Deer Park Defensive End Stars for USA in Kuwait

17-year-old Thomas Reed, who graduated from Deer Park High School in June, was one of 45 players selected to represent the U.S. at the 2014 International Federation of American Football Under-19 World Championship in Kuwait.

The national team was assembled by USA Football and was coached by Aaron Brady of Pennsylvania’s Malvern Preparatory School. Reed was the first football player from Long Island to be selected for the team, which took home the gold.

After completing training camp at Shenandoah University in Winchester, V.A., Reed and his teammates headed to Kuwait where they competed from July 7 through 16 as part of an eight-nation field that included Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Kuwait and Mexico.

After defeating Mexico 49-14 in the opening game, with Reed contributing a 41-yard field goal, America went on to defeat Germany 54-0 in a game that saw Reed accomplish seven tackles and one sack. In the championship game held on July 16 at Kuwait City’s Al-Samiya Stadium, the U.S. beat Canada 40-17.

“Whatever I do is never good enough,” Reed said. “That’s how you get better and compete.”

Reed was a star member of Deer Park’s Falcons football squad and the school’s 2013 homecoming king. He will be attending Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania this fall.