Karah Provenzano, Junior Editor
November 21, 2023
Looking back on the Section 1 NYSPHSAA records, Port Chester has not won a section championship in the new millennium. The undefeated lady rams tennis team won a league title this fall sports season. However, the closest Port Chester has been to winning a league title other than this past tennis season was the co-league champions title in the 2021 shortened baseball season and the 2022 boys soccer season. The Port Chester School District sports programs took a huge hit in numbers due to the pandemic. With those numbers climbing again, the talent is still not there to defeat the many powerhouse schools that play within Section 1. The reason for this lack of talent and skill is not due to the Port Chester population, however it is caused by the fact that there are no feeder systems that allow future PC athletes to develop their skills.
When comparing varsity sports programs at Port Chester High School to our neighboring school districts such as Rye, Harrison, and White Plains, the amount of outside travel team participation is dramatically less. With the ability to practice year-round with top tier coaches to help expand the abilities of young athletes, they will soar over their non-travel competitors. However, this type of training also comes with a hefty price tag. While the help of STEER for middle school and high school athletes helps to cut down these costs, students need to begin in these programs much earlier. The dedicated working class of Port Chester does not have the luxury in throwing down thousands of dollars on travel athletic teams. Instead, paying bills and feeding their families is a priority.
Before ever starting participation in highly competitive leagues, interest needs to be gained at a young age. When searching the Port Chester Recreation department’s website, only three youth recreational sports are offered to the residents of the town. These are baseball, football, and soccer. In most of these recreational programs, neighboring residents from Rye Brook also participate. These rec programs only cover three of the sports offered at PCHS. What about tennis, basketball, volleyball, softball, wrestling, lacrosse, and field hockey? When will children be given the opportunity to try out any of these activities to see if they like it. To see if they want to continue playing against better competition and maybe receive collegiate scholarships when they’re older. Without introducing these sports young, the high school varsity programs will never succeed.
As a community eager to finally win, changes need to be made. More recreational sports need to be offered to children with knowledgeable coaches showing them the ropes, not volunteering parents. Travel programs have never and will never be the culture of Port Chester. PC is a tight-knit community, and before children can be expected to want to participate in larger, more competitive leagues, there needs to be growth in the community. Keep them interested, keep the costs down, and create a fun environment that serves as an outlet.
Columns reflect the opinions of the writer and are not necessarily those of The Port Light or other organizations in which the writer may be involved.