Kellenberg defeats Floral Park in Christopher Battaglia Memorial
Michael Tagios of Kellenberg drives to the net during a boys basketball game against Floral Park on Monday, December 22, 2025 in Uniondale. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The Kellenberg and Floral Park communities refuse to let Christopher Battaglia’s legacy be forgotten.
More than 600 spectators packed the stands on either side of Kellenberg’s gym Monday night for the second annual memorial basketball game in Battaglia’s honor between the Firebirds and the Knights.
Battaglia was a Kellenberg varsity football and lacrosse player and former JV basketball player who lived in Floral Park. He died in his sleep from an epileptic seizure on Jan. 14, 2024. He was 17.
In last year’s inaugural memorial game, hosted by Floral Park, $9, 541 in admissions, T-shirt sales and raffle tickets were raised for the Christopher Battaglia Memorial Scholarship Fund to help students attend Kellenberg.
Battaglia’s parents – Chris and Jackie – and his younger brother, Ryan, were presented with a check in that amount before Monday’s game, a 57-53 Kellenberg win behind Michael Tagios’ 19 points.
“Putting this together last year at Floral Park made the lead up to the holidays a bit easier and even after it, we got texts and emails and people called us about how special a day it was,” said Battaglia’s father, Chris.
Eric Justvig, a family friend of the Battaglias, belted out the national anthem as players and coaches from both teams stood wearing shirts with Battaglia’s No. 28 on the back.
Ryan Battaglia, a senior at Chaminade, played basketball for the Flyers for three years, but the Sacred Heart lacrosse commit isn’t playing this season so he can focus on lacrosse. The entire Chaminade basketball team still showed up to support him.
Kellenberg coach Chris Lyons said that he and Floral Park coach Sean Boyle plan to keep honoring Battaglia each year, with each school alternating as the host for the game.
“It just shows what type of kid he was,” Chris Battaglia said. “As a parent, you know your kid is a good kid and people love him. You don’t realize how great of a kid he was until something like this happens and everybody comes out to show their support. Kellenberg and Floral Park have done an amazing job honoring Christopher.”
Lyons said that the teams raised $3,000 in admissions alone this year. He expected the event to raise a similar total amount to last year and hoped to surpass $10,000.
“It’s very unique the community that is built here as a school. The welcoming environment, it’s really a home away from home,” Lyons said. “Floral Park… Just what a community. The way they come out to support the Battaglias speaks to their community, but also, who the Battaglia family is within the community.”
Luke O’Connor’s jump shot from the free throw line gave Kellenberg a 49-48 lead with 4:55 left. It was the Firebirds’ first lead since 4-3 early in the first quarter.
Brendan Martin made four three-pointers and totaled 19 points and Ryan Terwilliger had 14 points for reigning Nassau Class A champion Floral Park (6-1).
Tagios’ seventh made free throw of the game gave the Firebirds a four-point lead in the final two minutes. O’Connor had 15 points for Kellenberg (2-4).
“(Battaglia) came from a wonderful family,” Tagios said. “I’m honored to play in this game for him. It warms my heart that we can do this with the community and help the family.”
Matt Lindsay is a high school sports reporter who joined Newsday in 2022 after graduating from Stony Brook University.
