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Krylati Sports Club of Yonkers, NY
2003-04 Season Recap
The Krylati Sports Club of Yonkers, NY, which operates under the auspices of the Ukrainian Youth Organization (CYM), has just started its fall season. The club sponsors a men’s soccer team, three youth soccer teams, and a recreational volleyball program. Through sport, Krylati is working to help fulfill CYM’s Mission, which is “to offer Ukrainian youth opportunities for social interpersonal contact and mutual support and to stimulate their spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural, educational and physical development.” The Krylati Sports Club also serves as mechanism to unite and strengthen the Ukrainian community in Yonkers and throughout America.
In the last few years, the Krylati men’s soccer team has enjoyed continued success, elevating its status to one of the premier Ukrainian-American soccer teams in the country. As a result, the club continues to attract new talent from the local recent-immigrant pool. Similarly, the Krylati youth soccer programs are considered among the strongest in Yonkers. The youngest players showed tremendous improvement across last season and will hopefully fuel a successful youth program for years to come. And last but not least, the Yonkers CYM volleyball program is enjoying a resurgence, which was evidenced by the revival of the Lincoln Indoor Volleyball Tournament after a 15-year hiatus. This past year also saw a Yonkers team win the Zdvych volleyball tournament for the first time in many years.
Unfortunately, the club also suffered a huge loss this past year in the untimely death of Theadore Hoszko. Pan Hoszko was one of the founding members of the Krylati Sports Club in 1965 and has served various posts with the organization throughout the years, including president. It will impossible to find someone to replace him and he will be sorely missed.
Men's Soccer
The men’s soccer team fell just short of repeating as champions of the Eastern District (outdoor) Soccer League. The team’s record of 9 wins, 1 tie, and 2 losses was only good for second place in the league. But to make up for it, the men’s team won the Sports Underdome Winter Indoor League for the first time after five years of participation.
The men’s soccer team faired very well in the various Ukrainian soccer tournaments and exhibition matches that they took part in during the year, posting the following results. Participating in these tournaments is a very important aspect of the club, as it provides the opportunity for Ukrainian athletes from all across America and Canada to network.
* 2003 Inaugural USCAK Cup Soccer Champions (Labor Day, Ellenville, NY)
* 2004 East Coast Cup Runners-Up (July 3-4, Glen Spey, NY)
* 2004 Great Lakes Cup REPEAT Champions (Memorial Day, Detroit, MI)
* 2004 CYM Zdvych Soccer Tournament Champions (Labor Day, Ellenville, NY)
* 2004 Lemko Vatra Soccer Match Champions (June 26, Ellenville, NY)
The club also hosted the 3rd Annual Krylati 6v6 Mini-Soccer Tournament during the club-sponsored Tibbetts Park Ukrainian Festival on September 19, 2004.
The men’s soccer team is coached and managed by Mark Howansky. The team’s assistant managers are Steven Howansky and Wolodymyr Uzdeychuk.
The men’s soccer team would also like to thank its largest sponsor, the SUMA Federal Credit Union of Yonkers, NY.
Youth Soccer
The Krylati Youth Soccer Program continues to run three youth teams:
6-8 years old
9-10 years old
11-12 years old
Last year, the youth soccer director was Steve Schur.
Last fall, Joe Gaschler took over as coach of the 6-8 year old team. He did a great job in his rookie season and hopes to improve on his 4th place finish (4 wins, 5 losses). This year, Joe’s team is a mix of 1st and 2nd year players, who will undoubtedly benefit from his patient instruction for years to come.
During the 2003 season, the 9-10 year old team was coached by Peter Teniuch and Darek Dzwonczyk and posted incredible results, winning their division in the Yonkers Soccer Federation League with an undefeated record. Peter Teniuch decided to follow some his star players and move up one age division. This year, Peter will try to recreate his success with the 11-12 year old team. He also agreed to take over the responsibility of youth soccer director from Steve Schur.
After guiding last year’s 11-12 year olds to a an impressive 7-1-1 (1st place) record, Steve Schur will move back down to the vacated 9-10 year old coaching spot and start grooming a new group of players. He will have to tap into many years of experience playing, coaching, and managing as he tries to build his new, small core of players.
Volleyball
The volleyball program conducted weekly practice sessions throughout the year, in an effort to prepare the teams who participated in various Ukrainian volleyball tournaments, including:
CYM Zlet (Memorial Day weekend)
Zdvych (Labor Day weekend)
CYM Quad’s (late July)
Traditionally, practices are held on Monday nights in various school gyms in Yonkers, NY. The Krylati volleyball program was run by Slavko Kiciuk this past year, with help from others including Sammy Warycha who orchestrated the revival of the Yonkers Lincoln Indoor Tournament on April 17, 2004.
Other Krylati Sports Club officers include secretary Peter Teniuch and treasurer Myron Daszko.
For more information about any aspect of the Krylati Sports Club, please contact club president Mark Howansky at markhowansky@cym.org
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