The New York City high school football player of the year is….Isaiah Wilson!

Isaiah is from Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn. At six-foot-seven, many of us literally look up to him. His shoulders are about as wide.

Isaiah is an offensive tackle. He received the 2016 New York City Player of the Year presented by the New York City Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame. My company, The Whitmore Group, sponsored the award, and I had the honor to introduce this fine young man and to present him with the award. He’s a fabulous scholar-athlete, soft-spoken and humble, and he immediately thanked his mother for all he has been able to accomplish during his early years.

Coached by Kevin Fountaine, Isaiah is headed to the University of Georgia to play for the Bulldogs. He was the second ranked prospect nationally in the ESPN Top 300.

Other accolades for Isaiah include the American Family Insurance 2016 USA Today All-USA second team and the 2016 New York State Player of the Year. He also was a first team All New York State selection by the New York State Sports Writers Association during his junior and senior years.

Along with Isaiah, 11 other outstanding New York City high school football players were honored at the 2016 “Elite Eleven” Scholar-Athlete Award Banquet presented by the local chapter of the NFF. The awards acknowledge the top high school football players from the five boroughs, recognizing them for their performance on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities. The award criteria is 40 percent based on GPA and academic achievement, 40 percent based on football ability and achievement, and 20 percent based on leadership, school and community involvement.

When I introduced Isaiah as New York City’s high school football player of the year, I invited him, along with the 11 other honorees, to visit with me whenever they end their football careers. I am always scouting for new talent, and these athletes represent the young people I want on my business team in the future.

Congratulations to the “Elite Eleven” scholar-athletes:

The Bronx

• Christian Anderson – Cardinal Hayes High School, Coach C.J. O’Neill
• Matt Conlon – Fordham Prep High School, Coach Peter Gorynski

Brooklyn

• Robert Deleon-Kollmer – Poly Prep Country Day, Coach Kevin Fountaine
• Seba Nekhet – Fort Hamilton High School, Coach Daniel Perez

• Jerell Gray – New Utrecht High School, Coach Alan Balkan
• John Hemminger – Brooklyn Tech High School, Coach Kyle McKenna

Staten Island

• Dominick Anderson – St. Joseph by the Sea High School, Coach Michael Corona
• Damian Ostaszewski – Curtis High School, Coach Peter Gambardella
• A.J. Mistler – St. Peter’s Boys High School, Coach Mark DeCristoforo
• Dustin Rubenstein, McKee Staten Island Technical High School, Coach Anthony Ciadella
• Adley Raboy – Monsignor Farrell High School, Coach Tony Garolfalo

Karen Newsman is a world-class triathlete, dietitian, wife and mother of three boys. When the secrets of her eating disorders again controlled her and filled her with shame, she gravitated into a career as a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in clinical nutrition.

Soon after, she begged God to end it all. As she continued to battle the eating issues, Karen was diagnosed with advanced, aggressive, stage-3 breast cancer. Despite the diagnosis, she finished the World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia, just days after receiving her fourth chemotherapy treatment.

Karen went on to become a seven-time All-American Triathlete and Team USA World Competitor. She won a silver medal at the 2012 Triathlon Age Group World Championships in New Zealand. A year later, Karen won four gold medals and broke the Huntsman Senior Games World Triathlon record. She has become a triathlon coach, and she has educated and encouraged people in health matters and on the track. While facing grueling treatment for the cancer, Karen has inspired thousands, drawing more than 25,000 to her “caring” blog.

Karen has received the USA Triathlon’s Most Inspirational Comeback Award, the Connecticut Sportswriters Association’s Courage Award and she was named American Cancer Society’s Determination Champion for her tireless charitable contributions.

Karen still competes and she has found another career as a motivational speaker. Her mission is to inspire others to find opportunity through their own trials, and to help people realize that they are loved, worthy, vital and never too far away or two broken to be healed.

A remarkable athlete, wife, mother and career woman!