Success Realized in Coach’s Rookie Campaign
A talented roster allowed Ron Wilson’s head coaching career to get off to a strong start as the Huntington boys’ winter track and field team finished second in the league and fifth in Suffolk.
Wilson, who took over this year for longtime Blue Devil track coach Dennis Walker, made an immediate connection with the athletes, both individually and collectively, bringing many of them to new heights.
Huntington was led by seniors Quillan Respass and Emmanuel Dume and juniors Josh Daves and Jacob Gayle. “The team was very competitive at every meet,” Wilson said. “We took a team of 11 athletes to the league championship and almost pulled an upset.”
Daves excelled in the long jump, winning the league and Suffolk Small School crowns. “He’s an outstanding athlete who I’ve come to admire for his great leadership skills and his strong work ethic,” Wilson said. “He’s a coach’s dream.”
Respass thrilled crowds all winter long, culminating in league and county championships in the 55m dash. “He has exceptional athletic talents,” Wilson said. “He’s a workhorse at meets.”
Huntington’s 24-man team quickly gained the respect of opponents around the metropolitan area. Wilson, a master at the mental and motivational aspects of coaching young athletes, repeatedly worked his magic, consistently coaxing new personal bests on an almost weekly basis.
Gayle grabbed the league title in the 300m dash and also shined in the long jump, placing fourth in the league in the event. “He’s a hard worker,” Wilson said.
Dume, who was second in the league and fifth in Suffolk in the 55m dash, was also showered with words of praise from his coach. “He’s a speedster who has near-perfect form,” Wilson said. “He’s very competitive and tries very hard to win at every meet.”
The Blue Devils rallied from a large deficit in the league championships to get within a dozen points of first place Harborfields. “However, we left that meet with a lot of hardware,” Wilson said about Huntington’s haul of medals.
Blue Devil Notes: Daves and Respass earned All-County honors while Gayle, Dume, Fritz Barreau and Eric Santos were recognized as All-League . . . The Blue Devils were captained by Brian Cotter, Chris Glaser, Daves and Barreau . . . Travis Tate served as assistant coach.
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