By Dylan Butler
Citing the school’s new split session schedule, where freshmen and sophomores are dismissed an hour after his team’s scheduled games, Reynaldo Palencia has resigned as the John Adams boys soccer coach. In turn, the school has decided to dissolve the team, the coach said.
Palencia said it is impossible to continue coaching the team, which had five starters affected by the school’s new schedule that has underclassmen dismissed at 5:15 p.m. Had the Spartans continued, the team would have only been able to field a team of 10 players.
“I couldn’t continue under these conditions, I find this to be destructive to the athletes,” Palencia said. “My dedication is wearing down, there’s only so much I can do.”
Palencia said his decision, which he put in writing in the form of a letter to the school’s principal Richard D’Auria and athletic director, John O’Donohue, was made official Oct. 1.
Palencia said he tried to talk to school officials, asking them to allow his five starters — all underclassmen — to attend the earlier session, where juniors and seniors are dismissed at 12:04 p.m., thereby allowing them to be able to make the team’s 4 p.m. games. But Palencia said his pleas fell on deaf ears.
“We didn’t have enough players to fill a team and I gave a letter to the athletic director and the principal telling them I can not continue to coach,” said Palencia, a health and physical education teacher at the school. “To me this is like a strike.”
Public School Athletic League boys soccer commissioner Mike Turo confirmed the decision to abolish the John Adams team was made by the school and not the league.
Calls to D’Auria’s office were referred to the Queens High School Superintendent’s Office where Deputy Superintendent Rowena Karsh could not be reached for comment. O’Donohue did not return calls for comment.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
