The highly anticipated annual Powderpuff game kicked off at 9:30 AM on Sunday, Dec. 13 on the Marion Street Elementary School turf. This 18-year-long tradition features a friendly flag football game between junior and senior girls to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Donations collected at the entrance and a portion of the money collected from jersey purchases goes towards the foundation, which funds research, provides financial aid and support for those in need, unites the breast cancer community, and advocates for patients’ rights.
In anticipation of the big day, each team meticulously scheduled multiple practices and designed strategic plays to ensure their readiness for the event. The junior captains, who played a crucial role in leading their teams, included Jessie Vuotto, Avery Milukas, Olivia Pomponio, Regan Casey, Delia Kirkpatrick, and Skylar Wolkoff. The Senior Captains comprised Sophie Deifel, Dani Zhanay, and Addison DiFiore, each contributing their strengths and insights to enhance their overall performance.
The game was played in two 20-minute-halves with the juniors leading at halftime. The only touchdown of the nail-biting first half was scored by junior Sophia Calderon, who ran it into the endzone herself. Calderon, playing quarterback, went on to score another touchdown, opening up the scoring in the second half. Casey and Kelsey Ambrosio both had important defensive plays that contributed to the juniors’ victory. The junior coaches were Marco Palleschi, Ethan Lunati, and Orji Agwu. After the win, Palleschi remarked, “Our team played amazing; we gave our players the plays, and they executed them so well. Good job, everyone!” For the seniors, Natalie Kehoe scored; their coaches were Mason Cofer, Micheal Potash, and Chase Samuelson.
Assistant Principal Sheila Dempey, Spanish teacher Jenny Sanchez, and several other staff members were in attendance. Guidance counselor Andrew Rosenberg and physical education teacher Brian Donaldson refereed the game. Junior Emma Murphy commented, “Even though it was cold, it was so fun to watch our grade win.”
In the end, the juniors defeated the seniors 14-7 amid a snowstorm. The support from spectators, players, coaches, volunteers, supervisors, and teammates cheering on their team from the sideline highlighted the strong sense of community Lynbrook has built. An even stronger cause driving the event played a significant role too. Casey added, “What’s even more important is that the community was able to raise money for the very important cause of fighting breast cancer for members of our community.” What began as a challenging snow-filled morning ultimately turned into an enjoyable and memorable day for all those who played a role.
