NY1 Scholar Athlete Ben B.: A Passion for Sports

Ben is a senior at East-West School for International Studies, a CollegeBound Initiative partner school.

By Rocco Vertuccio and Chelsea Katz
Originally broadcast on Spectrum NY1 on March 12, 2026

The Flushing, Queens teen started with soccer in his native New Zealand. Then he tacked on rugby and turf hockey.

“I’ve always found many sports like an enjoyment, you know? There’s not really one that I don’t like to play,” he said.

Ben’s family moved from New Zealand to Australia and then to the United States — all within seven months. When he got to the East-West School of International Studies, sports found him.

“I quickly saw how athletic he was in physical education class,” said Andrew Crimi, Ben’s gym teacher and volleyball and basketball coach. “So it was my goal to get him on the basketball and volleyball team.”

“I accepted volleyball because I found it kind of interesting, because it differed from all the sports I played back in New Zealand,” Ben said.

Ben went into volleyball with zero experience, and quickly rose to the challenge.

In his first season, the outside hitter notched 31 kills, and is now captain of the team.

“He’s determined,” Crimi said. “He’s motivated. He’s always gives 110% every game, every practice.”

And another sport? Why not?

Ben also plays on the basketball team.

“There’s not really too many tall people at the school so they were just using what they got,” he said.

All this while acing his studies. Despite struggling in his Australian school and then transferring to a new school system in the States, Ben boasts a 94 grade point average.

“I promised myself I’d never fall behind again,” he said. “And so I’ve kept up all throughout my junior year and this year. Because I’ve done so, I’m taking a few AP classes.”

Ben hopes to eventually study medicine.