The 2018 Westhampton Beach varsity football season has officially come to an end. On Tuesday, January 15th the team came together for one last time at the annual dinner. Here, underclassmen and coaches said goodbye to their seniors and welcomed in the 2019 season. 

The dinner was held at Trumpets catering hall in Eastport. The night consisted of awards, highlight tapes, and speeches. This was Coach Schaumloffel’s first season as head coach and the enthusiasm and energy that he brought during the year surely translated to the dinner. He was responsible for making a season highlight tape that captivated the year’s best plays and moments. 

Following the tape, numerous awards were distributed to recognize individual player success in the off-season, regular season, and playoffs. The winners were the following; Trahan Award (Off-season Award) to Jon Mendoza, Joe Taylor Award (Special Teams MVP) to Jackson Hulse,  Coaches Award to Jack Gilbride, Offensive Line Award to Jon Mendoza, Defensive Line Award to Jake Bennett, Defensive MVP to Edon Popi, Offensive MVP to Jaden AlfanoStJohn, Black Lion Award to Clarke Lewis, Team MVP to Liam McIntyre and Cory Hubbard Award to Liam McIntyre. 

If winning any of these team awards is an indicator of success, those recognized have a bright future. Many past award winners such as 2017 Team MVP Dylan Laube have brought their talents into the collegiate level. Someone in particular that hopes to do the same is 2018 Offensive MVP Jaden AlfanoStJohn. After a season of “fun, learning, and achievement”, this junior plans for his senior year to be even better. His goals are to make the All-State Team and be awarded the Hansen. The Hansen goes to the best football player in Suffolk County, and a win for Jaden would make it three years in a row that the trophy is brought back to WHB. 

After the awards, the senior class was recognized and reflected upon. It is the winningest senior class in the history of WHB with an overall record of 22-1. Clarke Lewis, captain and two-year starter said, “It’s a lot of fun to finally be a senior and play with your best friends. But, it makes you cherish and value the time you spend on and off the field together much more”. 

Lewis and his other senior teammates have certainly left their mark on Westhampton Beach football. Junior Kevin Dillon stated that the “seniors success has shown me what I am capable of next year, specifically Jon Mendoza. He has helped me and others in the off-season for our upcoming season.”

Coach Schaumloffel ended the dinner with his closing remarks, thanking everyone for a great season and expressing his excitement for the season to come. With a lot of talent returning and new talent forming, the Hurricanes have a positive outlook into 2019.