Emily Plachta and Max Rentsch are both great athletes and the two Huntington High School juniors are near the top of the Class of 2022 academically, too.
The pair of Blue Devil greats will be participating the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Student Leadership Conference on March 5.
Top scholar athletes from across the state have been asked to participate in the event, which is being held in a virtual format this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Plachta and Mr. Rentsch are both currently starters on their respective Blue Devil basketball team. Each of them is on Huntington’s High Honor Roll.
NYSPHSAA asked high schools across the state to nominate one male and one female student-athlete to participate in the day-long event.
The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and run through 2:30 p.m. Following a keynote address on mental toughness, there will be workshops on nutrition for student-athletes, college and career mapping, diversity and inclusion and service. A second keynote address will focus on the athlete’s experience during COVID.
Emily Plachta
Emily Plachta has compiled an exceptional academic record. “This year, I am very excited to take Advanced Placement Environmental Science and AP Chemistry as well as AP US History with Mr. [Kenneth] Donovan,” she said. “I’m also really excited to work with Mrs. [Kristin] Singer again this year in AP Studio Art: Drawing.”
Last summer she volunteered with Huntington Warriors to help provide local children with books and clothes. She intends to continue with the group during the school year. Ms. Plachta is also “very excited” to continue her virtual internship at Mount Sinai Cystic Fibrosis Center.
The teenager is interested in a career in the medical field, “most likely as a doctor or medical engineer,” Ms. Plachta said. “As for colleges, I have been looking in the Northeast at schools that have great pre-med programs. Some of these schools include the University of Pennsylvania, American University, Princeton University and Bucknell University.”
Max Rentsch
Max Rentsch makes everything look easy, all with a smile on his face. His parents instilled in him the value of a good education. His father is a college professor and his brother is a freshman at Northwestern University in Illinois. He works hard to earn good grades.
“The courses that most interest me this year are the Virtual Enterprise business class and my social studies class,” Mr. Rentsch said. “I am looking forward to keep working with Mrs. [Suzi] Biagi, my Virtual Enterprise teacher.”
A member of the National Honor Society and the English Honor Society, Mr. Rentsch volunteers with the high school’s Habitat for Humanity and Key Club chapters.
The junior said there have been many teachers over the years “who have stood out to me and made my high school experience a lot better,” Mr. Rentsch said. “One of them is Mr. [Fred] Bisogno, who I have already had twice as a teacher. I really enjoy his class.”
The teenager hasn’t developed a list of college possibilities just yet, but it will most likely be based around their business and marketing programs.
“My experience at Huntington High School has been great and fun and I look forward to another year here,” Mr. Rentsch said.
