Tyriek Mays-McKoy has brought the crowd to its feet more than once. The Huntington High School junior is a splendid athlete, starring on the Blue Devil varsity football and indoor and outdoor track teams. Most people don’t know it and are taken by complete surprise when they learn the teenager is a spectacular photographer, too.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Mr. Mays-McKoy very hard. He was expecting to be one of Suffolk’s best on the track last spring, but the season was cancelled. This past fall’s football season was postponed and the indoor track and field season was pushed back from mid-November to early January and converted to an outdoor format. Sports are an important part of the junior’s life and without them he has felt a serious void.
![Huntington High School junior Tyriek Mays-McKoy.](../../../assets/images/2021/january/cameo-07c.jpg)
Huntington High School junior Tyriek Mays-McKoy.
Blue Devil coach Ronald Wilson has been working with Mr. Mays-McKoy stay optimistic and soldier on in the face of the disruptions caused by the health crisis.
One of the teenager’s most enjoyable activities during this challenging period has been photography and Mr. Mays-McKoy has become one of art teacher Pamela-Piffard Williams’ favorites. The veteran educator absolutely adores the images the junior has been taking for class assignments.
Mr. Mays-McKoy has been deftly handling photography class projects, displaying a keen eye for a great shot. A recent snow day assignment gave an indication of just how far his skills have grown over the past four months.
The teenager doesn’t particularly enjoy discussing his photography. He prefers to allow the images to speak for themselves.
While the Blue Devil star can’t wait for a sense of normalcy to return to his life, Ms. Mays-McKoy has found photography to be one of the most delightful activities helping him get through this tough time.