Inside the gym at Yonkers High School, senior Jenson Daniel doesn't immediately pop out among a group of girls, some of whom stand 6 feet tall.
But, if you look closer, you can see his strength. That is why he is allowed to practice volleyball, but not play on the team. Last year, Jensen did play. He was the only boy on the school's all-girl volleyball squad.
"Being the only boy on an all-girl's team puts a lot of pressure on you. People say 'you have a boy on your team, you should be winning every game.' It doesn't work like that," Daniel says.
At the beginning of the season, the state high school league said he needed to take a test including long jump, an arm hang, a 1.5-mile run. He gave it his all. Then word came back, he couldn't be on the girls team because he far exceeded the averages.
"I feel like I just can't give up," Daniel says.
The high school athletic league said it is actually following a state regulation regarding boys and girls playing on the same team. The league says in this case, it determined Henson playing on the girls team would have "an adverse effect on the competition."
The school is appealing.
"He's actually part of the team. Not only physically and skill but emotionally as a team member," James Rose from Yonkers Public Schools says. "So I think it is very important for the team to play."
His teammates, including captain Tara Herrera, call Jenson one of the girls.
"He brings a different energy to the team because he's a boy. He motivates the girls to play that much harder," Herrera says.
Jenson said he doesn't play to his full potential out there and that he would love to play for a boys team if one were available. But, he said that playing with girls helps him hone his skills in a sport he loves.
The family hopes to find out if No. 20 will be allowed to play in Friday night's game.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:09 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:09:59 GMT
New York State has 17,000 highway bridges. There are some bad ones. The Tappan Zee Bridge, for example, is set to be replaced because of aging infrastructure.
New York State has 17,000 highway bridges. There are some bad ones. The Tappan Zee Bridge, for example, is set to be replaced because of aging infrastructure.
Authorities say police divers will be back in the Hudson River to resume the search for a man who went into the water while fishing from an Albany-area dock.
Authorities say police divers will be back in the Hudson River to resume the search for a man who went into the water while fishing from an Albany-area dock.
Friday, May 24 2013 12:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:50:33 GMT
County sheriffs have asked to join the federal lawsuit challenging New York's tough new gun restrictions, calling some provisions vague and impossible to enforce fairly.
County sheriffs have asked to join the federal lawsuit challenging New York's tough new gun restrictions, calling some provisions vague and impossible to enforce fairly.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:50 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:50:04 GMT
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Heavy downpours sparked flash flooding across the tristate area on Thursday. The National Weather Service issued numerous weather alerts for many counties in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:08 PM EDT2013-05-23 02:08:29 GMT
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
A bus chaperone is accused of going on a profanity-laced tirade towards a group of 12 and 13-year-olds and a piece of candy may be what started the incident.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 6:15 PM EDT2013-05-22 22:15:21 GMT
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
An Army soldier has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:10 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:10:21 GMT
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule Wednesday morning on one of the nation's oldest and most heavily traveled railways.
