Softball
Peekskill’s 2025 softball season has officially come to an end.
The Red Devils hosted Alexander Hamilton for their final game of the season on Monday, May 19, and lost 29-11. Mikayla Gonzalez led the way at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. Alyanne Mendez was 1-for-2 with a walk and a RBI.
Peekskill finishes the season with an overall record of 5-9. Senior Jazlynn Parra is the team’s lone graduating senior.
Baseball
A scheduled doubleheader against East Ramapo on May 20 was cancelled, marking the end of Peekskill’s 2025 baseball season.
Peekskill concludes the year with an overall record of 3-8. Seniors Mekai Calloway, Joshua Salvati, and Mathew Minaya will leave the squad and graduate in June. Head coach Joshian Fernandez also revealed to the Herald that this season was his last, as he plans to step away from coaching to spend more time with his family.
Spring Track
On Tuesday, May 20, members of the Peekskill track and field team competed in the Section 1 Westchester County JV Championships at Lakeland High School.
Gregory Tompkins III led the boys’ team with a sixth-place finish in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 58.35 seconds. On the girls’ side, eighth grader Amanda Nelson finished fifth in the 100-meter dash (14.01), seventh in the 200-meter dash (29.56), and third in the long jump at 4.46 meters.
Peekskill athletes will return to action at the Class B Championships on Wednesday, May 28, at Hendrick Hudson High School.
Spotlight of the Week: Umaru Conteh
Soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and now track in the spring – Umaru Conteh has stayed busy in his final year as a Red Devil.
Peekskill’s sports community – and Herald readers – may remember Conteh as the soccer standout featured last November. But this spring, he’s showcasing his versatility as a multi-sport athlete and rising to new heights, quite literally.
Growing up, basketball was a big part of Conteh’s childhood. He played constantly and even joined the modified and freshman teams while in middle school. But everything changed in seventh grade, when he joined travel soccer club Real Olé FC. His passion for soccer quickly overtook his love for basketball, and he eventually stepped away from the court to fully dedicate himself to soccer.
Fast forward to senior year: after helping lead Peekskill’s varsity soccer team to a historic playoff run that fell just short of a Class AA championship game appearance, Conteh wasn’t ready to close the book on his Red Devil career. With basketball still on his mind, he decided to return to the game he once loved, seizing his last opportunity to represent Peekskill on the court.
“In eleventh grade, I kind of regretted not playing,” Conteh said. “I told myself I had to in twelfth grade – and I ended up making it.”
Tryouts came with understandable nerves. “I hadn’t played organized basketball in a long time. But after the first few practices, I got my game back and I adapted nicely.”
Conteh and his teammates finished the basketball season with a record of 16-7 and made it to the sectional semifinals, where they ultimately fell to Tappan Zee at the Westchester County Center.
That night was supposed to be his final moment in a Peekskill uniform, but fate had other plans.
As the winter season came to a close, track and field coach Will Diano, who had been observing Conteh’s athleticism throughout the basketball season, extended an invitation to join the boys’ spring team. Conteh jumped at the opportunity.
Despite being new to the sport, Conteh’s background in soccer and basketball helped him transition seamlessly to the high jump. He made an immediate impression on day one.
“In my first few practices, I did a six foot jump. The coaches were shocked,” he said.
Within weeks, Conteh mastered his technique, built confidence, and began delivering standout performances.
On April 30, at a league meet hosted by Hendrick Hudson, Conteh became the league champion in the high jump with a mark of 1.83 meters (6 feet). Then on May 16, he soared even higher – becoming county champion at the Westchester County Championships with a leap of 1.93 meters.
With a few weeks still remaining in the 2025 track season, Conteh has his sights set on bigger goals.
“I want to be the Class B champ,” said Conteh. “From there, train myself to make it to states.” Class B Championships will be held at Hendrick Hudson High School on May 28 and state qualifiers will be held in early June.
Outside of sports, Conteh has been equally focused in the classroom.
“First quarter, I made high honor roll. Second quarter – honor Roll. Third quarter – honor roll. Right now, I’m on track to get high honor roll for the fourth.”
When reached by the Herald, head coach Diano said, “Umaru is very talented and is a competitor. He’s very determined to reach his goals and every time he misses a height in the high jump he bounces back and makes it in the next meet. He has his eyes set on 6’5” but I would like to think he’s going to clear 6’6” at Class B which would punch his ticket for states.”
Peekskill Athletic Director Austin Goldberg also had high praise for Conteh.
“Umaru, Class of 2025, has had an outstanding athletic career at Peekskill. As an All-State soccer player, he made significant contributions to our basketball team, helping us reach the County Center. Now, he continues to excel on the track and field team. He is a kind, driven, and hardworking young man. We are proud of his accomplishments and look forward to seeing him compete further!”
Conteh has committed to continuing his academic and athletic career at SUNY Delhi, where he will play Division III men’s soccer and major in Construction Management.
As graduation and college looms, Conteh remains grateful to those who helped him along the way. He thanks Peekskill Athletics, head soccer coach Jonathan Iasillo, and Real Olé coach Rob Alvarez, for guiding him to where he is today – a few months away from turning the page to his next chapter. College soccer.
