This fall, student-athletes from Townsend Harris, which does not have a boys varsity football team, were able to join the Flushing Campus team. Despite finishing with a record of 1-7, students involved said they were grateful for the chance to play on the team.

PSAL allows students to participate in sports teams at other schools if the sport is not offered at their home school. 

“I was disappointed when I found out that Townsend Harris had no [boys football] team. So when we were offered the opportunity, I immediately took it and felt very grateful towards the program and the people who set us up,” said junior Lucian Hung. 

Senior Kaden Franky said, “It’s a great opportunity to finally be able to expand our sports and build connections with other students from different schools.” 

The team earned its single win of the season against Jamaica High School, securing a 12–6 victory. For many student-athletes, moments like these highlight the value of the joint football program. 

“It’s amazing because it gives anybody the opportunity to play football,” said senior Hamza Hussain. “It doesn’t matter how [good you’re at playing football], you can still play and be a part of a family, which is really beautiful.”

In addition to having students from THHS, the program also features a THHS teacher: social studies teacher Jake Ruiz, who coaches the Flushing Campus junior varsity team. Coach Ruiz praised the Flushing varsity coaches. “They put together a great program, and I was excited to be a part of it this year,” he said. “I felt like I learned an incredible amount from them.”

Coach Ruiz commended the THHS athletes for their resilience and the way the joint program has encouraged players to rely on one another. “They’ve learned to trust each other and respond when the pressure rises,” he said.

One of the team’s toughest matchups of the season happened on October 5 against Boys and Girls High School, where the team lost 34–6. Senior Kaden Franky scored the team’s lone touchdown and delivered several defensive stops, while junior Lucian Hung added a key late-game tackle.

Student athletes shared their experience of being a part of a sports team at a different school. 

“You get to meet new people [and] make new connections, which is really fun,” said Hamza. One drawback he described, however, is that THHS athletes don’t get the same audience from their home school as they would others. “People from your school won’t be there to see you play,” he said.

Similarly, senior Joan Alba said, “The advantages for playing for a different school would be that you get to meet different people, but it’s a double-edged sword because you do have to fight your way into being noticed.”

Coach Ruiz also said the long travel time for THHS student-athletes can be a challenge. “A disadvantage is the travel time,” he said. “Students at Townsend get out at 3:02 pm and have to commute 40-50 minutes by bus to get to the practice field.”

Senior Dathan Cruz said the experience was worth it. “Football with Flushing was fun. It’s not like other sports because of its physicality, but you still get this sense of brotherhood from working hard with each other every day,” he said.