Backfield Duo Honored With Individual Awards

WANTAGH, NY. — Wantagh Footall’s season may be over, but the awards are rolling in for sophomore Luke Martini and senior Joseph Nicholson. Martini received the Tom Thorp Award, given to Nassau County’s most outstanding player, after a season in which he rushed for 1,968 yards and 21 touchdowns while also playing linebacker. Nicholson, on the other hand, was named to the National Football Foundation’s “Golden 12,” voted on by the Nassau County Football Coaches Association to reward student-athletes who make a difference on the field while making the grade in the classroom.

“Anything they get is well deserved,” Head Coach Keith Sachs said of the award-winning backfield duo. “We don’t concentrate on individual honors — everything is about the team — but these are major awards. A credit to them, they understand that the team success opened the door to all of this.”

Martini is the first sophomore to receive the award in its 84-year history, as well as a member of the first pair of family members to have their names on the trophy. His brother, Dylan, won the award last year as a senior.

“It’s a great award to receive, especially having my brother win it the year before,” Martini said. “Seeing all the great names on it makes it even more special.”

Martini has been on Wantagh’s varsity football team since his freshman year, after playing on the junior varsity team in eighth grade.

For Nicholson, the Golden 12 award comes after a season in which he recorded over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns, also logging snaps at linebacker. Currently holding a 101.02 weighted GPA, Nicholson will attend Villanova University in the fall, where he’ll study finance and play lacrosse.

“It was an honor to be included among the top academic and athletic players in
Nassau County,” Nicholson said.

The individual awards come on the heels of a 5-3 regular season, which Wantagh followed up with a run to the Long Island Championship game after winning the Nassau County Conference III championship.