic turf practice field next to the fitness center and highlights that the turf would be a capital expenditure which will not affect the operating costs of the school budget and does not dip into the Fund Balance.

The Maroon and White statement also expresses their appreciation of the decision to maintain the non-sanctioned sports Squash, Crew, Fencing, Dance and Ultimate as they are sports that enhance Scarsdale student-athletes' high school experience and diversify our offerings.

Their letter ends by reiterating “Athletic programs are vital to students’ physical and mental wellbeing and social development. We should not look at them as one of the first places to cut costs. Eliminating teams sends the wrong message. Having a robust athletic program demonstrates that Scarsdale cares and invests in the whole student. The more students that participate in athletics the better. We would appreciate you taking this into consideration when making a decision on next year’s budget.”

At the Forum, several parents took the opportunity to share their support for a turf field and detailed several reasons it is important for Scarsdale’s athletic teams.

One commenter who has been a teacher for over 25 years, implored, “Social and Emotional Learning doesn't just happen in the classroom. It happens a lot out on the fields, at after school sports and after school activities. Giving our children the space that they need, the durable space that they need, that they can use all the time, will be a huge benefit for our community. So on behalf of SYSC, we support the budget.”

Other parents pointed out that the current grass field is highly damaged from intense use during the fall season and is in need of immense restoration. While the field is being restored, it would be unavailable to the several teams who count on that space for both practice and games. Whereas an artificial turf can handle use in all kinds of weather and would better meet the needs of the SHS athletic population.

Perhaps the most impressive moment of the evening came when several SHS hockey players took the podium to advocate for the District to maintain a JV Hockey team. The students demonstrated bravery and poise when they delivered their well-spoken arguments.

A current varsity hockey player, freshman Alec Bernstein stated, “I'm here today because I love the game of hockey and I love Scarsdale High School. Hockey has not only shaped me as an athlete, but it has helped me build relationships and grow as a person. It's been a source of confidence, discipline and camaraderie. It is something that has a positive impact on my social and personal development. That's why I believe it's so important for kids of all skill levels to have the opportunity to play. No one should be left out just because of where they're at in their development… The more opportunities we give to players to develop, the stronger our program will be. When you play for your high school, no matter the level, it gives you a sense of pride that you're representing. You're representing something bigger than yourself. You're representing your school and your community. It motivates you to compete at your best, push yourself and never back down. But we are already falling behind other schools in terms of player development, and if we cut the JV team, that gap will only grow wider. We can't afford to lose out on these crucial stages of individual player development. Moreover, if we're putting ninth graders in modified, we risk the safety of smaller, less developed middle school players. It can be dangerous for the players who are still growing and learning the game at a different level. We need to ensure that every player has a safe and appropriate environment to grow in, and perhaps most importantly, cutting the JV team will leave a group of players without a home. Every player deserves a place. Deserves a place to belong, a team to develop with and a chance to contribute to the success of our school. Scarsdale High School is a place where excellence should be expected in everything we do, and that includes hockey. We can't expect to be competitive or serious about our program if we don't invest in it at every level. Our players deserve the opportunity to grow and succeed with the entire school, and we need to support them in every way possible. Thank you for your time, and I hope you'll join me in ensuring that every hockey player has the opportunity to develop, compete, and represent Scarsdale High School with pride.”

Another SHS hockey player, Jack Capabianco, added, “I was a captain of the JV ice hockey team and the JV team allowed me, and my teammates, a lot of ice time that we would not have gotten if we were on the varsity team. It was an experience that allowed us to grow together, and to gain a lot of valuable experience that we will benefit from for years to come. But more than just valuable “on ice” experience, that time allowed us to grow off the ice as well…in the weight room and connecting with our team. The thing I really liked about the JV team is the fact that it taught us not only how to play on the ice, but allowed us to become better people off the ice…And in terms of next year, the program is growing at rates we've never seen before, and people want to buy into our hockey program. Taking away a JV team would cause players to lose out on a valuable experience, especially since we have upwards of 40 kids who can try out next year. Taking away a JV team will ultimately impact the younger players in the program and will cause them to lose interest in the sport.”

Freshman Annabelle Hassan also spoke in support of maintaining a JV hockey team and explained that in addition to a JV team providing better development for players, “It also allows players to develop into real high school players and to have a real high school hockey experience. This prepares them to transition smoothly into varsity, rather than making a big leap from offside to varsity. For players to succeed at a varsity level, they need to be well developed and have exposure to the faster pace, higher skill level and increased physicality that a JV team provides. Without JV and its high school hockey experience, many players can struggle when they reach the varsity level, ultimately hurting both their confidence and the team’s performance over years to come. Additionally, a JV team gives more players the opportunity to play. Without a JV team, some players are left out of the school team, leading to lost development, and even players quitting the sport. 10th graders who aren't quite ready for varsity won't have a place to play. If they are on a common split season hockey team, they may not get enough ice time outside of school hockey, leaving them with no option to continue playing for their school or in general, this leads to fewer players staying in the program. Ultimately, a JV team keeps more athletes engaged and ensures that players at all levels have a proper place to develop and learn… From a program standpoint, adding JV instead of modified ensures long term success. Schools with strong JV programs consistently have better varsity teams. Other schools we compete against at the varsity level have a deep talent pool with players getting one or two more years of JV experience. Lastly, every other high school sport has a JV team. Why should hockey be any different? Football, basketball, soccer, baseball and every, almost, almost every other section one sport provides athletes with the JV program. To develop, hockey players deserve that same opportunity. Students like myself, want the chance to represent our high school hockey team and compete against players with our age and skill level. Without JV, we are putting all students at a disadvantage compared to other schools and other sports, and not allowing kids to play a high school sport that is their passion, is unfair to everyone. Thank you.”

Another ninth grader, Noah, remarked about his experience with the JV hockey team saying, “It is a really special opportunity for me to be able to play on my high school team.” He went on to explain that the JV team had 13 players and with only two varsity players graduating this year, many on the JV team will be unable to move up to varsity. “This means next year as a sophomore, many of us, including myself, will not be able to play hockey, even though we may have the numbers for it. It is sad that JV hockey might be cut, especially when we have the numbers for a team. Having a strong athletic program at Scarsdale high school is important because it allows students the opportunity to excel, both academically and athletically. I hope this changes your opinion about funding JV hockey for next year. Thank you.”

Many parents also took the opportunity to express their concern about cutting the JV hockey team, with many of them highlighting the same important points raised by the students. After the Forum, several BOE members expressed alarm about the possibility of cutting JV hockey and urged the District to find a way to keep the program.

To watch the Budget Forum in its entirety, see here.