Local Teen Represents Park Slope In NYC’s Longest-Running High School Tradition

Neighbor Spencer Letizia will represent Park Slope in New York City’s longest-running high school tradition: The 91st annual Xavier High School vs Fordham Prep Turkey Bowl.

Spencer, a junior at Xavier High School, will play on the starting offensive line as 5 Guard/Inside Linebacker.

Brooklyn Roots
Spencer’s Brooklyn roots go back quite a ways. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Italy after WWII, and Spencer’s father, John, grew up in Sunset Park. Spencer’s mother, Kristin Krase, grew up on the other side of the park in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. The couple met in the middle and bought a home in Park Slope a year after Spencer was born.

And what’s in between provides a venue for one of Spencer’s favorite Park Slope activities — he loves to play baseball in Prospect Park. In addition to football, Spencer also plays baseball for Xavier.

Community Service
Xavier’s current varsity football team is quite special. Two years ago, when Spencer was a freshman, the freshman and JV football seasons were cut short due to Superstorm Sandy. Many Xavier faculty and students were displaced because of the storm. The football team — along with the entire Xavier community — volunteered to rebuild.

“That was Spencer’s first year at Xavier, and I was overwhelmed by the sense of community and service he was already experiencing first hand,” Kristin said.

“The school’s mission is predicated on social justice and community service,” Chris Stevens, Xavier’s varsity football coach, said. “We had buses of volunteers including students, teachers, coaches, administrators, and alumni traveling around the city to help people who were affected by the storm.”

“Helping out with Sandy taught me a lot about camaraderie,” said Spencer. “I think it really brought us closer as a team and as a Xavier community.”

When asked if the close-knit varsity team expects to win the 91st Turkey Bowl, Coach Stevens deflected.

“No predictions,” he said, “except a classy, hard-fought Jesuit school contest proudly played on a national holiday.”

Besides Spencer, 14 other young Brooklynites will be playing in the Turkey Bowl for Xavier High School — please join us in wishing them good luck!

If you want to get in on this tradition and support our local young men, the Turkey Bowl will kick off at 10am on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 at Fordham University‘s Jack Coffey Field. Tickets are $5 and are available the morning of the game.

Photo via Xavier