Leisha Majtan

4 days ago | spectrumnews1.com | Rocco Vertuccio |Leisha Majtan

A move from one country to another, then to a new state — all just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit — made for a difficult transition for Aastha Patel. “I even cried on my first day of school because I didn't know anything. And then a teacher rescued me from the hallway because she saw me crying. So that was my experience. Then the COVID hit, and then everything went online. So I didn't really get an in-person experience.

4 days ago | ny1.com | Rocco Vertuccio |Leisha Majtan

A move from one country to another, then to a new state — all just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit — made for a difficult transition for Aastha Patel. “I even cried on my first day of school because I didn't know anything. And then a teacher rescued me from the hallway because she saw me crying. So that was my experience. Then the COVID hit, and then everything went online. So I didn't really get an in-person experience.

1 week ago | spectrumnews1.com | Rocco Vertuccio |Leisha Majtan

With a few patient mentors and some determination, Kyle Chung found his footing — and passion — on the wrestling mat. “There was a couple of seniors, graduating seniors, who were city champions and they wanted to turn me into a successful wrestler, so I gave it a shot and it was super fun. They taught me a couple [of] moves the first day and I kept coming back,” Chung said.  Chung is captain of the Benjamin Cardozo High School Varsity Wrestling team.

1 week ago | ny1.com | Rocco Vertuccio |Leisha Majtan

With a few patient mentors and some determination, Kyle Chung found his footing — and passion — on the wrestling mat. “There was a couple of seniors, graduating seniors, who were city champions and they wanted to turn me into a successful wrestler, so I gave it a shot and it was super fun. They taught me a couple [of] moves the first day and I kept coming back,” Chung said.  Chung is captain of the Benjamin Cardozo High School Varsity Wrestling team.

3 weeks ago | spectrumnews1.com | Rocco Vertuccio |Leisha Majtan

Inspired by Polish tennis superstar Iga Świątek, Gabriela Lojek decided to pick up a racket her freshman year and hasn’t looked back since. “I knew nothing about tennis. I knew nothing,” she said. “The sport itself, it just seemed intriguing. It was fun. It’s fast-paced. It’s back and forth. You’re by yourself at some point if you’re playing singles, or you’re with another person.