Sachem track coach Joe Zarzycki said it best when he described Mike Kearns as one of the greatest track and field athletes in district history.
So humble to his approach and demeanor, Kearns has quietly rewritten the throwing record books for both winter and spring track. He was also a senior leader on Sachem North football’s Long Island championship team this past fall.
Kearns officially signed his National Letter of Intent on Thursday at the high school to continue his throwing career in college at Sacred Heart University.
“I would never have had the success of this year without the dedication of my Sachem coaches,” he said, crediting all the major figures in his educational experience from Zarzycki to Dave Falco, and Bryan Rogers and Billy Holl to Mike Mastrogiacomo. “I really appreciate all these coaches and what they have done for me over the years.”
Kearns was also considering Rhode Island, Ithaca, Cortland and Mount St. Mary’s. He ultimately chose Sacred Heart because of its business program and because he felt “right at home” on his visit to campus.
He’ll compete in the shot put, discus, weight throw and hammer throw in college.
Aside from winning a championship in football, he also set the school record in the shot put (55’5) and weight throw (47’4) and won a league shot put title in winter track, and set the spring track shot record with a throw of 56’8 ¼.
“Michael has been a leader in every sense of the word,” said Zarzycki. “He leads by example through tireless effort. He is always on time and never misses practices. He rises to the occasion during competitions. He is hard working and determined to improve personally, but never to the detriment to his teammates.
“He is a vocal leader at practices and meets as he is always trying to teach his teammates and even encourage his competitors. He has proven to be a great student athlete over his four years at Sachem and an even better human being.”
Kearns has a habit of acting as a coach on the field. He can be trusted with guiding other throwers throughout the season. One is freshman and fellow lineman Chris Fasano, who set the freshman shot put record at Sachem this season under the tutelage of Kearns.
“At practices and meets he will watch team members throw and make sure he gives them the proper advice and directions to improve their technique,” Rogers said. “He has the team’s best interests at heart and is constantly speaking to me about ways he thinks we can make the team better.”
Added Zarzycki, “Mike has left a lasting impression on our program and this is an example of how a person’s mettle can be passed down to future generations of Sachem athletes.”
PHOTOS: See more images from the Kearns signing ceremony
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro