St. Camillus/Virgilius 8th Grade Football Team Crowned Champs

On Thursday, June 12, St. Camillus/Virgilius eighth grade Flag Football team won the Brooklyn Diocesan CYO championship. In a faceoff against a very tough St. Francis de Sales team, St. Camillus/Virgilius came out on top with a final score of 41-27. “It was a great game with some phenomenal athletes,” Coach Brad Palisi said.

St. Camillus/Virgilius and SFDS’ eighth grade teams have been close competitors, with St. Camillus/Virgilius winning three championships over the last five years and SFDS winning the other two. However, it will be their last as a St. Camillus team as the eighth-grade boys go on to high school and St. Camillus, in general, will close at the end of the year.

According to Palisi, most of the teams ended on a high note. “In total, our small St Camillus / Virgilius Parish had a team make the championship game in five of the six age groups this year, from third grade to eighth grade. The league consisted of over 70 teams across Queens and Brooklyn.”

And as for the eighth grade, Palisi said, “Ninety percent of this group has been together since the 4th grade. They’re a great bunch of young men. They’re competitive and also humble. They’re all local kids and all have very bright futures ahead of them in whatever it is they choose to do.

“We practiced twice a week since March and they’ve built a tremendous camaraderie. None of them care who makes the play or gets the glory. They celebrate each other’s accomplishments as their own and you can see it on all the game film. It’s been team first the whole way and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for,” Palisi continued. “It’s been my real pleasure to have had this group of boys and I will miss them all.”