THE LEGACY QUEENS COLLEGE ATHLETICS 2 3 LUCILLE KYVALLOS a Brief History
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LUCILLE KYVALLOS THE LEGACY QUEENS COLLEGE ATHLETICS 2 3 LUCILLE KYVALLOS A Brief History Lucille Kyvallos, one of the foremost coaches and pioneers in women’s basketball, was also a player in her A “Dean” of women’s basketball, Kyvallos served on committees for the U.S. Olympics, Association of own right. She began playing basketball at age 14, and by age 17 was considered one of the most outstanding Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), and National Girls and Women in Sport (NGAWS) organizations. basketball players developed in New York City. “Big Lulu”, as she was known, played for 114th Precinct of She was the Lady Champion Sportswear “Coach of the Year” in 1976. She also served as the U.S. team’s head Astoria, the Astoria Laurels, the St. Demetrios Girls Five of Astoria, and the Rustic Queens of Astoria, among coach at the 1977 World University Games. Her collective accomplishments earned her induction into the other New York teams. Her skills gained attention not only from the amateur teams in the area, but also from two Queens College Athletics Hall of Fame, West Chester University Hall of Fame, and New York City Basketball Hall professional teams: the New York Cover Girls and the Bronx Sparks. Kyvallos declined opportunities to play on of Fame. The 1972-73 women’s basketball team likewise was inducted into the Queens College Athletics Hall of both teams in order to remain an amateur. Fame and was the first women’s team inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame. Kyvallos began her basketball coaching career at Cathedral High School for Girls, where she finished with a record of 37-4. Her next coaching stint was at West Chester State, where she continued her winning ways, finishing 52-2. Kyvallos then served as coach at Queens College from 1968-79 and 1980-81, compiling a career record of 239-77. Her teams were consistently ranked among the nation’s best. In addition to her efforts on campus she was a leader nationally in helping the sport gain increased attention. Prior to its absorption by the NCAA, the AIAW was the governing body for women’s collegiate sports. Under Coach Kyvallos, Queens College hosted the 1973 AIAW National Championship, finishing second to defending champion, Immaculata University, in front of a standing-room-only crowd in FitzGerald Gym. The event was a breakthrough for the sport, gained national attention, and led to an invitation for Queens to be “home team” for the first women’s collegiate game in Madison Square Garden (before a crowd of more than 11,500). LUCILLE: 5 THE PLAYER 7 Lucy Kyvallos -- Basketball Star 9 Astoria Girls Capture Title 12 Bronx Angels retain ‘Y’ Hoop Title 13 The Rustic Queens of Astoria 14 Springfield College 6 7 LUCY KYVALLOS Basketball Star Lucy Kyvallos, a smiling 17-year-old Astoria lass, youngster and coached her in the finer points of the Lucy shows such promise that Manny Strauss, is rated one of the outstanding female basketball game all last summer. New York Times sports writer, who manages the players developed in New York City in over a decade. professional Cover Girls basketball team, has A senior at Bryant High School, which also produced McSweeney spent two hours a day with Lucy, and offered her a position with his club. Billy (No-Hit) Loes, the $22,600 Greek baseball player changed her from an outside shooter to a bucket of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Miss Kyvallos is a fraction performer where her height could be used to better With the Cover Girls, Lucy could draw $75 a over six feet and weights 128 pounds. advantage. game and tour the nation’s major cities every year. The Bronx Sparks, another outstanding Lucy, also known as “Big Lulu” on the hardwood, has The Bryant Senior learned fast under McSweeney’s professional girls’ team, also would like to land been playing basketball for only three years, but guidance and, in her first contest this year, scored 31 the Astoria lass. However she refused all offers already she’s won a large measure of fame. She started points for the Laurels, a new record in the Met Girls’ to remain an amateur. with Bob Gance’s 114th Precinct Cages of Astoria in loop. 1948 and was used chiefly on defense, because of her In addition to her basketball talents, Miss height. Near the end of the campaign, Gance switched With St. Demetrios, she has been averaging better Kyvallos also is a star softball, soccer and roller Miss Kyvallos up front, and she promptly scored 26 than 25 points per contest. She captains the Astoria hockey player. The Roller Derby, the new sport points with an amazing