It is interesting how certain events in our lives end up shaping us in ways we can hardly imagine while they are happening. These are some key events in my life and some key lessons they provided:

Philanthropic Endeavors, Awards and Honors

All-American Selections

Half Hollow Hill East – 1977
Named to the United States Lacrosse Coaches Association High School All-American Team. One of twelve Half Hollow Hill East student-athletes to be named as an All-American.

Hofstra University – 1980
Named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association All-American Team.

Awards, Achievements and Records

1977 selected as the recipient of the Suffolk County Ray Enners Award winner. The Lt. Ray Enners Award is given to one lacrosse player in Suffolk County by the Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association. The winner must be an All-County player and an athlete who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership.

1977 The only high school athlete to be selected and participate in both the Suffolk County North – South ALL-Star Football Game and the North – South ALL-Star Lacrosse Game. Started at running back on the North Football Team and also started at Attack for the North Lacrosse Team.

1977 Featured in America’s Names and Faces for high school football and lacrosse career accomplishments, Who’s Who in High School Football for Half Hollow Hills rushing and scoring records, Newsday’s Long Island All-Star Lacrosse Teams, and a leading vote getter for the NY Daily News Top Athlete Award.

Half Hollow Hills East Lacrosse
1977 Suffolk County Scoring Champion 6.0 ppg. Also holds Half Hollow Hills East lacrosse all time single season assist record.

1976 Leading Scorer
1977 Leading Scorer

Half Hollow Hills East Varsity Football
1975 Suffolk County League One Scoring and Rushing Champion.

In three years 1974, 1975 and 1976 set both scoring and rushing records. Scored 170 points and rushed for 2155 yards.
Received the Half Hollow Hill Coaches Award for varsity football career accomplishments.

1974 Leading Scorer
1975 Leading Scorer, Leading Rusher
1976 Leading Scorer, Leading Rusher

1975 Suffolk County League One Football Championship Team

Half Hollow Hills East Varsity Basketball
1974-1975 Season (Playoffs)

Naval Academy Prep School
1978 Leading Scorer

Hofstra University
1980 Leading Scorer

1980 Established a Sophomore record of 4.9 points-per-game that still stands today. This ranked as the second highest points-per-game average in Hofstra Lacrosse history at the time and currently ranks as fourth best on the all time Hofstra list.

1980 one of only 3 players to tally 8 or more points at least 3 times in a single season.

1980 scored 29 points in the team’s last four victories.

1979 team assist leader.
1980 team assist leader.

Half Hollow Hills High School

The (Almost) Undefeated Season
The stage was set: Half Hollow Hills HS football vs. Walt Whitman HS football. We were playing what amounted to the championship game. We had the ball and the lead with one minute to play. The championship and the undefeated season were ours. I remember the coach telling me to protect the ball, but “if you can break one than do it”. Then on the next play someone strips the ball, Whitman recovers and goes on to score a winning touchdown. In one play, what should have been turned into what could have been.

For years, I blamed myself. It was my job to protect the ball. The worst thing was that I did not only affect myself, I affected everyone else. Everyone - coaches, players, parents and fans in the stands - went from celebration to disbelief in that one moment.

There are two things I learned from this. First, never take anything for granted. You have to keep your total focus on the game until the final play. Second, you never know when one action on your part can affect so many others. Sometimes it is even more powerful motivator to know how much impact your actions can have on others.

West Hollow Jr. High School Goes Undefeated [see more]

Junior High School doesn’t count, or does it? Today, freshman and sophomores routinely play on varsity teams, but that was not the case in my day. Back in 1973 and 1974, I played on basketball, football and lacrosse teams that collectively went 29-0-1. Although that may not be impressive to most - bear in mind we are talking about junior high school - it helped form a foundation for both my personal and professional life. To be successful in an exclusively sales capacity, with no salary nor with any guaranteed income one needs to reach down deep inside and draw on an inner strength to survive the rough patches along the way. I never forgot that year and its impact on me has not been forgotten even to this day. You strive for success and excellence, and whenever I need to be reminded of that, my mind returns to that incredible season.

So for me Junior High School does count.

Thank you to Bill Russo, Lou Dominick, George Paulsen, Paul Sanit, Ken Bariahtaris, Jerome Merkerson, Tony Taylor, Willie Merkerson, Charles Molinelli and Steve Spinelli for the memories.

