A-Game Sports Staff

Jose Alberro was born and raised in Puerto Rico. As the son of a former major leaguer, Jose was introduced to baseball at an early age and spent most of his youth travelling with his dad, playing baseball in different parts of the world.

Jose started his college career at Monroe College where he was a pitcher, third baseman, catcher and outfielder before transferring to Nyack College.

Immediately after graduation, Jose became a volunteer coach for the Nyack baseball team, where he worked with the catchers and outfielders, before beginning his work with the Nyack softball program as an assistant coach, helping develop infielders and outfielders. Jose now works as the pitching coach for Caldwell University in New Jersey and has spent the last two years working with youth programs and travel teams in Rockland and Orange County as a private instructor.

Mawusi Amos-Mandela is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is currently the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for D-1 division Manhattan College, overseeing all facets of women’s volleyball, softball, cross-country, track and field jumpers, and women’s rowing. He graduated from Sacred Heart University with a Masters in Exercise Science and Sports Nutrition in 2018 and previously earned his Bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University in 2015.

During his graduate program at Sacred Heart, Mawusi interned as a strength & conditioning coach, helping athletes that played for teams in sports that include football, women’s rugby, women’s basketball, men and women’s lacrosse, softball, women’s swimming and diving and softball. Prior to Sacred Heart University Mawusi completed a year internship at University of Minnesota, primarily working with men and women’s ice hockey players. During this time he also assisted with men and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, and softball. Mawusi also interned at Fairfield University where he helped oversee and coordinate programming for women’s soccer, men and women’s basketball, men and women lacrosse, men and women swimming and diving, softball, baseball, men and women’s tennis, field hockey, men and women’s rowing and swimming and diving dryland training. The Fairfield University women’s swimming and diving won the MAAC championship, and men and women’s rowing won 3 individual conference championships during Mawusi’s term of service.

In addition to working with college athletes, Mawusi has trained high school varsity players in almost every single sport. From 2016-2018, he was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Fairfield Ludlowe High School where he oversaw strength and conditioning for all 25 high school teams. For Coach Mawusi, it doesn’t matter who he is training or what their personal achievement goals might be. He just wants to help people be the best they can be in whatever they do or aspire to in life . His mantra is to never cheat yourself and to make each day of your life count.

Henry “Chip” Chapman was first introduced to lacrosse at a small boarding school in Amenia, NY called Kildonan. There he worked hard to overcome his battle with Dyslexia. After two years, he transferred to Trinity Pawling High School where he got his first real taste of lacrosse and his skills began to blossom.

For his final high school years, Chip played at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains where he became team captain and was awarded Offensive Player of the Year as well as earned selection to the C.H.S.A.A. All-League 1st Team. Following high school, Chip continued his lacrosse career and education at Canisius College, a Division I school in the Metropolitan Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

After college, Chip gave back to the community by coaching in several youth leagues before he began coaching at his high school alma mater, Stepinac. During his first year, the team won the C.H.S.A.A. tournament, and made its way to the State Championship game. Following his successful year, Chip became the lacrosse coach at Division III College of Mount Saint Vincent in Bronx, NY and is currently in his second year.

Osmer Collado, both a middle infielder and a corner outfielder, played varsity baseball for St.Agnes Boys High School in Manhattan. He was a two time MVP for the team and was selected to represent the archdiocese all-star team in both his junior and senior year. His success continued in college where he played D1 baseball at Binghamton University, Monroe College and finally, Mitchell College. Osmer won multiple awards during his collegiate career and was also mentioned in the first team All-American.

After college, Osmer spent some time in Clearwater, FL in a baseball academy and was given the opportunity to pursue his baseball career as a professional for the Pecos League Rosswell Invaders.

After his playing career, Osmer became an assistant coach at George Washington H.S. and helped the team win a PSAL Championship during the second year of his three year tenure. Afterwards, Osmer became as assistant college coach and then ultimately, Head Coach at Raritan Valley Community College a DII program in region 19.

Osmer’s passion for baseball started during his childhood and he has carried that with him throughout his life. He takes pride in the amount of knowledge he has about the game and is anxious to share that with young players who are committed to excelling both on and off the field.

Adam Cornwell joined Iona College coaching staff as the pitching coach having most recently played for the Traverse City Beach Bums in the Independent League where he was a starting pitcher.

Cornwell played at the University of Indianapolis for the first three seasons of his collegiate career. He graduated with a BS in Sports Management and minored in Business Administration.

He transferred to the University of Pittsburgh to play his final collegiate season while beginning the pursuit for his Master’s degree in Athletic Coaching Education.

While coaching with the Maroon & Gold, Cornwell is still pursuing his degree taking online classes with Ball State University.

