Xaverian Students Capture 18-Second Margin in State Title Bid
Sophomore Tommy Aiken’s 13:57.60 run secured the Catholic State Championship as multiple Xaverian teams advanced to final rounds.
By Nia Foster ·
Tommy Aiken secured the Individual Sophomore Catholic State Championship in cross country on November 12, finishing the 2.5 mile course in 13:57.60. He beat the runner-up by 18 seconds in a field of 129 athletes. This victory followed his win in the Individual Sophomore City championship the previous week. The Xaverian varsity cross country team is scheduled to compete in the team Catholic State Championship next week.
The state title marks the latest addition to a series of championships claimed by Xaverian students in Brooklyn and Queens. In the week prior to Aiken’s state win, both the varsity girls and boys cross country teams captured their first Brooklyn/Queens and City titles in the history of the CHSAA. Several athletes on those squads are residents of Rockaway.
Volleyball teams at the school also advanced to championship rounds during the same period. The varsity girls team defeated St. Mary’s from Buffalo on Sunday to become state champions for the first time in program history. They completed an undefeated season in the process. The girls junior varsity team won the city championship against Maria Regina, marking their seventh consecutive city title since 2018.
Soccer and football teams joined the competitive push earlier in the week. The varsity girls soccer team defeated St. Joseph by-the-Sea 1-0 in the city championship and state semifinal. Adison Heeran and Ashlee Ferriola earned first-team all-league honors for their performance that season. The team lost 1-0 in overtime to Kellenberg in the state championship game on Sunday.
In football, the Clippers defeated Xavier 26-21 on Saturday to open the playoffs. Richie Aiken rushed for 179 yards and scored two touchdowns, while quarterback Jake Price completed two touchdown passes. A late slide by Aiken kept the clock running to end the game. The result marked Xaverian’s first victory over Xavier in 12 years. The team, which is now three games deep in its winning streak, will face St. Joseph by-the-Sea at 6 p.m. on Friday.
More than a dozen players from the Rockaway neighborhood are currently on the varsity and junior varsity girls volleyball rosters. The athletes’ collective success has drawn attention to the local contingent within the Xaverian athletic program.
