Section XI was well represented with this year’s New York State Athletic Administrator’s Awards at the local level.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR: Timothy Horan School District: West Islip Public Schools
A member in good standing of the NYSAAA who has made an outstanding contribution to athletics over the years. This person has shown evidence of devotion and idealism to athletics through the NYSAAA and has demonstrated their influence and power in the promotion of athletics in a positive manner.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE: Frank Cutinella Position: The Thomas Cutinella Memorial Foundation (Tommy Tough Football Standards)
Awarded to a person, not an athletic administrator, who has made a significant contribution to athletics over the years.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Edward P. Morris, Commissioner Position: Town of Brookhaven Parks Department
Given to an organization that has made outstanding contributions to athletics over the years. The organization should have evidenced support and contributions to the NYSAAA on the State and local levels.

JUDITH A. MARTENS, SECRETARIAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Barbara Vetrano School District: Kings Park Central School District
Awarded to a secretary of an athletic administrator who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to athletics at the local level for a minimum of five years.

Our communication’s staff found this video from the TedEx series that really resonated for those in the world of high school sports.

High school football coaches and players will really appreciate it, but all student-athletes and coaches can take something from this piece.

CLICK HERE to watch the video!

File this under the subject matter of “keeping it all in perspective.”

Watch this film on sports and parents!

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is proud to announce its fall 2016 Scholar-Athlete teams. This is the 25^th year the NYSPHSAA has conducted the Scholar-Athlete program, which is sponsored by Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc.

“Congratulations to our member schools and student-athletes,” said Executive Director Robert Zayas. “We continue to be proud of this program which recognizes success in the classroom. We are excited to have the opportunity to expand this program to honor even more students for the academic excellence.”

In July 2016, the NYSPHSAA Central Committee approved numerous changes to the program which included new qualifying criteria and more individual recognition. One change in the new criteria is at least 75% of a team’s roster grade point average (GPA) must average 90.00 or above to earn Scholar-Athlete Team status. Teams who meet this standard are honored with a certificate. Also, new to the program this year is recognizing any individual who receives a 90.00 or above GPA.  Individuals reaching this plateau are honored with a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete pin.

Additionally, NYSPHSAA will now also provide recognition to any individual with a 90.00 or above GPA whose team did not qualify for the team award. These individuals are eligible to receive pins and are considered an Individual Scholar-Athlete. This fall there were 42,535 Individual Scholar-Athlete awards handed out and a total of 2,942 teams who received the Scholar-Athlete Team award.

A School of Excellence Award has also been added to the program which recognizes schools who have 75% of its varsity programs receive the Scholar-Athlete Team Award over the academic school year.  There will no longer be a State Champion recognized in this category.

CLICK HERE for full list of NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete teams!

Patchouge-Medford High School has renamed its basketball court in honor of U.S. Navy hero, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy.

There was a ribbon cutting ceremony held on Thursday night to honor Murphy. His family was present for the event and received Pat-Med basketball jersey’s with Murphy on the back.

The baseball field, basketball court and overall high school campus are all named in honor of Murphy.

Winter sports have officially started across New York this week.

Good luck to all student-athletes during the winter season. We’re bound to have a ton of incredible action over the next few months.

If you’re into basketball, wrestling, swimming, indoor track, cheerleading, gymnastics or fencing, there will be plenty of games to attend, stories to read and student-athletes to make magical moments.

Stay tuned to Section XI’s platforms for update all winter long!

Click here for Schedules!

Click here for Standings!

Click here for winter championship info!

Russell Athletic announced today that Huntington High School is the 2016 “Fight Like Dylan Award” recipient.

In its sixth year, the award honors high school sports teams that have used inspiring perseverance to overcome odds and achieve success through teamwork.

A panel of judges, led by Pro Football Hall of Famer, Tony Dungy, selected the recipient after reviewing submissions from across the nation.  Through this initiative, Russell Athletic will present Huntington High School with a $50,000 grant for sports apparel and equipment in a celebratory event hosted at the high school. The Huntington football team took inspiration from an honorary teammate battling a terminal disease to turn their season around and become a stronger, more inspired team that made the state playoffs.

Huntington football’s inspiration and honorary teammate was Eli Mollineaux. The Blue Devils struggled early in the season and were a longshot to make the playoffs, but Eli, who suffered from Pearson Syndrome – a mitochondrial disease – was defying his own odds at age fourteen after doctors told his parents that he would not live past kindergarten.

Eli’s infectious personality, charisma and bravery were the motivation for the Huntington football team, adopting the mantra “#bELIeve” this season in his honor. The turning point for the Blue Devils’ season came in September during a game recognizing Eli. After losing their first three games, Huntington was scheduled to face their rival, Smithtown West.

As a tribute to Eli and his courageousness, players invited the young man onto the field to score his first touchdown with 1,500 fans chanting #bELIeve. Players from both teams ran alongside him and cheered him across the goal line. The opposing team even wore Eli’s #40 jersey with his name on back, while fans held #bELIeve signs. Motivated by Eli, the team went on to win the game 42-20 and then proceeded to win five of their next six games securing their spot in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, in late October, Eli passed away, but the team and community still draw from the memory of Eli’s bravery and courage displayed during his short life.

“We are proud to be the brand that gives voice to such amazing stories of communities that have struggled, but still found success through teamwork. After careful review of all the submissions, we are proud to have Huntington High School as our 2016 Fight Like Dylan Award recipient,” said Matt Murphy, Vice President of Marketing, Russell Athletic. “The support for Eli and his determination to beat the odds is what made the story so profound, proving that the power of team can make a difference in not only one life, but an entire community.”

“Our team adopted Eli into our family the first day he took the field,” said Head Football Coach Steve Muller. “And we celebrated as teammates when he scored his touchdown, just as we now celebrate his life.”

The Huntington Blue Devils and Eli Mollineaux are a direct representation of the team message Russell Athletic espouses through the “Team On” campaign that kicked off during the 2016 football season.  Russell Athletic believes that teams can find an uncommon strength when faced with adversity and they celebrate those teams every year through this award. Not unlike the previous five recipients, the story of Huntington Football and Eli exemplifies a team finding strength and inspiration in their community. Each recipient has proudly represented the memory of Dylan Rebeor, the award’s namesake and a high school football player whose last wish selflessly was for his teammates to receive new uniforms before he passed away in 2011.

“Each year I continue to be amazed by the incredible stories of our high school athletes,” said Tony Dungy. “The Huntington High School football team has proven that you can inspire an entire community though the acts of goodwill, character and teamwork.”

Dungy, Heather Rebeor (Dylan’s Mother), and a representative from each of the past “Fight Like Dylan Award” recipients served on this year’s selection committee. To learn more about Dylan’s story, visit www.FightLikeDylan.org.

 “The story of the Huntington football team is proof of how a group of spirited individuals can make a lasting impression,” said Heather Rebeor. “It has truly been a rewarding experience to have Dylan’s legacy continue through the Russell Athletic “Fight Like Dylan” Award.”

CLICK HERE to watch Eli score!

Section XI would like to wish all of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators, parents, and supporters a very Happy Thanksgiving this year! We are so thankful to be able to serve you!

Check out some photos from the Suffolk County boys golf championships …