Tom Combs has been selected as the new Executive Director of Section XI. He was selected by the Section XI Executive Board and his tenure will begin on July 1, 2017.

Combs will replace Don Webster, who is retiring from the post he has held since 2014.

“I am extremely excited and honored to be the next Executive Director of Section XI,” said Combs, who has served as the Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health and Health Services of the Patchogue-Medford School District since 2003. “I follow some great individuals who came before me, and I can only hope that I live up to their expectations. Together with our staff, we will continue to make Section XI one of the best high school athletic associations, not only in New York, but in the country.”

Combs, who will retire from his role with Patchogue-Medford at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and step into his new position, has worked collaboratively with Section XI on a number of committees over the years, including the Tournament, Seed, Athletic and Finance committees. He has also previously served as the President of the Suffolk County Athletic Directors Association.

Combs began his career as a physical education teacher and coach in the Gallipolis City School District in Gallipolis, Ohio in 1980. After three years, he moved back home to Long Island and taught and coached in Patchogue-Medford from 1983-1990 before teaching and coaching in the Harborfields Central School District from 1990-2003.

A graduate of Ashland College with a Bachelor’s of Science in physical education and health, Combs attended Stony Brook University for a Master’s of Science in health education, and his professional diploma in school district administration.

A successful football coach for a number of years, Combs is a member of the Harborfields High School Hall of Fame, the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, and the Smithtown School District Athletic Hall of Fame.

As a football coach at Harborfields, Combs won two Rutgers Trophy’s in 1995 and 1996, as well as two Long Island crowns and five county titles.

“Tom brings great leadership to his new role as the Executive Director of Section XI,” said Webster. “His experience, commitment and dedication to the student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and fans of Suffolk County will continue to move us forward in our mission of providing positive, enjoyable athletic experiences for all. I wish Tom much success and look forward to working with him over the next few months to assist him in any way possible.”

Combs will be just the sixth person to serve as Executive Director of Section XI since 1966.

Section XI Executive Director Lineage
• W. Homer Ball, 1966-1973
• Joseph J. Barlin, 1973-1982
• Catherine D. Gallagher, 1982 – 2003
• Edward A. Cinelli, 2003 -2014
• Donald F. Webster, 2014 – 2017
• Thomas J. Combs, tenure beings July 1, 2017

Learn more about at SectionXI.org, Facebook.com/SectionXI, on Twitter @SectXISuffolk or Instagram @SectXISuffolk.

Mets pitcher and Suffolk County native Steve Matz held a pitching clinic at his alma mater last week.

The “Meet the Matz” clinic was a big hit for local kids and youth coaches.

Ward Melville alum and new Mets prospect Anthony Kay was also on hand, as well as Ward Melville coaches, Lou Petrucci and Ron Muscarella.

Section XI football chair Tim Horan says the, “Tommy Tough Standards have had the greatest single positive impact on player safety in the past 25 plus years!”

And when you combine the Tommy Tough Standards with the newly implemented ‘Player Contact Limitation’ guidelines, the officials/coaches sideline management, the introduction of new helmet technology, the greater awareness and diagnosis of head injuries/concussions, and the improvement in return to play protocols, risks are significantly reduced for football players.

Through the vision of the Cutinella family and the stakeholders of Suffolk County football, Section XI designed and implemented the Tommy Tough Football Standards this past year, in an effort to minimize risks for players. This has resulted in the most profound positive culture shift in a sport in decades and significantly reduced risks for all Section XI football players.  This culture change would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of Section XI and the Section XI athletic directors, coaches, officials, parents and spectators.

