Suzie Petryk Eyes Cornell as HHS Run Nears Finish
Suzie Petryk’s run with the Huntington School District has been splendid, in more ways than one. The Huntington High School senior has found sensational success academically and athletically. She’s headed to Cornell University, where the teenager intends to study engineering and race with the Big Red cross country and track teams.
Since her first day of kindergarten in the district, Ms. Petryk has been earning the respect of her Huntington teachers and classmates. Her current classes are include AP Statistics, AP Government, AP Microeconomics, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, AP Spanish, AP Literature and Latin V Honors.
The teenager has developed many fruitful relationships with members of the high school faculty over the years. “I truly enjoyed having Ms. [Deborah] Beck for AP Bio in the tenth grade,” Ms. Petryk said. “She knows how best to convey information to students while keeping us interested and prepared us exceedingly well for the AP exam. Ms. [Lynn] Hendricks, whom I am lucky to have for a second time for statistics after taking geometry as a freshman and Ms. [Kristen] Fortunato, who has made Latin engaging and enjoyable, are also both wonderful teachers and people.”
Ms. Petryk said she has “loved” being a member of the high school chamber and pit orchestras for the past four years and is already looking forward to the spring concert and the drama club musical.
As she enters her finals months at Huntington High School, Ms. Petryk has begun to look forward to what lies ahead at Cornell. “I cannot even begin to describe my excitement,” she said. “There are so many interesting classes offered, countless clubs and research opportunities, which has made me as impatient as ever to start my first semester there.”
The Huntington senior is having a wonderful winter season. Last weekend she won the Suffolk 1000m run championship and ran on the anchor leg of the Blue Devils’ 4x800m relay team won the county crown.
“I do plan on continuing to run in college,” Ms. Petryk said. “The cross country and track coach at Cornell has been very kind and helpful the past few months and I can’t wait to work with him and the rest of the team.”
“Suzie defines the term student-athlete,” Huntington track coach Shawn Anderson said. “She competes in all three seasons; cross country, winter and spring, while holding down a full course load. I have had the pleasure to watch her blossom and become a quiet, yet fierce competitor. She has been a captain of the track teams for the past two years and while she isn’t always vocal, her actions speak in abundance. Her commitment to her sport has always been evident, but this year you could tell she was ready to accomplish even more. It started during the summer, logging in miles and it has been showing in her performances, as well as her humble leadership.”
Ms. Petryk holds several Blue Devil track records and has been a member of three record setting relay teams. “She continuously rises to the occasion during championship races and has set personal bests in every season,” Anderson said. The senior set a new Huntington 1000m record last weekend at the Suffolk championships. She even holds the school’s outdoor steeplechase mark.
The teenager played a key role in Huntington’s first ever league and county indoor team titles this winter. “She should make an immediate impact in both the classroom and on the track at Cornell,” Anderson said.
As her remaining time at Huntington High School grows shorter, Ms. Petryk has given some thought about those who will be replacing the Class of 2015 in the building and she has some words of wisdom for members of that group.
“To any incoming freshman, don’t do anything only for the sake of it ‘looking good for college,’” Ms. Petryk said. “Get involved in something that you are truly interested in and can contribute to and you will find quite a number of opportunities to excel.”