Tom Kopstein Wins William Class Scholarship
Bill Class came to Huntington in 1929 and over the next 34 years established a standard of excellence that continues to this day in the Blue Devil athletic program. He retired more than a half-century ago and passed away in August 1984, but he will never be forgotten in the community for his work at Huntington High School.
A scholarship in Coach Class’ honor was presented earlier this month to senior Thomas Kopstein at the 48th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards banquet. The teenager is headed to the University of Arizona in Tucson in the fall. He will be studying in the honors college.
“It was a real honor to win this award,” Mr. Kopstein said. “With all of the exceptional athletes in the class of 2016, I'm humbled to be considered among them.”
An outstanding scholar and athlete over the past four years, Mr. Kopstein was most definitely unfamiliar with Coach Class previously, but the pair are now linked in history by virtue of the scholarship award. Even the current Huntington High School building and gymnasium can be traced back to the fabled coach and administrator.
Coach Class was a giant in teaching and athletics. He developed a modern physical education program at a time when only a handful existed in the country and his teams won numerous county championships in football and baseball. He was convinced that every student should participate in athletics in order to experience a more well-rounded education and to help create school and community spirit.
During this month’s awards dinner, Mike Connell, Mr. Class’ grandson, read a short profile of the man who spearheaded the development of Huntington’s sports program as the district’s athletic director and its leading coach. Mr. Class is a man who is still revered by several generations of Blue Devil athletes living in the area and around the country.
The Class scholarship is awarded annually to a college bound male or female athlete who has participated in three varsity sports, demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement, character, leadership and sportsmanship qualities both in the playing arena and the classroom.
“This year’s recipient stands out as one of the top senior student-athletes in Huntington,” Mr. Connell told the crowd. “He has been a member of the High Honor Roll or Honor Roll every year since ninth grade while taking almost exclusively honors and AP classes. He is one of the most dedicated and talented student-athletes in Huntington and has made incredible strides in all three sport programs that he has participated in.”
Mr. Kopstein earned All-Division honors in golf this year, going 10-2 in dual matches. The teenager also garnered Academic All-County recognition. Over the course of his high school links career the Blue Devils went 48-0 and won four league titles.
The senior has captured All-League, All-Division and Academic All-County honors in indoor track. Mr. Kopstein placed fourth in the 1000m run at the Suffolk Division II championships.
Mr. Kopstein has shined during spring time, notching All-League honors three times and All-Division recognition twice in the 800m, 1600m and 3200m runs. He finished third in the 3200m run at the Suffolk Division II championships.
Coach Class comes to Huntington
Coach Class graduated from Cortland State Teachers College in 1927 and came to Huntington two years later. He coached football, basketball and baseball and started the wrestling program in 1937, coaching that team for two seasons. Serving as the athletic director, Class put together the framework for a modern sports program.
“He won county championships in football in 1946, 1947 and 1948,” Mr. Connell said. “He won seven county championships in baseball from 1929 to 1952.”
In 1954 coach Class turned over his coaching duties to his trusted assistants and became the administrative head of physical education and health, special services and transportation, eventually overseeing the construction of a new Huntington High School. He retired from the district in 1963.
At a testimonial dinner held in his honor, high school Principal Robert Cushman said “Coach Class never permitted himself to do less than his best, and he couldn’t tolerate slipshod habits among his boys. Another characteristic was to teach students to play the game and then let them use their own initiative and ingenuity. His methods of training were characterized by refinement, and he never used profanity.”
When asked how athletics had affected his life, Mr. Class responded, “The opportunity to work with young men to improve their ability and knowledge of the game and to instill the desire and drive to be good in their chosen field has been both challenging and rewarding as a life’s work.”
Mr. Kopstein was presented with a handsome plaque and the $750 stipend the scholarship carries. A separate, permanent plaque hangs in the main athletic showcase in the lobby outside Louis D. Giani Gymnasium with the engraved names of all the Class scholarship winners through the years.