HHH East Senior Wins School, County Lacrosse Awards

Capping a standout high school boy’s lacrosse career, senior Half Hollow Hills East defensemen Nick DiPietro has been honored with prestigious lacrosse awards offered by his school and the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association. The awards were presented during the June lacrosse team dinner for coaches, players, parents and school administration at the conclusion of the season.

DiPietro was a five-year varsity starter for the Suffolk County school, a two-time Thunderbirds co-captain and a 2016 team co-most valuable player. Committed to Syracuse University since his sophomore year, his 2016 statistics are 71 ground balls, three goals, three assists and an average of three takeaways per game. His high school career statistics are 201 ground balls, 130 caused turnovers, six assists and seven goals.

Named to the Newsday Top 20 preseason players list for 2015 and 2016, DiPietro also was named to the 2015 and 2016 USA Today pre-season All-American team. He was a 2016 USA U19 (under age 19) invitee, 2016 Lacrosse Insider top two tristate defenseman and a Nike Lacrosse The Ride invitee (top 50 players in the country). DiPietro also received 2016 first team All-American honors and was named to the 2016 Newsday All-Long Island boys lacrosse second team.

James Metzger, John Fernandez Awards

DiPietro received Half Hollow Hills East’s fifth annual James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award that is offered to a boys lacrosse player. Metzger is a leading Half Hollow Hills High School East benefactor who also was an All-American student athlete at the school during the 1970s. Metzger is the founder and CEO of The Whitmore Group, a leading insurance services and estate planning company in the New York metropolitan area that is headquartered in Garden City.

Metzger set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his high school playing days, including All-American honors and the 1977 Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points. Metzger also starred in football and played varsity basketball as a sophomore in the Suffolk County playoffs. After graduation from high school, Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra University. As an All-American, he led Hofstra in assists during his freshman and sophomore seasons (1979 and 1980). His single season points per game average (4.9) ranks fourth all-time and his single season assist average (2.8) ranks eighth.

DiPietro also received the John Fernandez Courage Award presented by the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association. The award recognizes boys high school lacrosse players who have overcome difficult circumstances with the same spirit as U.S. Army Lieutenant John Fernandez. DiPietro was honored for his work ethic to overcome a major sports injury at such a young age to return to the game and to lead his team on an off the field.

Lieutenant Fernandez graduated from Rocky Point High School and the U.S. Military Academy, where he was the captain of the academy’s lacrosse team. On April 3, 2003, on deployment in Iraq, Lieutenant Fernandez was wounded severely after a U.S. plane dropped a 500-pound bomb on his Humvee. The accident spared Fernandez but took the lives of three fellow soldiers and injured seven others. Fernandez eventually lost his legs due to the incident and he has learned to walk with the use of prosthetic limbs. He has persevered to the point where he again plays lacrosse and has fulfilled his other life dreams of marriage and becoming a father.

DiPietro’s Early Lacrosse Career

DiPietro's high school varsity career began during eighth grade. He was a starter for the Thunderbirds and he was selected Rookie of the Year by the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association. DiPierto was All-Division during his freshman year as he established himself as one of the top young defensive players in the county.

During his sophomore year, DiPietro finished with All-County honors. Selected a co-captain of the 2015 team, his junior year season ended early when he was injured with a torn ACL and additional knee damage. After surgery and during rehabilitation, DiPietro’s continued leadership, dedication and determination to recover from his injury helped guide the team to a league championship and playoff appearance. The injury resulted in a slow start for DiPietro’s senior season, but he led the team to another league championship and playoff appearance. He was selected All-County and Most Outstanding Defenseman for 2016 by Suffolk's Division 1 coaches.

2016 Thunderbirds

This year’s Thunderbirds completed the season with a 12-6 record (conference 9-4). The team, under 13-year varsity head coach Gordon Hodgson, won its division for the third time. For the third consecutive year, Hodgson was honored by the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association as Division 1 Coach of the Year. He also achieved a personal coaching milestone with more than 300 career wins – 100 at Bethpage High School and more than 200 in the Half Hollow Hills school district.

Along with DiPietro, senior goalie Andrew Yoli was the team’s co-most valuable player. All-Division honors were awarded to sophomore defenseman Mike Gomez and senior midfielder Joe Wulforst. Senior midfielder Andre Gomez received All-County honors. Senior attackman Joe Tesoriero received All-County honorable mention.