Even as the school year comes to a close, accolades and achievements continue to roll in for local student-athletes, including college signings and Dellecave Award announcements.
The Dellecave Awards are given to one or two student-athletes from each Suffolk County high school every year in memory of Gaetano (Butch) Dellecave, an educator, official, and coach who was said to have had a lasting impact on interscholastic sports. This year’s round of awards was the 24th year they were given jointly by the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, the Butch Dellecave Foundation, and Newsday.
East Hampton’s recipients were Emma McGrory, who plays field hockey and lacrosse, and Charlie Corwin, a standout football and lacrosse player. McGrory is headed to Stonehill College in Massachusetts to play N.C.A.A. Division I field hockey next year, while Corwin is headed to Dickinson College in Pennsylvania to play lacrosse in Division III.
“They’re two of our very best,” said Kathy Masterson, East Hampton’s athletic director. “They are always willing to help, are very participatory, they stand up for what is right on and off the field, and are just wonderful human beings.”
For Pierson High School in Sag Harbor, Justin Gardiner and Lily Perello were the Dellecave honorees. Perello is a field hockey and lacrosse player, while Gardiner runs cross-country and plays baseball.
East Hampton has several athletes set to play in college, and some of them were honored recently at a signing ceremony. Among them is Dylan Cashin, who actually graduated from high school on Monday, a few days early, because she’s due to arrive Wednesday at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where she is joining the triathlon team.
Nick Ward committed to play football at Ottawa University in Kansas, while Zack Dodge is headed to Tomkins Cortland Community College in Dryden, N.Y., for baseball. Six seniors committed to play soccer in college: John Bustamante, Gary Gutama, and Chris Guallpa will be teammates at the State University at Canton, Brian Tacuri and Jeremy Ortiz are both headed to Marywood University in Scranton, Pa., and Kevin Hilario will play at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.
“When you’re going to play a sport at that next level, it’s a lot of discipline and dedication,” Masterson said. “It’s a very proud moment for these young men and women.”
