Sachem honors winter athletes and coaches, including state and national champions

The Sachem Central School District Board of Education on April 23 recognized dozens of winter-season athletes and coaches from Sachem North, Sachem East and other district schools, including county champions, state title winners and national-level honorees.

The recognitions came during the regularly scheduled board meeting, when administrators and coaches were invited to the podium to celebrate team and individual accomplishments from the winter sports season. The district called out county dual-meet champions in wrestling, multiple track-and-field school records, back-to-back state cheer championships and an NDA national title for Sachem North dance.

The presentations underscored the depth of the district’s winter programs and noted both team and individual honors. "We were lucky enough to have a group that has been with me for a very long time," one wrestling coach said, summarizing a season that finished 18-2 and included a county dual-meet championship. The board also highlighted that the St. Germaine girls indoor track team won the Section 11 large-school county championship with 83 points to the runner-up's 36.

Among individual achievements, Gianna Mori was recognized as the New York state champion in the race walk and was described by a coach as having the fastest times in the United States during the season; the coach noted Mori also received a CBS News feature. The St. James East varsity cheer team’s head coach, Victoria Agabakian, told the board the team produced two perfect routines at the state meet and earned the highest score in New York, leading to a second consecutive state championship in Class A: "The feeling of not only hitting 1 perfect routine, but 2 and winning another state title ... is something us coaches and this team will never forget."

Sachem North’s dance program was recognized for winning the NDA small varsity pom national championship in Orlando; coaches said the program took multiple finals placements across styles and earned the program’s seventeenth NDA national title in that division. Coaches and board members repeatedly praised student-athletes for balancing travel and late events with academic commitments; board remarks noted a high rate of scholar-athlete team designations across programs.

The board paused after the recognitions for photos and to thank coaches, parents and district athletics staff. Presenters who brought teams to the meeting included district athletics staff and coaches from Sachem North, Sachem East and St. James East; student-athletes were introduced by team and by award.

The athletic recognitions were ceremonial and did not require board action. The district’s announcements also included invitations for students to join spring and other seasonal athletics programs.

The board moved next to routine business after the recognitions.