Cardozo’s girl’s handball team made history once again — they just completed their season with a 15-0 standing, including their third consecutive city championship.
Head coach Mr. Villa is beyond proud of his team. When asked about his team’s success and what it means to not only the school but to him this is what he said, “Winning three city championships in a row means a sustained level of excellence, teamwork, and dominance in the sport.”
“It reflects not only talent, but also consistency and the ability to perform under pressure for multiple seasons,” he added.
Coach Villa also shared how incredibly rewarding it feels to go undefeated. “It was a mix of pride and gratitude — pride in our hard work paying off and gratitude for the team’s dedication and support throughout the season.”
Cardozo handball team has now become the first team in PSAL history to win the girls’ division championship three years in a row.
“It’s a testament to our hard work, growth, and strong team bond,” Coach Villa said. “Making history together is something we’ll always be proud of.”
Captain Krisha Patel is extremely proud of the growth and development of this team, as well. “Being captain to me means that my effort and dedication to the team hasn’t gone unnoticed and I’ve been given a chance to lead by example.”
She also added that being one of the captains means being able to put the team above herself at times and truly understanding that no matter the outcome, they fight and persevere as a team.
“To me, being undefeated shows how far we’ve come as a team and how hard we’ve worked,” Patel reflected. “It’s not just about the wins, sure they’re nice to look at, but it’s about the bond we’ve built and the way we push each other to be better after every single practice or game.”
Patel also shared that this year meant a lot to her because it was her fourth and final year, as she is a graduating senior. “I started out as a freshman just trying to find myself, and now I get to help lead a team that’s closer than ever,” she said. “It’s also the last chance for us seniors to show off what we’ve built over the years and leave it all on the courts.”
“I think being undefeated shows the talents and dedication of this team to win,” said Captain Janisa Wu. “It also shows our drive and commitment to being one of the best in the city.”
Wu believes this year’s team was even better connected than other years when she was a player at Cardozo. “I feel like I was closer to all the starters and some nonstarters than previous years and this makes going to the handball courts fun and something I look forward to after school ends.”
Looking back on her year as a captain, Sibo Li stated, I’ve come a long way, I did improve.”
“Being undefeated gave me the energy and confidence to move forward, and also give me courage to move to finals without fear,” Li said. “I’m appreciative of all my teammate’s hard working and I trust we will maintain our number one place in the city.”
Both Patel, Wu, and Li all shared how much Coach Villa helped them get to their third win, as well.
“Coach Villa has put in a lot of time and effort into training both returning and new players,” Wu explained. “He makes the courts a safe atmosphere where everyone can grow and improve, which I feel like not a lot of coaches do, that makes our team so successful.”
“I speak for not just myself but the team as a whole when I say we’ve been able to come this far because of Coach Villa,” Patel said. “He’s always treated us like a family, not just players.”
Li added, “He is always there for you when you needed, he train with us, to help us get better — number one coach, and number one teammates forever.”
The team’s passion and bond with one another is clearly next level and something Dozo has never seen before. This dominance, the wins, and three straight city championships goes to show the tenacity this team has had over the years.
It’s safe to say we are all looking forward to what is next for the girls handball team.
