Diya Rai-Gersappe always gives her teachers, coaches and teammates her best effort. It’s just the way the Huntington High School senior has been since her earliest days as a kindergartener at Washington Primary School.
Ms. Rai-Gersappe’s Blue Devil cross country teammates simply adore her. She works so hard and her attitude and selflessness are second to none.
Huntington senior Diya Rai-Gersappe.
The Huntington girls’ cross country team’s Senior Day was all about Ms. Rai-Gersappe this week since she’s only the senior on the squad. Truth be told; she was more than deserving to have had all the attention on this special afternoon at Sunken Meadow State Park.
“Diya is the only senior this year and has been such a consistent role model to all the underclassmen and myself,” head coach Beth Vogelsang said. “She’s referred to by the team as ‘mom’ because of her loving and caring personality along with her knack for knowing just about everything.”
Ms. Rai-Gersappe is an exceptional young woman by any standard. Sure, she earns grades that most people can only dream about, but that just scratches the surface. “I’ve known Diya since she was a freshman in PE class,” Coach Vogelsang said. “Her work ethic and motivation is incomparable to anyone I’ve ever taught or coached. She puts a lot on her plate and yet stays 100 percent focused while loving and committing to this sport and her team.”
The teenager began running with J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s cross country team as a seventh grader. “I immediately fell in love with the sport and the camaraderie of the team,” Ms. Rai-Gersappe said. “This sport requires focus and the drive to push yourself to your limit. But, what made cross country so amazing is that even though it involves grueling workouts and races, our team always manages to have a great time. I have loved being in Huntington and being a Blue Devil athlete has made my years here even more joyful!”
Ms. Rai-Gersappe’s top college choice is Columbia University, but she’s also looking at New York University, Vassar College and Boston University, among others.
“I am definitely interested in medicine,” the senior said. “I hope to major in biology, but I also like political science as a possible major.”
Ms. Rai-Gersappe’s teammates celebrated her Blue Devil career at Sunken Meadow, where the team traveled to on Tuesday for a meet against North Babylon.
“I’m so intrigued to see what path Diya chooses within the medical field in her future because I know she will be the best doctor,” Coach Vogelsang said. “We will definitely miss her and her beautiful heart.”