Newsday's Athlete of the Week is South Side boys volleyball player John Pericolosi
South Side boys volleyball player John Pericolosi. Credit: Juliet Minuchin
When South Side formed its boys volleyball program in his freshman year, John Pericolosi originally joined the team to play with his older brother Robert. But now his passion and love for the game have grown, and his experience is a key factor to why the Cyclones win close games.
"I used to play soccer, but my brother was a senior at the time, so I wanted to play with him and his friends," the senior said. "My sophomore year, I had my growth spurt, so I was able to hit the ball. Since then, I showed up to practice early, always wanting to get better."
That was on full display Friday evening. Pericolosi made the saving dig to lead the fourth-seeded South Side to a comeback victory past No. 5 Calhoun, 19-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 16-14, in the quarterfinals of the Nassau Division II playoffs. He finished the game with 34 kills, 21 assists, and 17 digs. For his efforts, Pericolosi is named Newsday Athlete of the Week.
"We were down 14-10 in the last set, and everyone was diving everywhere so we could save our season," Pericolosi said. "The whole team played with heart. Sometimes things don't go our way, but we are always ready for the set and put the ball down."
"He never lets the moment get too big for him," coach Jerry D'Angelo said. "Whether we are down 20 or up 20, he has a calm demeanor to him, and that's what keeps us in games."
D'Angelo credited the outside hitter's versatility for the heroic effort in the dramatic finish.
"Volleyball is a game of positions, but he is positionless. He has such good hands, I can use him as a setter or a hitter," D'Angelo said. "I've been fortunate to coach a lot of D-I athletes in my time, but he's one of the five best pure athletes I've ever coached."
Pericolosi is a three-sport athlete who plays basketball in the winter, also coached by D'Angelo, and baseball in the spring. He committed to play Division I baseball at Stony Brook.
"He is so high-end in three different sports," D'Angelo said. "John is the type of player who is willing to make sacrifices for the team. He can score 25 points in basketball, but we need him to run the point, and he has raised his assist levels. Not too many kids can transition skill sets between different sports."
"I wanted to stay close to home," Pericolosi said about Stony Brook. "But the coaches, the facilities, and the environment made the decision a lot easier."
In addition to his performances on the field, Pericolosi maintains a 98 GPA and volunteers at Hoops for All and the League of Yes, where he coaches children with special needs in basketball and baseball.
"It's always great teaching the youth the sports I love," Pericolosi said. "All these kids love sports, so it's great knowing that I can give back by helping them out."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
