Huntington Trustees Honor
Top Athletes
While they are more accustomed to cheers emanating from the bleachers, a group of exceptional Blue Devil athletes was just as happy to receive applause from the seven Huntington School Board members. Trustees honored the remarkable teenagers during a public meeting in the Jack Abrams School auditorium.
Tyriek Johnson, Gunther Cassell, Nick Lupi and Jake Goldstein were the center of attention shortly after the meeting got underway. As a crowd of about 125 listened, Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky introduced each of the athletes and listed some of their impressive achievements as they stood near the front of the room.
"The four student-athletes honored this evening exemplify hard work, determination and commitment," Mr. Polansky said. "Their outstanding academic and athletic efforts are ongoing and beyond praiseworthy. As importantly, they represent genuine role models within the school community."
Mr. Johnson won the Suffolk 55m high hurdles and long jump crowns and went on to finish fifth in the state long jump championship. "Tyriek ran the fastest hurdles time in the state championships, but tore his hamstring in the semi-finals and was unable to compete in the final race," said Mr. Polansky about the senior. "His time of 7.41 seconds in the preliminary round of the state competition was better than the eventual winning time, but his injury put him in no condition to run the race. This time put him among the elite in the United Sates."
Mr. Cassell became Huntington's first boys' state swimming champion ever when he captured the 100 yard breaststroke title in the New York finals in Buffalo. "Gunther swam a great pace in the finals, shaving a full half-second off his winning time at the county championships and was 1/100th of a second off the required time for being named an All-American outright," said Mr. Polansky about the freshman. "However, he is under consideration for All-American status and Coach Gil Smith believes he has an excellent chance of getting it. Gunther was magnificent this season and we are thrilled to have him compete in Huntington for three more years."
Trustees were also told how Mr. Lupi went from agony to ecstasy, losing a controversial decision in the Suffolk tournament, only to battle through the consolation bracket, finish third, gain a wild card entry into the state championships and finish fifth at 220 lbs. "Nick has set a personal goal of being the county, state and national champion in his weight class," said Mr. Polansky about the junior who placed fourth in the country in a tournament this spring. "This is a very reachable goal for Nick as he has an incredible work ethic."
Mr. Goldstein was unable to attend the ceremony because he was participating in an orientation program at Yale University, where he will begin taking classes in the fall. "Jake was undefeated in league competition and qualified for the state championships for the fourth consecutive year," Mr. Polansky said. "Jake broke seven school records this season."
At the state finals in Buffalo, Mr. Goldstein finished 13th in the 100 yard fly and fourth in the 100 yard breaststroke, gaining All-State honors for the third straight year. "Jake has been a superb swimmer for our program and is an outstanding young man," Mr. Polansky said.
Each of the athletes was given a special certificate by the district as coaches Gil Smith, Meg McConnell, Ron Wilson, Shawn Anderson and Kieran Mock and Director of Athletics Georgia D. McCarthy beamed from nearby.