Huntington Seniors Honored at Athletic Banquet

 senior athletes received awards and scholarships at the high school's 43rd annual  Thursday night for their efforts throughout the year.

Eight distinguished seniors were awarded scholarships, while 61 student-athletes were awarded trophies by the coaches of the school's 29 varsity sports. Fourteen of those athletes were awarded Gold Key Awards for garnering eight or more varsity letters during their athletic careers.

A $750 William Class scholarship was awarded to Sarah Ehrman, who also received awards for her play on the , and teams. Ehrman, who won a earlier in the school year, will attend in the fall.

Also receiving a scholarship was Louis Puca, who was awarded the $500 G. Michael Rizzo Memorial Scholarship. Puca also received an award from coach Kieran Mock.

Puca was the only student-athlete to speak at the ceremony, something he did at the behest of his classmates.

"Everyone was begging me to make a speech," he said. "You have to give the people what they want."

After claiming in his speech that there were no such thing as guarantees, Puca made one anyway. "You have not seen the last of Lou Puca," he told the crowd. "Whether I become famous or not, if I die, you'll see me in the news."

Two Ray Deren Memorial Scholarships (awarded by athletic director Georgia McCarthy in honor of her father, a former athletic director himself) were awarded to Peter Kingston and Emma Hayes-Hurley. Kingston did not receive any individual awards, but he had significant roles on the school’s and teams. Hayes-Hurley received awards for her play on the soccer and lacrosse teams.

Hayes-Hurley, who will attend  in the fall, received a special acknowledgement from boys basketball coach Brad Reminick, who previously coached her on the girls basketball team and was an assistant on the girls lacrosse team.

“You have made coaching the game[s] of basketball and lacrosse so enjoyable over the past four years,” said coach Reminick. “I just wanted to thank you for letting me be a small part of your success.”

Dante Allen, who will attend Stony Brook in the fall on a full scholarship, was awarded a $100 scholarship by the Huntington PTA. Allen received awards from his football and spring track coaches and also participated in .

“This year, he went to the weight room, did all of the things that were necessary, and got bigger, stronger and faster,” said football coach Steve Muller.

Patrick O’Brien, a member of the boys lacrosse team and a winner of a boys swimming award, received the Fred Cambria Memorial Scholarship. The award was presented to him by lacrosse coach Paul McDermott.

Richard Fernandez and Mia Rienzo were given Sportsmanship Awards by the school’s booster club. Fernandez also won an award for winter track, while Rienzo won awards for and fencing.