NFF Suffolk Chapter Named For Garden City Exec, Philanthropist

More than 50 of Suffolk County’s 2019 outstanding high school and college football players were honored at the annual scholar athlete awards brunch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Hauppauge on January 5. The awards were presented by the Suffolk chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame that has been renamed to honor James C. Metzger, a Long Island high school and college sports star, business executive and philanthropist.

Metzger is the founder and CEO of Whitmore – The Agency, one of the leading insurance brokerage companies in the New York City area. A three-sport star athlete (football, lacrosse and basketball) at Half Hollow Hills High School East during the 1970s and a lacrosse All-American at Hofstra University, where he is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame, Metzger supports countless youth athletic and education programs on Long Island and in New York City. The programs include Long Island high school boys’ lacrosse, lacrosse programs at Hofstra and Hempstead PAL lacrosse. Metzger also sponsors the Mr. Football New York City Player of the Year Award presented by the New York City Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

Suffolk Gridiron Honorees

The Suffolk awards honored 38 scholar athletes across four divisions and the Catholic League, the 2019 National Football Foundation Golden Eleven Honorees (see list below) and outstanding college players from LIU Post, Stony Brook University and the Merchant Marine Academy. More than 1,600 students play high school football in Suffolk County. The awards criteria salute football success, academic success and community service.

The inaugural James C. Metzger Top Scholar Athlete Award was presented to Christopher Daleo of Westhampton Beach High School. Daleo has excelled in the classroom, challenging himself by successfully completing 10 advanced placement courses. On the gridiron, he earned First Team All-Division and All-County honors. Daleo’s community service includes youth leadership ministry and other charities.

“Many thanks to the officers and board of the chapter, to all the athletic directors and coaches at the schools, and to the parents and families of the honored students,” said Metzger. “Each of these students has the ability to achieve greatness in the classroom, in sports and in any direction they choose in life. I am honored and humbled to be in their presence. I am also grateful to the chapter’s officers and directors for welcoming me to this wonderful organization.”

2019 National Football Foundation Golden Eleven Honorees

• Nicholas Baldino - East Islip High School
• Jonathan Koumas - Huntington High School
• Joseph Montiglio - West Islip High School
• Matthew Schreiber - Mt. Sinai High School
• Dean Shaffer - Smithtown East High School
• Ryan Bosak - Kings Park High School
• Kieran McGinley - Ward Melville High School
• Michael Scoleri - Saville High School
• Matthew Robbert - Centereach High School
• William Singleton - Babylon High School
• Thomas Verga - William Floyd High School

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.