Sometimes you have to bite the bullet, swallow that bitter pill, and live with a decision that doesn’t sit right at first — because the long game demands it.
Fox Lane football coach Drew Giuliano isn’t thrilled that the 2026 Foxes will be suiting up in the Section 1 independent ABD League for the first time in program history. But displeasure won’t slow him down or defeat the process of progress. Giuliano and his staff will coach their butts off, because that’s what Fox Lane does when the circumstances aren’t ideal: they dig in, they adapt, and they fight for the reckoning that’s coming.
“Yeah, this was never the plan, and we have had some good years recently, but we have a couple of light classes coming through and there is no way we could have sustained our program while remaining in regular Class A,” coach G admitted. “The ABD (Section 1 A-B Developmental League), while it’s something I would prefer not to be in, is going to be a blessing in the long run. We will be back! Football is football. We will teach and coach and grow young men in whatever league we are in.”
His refreshing outlook is something to behold. Fox Lane knows that a football season in either Section 1 League A or B in 2026 would place the program in a situation that might send future football players in another direction due to a sustained lack of success.
This isn’t a Fox Lane issue so much as it is a Section 1 epidemic. Football, for as much as we love it nationwide, is seeing its numbers dip, forcing programs to merge — Somers/North Salem (Class A), Briarcliff/Hamilton, Edgemont/Blind Brook (Class B) — or go the independent route like Fox Lane, Greeley, Port Chester, Ossining, and John Jay-CR.
John Jay-CR, like Fox Lane, is in an "independent" boat nobody would have predicted just a few years ago.
Some other programs are also hanging by a thread. Section 1 football is on life support in more than a handful of schools, according to several athletic directors we spoke with. There is widespread belief that other school districts' programs will be forced to merge or go the independent route in the future.
“While our numbers are down, our commitment level is not,” Giuliano said. “We have a core group of guys that understand their expectations. They have played in a lot of games and they are ready to rebuild. We also have a staff that is all in. That combo can hopefully result in being competitive on the field.
“After coming off a down year, there is belief and confidence that we can achieve,” he added. “We have been working hard in the weight room all offseason, so I am hopeful that starts our confidence.”
It was a 1-7 regular season (no playoff eligibility) in 2025 — plus a realization of where the Foxes were headed — that led the coaching staff and A.D. Adam Lodewick to make this decision. But the unit believes in the group of key returners, including junior QB Andrew Rudolph, senior RB/LB Antonio Cambareri, junior WR/LB Gavin Mammola, senior OL/DL Joe Frusciante and senior WR/LB Jason Milito.
The hope is that these veterans gel successfully with key newcomers, including WR/S Victor Golz, sophomore OL/DL Noah Lieberman, junior OL/DL James Tildan and senior OL/DL Malik Young.
Mammola, a three-sport athlete, appears to be the top returning player as a junior.
“Gavin can do a lot for us,” Giuliano said. “He’s tough and competitive. Also, Victor Golz is another three-sport kid. The sophomore was pulled up late last season as a freshman. He’s young but very instinctual and has explosive playmaking ability.”
It’ll take some time and ample sacrifice for the prideful Foxes to adjust to independent league status, but in the end the program is doing right by future Foxes.
“Cliché, but to just grow and compete each week is what we are doing right now,” the coach said. “We want to be in a position to win games. If we practice the way we know we have to, we feel we can put ourselves in a position to win games.
“We are excited to get back at it and show our community that one down year does not define our program,” Giuliano added. “We have great youth, modified and freshmen numbers, and while our upperclassmen numbers for varsity are low for the next two seasons, we will continue to press forward with our values as a program and stay committed to building a strong foundation for the next groups to build on. All Indy (Independent League) is for us is an opportunity. We will make the best out of this opportunity and grow with it.”
The Foxes were scheduled to get their season underway on Sept. 3 (6:30 p.m.) hosting White Plains in the home opener.
While the numbers may be dipping in football, the same is not true for boys soccer. After advancing to the Section 1 finals in 2024, first-year coach Tom Bond is looking to build upon the success established by former coach Mike Tomassi in 2026.
Fox Lane boys came to grips with the fact they were no longer the underdogs heading into 2025 and that teams would be gunning for the fourth-seeded Foxes. That is exactly what happened during a 1-0 season-ending quarterfinal loss to No. 5 Lakeland that saw the Foxes come up just short of expectations in the Section 1 Class AA tournament.
The Foxes kicked off the 2026 season against Somers on Sept. 2.