Through the educational and awareness program embedded in the Tommy Tough Standards, all stakeholders are providing vital support in providing a comprehensive program that minimizes risks for all players. Athletic directors are coordinating professional development opportunities for their football coaches; football coaches are learning and teaching current techniques designed to minimize risks for players; officials are empowered to make safety related calls; players, spectators and parents are being educated and embracing their role in minimizing risks. In addition, officials are educating 100% of the players prior to each contest about their shared responsibility to minimize risks for themselves and their opponent; coaches are educating parents at preseason meetings; communities are making public address ‘player safety announcements’ during games; and players are learning the definition of player fouls such as targeting, defenseless player hits and illegal helmet contact, rather than leaving it up to chance. With the newly introduced Tommy Tough Football Standards, when a player is called for targeting, illegal helmet contact and/or a defenseless player hit, they must be removed from the game for a minimum of 1 play, in addition to the penalty yardage.

USA Football, endorsed by the NYSPHSAA, provides a comprehensive workshop designed to teach football coaches current ‘best practices’ and has been an important partner of Section XI in the effort to minimize risks for players. They continue to update their curriculum annually and provide professional development opportunities which train coaches to be a ‘Player Safety Coach.’ In 2016, thanks to a grant from the NY Jets, the large majority of Section XI and Section VIII football programs have had coaches receive this training and distinction. Both counties look forward to attending future USA Football trainings.

The Tommy Tough Standards are in memory of Thomas Cutinella, who was a son, a brother, a nephew, a friend and a student athlete in the Shoreham Wading River community, who tragically died on October 2, 2014 from playing football. Tommy was a bright light in the SWR community. He was intelligent, athletic and a leader in his community, who wanted to attend West Point and serve his country. The Tommy Tough Standards are one important way Thomas Cutinella continues to serve us all. It’s a tribute to the way he lived his life and now it’s a tribute to Tommy on how he continues to serve us all.

There have been countless former Suffolk County student-athletes who have gone on to serve our country since the turn of the 20th century.

Section XI will be honoring veterans from the area with occasional posts. Look out for them on SectionXI.org, and our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

First up is Algy Augunas, who played baseball at Bay Shore High School and graduated in 1939. He died tragically during World War II and his story received considerable press at the time.

Algy became the radio operator on the B-29,  “Mission to Albuquerque.

As radio operator, Algy was awarded Medals of Commendation for his stead fast guidance while escorting damaged or crippled planes home to Saipan, or if they had to ditch after bombing missions over Japan relaying rescue information.

Algy was born and raised in Bay Shore, New York, on Long Island.  He graduated from high school in 1939, where he excelled in his passion-baseball.  A hot-hitting shortstop, he was admired as a leader and play maker by his teammates and coaches, and may have been one of the best ball players to ever graduate from  Bay Shore High School.

After high school, Algy continued his playing career at High Point College in North Carolina and the University of South Carolina. He also attended Babe Ruth’s Baseball School in Florida, before signing a professional contract with the Gloversville, New York Club.
Algy went to work for the Republic Aviation Corp., where he continued to play baseball on a traveling team.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor put his baseball career on hold indefinitely.

Like millions of other young men,  he wanted to get into the fight. He enlisted in the Army on 1 February 1943,  and he went off to war volunteering for the Air Corp.

Algy accomplished everything asked of him in the Army, and qualified as a radio operator.

In the summer of 1944, he joined a B-29 crew that was to be led by A/C Major Robert Fitzgerald.  Upon final completion of their training, Algy and the crew left for the Pacific via Sacramento, Hawaii, and Kwajalein, and arrived on Saipan in early November, 1944.  This crew would prove to be outstanding.  Their airplane garnered the nickname of the “St. Bernard”, due to the number of damaged or crippled B-29’s escorted home to Saipan after their bombing missions.

Algy’s story is one of interesting consequences, that are now remembered by historic proportions. His memory and honor will never be forgotten.

CLICK to read the full story about Algy!

Ithaca College has had a connection with Brentwood High School wrestling for nearly 70 years. It dates back to when legendary coach Joe Campo went to IC and continues today with other alumni associated with both schools.

The college recently published an article explaining the interesting connections and lineage.

From the story:

An epic poem about members of the Brentwood High School wrestling team might read a little like Homer’s Odyssey. After all, Homer’s story and wrestling were born in the same part of the world, and where you come from can have a lot to do with where you’re going.

CLICK HERE TO READ!