Cornwell grew up in Bloomington, IN.

William Council, professionally and affectionately known as “Coach Billy” is a 32 year veteran of the legendary New York City basketball circuit. This Harlem native developed his passion for the sport as a young athlete, and has since devoted the past 19 years of his life to instilling values, morals and discipline in today’s youth through the art of basketball.

In 2012, Coach Billy co-founded and became the Athletic Director for the New Renaissance Basketball Association aka “The Rens”, where he exemplified his stellar capabilities of turning out some of New York City’s most sought after up-and-coming basketball stars. Billy also served as the Assistant Athletic Director, and Assistant Varsity Boys basketball Coach at Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn, NY from 2014-2018; Coach Billy remains connected and committed to the community to ensure that young men and women develop the foundational principles necessary to succeed both on and off of the court.

Some of Coach Billy’s career highlights include: A 2005 New York City Freshman Championship win for All Hollows Boys Basketball Team; (3) AAU Division One National Championships; (1) BCI National Championship.

More recently, Coach Billy has added film producer to his resume. In 2015, along with Director and Executive Producer Crystal McCrary, and Executive Producers musician Lupe Fiasco and NBA star Amaré Stoudemire he co-produced and starred in the critically acclaimed Nickelodeon documentary, “Little Ballers”, a film that focuses on the dreams and challenges of four young men as they embark on the road to winning a AAU National Championship which was nominated for a “NAACP” Award.

Although Coaching is where Billy Council’s passion meets his purpose, he would like to leave a greater impact on the community that he holds so dear. In 2017 Coach Billy introduced #COUNCILHIM LLC, a male conference designed to inspire, empower and equip African American men to transform their personal lives, family lives and communities by promoting positive self-image and fostering mentoring and learning opportunities.

Dominic Darcangelo (Director of Lacrosse Operations) started his lacrosse career at C.W. Baker High School, Baldwinsville, in Upstate New York, where he participated in three years of varsity lacrosse and was the 2010 Men’s Varsity Lacrosse Captain his senior year. An offensive midfielder and face-off specialist, Dominic was selected for the Section III All-Star North-South Game, where he dominated at the face-off X. He continued his lacrosse career for the Red Dragons at the State University of New York at Cortland. In 2011, Dominic and the Red Dragons traveled to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to compete for the NCAA Division 3 National Championship.

He continued his love for lacrosse after college, coaching for the Upstate Lacrosse Association, United CNY, a highly scouted travel organization, as well as assisting the Baldwinsville Men’s Lacrosse program in the off-season. Dominic continued his passion in sharing his love for lacrosse by founding Lax Hour, a lacrosse instruction and developmental program for athletes looking to improve in dodging, speed, shooting, face-offs, and lacrosse knowledge. Darcangelo recently worked for Cascade/Maverik in Upstate New York.

Lule Dyasi has been coaching and training athletes for over 20 years. He played soccer at a championship level for many teams with accomplishments that include being a Hyundai nation cup finalist, a Budweiser Cup champion and a Los Albos (Honduras) champion in the NESSL. Lule’s love for playing the game is reflected in how he trains and coaches his students.  He instructs players at all different levels of soccer, from recreational to professional. Lule holds a USSF national license to coach and truly loves working with anyone that is willing to better themselves on and off the field.

Khalil Edney was a star at New Rochelle High School where he quarterbacked the varsity football team to a state championship and in 2013 was nominated for an ESPY Award for his buzzer-beating shot to win the Section 1 Basketball Championship.

Khalil now attends ASA College in New York where he studies business and plays for the college’s football team. In addition, Khalil has been coaching youth flag football, commonly with the Remington Boys and Girls Club.

Marisa Gaynor graduated from Iona College in May 2014 where she played Division-1 water polo for the Gaels and earned her bachelor’s degree. Following graduation, she played professional water polo in France and has since earned her MBA from Wagner College, graduating in May 2018, while also serving as an Assistant Strength Coach for the Wagner Seahawks.

Marisa is currently an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Iona College. She develops and implements training programs for several of the Gaels Division 1 teams, including: softball, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s water polo, men’s swimming, men’s basketball, and crew teams. In addition to working with D-1 collegiate athletes, Marisa has led small group swim and dryland sessions, as well as, private water polo, swimming, and personal training lessons.

Her goals when working with athletes of any age are to encourage confidence and understanding in a weight room/training environment, to assist young athletes in developing and working towards personal/sport specific goals, to inspire a positive attitude and training atmosphere, and to promote responsibility, respect, and integrity.

Lauren Iorio is a native of Eastchester, NY where she was a six-year Varsity Softball player for Ursuline High School. In her high school career, Lauren was a starting shortstop and received All-League and All-Section honors three out of those six years. In her senior year,  as a team captain, Lauren led her team to the Section 1 finals.

