Meet the Mentor: Coach Boyle and Coach Vega
America SCORES New York’s Inwood community would be very different without Coaches Kristin Boyle and Wendy Vega.
Kristin Boyle and Wendy Vega have been trailblazers for ASNY in the community for eight and six years, respectively. Coach Boyle began as the girl's poetry coach at PS 325 before finding a permanent home with the PS 98 girls team in 2015. Coach Vega wasn’t far behind, joining the team as the boys’ soccer coach in Fall 2016. Together, they have led their teams to Poetry SLAM victories, picturesque Inwood Hill Park game days, and more importantly, have helped the next generation of leaders envision a more just, equitable, and exciting world.
Both coaches show endless commitment to their young people and fully embrace the structure that America SCORES New York’s curriculum has to offer.
“I was able to experience the excitement and dedication of the team members as they performed their poems in the Poetry SLAM and read their poems aloud to the elderly in the nursing home as part of their community service project,” she recalls. “The teamwork and leadership skills that many students developed after practicing and participating in soccer games are qualities that all children will obtain after participating in the ASNY program.”
Alongside those life skills built at soccer games and poetry lessons, Coaches Boyle and Vega understand and emphasize the importance of mentorship.
“Being a mentor means serving others and giving back to others,” says Coach Vega. “It is also a learning experience since I am continuously learning new methods for improvement.”
And there have been incredible opportunities for them to witness their mentorship lessons in action. One of Coach Boyle’s favorite memories is from Fall 2019, where her longtime poet-athlete Mia had the opportunity to write and present a poem about equal pay to Megan Rapinoe at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.
One of Coach Vega’s favorite memories is rooted in poetry as well with National Poetry Slam participant Albin A. She watched his confidence grow through ASNY programming and went on to become a 5th-grade valedictorian at graduation in June 2021.
“I want them to all remember how hard work pays off,” they said. “And I teach my PS 98 poet-athletes to respect each other, the other team, and show fair play on the field, and also in life.”
“As an alumnus of ASNY and someone who enjoyed my years of participation within the program, I know how impactful having a coach-mentor who cares and goes beyond for their poet-athletes can be,” says Director of Writing Programs Chris Lantigua. “ Ms. Boyle and Ms. Vega are certainly those kinds of coaches and I am overjoyed to have them within our America SCORES family.”
“Coach Boyle and Coach Vega truly embody the meaning of ASNY: community. Every player on their team becomes a part of a family,” recounts former Director of Soccer Programs Chloe Wheeler. “Alumni of their program come back to get involved as leaders and junior assistant coaches because of this strong culture of belonging. Anyone witnessing a practice, poetry workshop, game, or any time in between can simply feel the heart and soul that they put into their work as coaches and teachers.”
Because of their commitment to their young people, they have an ever-growing team of young leaders. Coach Boyle even said, “Every Fall, there is a long line of students waiting outside my classroom door to ask for a permission slip to sign up for the new season. America SCORES New York has changed many lives at PS 98 for the better…adults and students.”
