By Margaret Kelly (Class of 2022) and Nicholas Seibert (Class of 2025),
Archbishop Molloy High School here.

The late Tom Konchalski remains a well-known name in the world of high school and college basketball, and deservedly so. He was what Mr. Mike McCleary, Athletic Director of Archbishop Molloy High School, describes as “the premier high school basketball scout in the country.” As a scout for over 50 years, he helped thousands of student-athletes find the right colleges and scholarships for them. He observed athletes across the country, providing reports to college coaches in which players were evaluated. His work was crucial to the success of these athletes, as he ultimately helped them further their careers.

Tom, as well as his brother Steve, were esteemed Archbishop Molloy High School alumni – Tom part of the Class of 1964, and Steve a graduate in 1962. The Tom Konchalski Foundation is proud to continue celebrating Tom’s legacy through the Tom Konchalski Classic Basketball Tournament. The inaugural tournament was held on Sunday, December 5th in Molloy’s Jack Curran Gymnasium. There, incredible and hard-working athletes from eight rival schools competed over the course of the day. Participating athletes were rewarded not only with gained knowledge of the legacy of Tom Konchalski, but the opportunity to showcase their talents on a big stage, as well as the chance to win either an Outstanding Player or Sportsmanship Award. Both honors were awarded after each game that was played.

The games themselves were exciting, with close scores in the majority. Archbishop Molloy’s team won an especially intense game against Msgr. Farrell, with a final score of 46-41. Students from Archbishop Molloy who attended were thrilled about the tournament, as it signaled a long-awaited return of high-profile sporting events. Junior Isabella Jorge, Class of 2023, spoke of her feelings saying, “It was very exciting to see our school community gather around to cheer on our team and show school pride.” This excitement spanned generations, as Isabella’s family member, Gregory Jorge of Molloy’s Class of 1993, could agree: “It was great to be back at the school, and I enjoyed seeing a return to basketball after delays due to COVID-19.” The tournament also welcomed special guests Joe Dunleavy, Molloy Class of 1975, and Rich Petriccione, both Committee members of the Thomas Konchalski Foundation and close friends of Tom. The camaraderie of the day, and everyone who gathered to remember Tom, made this a very special tournament.

The Tom Konchalski Foundation was founded to honor the memory of a beloved man who lived an inspiring life of Christian virtue and charity. The foundation raises funds to provide need-based scholarships and financial assistance to students who embrace Tom’s values. At this event, all the money raised was donated to the foundation and will benefit outstanding students in the future. Earlier this year, the foundation graciously presented Archbishop Molloy with a $10,000 donation. The inaugural tournament represents only one of the many events that the Thomas Konchalski Foundation plans to host in the months and years to come. In Spring 2022, the Foundation are looking forward to a testimonial dinner and an auction, and more tournaments could be hosted in the future. All these exciting events are crucial to their goal of continuing to spread the word about Tom Konchalski and his inspiring work.