While studying at Fordham University and completing her Masters at Iona College, Lauren coached for a number of different youth softball/ baseball programs in the area including, at the House of Sports (Ardsley), ProSwing (Portchester) and at the School of The Holy Child. Additionally, she has been the division leader for the official summer camp of the New York Yankees for the past five years.

Currently, Lauren is a middle school school mathematics teacher in New Rochelle and coaches JV softball for Tuckahoe High School.

Rob Lalli is a Westchester native who started his career playing football and lacrosse at Eastchester High school. He played varsity lacrosse for 5 years and became team captain in his junior year. He led the team in points his junior and senior season, earning accolades as all-League and all section for section 1. As a football player, Rob started both his junior and senior year at running back and cornerback, earning an all-league title senior year. After choosing a collegiate career in lacrosse, Rob attended Mount Saint Vincent college where he led the team his Freshmen year in goals. He then transferred to play division 2 at Pace University. Rob took his playing skills to the coaching where he is now the head coach for the Eastchester modified lacrosse team. Rob has helped build the Eastchester program by working with players on skill development in the key areas of the game. Rob’s love for football has also stayed with him and has helped kids become better at the sport as a volunteer coach in the recreational football league he grew up playing in.

Ashley Marino is a native of Harrison, NY where she was a five-year Varsity Softball player for Harrison High School. In her high school career Ashley was a four-year starting pitcher and was named All-League four years, All-Section three years and All-State her senior year.

Following high school, Ashley attended Springfield College where she was a four-year letter winner on the Pride Softball team. While at Springfield, Ashley earned numerous honors, including All-American Scholar Athlete (2013 & 2014), NEWMAC Pitcher of the Year (2012), ECAC Regional All-Star Honor (2012), 2nd Team National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (2012), 1st Team NEWMAC All-Conference Player (2012) and 2nd Team NEWMAC All-Conference Player (2011).

Following college, Ashley was a member of the Legends 21+ Fast Pitch Organization from 2013 to 2014 where she pitched in the championship game.

John Mullen has been involved in a lifetime of playing baseball as well as several years of team coaching and individual mentorship. John received a scholarship to play baseball at a highly competitive, Division II Program at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY. John graduated from Concordia with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Following graduation, he complete his MBA in Management and Marketing at Mercy College. Throughout High School in Somers, NY John coached several little league teams from tee ball through Pony League. The 14U travel team he coached advanced to the finals in many tournaments including the Cooperstown All Star Village Competition. After High School, John focused on individual coaching for college-bound athletes and became the pitching coach for Osborne High School in Cobb County, Georgia who were Ranked top 50 in the State. John is now switching gears from the corporate world into education where he can develop youth both in the classroom and on the field.

Yolanda Nyero was an assistant field hockey coach at Mercy College and is currently the Head Varsity Field Hockey Goalie Coach of The Masters School of New York team since 2014.

Nyero was a member of the Mercy College field hockey team during the 2011, 2012, and 2013 seasons. During the 2013 season, Nyero saw action in 17 games, starting 12 and led the team with 16 points, four assists and a .794 shot-on-goal percentage. She tied for the team lead with six goals.

Prior to attending Mercy College, Nyero was a soccer goalie for 12 years, attending numerous training camps dedicated to individual improvement of goalkeeping. Nyero was the Carlisle High School Varsity Soccer Goalie, earning All-Conference honors in 2010 and 2011.

Nyero currently resides in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

James Poggiogalle (Director of Little Athletes Academy) has been playing sports since high school, where he was on the varsity baseball team and bowled competitively. He still bowls competitively in two leagues. Following high school, James went on to study at the University of Tampa, where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management. Since then, he has been dedicated to engaging with children in sports.

Following college, James has been the director of summer day camps and after-school programs for children of all ages. Most recently, he spent six years as a head coach at a youth sports program, where he taught soccer and basketball to toddlers, and led programs and camps for 2-6 year olds. James also has experience in Physical Therapy, working as a PT Aide for four years helping patients of all ages. James is passionate about sports and the positive impact it has on young children, and strives to make sports fun and accessible for children of all ages and abilities.

Felix Restituyo is a Washington Heights native who attended George Washington High School in Manhattan. Following high school, Felix played his freshmen year at SUNY Canton before making his way to play in The Dominican Republic for a year. During this time, Felix played with the Winter League Colorado Rockies, where he was endorsed by Wilin Rosario (Colorado Rockies) and instructed by Luis Coronado (Oakland Athletics).

