“Here’s to Red, Black and Gold …,” they screamed from the auditorium stage. The Sachem Fight Song rang loudly through the gymnasium lobby at Sachem North and through the halls.
More than 90 children from the Sachem community spent their summer attending the Sachem Youth Football Experience. The kids were educated about Sachem’s Fight Song on Thursday and were able to get on stage and perform the battle cry proudly with members of the Sachem football coaching staff.
While most of the activities revolved around drills to engage kids in the fun of football, they were also educated on the history and tradition of Sachem football, a program approaching 60 years of excellence.
On Thursday, attendees finished their summer program at Sachem North by relaxing in the auditorium and watching Sachem’s 2013 Long Island Championship highlight film. They also were able to tour the football locker room, weight room and scan the football trophy case in the gymnasium lobby.
One child was overheard near trophy case saying that his photo will one day hang amongst program luminaries like James O’Neal and Dalton Crossan.
“That’s what this is all about,” said Dave Caputo, a Sachem alum and the varsity defensive coordinator. “It’s about making the Sachem football players of the future. It’s about coming back here one day and showing your kids and your grandkids your photo on the wall and that you did something special here.”
Other children cited incredible coaches and the bonding experience with their peers as benefits to attending the camp this summer.
“My favorite part about the camp was being coached by awesome coaches,” said rising first grader James Chirichella, whose father Ron is a Sachem alum and football coach.
Anthony Caputo, Dave’s son, couldn’t pick one thing that stood out as his favorite, but he had a great answer for that question.
“I loved everything,” he said.
–Words by Chris R. Vaccaro