demonstration of set shooting. church’s undefeated female quintet. Rev. Kokkinakis that has taken the country by storm, is also of Astoria and Homer Goumenis, assistant to the Rev. interested in Miss Kyvallos as a skater. Despite After that initial season, Lucy continued in high gear Kokkinakis at the Astoria parish, both think highly of all the publicity Lucy has been getting recently last year with the 114th Precinct team, Bill McSweeney’s Miss Kyvallos’ cage ability. she is still unchanged, a sweet, soft-spoken girl Astoria Laurels of the Metropolitan Girls Basketball who is very ladylike off the athletic field. League and the newly formed St. Demetrios Girls five Three weeks ago, at Volkert’s Hall, Long Island City, of Astoria. Lulu rang up 36 points to lead her Greek Church team A real great player who should go places. to victory over the Astoria Laps. She practically stole Remember the name Lucy Kyvallos. McSweeney, a well known Queens referee and sports the show from the St. Demetrios Senior male five which figure who has also aided the Greek Church of Astoria is led by Mike Ckezipis, former Long Island City High -- George Douvis, L.I. Star, Feb 26, 1950 on numerous occasions, took an interest in the Astoria star and Chris Chingros of Syracuse University. 8 ASTORIA GIRLS CAPTURE TITLE Lucy Kyvallos’ Basket Decides PAL Game Lucy Kyvallos’ set shot with 48 seconds remaining gave the Astoria Precinct girls team a thrilling 48-47 victory over the 62nd Precinct of Brooklyn last night in a playoff for the city- wide PAL Senior Division Championship at the Hegerich Center, Long Island City. Miss Kyvallos’ two-pointer climaxed a see-saw game, which saw the lead change hands 16 times. The Astorians forged to an 18-11 lead in the first quarter, but the Brooklyn team came back to knot the score at 23-all at the end of the half. The invaders prevailed, 37-34, at the conclusion of the third chapter. It was nip-and-tuck all the way in the final session before Miss Kyvallos connected with the winning markers. Miss Kyvallos and Jo Rodilloso sparked the winners with 20 tallies each while Betty Furman had 25 points for the Brooklyn aggregation. Astoria 114th precinct girls, who captured the PAL Senior Division basketball title of Queens this week, flash -- Source Unknown victory smiles for Star-Journal photographer. In the front row (left to right) are Janet Laviolette, Lucy Kyvallos, Margaret Bruckner and Joan Stewart. In the rear (same order) are Claire Marcowitz, Patrolman John Curcia, Gilda Musto, Irene Nieder, Roberta Cermak, Joan Liebert, Thelma Magnifico, Coach Bob Gance and Marion Hernecker. L.K. 11 PICK TOUTED BRONX ANGELS TO RETAIN ‘Y’ HOOP TITLE The Bronx Angels, rated as one fo the slickest girls’ in the Hudson Valley tourney and title honors in the basketball teams in the country, were expected to get Eastern States championship. off to a flying start in their opening test in the Carlton YMCA championship tournament last night at the In 1951, the Angels captured the Carlton YMCA crown Brooklyn “Y” gym. and again was runner-up in the Newburgh Loop. The highly touted Bronx lassies, coached by Nick In the 1951-52 campaign, Ellie Mullin, ambidextrous Lionetti, faced the Paterson Debs. Defending pivot ace, was picked as the Most Valuable Player champions, they are favored to repeat. of the Newburgh tourney. Sadie Jones won the same award in the Carlton YMCA games. Ditto for Lou Local quintets, it was reported, have shied away from Kyvallos in the Eastern States invitation play. Aggie the talented Angels because they feared they were not Fortune rounded out the award winners by making in the same class with them. As a result, Lionetti’s five the all-star team in the Hudson Valley tourney. has been forced to take on competition outside of New York. Lionetti also has a good word for Margie Winters, who he says is his club’s top ball handler and playmaker The fears of metropolitan girls’ teams are not without and one of the finest players. foundation. During the past four years, the Angels, called the Pride of the Bronx, have been beaten only The Bronx Angels are not competing in the Eastern four times in 108 outings against first-rate foes. States championships this year. However, they will face the winners of the competition on Feb 22. At present, the adroit Angels are competing in the Solin Girls’ Basketball League, with their squad divided into -- New York Post, Sunday, Feb 8, 1953 two teams -- the Rusteks and the Terriers. The latter is pacing the loop In 1949, their first year in Class “A” competition, the Bronx Angels were a finalist in the Hudson Valley Newburgh tourney, comprised of the “name” teams L Lucille Kyvallos playing for St. Demetrios from Maine to Florida.