Boston City Council honored two coaches for their work in girls' youth sports and recognized the city's elementary and middle school basketball champions this week.

BOSTON --

HIGH SCHOOL -- The Boston City Council on July 8 recognized East Boston High School head volleyball coach Clarita Prudenzio for her work leading the girls' program. Councillor Weber's resolution, presented on behalf of District 1 Councillor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, noted Prudenzio joined the East Boston High staff in 2021 and posted a 10-3 record in her first season as head coach, with former teammate Jessica Saravia serving as her assistant. The volleyball program qualified for the MIAA tournament in 2022 and 2024. Prudenzio, an East Boston High alum and physical education teacher at the school, thanked "my players, my assistant coaches, families, and the entire East Boston community" in accepting the honor.

YOUTH LEAGUES -- The council also honored John Connolly, a former at-large city councillor and current president of Parkway Travel Soccer, for growing the West Roxbury-based program to nearly 600 girls participating this season. Connolly said the group launched Parkway Girls Soccer this past year, an entry-level league for five- to eight-year-olds, drawing more than 100 signups from girls across West Roxbury, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Dorchester and Brighton. He said the program was founded by seven parents, five of them mothers, and that most of its coaches are moms.

Separately, Councillors Santana and Worrell recognized Boston Public Schools' elementary and middle school City Basketball Champions during the same meeting, thanking BPS Athletics staffer Avery and BPS Chief McCarthy's student support team for expanding middle school athletics access across the city.