JANUARY 2022 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 17
HALF HOLLOW HILLS HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
The fi nal act at the Oct. 15 event was, for
me, a drop-the-mic walk-off .
At corporate, fundraising, and sports
events, I’ve been introduced by the best
of the best, but there has been nothing
like the intro and comments by Debra
Ferry, the Athletic Director at the Half
Hollow Hills School District.
Among her comments…
“Jim was a three-sport athlete who
excelled in football, basketball, and
lacrosse at HHH HS East. Jim’s accomplishments
on the court and on the
fields were only the beginning of
his accomplishments as an athlete,
benefactor, and philanthropist. His
years here at Half Hollow Hills East
proved to be memorable and rewarding
for all that have had the privilege
of knowing him and watching him
play. His athletic prowess previously
afforded him the honor of retiring
his Hills East lacrosse jersey in 2018
and today we celebrate his football
success with the retirement of his
football jersey, #21.
We invite all in attendance to join in the
celebration of Jim and in celebrating what
he embodies as an HHH HS East alum: as
a student-athlete back in high school and
now as a businessman, Jim has proven that
hard work and dedication pay off . There
is no doubt that Jim’s success in athletics
and his success in business are a direct
result of these two characteristics.
Hills East Lacrosse Jersey #21 and now
Football Jersey #21 will forever be remembered
as James Metzger’s Jersey!
May all the young student-athletes at Half
Hollow Hills learn from Mr. Metzger’s
example of hard work and dedication. We
all know that winning isn’t everything
and in fact, as a wise man once said, “…you
learn more from losing than winning.”
I’ve had a lot of good, and some not so
good, happen in my life — but listening
to Deb Ferry on Oct. 15 will go down as
one of my greatest moments.
Thank you.
2021 HILLS EAST FOOTBALL AWARDS
AWARD RECIPIENT
Scott McLam Team MVP Award Dakim Griffi n
James C. Metzger Off ensive MVP Award Louis Mathurin
Fred O’Meally Defensive MVP Award Elias Barret
Joel Hammond Lineman of the Year Award Loucas Charalambous
Ed Howard, DMD Scholar Athlete Award Jordan Heyman
Joe Marotta Coaches Award Teddy Theodore
Jim Miller Coaches Award Gianni D’Agnese
Morton Simeon Bouchard III Coaches Award Nicholas Garrone
Matt Dunigan Coaches Award Davian Johnson
Joe Maehr Coaches Award Jacob Robinson
Sal Naro Coaches Award Konadu Boadu
Thomas Teresky Coaches Award Shane Patterson
Mike Everret Coaches Award Joshua Isaacs
FINAL THOUGHT
In place now as the as the head football
and boys’ lacrosse coaches are two
individuals for which I have complete
confi dence and respect. Both are HHH
alums and distinguished athletes in
their respective fi elds of play.
Beyond being coaches who know and
can teach their game’s X’s and O’s, Alex
Marcelin and Conor Hagans are leaders,
mentors, and role models from which
our student-athletes will relate and
learn. On and off the fi eld, I know they
will provide motivation and support to
help their young student-athletes reach
beyond what they may have thought
was possible before their fi rst steps on
campus.
James Metzger is the founder and CEO
of The Whitmore Agency, a leading
New York Metropolitan area insurance
brokerage and fi nancial services company
headquartered in Garden City. A
1977 graduate of Half Hollow Hills East,
Metzger was a three-sport athlete (football,
lacrosse, and basketball) and then a
lacrosse All-American at Hofstra University,
where he is a member of the Hofstra
Athletics Hall of Fame. Metzger also is a
member of the Suff olk Sports Hall of Fame.
“I will forever be
indebted to these
individuals, my
teammates, teachers,
and the competitors that
helped mold my life,”
says James Metzger
PARTNER CONTENT
2021 FOOTBALL AWARDS
Metzger’s support of the football program provided him with the unique
opportunity to name 12 of the 13 new team awards that honor former Hills
East players who were outstanding on and off the fi eld. The school chose to
name the remaining award, its off ensive player award, to honor Metzger’s
contributions as a player and benefactor. Several student-athlete scholarship
awards presented by the school’s booster club this year were enhanced signifi
cantly by Metzger’s endowment.
2021 HILLS EAST FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
• Jordon Anderson
• Konadu Boadu
• Teddy Couluris
ANNUAL JAMES C. METZGER BOYS’
LACROSSE ENDOWMENT AWARDS
Presented each year for the:
• James C. Metzger Outstanding Player Award
• Eric Geringswald Community Service Award
James C Metzger #21 Jersey Retirement at Half Hollow Hills
Late 70's teammates from Half Hollow Hills
Metzger congratulating Dakim
Griffin on breaking his 44 year old
touchdown record
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