Potential Sanctions for Archbishop Stepinac Basketball Team
The men’s basketball team from the New York City Catholic League, Archbishop Stepinac, could face severe penalties due to their recent participation in a tournament in Indiana.
Reports indicate that the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) is considering sanctions, which may include a postseason ban in 2027 and an eight-game suspension for coach Pat Massaroni. This follows the team’s involvement in the Chipotle Nationals Tournament earlier this month. Details were shared on lohud.com.
There are suggestions of a two-year probation for all sports teams at the White Plains, N.Y. school, along with a one-year suspension for both the boys’ basketball program and Massaroni for potential rule violations.
Additionally, a possible ban on attending games or scrimmages outside of New York is under review. Before any penalties can take effect, they must be approved by the CHSAA’s Chief Administrators Council.
Kevin Piggott, President of CHSAA Archdiocese of New York, highlighted in a letter on April 21 that Stepinac’s participation breached several rules, noting that the Chipotle Nationals is not sanctioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
He emphasized that the association had not granted permission for Stepinac to take part in the event.
“No member school of the association can participate in tournaments or games unless authorized by the league, conducted in line with CHSAA standards,” he stated. “All participation requires prior approval from the league president.”
It seems the Crusaders were conscious of the possible repercussions and tried to manage the situation. Principal Paul Carty informed the archdiocese in a March 27 letter that they intended to compete, but wanted to clarify they wouldn’t do so officially under the school’s name.
Instead, they formed a club team that didn’t wear school gear and kept a low profile on social media, as there were no posts from the tournament on their accounts.
In a previous competition, the 2025 Border League in Las Vegas, Stepinac’s club team purportedly performed well, playing under the name New York Crusaders.
The involvement in the national tournament sparked additional concerns. It was reported that Stepinac took part in a tournament during Holy Week, with potential games on Good Friday, April 3.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan had previously set guidelines in 2015 barring games and practices from Maundy Thursday through Easter.
However, the team had not played since April 1, when they faced Spire Academy in Ohio and lost 87-76 in the first round. If they had advanced further, they might have breached the CHSAA’s 22-week season rule.
Massaroni mentioned that his team only accepted the invitation to the Chipotle Nationals after winning the Mayor’s Cup against Eagle Academy, asserting he didn’t view the tournament as part of the official season since Eagle Academy hadn’t offered further matches if they won.