Huntington Boys Club

Huntington Boys Club was my introduction to organized football where I played for the legendary Pop Warner and HBC football coach John Daly. I was the leading scorer and rusher for John Daly’s teams in ‘66, ‘67, ‘68, ‘69, ‘70, and ‘71.

We won game after game, championship after championship, season after season. Coach Daly and his highly competent coaching staff compiled an amazing winning percentage, which few – if any – could boast.

I was fortunate to have played for a great coach, with great teams and with terrific teammates.

Thank you John Daly (Head Coach), John Daly (Son), Coach Sanford Hammer, Kenny Hammer, Stan Sanit, Paul Sanit, Steven Breitner, Robert Remini, Bob Ferrigno, Jimmy Clark and Billy Bodemer.

Tributes: Players, Teams and Games

Rob Pannell – All-American Lacrosse Player
  * Cornell University highlight reel
  * Deerfield Academy highlight reel
  * Smithtown West highlight reel

Jerry Figgianni – All-County 1977 Sachem Football
  * 1977 highlight reel

Tom Kessler – Hofstra Lacrosse All-Time Leading Goal Scorer
  * Hofstra University Lacrosse highlight reel

Kevin Huff – Hofstra Football and Lacrosse Star
  * Huff inducted into LIMLF Hall of Fame

Louis DiBlasi - Player, Coach, Author
  * DiBlasi biography

Joe Ferraro - Smithtown High School and Hofstra University
  * Vinny Sombrotto, Joe Ferraro and Steven Sombrotto
  * Punting for Hofstra Football
  * Punting for Smithtown HS Football
  * Photo of Joe

Anthony Perettine - Hofstra University Lacrosse Scoring Champion
  * Former Hofstra University Lacrosse Scoring Champion
  * Laxers Get Back on Track - Chronicle Sports
  * Lax Hosts Hofstra - The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
  * Laxers Ready for 1985 Season
  * Hofstra edges Navy 14-13 on Perettine last minute goal
  * Hofstra Beats Lafayette in Lacrosse
  * Youthful Hofstra Stops Maryland,
  * Hofstra vs. U Penn - Final Lacrosse Stat Sheet
  * 1983 Hofstra Lacrosse - Year End Final Men’s Stats
  * Penn Topples Hofstra in Overtime
  * Dutchmen Demolish Lafayette

Mark Cox – Hofstra Football
  * Hofstra higlight reel #1
  * Hofstra higlight reel #2
  * Hofstra higlight reel #3

Bob Quinlan - Hofstra Lacrosse All-American
  * Hofstra Lacrosse Season Recap
  * Photo 1

Paul Sanit - Half Hollow Hills / Hofstra Lacrosse
  * Hofstra Lacrosse Season Recap
  * Photo 1
  * Photo 2

Brian Myers - Half Hollow Hills / Hofstra Lacrosse
  * Meet the Flying Dutchmen
  * Photo 1
  * Photo 2

Kevin Smith - Hofstra Lacrosse
  * Meet the Flying Dutchmen
  * Photo 1

Jim McGrath - Hofstra Lacrosse
  * Meet the Flying Dutchmen
  * Photo 1

Scott Mclam - Half Hollow Hills Football & Lacrosse Star
  * Photo 1
  * TD Twins Score On and Off Grid
  * Metzger Misses Sidekick
  * Hills Grinds Tigers, 38-8
  * Football Images

Steve Forenza - Hofstra Lacrosse Player
  * Meet the Flying Dutchmen

Ed Wallace - Hofstra Lacrosse All-American
  * Meet the Flying Dutchmen

Jerry Simandl - Hofstra Lacrosse All-Time Leading Scorer
  * Dutch Stickmen Rip Yale

Harry Royle- Hofstra Hall of Famer
  * Coaching Staff Bio
  * Coaching Staff Bio(1980)
  * Newspaper clips

Chris Kearney
  * Coaches’ All-Star Selections
  * Chris and Jim Football Photo
  * Half Hollow Hills Football Season Recap

Joe Masone
  * Dutch Stickmen Rip Yale

Bill Russo - West Hollow Legendary Football and Lacrosse Coach
  * West Hollow Coaches

Lou Dominick - West Hollow Legendary Football Coach
  * West Hollow Coaches

E. David Woycik - Former Hofstra Lacrosse Player
  * Woycik named Pride Club President
  * Catching up with David Woycik