Eren Aydin learned how to dribble a soccer ball a short time after beginning to walk. Currently playing on one of the top club teams in the country, the Huntington High School senior has officially committed to play the sport at SUNY Geneseo.
Huntington High School Eren Aydin is headed to SUNY Geneseo.
Mr. Aydin and his parents recently visited Geneseo’s campus, spent time with head coach Mark Howlett and the team’s players, toured the impressive facilities, including a pair of new turf fields and a state of the art sports video room and dined in the local area.
The visit was enough to convince the teenager that he wanted to spend the next four years studying business at the college and playing soccer there. “I am very excited to be joining Geneseo’s program,” Mr. Aydin said. “Mark [Howlett] is a really good guy and he treated us very nicely. There is a great group of players that made me feel right at home.”
The Huntington senior plays on the Brentwood Arsenal NPL 01 club team, which is ranked No. 1 in New York State and No. 3 in the United States. Mr. Aydin was scouted by college coaches at tournaments and showcases and pursued by several schools before committing to SUNY Geneseo.
Mr. Aydin’s parents, Hatice and Halil immigrated to the United States from Turkey. They wanted any children they had to be born in America. Halil, who works as a contractor, played soccer for his local team in Turkey. Hatice works as a cook in Huntington UFSD’s food service program.
The senior’s spring semester academic schedule includes classes in Media Art, Advanced Algebra, Astronomy, Sports Literature, Health and Participation. Mr. Aydin is doing well in school. He notched a 92 grade average during the second marking period.
The teenager’s closest friends include Rudy Salmeron, Jaden Dipina, Elian Pimentel, Alex Rivera and Cristian Garay. His favorite teachers have been Joann Ferazi, Amelia Saggese, Michael Schwendemann and Patricia Avelli.
Mr. Aydin played soccer at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Huntington High School. He has consistently been one of the top scorers on any team that he’s played on, whether it be indoors or outdoors. He recently completed an indoor season at Coindre Hall and was honored after leading all players with 26 goals over 16 games.
The senior’s club team has been practicing all winter and is gearing up for a tournament in New Rochelle. He’s also training at a gym in Greenlawn. Mr. Aydin can’t wait to take the field for Geneseo.
“My goal is to lead Geneseo to an NCAA championship and to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business,” he said. Founded in 1871 and boasting an undergraduate enrollment of about 5,500, SUNY Geneseo is located 35 miles southwest of Rochester. It offers 50 academic degree programs and 27 interdisciplinary minors.
While he’s completely American, having been born in Huntington Hospital, Mr. Aydin retains affection for his ancestral roots in Turkey. He has accompanied his parents back to their homeland on vacations to see relatives left behind and has taken delight at swimming in the Black Sea and experiencing a culture very different that than in the US.
As the senior’s time at Huntington High School grows shorter, Mr. Aydin reflected on the four years he has spent in the building and all that has transpired since his first day of kindergarten at Flower Hill Primary School.
“It has been a great experience,” Mr. Aydin said. “I’ve been taught a lot of life lessons that I will carry on in my future. The staff has always helped me with anything I needed and I very much appreciate that.”