After returning back to The United States, Felix used his knowledge of the game to become a private baseball instructor at The Baseball Center in New York before deciding to continue the pursuit of his childhood dream by playing his sophomore year for the Monroe Mustangs in New Rochelle, where he contributed to the team with the most wins in school history and also their second NJCAA Division 1 Regional Championship (2016).

Aside from baseball, Felix is President and Co-Founder of HundredTenPercent Sports and Apparel™, where he focuses on not only helping individuals become better student-athletes, but also better human-beings.

Jose Reyes (Director of Baseball Instruction), a Westchester native who attended Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, led the Indians to two conference championships.  In addition to being named team MVP, Outstanding Defensive Player, All Section One Honorable Mention (twice) and the league leader in stolen bases during his high school years, Jose had the opportunity to represent the Hudson Valley in the Empire State Games and the College Select club team.

He went on to play at the college level with Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut as a shortstop, second baseman and center fielder. In his senior year, he was elected team captain.  After graduating, he went on to play professionally in the Cam-Am League – first with the New York Federals in 2011 and then with the Rockland Boulders in 2012.

Jose has successfully taken that playing experience into his current area of expertise, baseball instruction.  He has trained aspiring athletes since 2007, helping them to improve both physically and mentally as players and individuals.  While Jose loves seeing kids play and excel in baseball,  his biggest sense of pride comes from teaching children how important it is to have an education.

Chikudi Richardson started coaching in 2003 at Concordia College as the women’s assistant coach.  Over the next 12 years, he has been an assistant coach for Bronx Community College, assistant and head coach for Equality Charter Middle School in the Bronx, head coach for Bronx Bombers U17 and Bronx Panthers U15, and currently coaches U10 Bronx Colts.

Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian and food and nutrition writer, specializing in sports nutrition and adolescent nutrition education. Natalie has worked with many prestigious organizations, such as Hospital for Special Surgery, the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, NY Yankees Baseball Camps and NYC Charter Schools.  She has also written for many food and nutrition publications, such as Women’s Running, Spright, Toby Amidor Nutrition, The Active Times, SuperKids Nutrition and Food & Nutrition Magazine, and she has been quoted in Women’s Health Magazine and Men’s Health. Natalie attended Columbia University, where she received her Masters of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and completed a Dietetic Internship.  Natalie’s primary focus is simplifying complicated nutrition information so that you can achieve all of your nutrition and fitness goals and live your healthiest life.  She’s excited to spread the message of healthy eating and “food as fuel” at A-Game Sports.

Raul Rodriguez is a native of Panama, but raised in The Bronx. He has spent his entire life on the baseball field – starting from his early years in youth leagues through high school and into higher level leagues in the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Raul possesses a strong passion for baseball and it gives him great satisfaction to share his skills with others, especially kids, who area always receptive. Raul has over 15 years of experience as a baseball coach and trainer, coaching in the Crotona Summer Little League in the Bronx, the Kensico Little League in Westchester and working as a private baseball trainer around the NYC area.

Alexa Rosella played for the Concordia College softball team from 2007 to 2011. During this time, she also took part in the 2009 ECC second team all conference, 2010 CACC second team all conference, and 2011 CACC first team all conference.

Alexa has been a private and group instructor for pitching and hitting since 2011. She was the Christ The King High School Varsity Softball Head Coach from 2011 to 2013 and is currently the Concordia College Pitching Coach.

Kehli Washington was born in Luleå, Sweden but moved to New Rochelle when she was 5. She played 5 years of varsity softball at New Rochelle high school earning all league and all section.

Following high school, she attended Rider University where started as a Center fielder all 4 years earning all maac 1st team and all maac 2nd team.

After college she played professionally for the Gryphons located in s’hertogenbosch, the Netherlands for two seasons. During that summer she competed in the European championship with the Swedish National Softball team and was the Best hitter of the tournament with a batting average of .700

Following that she is now currently going into her 3rd season with the Haarlem Sparks located in Haarlem, the Netherlands. Her first two seasons with the Sparks they were gold medalists at the European cup and in the Holland series. This season they were silver medalists in the Holland series. In March she will be returning for her 3rd season with the team.

Aaron “The Problem” Williams played basketball at New Rochelle High School and average 18 points per game.  Afterwards, he walked on at SUNY Delhi and was named NJCAA “Player of the Year”. The award helped him get a scholarship to Delaware State University where he helped get his team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history by hitting the game-winning shot in the conference finals. He has since gone on to a pro career that extends from the ABA here in the states, to FIBA and other professional leagues around the world, including Canada, The Dominican Republic, Russia and New Zealand.  In addition to still playing the game, Aaron provides basketball instruction to kids throughout Westchester County, teaching them to turn their “problems” into strengths.