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Sports

Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch Weekly Sports Report

Garcia going to Stetson; Jeszeck gets game winner: PHS to honor champs

Garcia going to Stetson

Last Thursday, Jazmin Garcia, a mainstay at forward for the Peekskill girls basketball announced that she has accepted a scholarship to play Division I basketball at Stetson University in DeLand, Fl. next year.

“When I visited the school, I actually liked everything about it from my research and talking to the coach (Lynn Bria) there, they were very enthusiastic, they were happy to have me,” Garcia said. “When I finally met them in person, met the team, met one of my professors that will be helping me with my major (criminology), I looked around the campus and I fell in love. I fell in love with everything about it. There was not one thing I didn’t like.”

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Garcia said that when she visited the school, her future teammates accepted her when she showed that her game was for real.

“The basketball team, they all took me in,” Garcia said. “They were like you have to prove yourself at the open gym. I did what I had to do and they took me right in.”

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Besides doing what she had to do on the court, she also did what she had to in the classroom, according to Peekskill coach Rodney Headley Jr.

“Jazmin has never failed a class since she has been here, which says a lot,” Headley said. “She has never been an academic problem. She strives to be at the top of the class. She (ranks) within the top 25 academically in the school.”

Garcia stressed how important doing well in the classroom was to her.

“It was actually a real big deal (the academics),” Garcia said. “I had to make sure that I was on honor roll all the time. If I even thought I was going to slip up, I would beg and cry because I wouldn’t be able to play basketball. If I couldn’t play basketball, I wouldn’t be able to function. So I always maintained my grades so that wouldn’t ever happen.”

Jeszeck nets game-winner

Walter Panas senior Anna Jeszeck will be playing Division I next year in lacrosse at the University of Richmond, and still has plenty she wants to accomplish this season for the Lakeland/Panas Rebels girls lacrosse squad.

After making it to the state finals a year ago and just missing a state title in a 6-5 loss to Farmingdale in the state Class A championship game, Jeszeck said that the Rebels want to take the final step and win a state crown.

She helped the Rebels (4-0-1) toward that goal when she scored the game-winner in a thrilling 8-7 triumph against visiting John Jay at Lakeland High School on April 13. The win was a part of a week that saw the Rebels also garner two other home victories.

They were against Yorktown in a similar matter two days earlier, 14-13, and 15-4 against Putnam Valley on April 14.

Jeszeck, who registered two goals and two assists against John Jay, tallied the game-winning goal, with an assist from Emma Bozek, with just 1:22 left in the game.

“We were in a stall, our coach called red, I was the open player and she (Emma) hit me,” said Jeszeck, who leads the Rebels in goals scored with 15.

The bond Jeszeck and Bozek have with one another helped develop the play.

“Emma and I are good friends,” Jeszeck said. “Everyone on the team is close. We have been playing in the midfield together since Emma’s freshman year and my sophomore year. We almost know each other like telepathically. We know where each other are.”

Rebel coach Sharon Sarsen said the key to the play on the game-winning goal developing was the speed of both Jeszeck and Bozek.

“The attention Emma got on the play allowed Anna to slide into the space,” Sarsen said. “So she recognized the slide and Anna got in.”

Jeszeck said the win was a big one for her and her teammates.

“It was a league game so every game counts,” Jeszeck said. “To beat John Jay, especially after losing to them last year in our last game against them, is a big win for us.”

Champs to be honored

The Peekskill Red Devils class A state championship girls basketball team will be honored at a dinner at The Reef restaurant at 7 p.m. Monday April 25. To reserve a space please contact Lou Panzanaro in the athletic office at 914-737-3300 Ext. 320 or Eileen at Ext. 316.  The cost is $25 per person.

PHS Hall of Fame

The Peekskill High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for its Class of 2011.

To nominate a former athlete, coach, or a staunch supporter of the Peekskill athletic program, please contact Lou Panzanaro in the athletic office at 914-737-3300 Ext. 320 or Eileen at Ext. 316.  Nominations will be closing by the end of April.

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