Jeremiah Lacen is only in third grade, but the Flower Hill Primary School student has been getting a taste of the Blue Devil junior varsity football program thanks to teacher aide and Huntington gridiron coach James Byrnes.
Mr. Byrnes joined Flower Hill’s staff earlier this fall and he is already making a difference. “He is a wonderful asset to our school community and his affect reaches beyond the classroom that he is assigned to,” Principal Lucia Laguarda said.
Huntington High School football coach James G. Byrnes with Flower Hill's Jeremiah Lacen.
Mr. Lacen came to Flower Hill from an upstate school last year. He’s currently working with teacher Veronica Quinlan and the two have really hit it off.
“Veronica has gone above and beyond in building relationships with all of her students,” Ms. Laguarda said. “She has come to find out that many of them, including Jeremiah are football players and fans. She has attended some of her students’ games on the weekends. Come to find out that James Byrnes is an assistant football coach for our own Huntington Blue Devils.”
Ms. Quinlan and Mr. Byrnes met and came up with a plan. Mr. Lacen’s mother gave her permission for her son to attend some Blue Devil JV football practices and games to get a taste of the sport, including how the teammates work together to execute plays and accomplish their goals.
Mr. Lacen was on the scene with the Blue Devils last weekend and Mr. Byrnes took some video of him with the team. “To see our very own Jeremiah with that much spirit and pride makes you smile,” Ms. Laguarda said. The youngster is increasingly focused and positive about school since establishing a mentoring relationship with the football squad.
“It really is about relationships and I feel that the staff at Flower Hill should be recognized for this continued effort,” Ms. Laguarda said.