Saturday, November 8, 2025
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District hosted its annual Unity Summit on Sept. 26, drawing student-athletes and coaches from across Section VIII Athletics in Nassau County to emphasize sportsmanship, civility and unity.
Eric Caballero, the district’s director of physical education, athletics, driver education and health, co-chaired the committee that organized the program. He said the goal was to help student-athletes embrace challenges while maintaining integrity in competition.
“Our aim is for students to win with humility, accept defeat with dignity, and represent their schools and communities with pride,” Caballero said.
Student volunteers from John F. Kennedy, Sanford H. Calhoun and Wellington C. Mepham high schools greeted guests at the Brookside building, guided them through the event and helped lead icebreaker activities.
The summit featured a range of guest speakers, including Keith Davis of the New York Giants organization, Steve Webb of the New York Islanders and Team Up 4 Community, Ironman triathlete and endurance runner Leah Janzten, and former NCAA hockey player Danielle Vallas.
Janzten addressed the growing problem of burnout among teen athletes, noting factors such as overuse, injuries and pressure from social media. She encouraged coaches to recognize opportunities to make a positive impact.
Davis, a former University of Southern California and Giants football player, shared his message of perseverance, reminding students that setbacks can be overcome by creating a culture of positivity within teams.
Keynote speaker Mark Leinweaver, an MLB agent and founder of Why Character Matters, closed the event with remarks on the importance of values beyond athletics.
“It’s so much more important to be a person first and a player second,” he said. “Challenge yourself to be a hall of fame person—that’s what this is all about.”
