Bronx Science and football are two concepts that rarely go together. In the school’s 86 year history, the prestigious STEM school has never fielded a football team of its own. Aside from the Girls’ Varsity Flag Football team, there is no opportunity for boys to play organized football directly for Bronx Science. At first glance, it seems obvious why Public School Athletics League (PSAL) sports at Bronx Science excludes football: future scientists, doctors, and pioneers of industry don’t seem like the type to want to play football. While this may hold some truth, it is also partially a myth. Around 60 public high schools in New York City do indeed have football teams. Bronx Science does not. However, Athletics Director Michael McGrath, also the Assistant Principal of Physical Education at Bronx Science, allows those rare students who excel in both the classroom and on the field to try out for the Dewitt Clinton Football team. And in fact, on occasion throughout the years, Bronx Science students have played football for the DeWitt Clinton team. Currently, senior Christos Batalias ’25 has taken full advantage of this opportunity.
Season Recap For the Dewitt Clinton Varsity Football Team
During the 2024 football season, the Dewitt Clinton Governors struggled mightily. They won just one game and snuck into the playoffs because multiple other schools with better records than them had forfeited their positions in the playoffs. The season came to an abrupt yet expected end when they faced an extremely well rounded Curtis team and suffered a 41-16 defeat in the first round of the playoffs. Batalias was truly the bright spot of the team’s fall 2024 season, especially in the eyes of Bronx Science faculty, students, and alumni who followed his season. Batalias was also mentioned a few times over the Bronx Science loudspeakers for his accomplishments in football, during the daily announcements.
Batalias’ Take On His Controversial Yet Legal Situation
Across America, it is rare for a high school athlete to be a varsity athlete at a school other than their own. However this is able to take place due to Bronx Science and Dewitt Clinton’s close proximity. Just being one city block from each other, and despite being rivals in sports like basketball and baseball, their athletics departments maintain a strong relationship. While Bronx Science has never desired their own football team, Dewitt Clinton has made it their mission to acquire as many talented players as they can from Bronx Science, both recently, and in the past. One might wonder: How does the Public School Athletics League (PSAL) allow this to happen? Is this legal? It most certainly is! Fortunately for both Batalias and the Dewitt Clinton program, the PSAL currently has something called “The All-Access program.” Introduced in the fall of 2022, The All-Access program allows student-athletes to participate in PSAL programs not offered at their given school. And for many years before that, there was another PSAL agreement in place that Bronx Science students could play PSAL sports for other schools if Bronx Science did not offer the sport in question.
When asked how he feels about being a part of another school’s team, Batalias said playfully, “Even though I can see why some may view it as fishy, it isn’t like we are bringing in ringers; the Bronx Science students are truly a part of the Dewitt Clinton Governors Football team.”
You Can’t Start a Fire Without a Spark
It just so happened that the head coach of the DeWitt Clinton Football team, John Applebee, was walking around Dewitt Clinton’s track while Batalias was sprinting for the Bronx Science Boys’ Varsity Track team. Batalias’s eye-popping speed caught the attention of Applebee. Applebee proceeded to give Batalias the opportunity to try out for the Clinton football team. At first, this opportunity caught Batalias off guard, as he was unable to wrap his mind around participating in athletics for the Bronx Science rivals down the street. However, given that this was Batalias’s first chance to get back on the field after his travel league had disbanded in the spring of 2023, he was eager to suit up for anyone that gave him an opportunity. This was his last dance in terms of playing competitive football. Batalias had to click with a new group of guys, completely unfamiliar to him and perhaps even different from the average “jock” at Bronx Science.
Becoming “One Of The Guys”
Even though it may be hard to imagine that the Bronx Science rivals were excited to have a student from an opposing school on their team, Batalias confirms, “The environment of the team is very inviting, all the players are welcoming, and everyone treats me with immense respect.”
As per earning that respect, Batalias had no trouble becoming one of the guys that his teammates lean on. Batalias has played football for the majority of his life, and his natural speed combined with consistent training have made him a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. This past season, he played outside linebacker, cornerback, and running back, three of the most critical positions in football. If one were to make a very flattering comparison, Batalias’ play style is similar to that of Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders is the most notable athlete to play both offense and defense, which is why he is a Hall of Famer. While Batalias might never reach that level, it is still incredibly impressive that he can be such a dynamic athlete while also in a competitive academic environment at Bronx Science.
Batalias’ Mindset On The Field
When asked about how he overcame being an undersized athlete and not having access to the strength and conditioning programs of the top football programs in the city, Batalias simply responded with, “That is a difficult question because it is something I still struggle with. A lot of the kids I play against are bigger and stronger than me. You have to be aware of what your advantages are over your opponents. For me, it’s my speed. If I go against a 200 pound linebacker, I can’t just run at him head on. You have to know your strengths and play to them, as opposed to letting the defense force you play to your weaknesses. Football is as much a mental game as it is physical.” Batalias is not only using his brain on the field. In the short time he has for homework in between school and practice, and in between practice and sleep, he is making sure that he uses every second to his advantage. Batalias said, “It’s tough to be at one of the most rigorous academic schools in the city and yet still be expected to perform athletically as well. I know it’s a cliché, but you just have to get really good at managing your time and being productive when you can.”
More Bronx Science Students Taking Advantage of The Opportunity
Even though Batalias was the most impactful player on the Clinton team to come out of Bronx Science this past fall 2024 season, there are several other Bronx Science students like him in the DeWitt Clinton Football program. Isaiah Sumpter ’26 is a quarterback for the Varsity team who works closely with Batalias during practices and has a strong relationship with him off the field. Additionally, Jaden Chavez ’28 and Boaz Garelick ’28 are two promising athletes out of Bronx Science who are also getting the rare opportunity to participate in Clinton athletics for all four years of their high school career.
Even though it is a relatively rare event for Bronx Science students to suit up and play football, it has happened on occasion throughout Bronx Science’s history And currently, Batalias and others are paving the way for future Bronx Science football players to also have success playing football for DeWitt Clinton. Who knows, maybe one day the green and gold will be a force on the football field.
“The environment of the team is very inviting, all the players are welcoming, and everyone treats me with immense respect,” said Christos Batalias ’25.