Coach: Tom Bond
2025 record and playoff result: 9-5-4; sectional quarterfinal loss to Lakeland
Key returnees: Fredy Contreras, Lucas Ormazabal, Diego Martinez Perez, Kevin Lopez
Key newcomers: Christian Mejia Lopez (LM/LB), Cristian Ormazabal (RM/RW)
League favorite: Harrison
Section favorite: Harrison
Team strengths: Work ethic and mentality
Things to work on: Playing as a group
Team goals: Win a section title
Coach’s comments: "This is my first year as part of the program, which means I am limited in terms of information and history. We have held a few summer workouts, which has given me a slight sense. Ultimately, winning a sectional title is everyone's goal. The reality is we are going to just focus on our process and perfecting it each day."
Coaches: Christiaan Cacciotti and Fabian Videla
2025 record and playoff result: 4-10-2; lost to Ursuline in round 1
Key returnees: Senior captain M/F Jillian Kurchack, senior captain G Dylan New, sophomore striker Lauren Spolansky (13 goals last year)
Key newcomers: Senior M Deisi Pimentel Vasquez, junior D/M Nora Antonaccio, junior D Bryhana Madrunero Lozano, sophomore M Lily Mazzuca
Players to watch: Jillian Kurchack, Lauren Spolansky, Dylan New
League favorite: John Jay-CR
Section favorite: Albertus Magnus
Team strengths: Strong and experienced attack
Things to work on: Building a defense with new players
Team goals: To create a culture of beautiful soccer amongst all our players in the program
Coach’s comments: "After graduating 12 very talented seniors, we are looking forward to bringing together a new and young group of players and molding them into a winning team."
The Foxes will kick off the season at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 5 against visiting Croton.
Coach: Christopher Dossena
2025 record: Second in the League
Key returnees: Luke Sweeney - All-League; Michal Laclavik - All-League; James MacDonald - All-League
Key newcomers: Evan Siemers (12th grade), Timmy Harrison (10th grade), Tyler Nakajima-Graham (12th grade)
Athletes to watch: "Evan Siemers, Timmy Harrison, and Tyler Nakajima-Graham are newcomers to the varsity this year. Their combined efforts and ability to push forward and get as few points as possible amidst the other teams in our races will be a key to our success. I believe they are up to the challenge," Dossena said.
League favorite: Horace Greeley
Team strengths: Preparation, attitude, togetherness
Things to work on: Collectively moving up as a group and maximizing their respective abilities
Team goals: Have strong competitive finishes at the league, county and sectional levels
Coach's comments: "We hope to be in the mix and always want to make the races interesting."
Coach: Kelli Bravo
2025 record and playoff result: 5-13; ranked ninth after the regular season, beat Carmel in the first round of playoffs, and lost to Greeley in the quarterfinals
Key returnees: Senior setter Alexa DeMartino (four-year varsity player expected to continue as a strong team leader this season), senior outside Ava Rose Kalarchian (three-year varsity starter with the tools to take it to the next level)
Key newcomers: Middle blocker Liv Madabuko (a sophomore coaches expect to be strong at the net)
Team strength: "We anticipate this year's team strengths to include serving and blocking, as many new players have demonstrated their strength at the net," Bravo said.
Things to work on: Raise intensity level, play smarter and with more confidence
Team goals: Play at a consistently high level and finish regular season with a winning record
Coach's comments: "I am so excited to see this group of girls work together to play this season. There is so much talent in the gym, and I can't wait to watch them play as a team. "
Fox Lane began the season on Sept. 1 with a 3-1 loss to Ursuline.
Coaches: Toni Racanelli, Nicole Regan
Key returnees: Jackson Lubinsky, Chris Vega
Player to watch: Sam Liu
Team strengths: Talented players coming from 2029-30 classes
Things to work on: Integrating new players into the team
Team goals: Find team unity in a likely rebuilding year
The Foxes will get digging on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Suffern (5 p.m.).
As the No. 12 seed in the 2025 Section 1 Class A tournament, Fox Lane did not advance to the quarterfinals after a 2-0 first-round defeat to No. 5 Arlington.
“This season we are starting fresh with a seasoned team,” Fox Lane coach Jennifer David said. “We are hoping to focus on the fun of the game while pushing our program forward. We are looking to be a contender in spaces where least expected, and most of all we are excited to play skillful hockey.”
Fox Lane opened the season against Pearl River on Sept. 2.
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