Hearts were heavy on the North Fork Thursday as the the community grappled with unthinkable tragedy after Tom Cutinella, 16, a football player from the Shoreham-Wading River school district, died Wednesday night after a sustaining a head injury during an afternoon game in Elwood. (See story).
Trying to help students cope with a heavy blanket of grief, North Fork coaches and school administrators worked together to provide help and counseling.
A joint statement was posted on the Mattituck-Cutchogue UFSD Facebook page by Mattituck athletic director Greggory Wormuth and Greenport Athletic Director Jim Caliendo. “In light of the tragic death of a 16 year old football player at SWR, we want to take a moment to remind all of us how fragile life can be and how fortunate we are to have each day on this earth,” the statement said.
“Athletics is an extraordinary vehicle which can offer many positive outcomes. Oftentimes we get stuck in the pattern of winning, records, and success; the competitive atmosphere of athletics lends itself to these goals. In the end, our experiences in school should promote positive relationships, unity, hard work, memories, etc,” the note read.
The athletic directors said if any students had questions or needed counseling, the districts are prepared. District staff are advised to refer students with questions to counselors, or to contact them directly.
“Please keep in mind what we do is important to our students and assisting them in a safe, positive, and supportive environment is our most important job. With that in mind, please put a focus on safe play, especially in contact sports. I am sure there will be more suggestions across the state on how we can be more prepared, more safe, and more proactive to prevent these tragedies. It starts with us and ensuring we are teaching proper techniques and supervising properly,” they said.
And, Wormuth and Caliendo said, while they were sure “yesterday’s event was a freak accident … please continually examine and monitor your players and the rules of your game and make suggestions or raise concerns regarding safety so that we can be better. Nothing will bring this boy back to his family but maybe we can do little things to prevent a serious injury or even death by proactively moving forward. The more coaches we have across the state and nation who continually focus on safe play, supervision, and proper technique the better chance we have to avoid another tragedy. Please keep Tom Cutinella, his family, and the entire community of SWR in your hearts and prayers.”
Caliendo said on Thursday that Jack Martilotta, varsity coach of Greenport/Mattituck/Southold, was planning to speak to varsity and junior varsity players, while he was going to speak to junior high students.
“There’s nothing you can really say. You can just pray. This was a freak accident,” Caliendo said, adding that the entire North Fork was mourning. “There’s no magic formula for dealing with this. But together, as a community, we will heal.”
Michael Brostowski, athletic director in the Southold school district, said staff had received emails, advising them to send students with questions or in need of support to school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. “It’s definitely a tragic event,” he said.
The district, he said, takes as many precautions as necessary. But, he said, this is not the first time a “student has ever passed away” during a sporting event.
In 2012, the community was rocked when Southold student Ronan Guyer, a freshman, died after he collapsed and suffered cardiac arrest while warming up before the New York State Public High School Athletic Association cross country championships.
“We take precautions to prevent injuries, and certainly, any sort of tragic event. We hope they never happen, but when they do, we’re prepared, with counselors and help to deal with these sorts of issues,” Brostowski said.
In Riverhead, athletes and school administrators were also mourning Wednesday’s unspeakable loss.
“It’s tragic, absolutely tragic,” Riverhead Blue Waves varsity football coach Leif Shay said. “We’re very saddened by it.”
The Blue Waves are “trying to be as supportive as we can,” Shay said. “We’re taking up a collection and will have a presence at the wake.”
