School News

Wantagh Warriors welcomed home

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Wantagh pride was in full force on Saturday during the Homecoming parade, football game and festivities. 

The Wantagh Sports Boosters Club, school district, and of course, students helped organize the fun. According to the district, the activities started with a Friday afternoon pep rally, during which the sports teams and Homecoming Court were introduced. Students throughout the district also displayed their spirit by wearing black and gold clothing and sports jerseys.  

Prior to the Saturday afternoon game against the Lynbrook High School Owls, class floats were led down Wantagh Avenue to the football field in a parade that included local youth and community groups, the WHS marching band, cheerleaders and members of the Wantagh Board of Education and administration. The theme of this year’s parade was comic superheroes, meaning that each of the classes decorated colorful floats to celebrate characters from the Avengers (juniors), Spiderman (sophomores), X-Men (freshmen) and Justice League (seniors); the seniors won the Best Float Award. 

During the halftime show, the cheerleaders and dance team motivated an already upbeat crowd. Under the direction of Mindy Dragovich and Dan Aviles, the marching band also performed for the residents and students in the stands. 

In addition to the performances, members of the Homecoming Court were honored at halftime. Seniors Cecilia Casella and Logan Hartman were crowned Homecoming king and queen, with Paul Roemer and Ally Murphy as first runners-up and Dylan Hupert and Nicole Ninivaggi as second runners-up.  

All is well for Wantagh two weeks into its return to Nassau Conference III football. The Warriors, a week after beating defending county champion Plainedge convincingly, defeated Lynbrook, 31-0, in the Homecoming game. 

Wantagh’s defense had six interceptions, including a pair for touchdowns in the opening quarter. Tom Rohan brought back a pick 35 yards for a score, and Anthony D’Onofrio had a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown. D’Onofrio added a touchdown reception in the third quarter from quarterback Jake Castellano. Gavin Casey rushed for 62 yards and also scored.

Castellano had three touchdown passes in the season-opening 33-7 blowout of Plainedge. The Warriors are back in action on Saturday against Roosevelt.