Staten Island 2026 preseason: key returning players

Curtis and Tottenville look built through the spine

Reports suggest Thomas Bishop gives Curtis a rare blend of defensive security and set-piece threat.

  • Bishop is said to have scored twice from free-kicks in the postseason
  • Joshua Cedeno reportedly returns after five goals and five assists
  • That kind of central balance matters in knockout football

At Tottenville, the core also appears solid.

  • Maxim Chernin reportedly offers cover at defensive midfield or centre back
  • Andrew Kishchenko and Josh Gluck are expected to add creativity and thrust
  • A team that reached the PSAL 3A title game already knows the standard required

Monsignor Farrell and St. Peter’s have headline talent

Monsignor Farrell enters the new season with the pressure that comes from recent success. The report says Arlind Zhabjaku returns after eight goals and four assists, while Dean Cardinale brings midfield control and leadership. For a champion, that matters as much as star quality.

St. Peter’s may have the most obvious game-breaker. Reports suggest William Kenworthy is back after a prolific campaign that included 25 goals and seven assists, with James Rockefeller also returning. In school football, elite finishing can swing an entire season.

Depth could decide the rest of the island race

There are other teams with reasons for optimism.

  • St. Joseph by-the-Sea reportedly brings back major attacking output
  • New Dorp appears set to lean on Juan Rojas and Geovany Mejia-Cruz
  • Susan Wagner could have another key piece in Ibrahim Gbla

The next storyline is simple: which returners turn promise into points once the season opens? On Staten Island, the race for 2026 silverware already looks crowded.