Alexandra Martinolich Captures William Class Scholarship

Bill Class came to Huntington in 1929 and over the next three decades established a standard for excellence that continues to this day in the Blue Devil athletic program. He retired 49 years ago and passed away in August 1984, but he will is still remembered by many in the community for raising the profile of Huntington High School.

A scholarship in Coach Class' honor was presented last week to senior Alexandra Martinolich at the 44th Huntington High School Senior Athletic Awards Banquet. The senior has been a standout scholar and athlete. A member of the high honor roll for the past four years, she holds a 100.72 grade point average and has challenged herself with a selection of honors and Advanced Placement classes while competing on several varsity teams.

Ms. Martinolich probably never heard of Coach Class before receiving the award, but now the two are forever linked in a special way in Blue Devil history. Even the very gym where the award was presented has a clear connection to the famed former sports mentor.

Coach Class was a giant in teaching and sports. He developed a modern physical education program at a time when few existed and his teams won numerous county championships in football and baseball. He believed in his heart that every student should participate in athletics to provide them with a well-rounded education and to help create school and community spirit.

During last week's awards dinner, Mike Connell, Mr. Class' grandson, read a short profile of the man who spearheaded the early development of Huntington's sports program as the district's athletic director and leading coach. Mr. Class is a man who is still very much respected by several generations of Blue Devil athletes living in the area and around the country.

The Class scholarship is awarded annually to a college bound male or female athlete who has participated in three varsity sports, demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement, character, leadership and sportsmanship qualities both in the playing arena and the classroom.

Ms. Martinolich will attend Macaulay Honors College at CUNY-Hunter College in the fall on a full scholarship with a long list of other perks. She has dreams of possibly double majoring in biology or math and art.

"Her coaches have relied on her as a leader by example and know that she has had a great impact on the different programs that she has participated in," said Mr. Connell about Ms. Martinolich.

At one time or another Ms. Martinolich has participated on the field hockey, cross country, fencing and spring track teams, receiving All-County honors three times in fencing and All-League recognition in track on two different occasions. She will likely receive additional honors for the recently completed spring track season. The senior has been a state scholar-athlete throughout high school.

Coach Class graduated from Cortland State Teachers College in 1927 and in 1929 came to Huntington where he coached football, basketball and baseball, and started the wrestling program in 1937, coaching that team, too, for two seasons. Serving as the athletic director, Class put together the framework for a modern sports program.

"He won county championships in football in 1946, 1947 and 1948," Mr. Connell said. "He won seven county championships in baseball from 1929 to 1952."

In 1954 coach Class turned over his coaching duties to his trusted assistants and became the administrative head of physical education and health, special services and transportation, eventually overseeing the construction of a new Huntington High School. He retired from the district in 1963.

At a testimonial dinner held in his honor, high school principal Robert Cushman said "Coach Class never permitted himself to do less than his best, and he couldn't tolerate slipshod habits among his boys. Another characteristic was to teach students to play the game and then let them use their own initiative and ingenuity. His methods of training were characterized by refinement, and he never used profanity."

When asked once how athletics had affected his life, Mr. Class responded, "The opportunity to work with young men to improve their ability and knowledge of the game and to instill the desire and drive to be good in their chosen field has been both challenging and rewarding as a life's work."

Ms. Martinolich was presented with a handsome plaque and the financial stipend the scholarship carries. A separate, permanent plaque hangs in the main athletic showcase in the lobby outside Louis D. Giani Gymnasium with the engraved names of all the Class Scholarship winners through the years.

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