Big Apple Recreational Sports is New York City’s leading community-focused, multi-sport organization for LGBTQ+ adults and their allies. We offer competitive play in an athletic environment that is welcoming and free from harassment, discrimination, and drama.

Founded as Big Apple Dodgeball, a nonprofit, in 2007, we expanded in 2013 with the addition of Kickball and Bowling, becoming Big Apple Recreational Sports. Today, we proudly host four team sports, all dedicated to fostering inclusion, community, and fair competition for every player.



Our mission is to foster a community of players that extends beyond the lanes, courts, and fields.

MORE THAN SPORTS

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY

At Big Apple Recreational Sports, we believe in creating a welcoming, inclusive, and affirming space for everyone, on and off the field. We want to be unequivocally clear, we stand in full support of the trans community.

Our Women, Trans, and Non-Binary Divisions are created to embody this commitment to actively creating space for our Trans and Non-Binary community members to thrive. Sports should be a space for joy, connection, and empowerment, not exclusion.

Big Apple Recreational Sports is proud to be a community where trans rights are human rights, and where inclusion is not just a value, it is a promise. We encourage players to join the division, WTNB or Open, that aligns with their identity and where they feel most comfortable.


Board of Directors

Michael Wellbrock(he/him)Commissioner
Joe Randazzo(he/him)Vice Commissioner
Shannon Harman(she/her)Treasurer
Zach Krohn(he/him)Secretary
Stephen Torres(he/him)Commissioner of Operations
Desi Brown(she/her)Commissioner of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Daveyy Sak(he/him)Commissioner of Dodgeball
Chase Tucker(he/him)Commissioner of Kickball
Keith Ruben(he/him)Commissioner of Bowling
Jay Diamond(he/him)Commissioner of Pickleball
Katie Forman(she/her)Commissioner of WTNB+ Players

Cross-Sport Leadership

Tim Koch(he/him)Director of Communications
Max Italiaander(he/they)Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Open)
Olivia Lee(she/her)Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (WTNB+)
Alex Ata(he/him)Director of Events (Open)
Cedar Casper(they/them)Director of Events (WTNB+)
Scott McPherson(he/him)Director of Marketing
Charles Romaine(he/him)Director of Philanthropy
Brandon Crawford(he/him)Director of Social Media & Engagement (Open)
Lauren Babitz(she/her)Director of Social Media & Engagement (WTNB+)
Jalen Wang(he/him)Director of Technology

Bowling Leadership

Stephen Swartz(he/him)Director of Bowling, Sunday
Patrick Murphy(he/him)Director of Bowling, Monday
Philip Mutz(he/him)Operations Manager, Sunday
Matthew Connelly(he/him)Operations Manager, Monday
Dana McFly(she/they)Player Representative (WTNB+)

Dodgeball Leadership

Chance Hamlin(he/him)Director of Dodgeball, Monday
Chris Bonet(he/him)Director of Dodgeball, Thursday
Ryan Maher(he/him)Director of Dodgeball, Sunday (Open)
Gabe Braden(he/him)Director of Dodgeball, Tuesday
Elizabeth Lawson-Keister(she/her)DIrector of Dodgeball, Sunday (WTNB+)
Sarah Wood(she/her)Director of Dodgeball, Wednesday (WTNB+)
Ian Schmoke(he/him)Operations Manager, Monday
Jack Zheng(he/him)Operations Manager, Thursday
Tenni Tenerelli(he/him)Operations Manager, Sunday (Open)
Chris Carter(he/him)Operations Manager, Tuesday
Michelle Kraidman(she/her)Operations Manager, Wednesday (WTNB+)
Daphne Anderson(she/her)Dodgeball Player Experience (WTNB+)
Shane Van Hoy(he/him)Dodgeball Player Experience (Open)

Kickball Leadership

Richard Taylor(he/him)Director of Kickball, Sunday
Arturo Almazan(he/him)Director of Kickball, Monday Operations Manager, Sunday
John Lynch(he/him)Director of Kickball, Tuesday (Advanced)
TJ Brune(he/him)Director of Kickball, Wednesday (Advanced)
Victoria McGrath(she/her)Director of Kickball, Thursday (WTNB+)
Geoffrey Bible(he/him)Director of Kickball, Saturday (Open)
Nicole Redifer(she/her)Director of Kickball, Saturday (WTNB+)
Brian Frank Jr.(he/him)Operations Manager, Monday Kickball
Justin Strodtman(he/him)Operations Manager, Tuesday Kickball (Advanced)
Shawn Byrnes(he/him)Operations Manager, Wednesday Kickball (Advanced)
Christiana Maimone(she/her)Operations Manager, Thursday Kickball (WTNB+)
Luis Boettner(he/him)Operations Manager, Saturday Kickball (Open)
Annagrace Galleno(she/her)Operations Manager, Saturday Kickball (WTNB+)
Lana Sandler(she/her)Kickball Player Experience (Open)
Nico Ramirez(he/him)Kickball Player Experience (Advanced)
Makenzie Collins(she/her)Kickball Player Experience (WTNB+)

Pickleball Leadership

Eduardo Garza Santos(he/him)Director of Pickleball, Advanced
Tyler La Fronz(he/him)Director of Pickleball, Social
Corina Vernon(she/her)Director of Pickleball, WTNB+
Robert Johnsen(he/him)Operations Manager, Advanced
James Davies(he/him)Operations Manager, Social
Dani Chiaramonte(she/her)Operations Manager, WTNB+

Committee Members

Andrew Vurlumis(he/him)NYC Parks & Rec Permits Liaison