It’s been an exciting week to be a Wildcat. Watching BVS lose to Commack last year was heart-breaking–for the community, and for the team. But it made the comeback that much sweeter. As a senior and a fan of BVS, it was an emotional season knowing that this is the last time I would watch this talented, hard-working team represent and play for Whitman.

I was given the task of asking some of the players questions that would give some insight to the person behind the jersey. Thank you BVS for playing your hearts out and leaving it all on the field. It was a pleasure to watch you achieve your goal and be there to cheer you on. I wish you many more moments like this, whether it be on the field or off.

1. What are your plans for the future? Are you continuing with soccer in college?

• Mike Lorello: “I’m going to Marist. I’ll be playing soccer there.”
• Austin Salas: “I want to play Division 1 in college. I’m looking at Albany and Binghamton. I won’t be starting for the first few years, goalies normally don’t.”
• Fabrizio Chamorro: “I do plan on playing soccer in college. I have been talking to some schools but I still want to keep my options open. As far as career choices, I’m still undecided.”
• Witman Hernandez: “I might go to Hofstra or Molloy and play soccer. But I’m not sure yet.”

     2.  When did you start playing soccer?

• Austin Salas: When I was 3 or 4. My dad was obsessed with soccer. He was raised in Mexico and that’s all they did, so he pushed me to play.”
• Sean Zagorski: “I started playing at 4.”
• Blake Aronson: “I was five.”
• Noel Reyes: “I don’t know. I was little.”
• Jonathan Consolo: “Four. It was a St. Elizabeth’s team. I played for Marco, who taught me to dribble by waddling like a duck.”
• Anthony Palazzolo: “I started playing in kindergarten but I stopped in 7th grade and came back for junior year.”

     3. What was it like knowing all the support you had behind you?

• Mike Lorello: “The game was 2 hours away. Seeing the amount of people that came…it just gets you hyped up.”
• Sean Zagorski: “It was awesome. There were so many fans at states. It helped us calm down.”
• Bobby Cerrito: “It was great knowing everyone believed in us and they were always supporting us on our entire journey to states. I feel it made us play more confidently and made it an even better experience.”
• Anthony Palazzolo: “It’s amazing being able to look up in the stands and see all the fans cheering for you, especially when you’re in a close game, it helps to relieve some of the pressure.”

     4. Favorite professional player?

• Blake Aronson: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
• Noel Reyes: “Marco Rues.”
• Bobby Cerrito: “My favorite defender is Sergio Ramos.”
• Anthony Palazzolo: “Personally, I like Messi because he’s a great player, a hard worker, and he’s a fantastic teammate. He’s not a selfish guy and he really treats his teammates with respect.”

      5. What role has soccer played in your life?

• Sean Zagorski: “It gets my mind off things and it’s my favorite thing to do.”
• Blake Aronson: “It plays a giant part in my life. It’s the most important thing to me.”
• Fabrizio Chamorro: “Soccer is something that I’ve been doing since I was really little and it has shaped my entire life because I got a lot of opportunities thanks to it, and I also made a lot of friendships.”
• Anthony Palazzolo: “It has a huge role in my life. I was always an athlete and sports are where I meet most of my friends. It keeps me out of trouble.”
• Bobby Cerrito: “It’s basically my whole life. I play and train everyday, and this year was one of the greatest moments in my entire career.”

      6. What are you going to miss the most?

• Austin Salas: “The jokes Schindler makes about everyone. He gives everyone these funny nicknames. Also, the sense of family, being able to come together.”
• Jonathan Consolo: Playing with my teammates. We’re one big happy family.”
• Mike Lorello: “Playing everyday and playing in front of the school.”
• Fabrizio Chamorro: “Definitely my teammates.” 

     7. Any pre-game/post-game rituals?

• Mike Lorello: “After every game, we pass around a rock. Sophomore year we beat Hills East for the first time in a while and someone found the rock in front of our bus.”
• Blake Aronson: “Before every game I have mac and cheese that my mom makes. Also, I put my left shin guard on before my right shin guard. And I tape my left wrist before every game.”
• Witman Hernandez: “I pray.”
• Jonathan Consolo: “Before every night game I get a super sampler platter from the diner and a McFlurry with Blake. I put on my left sock before my right sock and I go on a pre-game walk and touch the wall by the 600 wing.”

     8. Any advice for your teammates that aren’t seniors?

• Witman Hernandez: “Keep working hard. If they keep working they’re going to win.”
• Fabrizio Chamorro: “Just keep working.”
• Mike Lorello: “Play every game like it’s their last because they won’t want to have any regrets about putting everything into each game. Also, to put the team before themselves and care more about Whitman winning being in the newspaper rather than their name being in the newspaper.”

     9. What went through your head when you won States?

• Fabrizio Chamorro: “I just had tremendous satisfaction but at the same time a lot of sadness because I realized that I wasn’t going to wear my Whitman uniform in another game.”
• Witman Hernandez: “I couldn’t believe it. We all worked so hard to win and we did it.”
• Sean Zagorski: “It hasn’t set in. It was a great feeling knowing we’re number one.”
• Mike Lorello: “It didn’t hit me. I was sitting with Witman when I thought, ‘we did it.’”
• Bobby Cerrito: “That we finally accomplished what we wanted for the past 2 years and all the hard work paid off. We finished our business. It was probably the greatest experience of my life.”

Congratulations once again to BVS on this enormous feat. You’ve made us all so proud.