This past winter, junior Sophia Madrazo helped lead the girls varsity basketball team to a 11-3 in-league record and through the city and borough playoffs as a co-captain. Sophia is a three-sport athlete who competes in cross country in the fall, basketball in the winter, and outdoor track in the spring.
In her junior basketball season, Sophia recorded 247 points, 49 assists, and a 61.4% free throw percentage, leading her team in total points and assists and ranking second in free throw percentage. Sophia not only led her team in these statistical categories, but also placed high within the 4A Queens I division, finishing fourth in both total points and free throw percentage and third in total assists. She additionally found success in cross country and outdoor track, finishing in the top three in several javelin and 5K events.
Sophia’s athletic journey began long before she reached high school. As a child, her parents signed her up to compete in a multitude of sports, including basketball, soccer, and softball, and she quickly found a passion in basketball. “I really liked basketball, and I just kept playing it in middle school, and then travel basketball, and then I played it in high school,” she said. Sophia said that growing up playing basketball allowed her to gain new skills as she “learned about dedication, leadership…and a lot of teamwork.”
When Sophia started high school, she joined the girls varsity basketball team as a freshman, and averaged 2.75 points per game in her first season. During her sophomore year, she improved statistically to 9.85 points per game, and reached 17.64 points per game this year, tying for the highest scoring average on the team with sophomore Ava Yan. Sophia also led the team in assists per game, recording 3.5 per match this season.
Besides her statistical growth, Sophia’s role as a leader on the team transformed her junior year as she was named captain following seven seniors from the class of 2025 graduating. Sophomore Faye Simons said that as a starter last year, Sophia primarily spent her sophomore season “listening and learning” from the senior leaders. However, Faye said that after those seniors graduated, Sophia “had to step up into that role [of a leader] herself and become the captain, and the person who everyone [and] the underclassmen look up to and she has advice for.”
Sophia’s teammates highlighted her leadership qualities and her other attributes that allow her to stand out on the court as a captain and player. Junior Mercy Buenortey said, “She’s always laughing with people, cheering people up and stuff like that… She likes lifting people up.” Faye said that Sophia “leads a lot by example…she’s somebody who you want to follow, and she just has charisma.”
Teammates also described the effort Sophia puts in to create a supportive environment on the team. Ava said, “Whenever we are losing a game, or whenever we’re feeling down and we have a hard practice, she always makes sure to give us a pep talk…When I first started at Townsend, she was the first person I would always go to. We play a similar role on the basketball team, so whenever I have a question, I go to her.”
Senior captain Kaitlyn Lee said, “Sophia demonstrates leadership as a captain through our demonstrations for new drills and her uniting all members of our team…[and] supports her teammates through jokes and funny basketball moves to make everyone laugh and [stay] in a positive energy.” Sophia commented that being able to serve as a captain and leader is very meaningful to her. “I think it was a really good opportunity because it taught me a lot about positively impacting the team and working together,” she said.
While Sophia credits cross country and outdoor track for aiding her basketball career by developing her endurance and ensuring she has “something to keep [her] active after basketball season,” her demanding athletic schedule as a three-sport athlete presents challenges in terms of finding balance between academics and sports.
Sophia said that she overcomes these obstacles by “staying dedicated” through assignments and practices and by avoiding distractions. “I just have to stay focused all the time,” she said. Ava, who also competes in cross country and played travel basketball with Sophia last year, said that whenever school and travel sports schedules overlapped, Sophia “would make sure to go to every practice for every single sport.” Ava said, “I feel like she was really dedicated [in that way].”
Next season, Sophia plans to continue fostering an encouraging and growth environment and leading the team to success. “My biggest goals are helping our team develop and continue growing as a player myself. I think we can make a deeper playoff run this season if we continue to maintain strong team chemistry and keep putting in the work every day,” she said.
