The Peekskill Pioneer basketball team capped off an undefeated spring season with a special recognition at the June 17 Peekskill Board of Education meeting — marking their second consecutive year without a single loss.

Competing in the Pioneer League, a program launched by New York Special Olympics, the team offers students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in competitive sports and face off against teams from other local districts.

Athletic Director Austin Goldberg called the team’s success “an extraordinary achievement,” applauding their hard work and dedication at the June meeting. 

“Your commitment to excellence has not only brought us home victories but also has inspired us all,” he said. Each athlete on the team was presented with a trophy for their dedication, spirit, and sportsmanship throughout the season.

This season’s roster included Rogelio James Jr, Luis Arpi, Carmen Arpi, Britain Phox, Joelis Camacho, Edin Ventura, Carla Moya, Stephen Foster, and Marvin Odonker. Absent from the meeting but part of the undefeated campaign were Anthony Mora and Christian Pauta. All athletes competed in both undefeated seasons.

Coaches Christopher Kness and Delilah Kearney, both special education teachers, were also recognized for their leadership over the past two years.

“A special thank you goes out to our coaches – Coach Kness and Coach Kearney – whose guidance and support has been instrumental in this success,” said Goldberg “Your passion and belief in these students have created an environment where they can thrive and shine.” 

In an email to the Peekskill Herald, Kness emphasized the importance of the Pioneer League in Peekskill. “The Pioneer League is such a wonderful opportunity for students with significant disabilities to participate in organized sport,” he wrote. “Most of them would never get the chance to play on an organized sports team without the Pioneers.”

Kness also highlighted the emotional impact of wearing a Peekskill jersey. “It connects them to the high school and allows them to feel a sense of pride wearing the school jersey around the building.”

For Kness and Kearney, their approach to coaching mirrors their work in the classroom – structured, patient, and tailored to individual needs. “We spend a lot of time teaching the basic skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting,” said Kness. “However, we break each step down individually for our players and provide repetitiveness in order for them to fully understand the skills and concepts we are teaching them.”

The coaching duo employs a multimodal teaching strategy – incorporating visual, verbal, and hands-on methods to ensure each athlete can engage with the game in a way that suits their learning style. 

“After each game, we watch game film together from the local live broadcast,” Kness said. “The film allows them to see where the best passes should go and where they should be positioned on defense. Allowing the players to see themselves in a visual format speeds up the process of learning the skills.”

With back-to-back undefeated seasons and a growing program, the Peekskill Pioneers are proving that success isn’t just measured in wins – but in opportunity, inclusion, and pride.