Mepham Senior Named To Nassau's Golden 11 Football Team

MERRICK, NY - From Bellmore-Merrick Central School District: Mike Proios, a well-conditioned three-sport athlete and senior at Wellington C. Mepham High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central School District, was recently named to the elite Nassau County Golden 11 team.

The Pirates quarterback, Proios’ football career dates back to when he was a 5-year-old playing on the Bellmore Braves fields. While he was supposed to be the backup quarterback in his sophomore year, Proios trained and earned a starting spot instead.

“He has consistently played at a high level,” said Anthony Cracco, Mepham head coach and athletic director. “He helped led the team to our best season in 25 years. We went 8-3, making it to the Nassau County finals.”

Proios earned All-State honors and recently signed with Seton Hill University on a football scholarship.

“The long hours of film and studying have paid off,” Proios posted in a tweet, thanking coach Anthony Cracco. “Thank you for inspiring me to play football at the collegiate level. Hands down the best coach I’ve ever had.”

He is also a National Honor Society member and plays on Mepham’s basketball and baseball teams.

Giving back is important to Proios who coached a youth football team and helped rebuild his family’s church, Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Merrick, which was damaged in a fire.

The Golden 11 is an honor given to the 11 players who best embody the behavior expected of student-athletes on and off the field, which includes maintaining scholar-athlete status and attaining All-County accolades. Only one student-athlete can be nominated from each school and a committee of coaches makes selections from each conference.

The National Football Foundation chooses just 11 athletes from all of Nassau County.

Photo courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District