Katia DeSimone Captures William Class Scholarship

Bill Class came to Huntington in 1929 and over the next three decades established a standard for excellence that continues to this day in the Blue Devil athletic program. He retired 50 years ago and passed away in August 1984, but he will always be remembered in the community for his work at Huntington High School. 

A scholarship in Coach Class’ honor was presented earlier this month to senior Katia DeSimone at the 45th Huntington High School senior athletic awards banquet. The teenager has been an exceptional scholar and athlete. A member of the high honor roll for the past four years, she holds a 98 grade point average and has challenged herself with a selection of some of the toughest courses in the school while competing on several varsity teams.

It is doubtful if Ms. DeSimone ever heard of Coach Class prior to receiving the award, but now the two are forever linked in Blue Devil history. Even the very gym where the award was presented can be traced back to the legendary sports mentor.

Coach Class was a giant in teaching and athletics. He developed a modern physical education program at a time when only a handful existed and his teams won numerous county championships in football and baseball. He believed deep within his heart that every student should participate in athletics to experience a more well-rounded education and to help create school and community spirit.  

During this month’s awards dinner, Mike Connell, Mr. Class’ grandson, read a short profile of the man who spearheaded the early development of Huntington’s sports program as the district’s athletic director and leading coach. Mr. Class is a man who is still revered by several generations of Blue Devil athletes living in the area and around the country. 

The Class scholarship is awarded annually to a college bound male or female athlete who has participated in three varsity sports, demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement, character, leadership and sportsmanship qualities both in the playing arena and the classroom.

Ms. DeSimone will attend Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia in the fall where she intends to study engineering and play on the field hockey and lacrosse teams. She hopes to become a Navy pilot. The Huntington senior has been on the school’s high honor roll since ninth grade and is a member of two honor societies.

“The coaches and physical education teachers will miss this outstanding young woman in the classroom and on the playing fields of Huntington,” said Mr. Connell about Ms. DeSimone.

Ms. DeSimone captained the field hockey, fencing and lacrosse teams. She earned All-County honors twice in field hockey and four times in fencing where she starred in saber. She also played a key role on the lacrosse team where her efforts at midfield helped the Blue Devils reach the Suffolk Division II semi-finals.

The teenager has performed many hours of volunteer work with school clubs and community agencies. She a recipient of the President’s Education Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and was Huntington high School’s Suffolk Zone Award honoree.

Coach Class graduated from Cortland State Teachers College in 1927 and in 1929 came to Huntington where he coached football, basketball and baseball, and started the wrestling program in 1937, coaching that team, too, for two seasons. Serving as the athletic director, Class put together the framework for a modern sports program.

“He won county championships in football in 1946, 1947 and 1948,” Mr. Connell said. “He won seven county championships in baseball from 1929 to 1952.”

In 1954 coach Class turned over his coaching duties to his trusted assistants and became the administrative head of physical education and health, special services and transportation, eventually overseeing the construction of a new Huntington High School. He retired from the district in 1963.

At a testimonial dinner held in his honor, high school principal Robert Cushman said “Coach Class never permitted himself to do less than his best, and he couldn’t tolerate slipshod habits among his boys. Another characteristic was to teach students to play the game and then let them use their own initiative and ingenuity. His methods of training were characterized by refinement, and he never used profanity.”

When asked once how athletics had affected his life, Mr. Class responded, “The opportunity to work with young men to improve their ability and knowledge of the game and to instill the desire and drive to be good in their chosen field has been both challenging and rewarding as a life’s work.”

Ms. DeSimone was presented with a handsome plaque and the $250 stipend the scholarship carries. A separate, permanent plaque hangs in the main athletic showcase in the lobby outside Louis D. Giani Gymnasium with the engraved names of all the Class Scholarship winners through the years.

William Class Memorial Scholarship Award Winners

1985    - Joseph Zirpolo

1986    - Peter Marshall

1987    - Justin Carey

1988    - Tara Mizell

1989    - Karen Fischer

1990    - John P. Paci III

1991    - Brian Shanley

1992    - Daniel Maier

1993    - Kristin Detor

1994    - Brian Bentley

1995    - Margaret and Jennifer Tietjen

1996    - Caroline Turner

1997    - Susan Fiore

1998    - Dawid Rechul

1999    - Douglas Logigian

2000    - Karen Sulinski

2001    - Donna McCann

2002    - Meghan Turner

2003    - Kathryn Lee

2004    - Kevin Beck

2005    - Erin Coffey

2006    - John Lee

2007    - Jacqueline Bodnar

2008    - Leslie O’Brien

2009    - Kerry Hicks

2010    - Meredith McCourt

2011    - Sarah Ehrman

2012    - Alexandra Martinolich

2013    - Katia DeSimone