The mood was festive at Greenport High School Friday night as Porters, alumni, cheerleaders and faculty took to the field for a spirited flag football game after a senior recognition ceremony.
During the ceremony, all Porters seniors and cheerleaders were given flowers, which they handed to their moms and dads, posing for photos with proud smiles.
The event was planned after the Porters season was cancelled abruptly this week, with parents and community members coming together at a meeting held at the auditorium and collaborating to plan a special, fun night for their disappointed seniors.
According to Joan Dinizio, who helped to organize the event, she asked mother Laura Riggins, mom of Porters senior Willie Riggins — at the meeting this week Riggins saidher son was brokenhearted about the cancellation of the season — her take on the event. “She raved about it,” Dinizio said. “Her son said it was a night he would not forget for the rest of his life.”
Of the senior recognition ceremony and flag football game, Dinizio said, “It was success. “The alumni had fun and, more importantly, the kids had fun.”
“I think this is really nice for all the seniors,” said Porters Coach Jack Martilotta. “It’s really unfortunate, what happened. This is a nice memory, and gives a little closure. Athletics tends to end in disappointment, there’s only one winner, but they didn’t get that chance this year. But tonight, everybody’s smiling, and that’s what you want.”
Greenport Athletic Director Jim Caliendo played along with the alumni, dressed from hat to toe in purple.
“This means a lot to the players.,” said Michael Brostowski, athletic director in the Southold school district. “Not finishing the season is devastating. Having this positivity helps them to know that next year, they can begin again. This ends the year on a good note. And it’s great school spirit.”
“It means a lot to have closure in a career of great football,” said senior John Drinkwater.
At least one mom left perturbed, after she said seniors were asked to leave the field so that all players, including JV, could play. “We were happy they took the strong suggestion from the parents at that football meeting and planned something for the seniors, but I, at least, was very disappointed that it turned out to lose focus on the seniors it was meant to celebrate. The event was about the seniors, not the JV Porters team or alumni, for that matter. It was nice of alumni to come out, but they were meant to play the seniors.” She added, We’ve raised some very classy and wonderful young men. Their football, and soccer, in some cases, careers have helped them become great young men in many ways, and that’s the big take away.”
The game ended with a score of 36 to 6, with alumni in the lead.
