January 12, 2020 – By NJP

NJP thinks Christian Prophete of West Caldwell Tech is a star. Some would say its because he is an actor and has already made some appearances on the big screen and videos. But from our view, Christian gets kudos for his court play at WCT.

Last season, the Eagles rolled into the state playoffs with an 18-7 record but even NJP did not give them much respect in the rankings, not to mention their opponents. Most of their wins were against lesser ranked teams so they wanted to make a statement about what their team was all about. And that is just what they did with first and second-round wins as major underdogs in the North 1 Sectional. Making it to the final 16 is a major accomplishment and Christian carried his load of the responsibility quite well.

Prophete was third in NJ with 82 Blocks and crushed 137 kills in his junior year. He is a leaper as his athleticism and vertical aided his 5′ 10″ frame. Both Christian and Jayson Comacho (160 kills) return for their senior year in 2020 and we can see some fireworks as the Eagles attempt to better last season’s accomplishments.

So whether you are watching Christian on TV or on your computer or watching him perform the art of playing outstanding volleyball, it’s clear he is a winner and has much to look forward to in his future both on and off the court.

Here is our interview…

Hi Christian… can you tell us about you!

I currently attend Essex County Schools of Technology – West Caldwell Tech Campus.  Originally, I grew up in Orange, NJ and recently moved to East Orange, NJ with both my Mom and Dad. I am a senior and will be graduating this June.  I am the youngest of four (two older sisters and one older brother).

How long have you played volleyball?

I started playing volleyball four years ago when I entered West Caldwell Tech as a freshmen.

What inspired you to take up volleyball initially?

Originally, I was a basketball player when I started high school. I was approached by three juniors on the boys volleyball team who asked me if I had ever played before. These three guys encouraged me to tryout for the team because of my athletic talents. Once I started playing volleyball, I enjoyed the sport so much that I never looked back.

Who is your support group?

My support group includes my sister, Eirvkha, my volleyball coaches Ali Aryakia and Justin Bevilacqua, my teacher/coach Jacquie Cammarata, and my teammates. My sister motivates me to participate in volleyball outside of high school. She has helped me pay for camps and clinics that involve volleyball. My coaches Mr. A and Mr. B make sure I am in shape and in the right mind-set once the season begins. Ms. Camm is my biggest fan and encourages me to improve academically and athletically. Finally, my teammates push me to become a better person, leader, and athlete on and off the court.

What is your favorite volleyball story?

My favorite volleyball story took place last season during the state tournament. West Caldwell Tech earned the 13 seed and had the challenging task of competing against the top 4 and 5 seeds which were Wayne Valley and Teaneck. We went in as the underdogs and were able to win both games allowing us to move to the semi-finals against Fairlawn. These victories were extremely important to our team and school because we were the first team in school history to make it that far in the tournament.

What are your other hobbies?

My hobbies outside of volleyball include acting, working out, and assisting the girls volleyball program at West Caldwell Tech. When I am not in school or playing volleyball, I spend most of my time working out at the gym.  This past fall, I assisted the girls volleyball team at West Caldwell Tech and enjoyed working with the coaching staff and girls in all aspects of the game. Additionally, I was an extra in the Netflix Series When They See Us. (I have been acting since the 7th grade!)

Who is your favorite teammate and why?

I have two favorite teammates, Jayson Camacho and Carlos Rivera-Quinones, who are also both seniors on the volleyball team. Jayson is an all-around player for our team. He pushes me in practice every single day and makes sure that I am always on top of my game. Carlos is our libero and brings the intensity every game. He is an extreme competitor and makes sure the entire team is ready to compete. Both Jayson and Carlos are key components to our success and are expected to do great things this season.