By Marley Seaman
This year, as a co-captain and one of only three returning starters on a rebuilding team, Manigat also had to worry about being one of the team's leaders. "I've always been nervous about being a leader," he said. "This year, everybody was willing to follow me wherever I went. It just made being a leader easier."
And so Manigat left those doubts behind him -- along with dozens of defensive lineman, linebackers and defensive backs. He followed his faith and blockers for 1,246 yards and a Long Island-best 21 touchdowns, leading Baldwin to the Long Island championship game in the process. On Dec. 6, Manigat took home one final reward for his outstanding season: the Tom Thorp Award for best player in Nassau County.
"This year, when things got tense on the field, Ricky would tell people, 'Relax, things will be fine,'" said Steve Carroll, his coach. "If things got tough and Ricky had a big play, which he usually did, it would calm everybody down."
Despite his relatively small size -- he stands 5 feet 10 and weighs 155 pounds -- Manigat proved to be a fearless back, equally skilled at battering linemen inside and breaking long runs outside. He scored three or more touchdowns in four games, and piled up an amazing 316 yards on 42 carries in the county title game against Massapequa.
Like a proper football diplomat, Manigat praises his offensive line, led by co-captain Webster Brown, and his primary blocking backs, Jemel Saunders, Dakota Lupo and Taariq Cayne. "They worked so hard this year," he said. "They did whatever they could for me."
But there is more to Manigat's game than touchdowns. He was a regular at cornerback, and found sacking quarterbacks and defending against passes more exciting than scoring touchdowns. Perhaps the regular visits to the end zone got monotonous.
He won't have time to be bored with football season over, though. In addition to volunteering regularly at his church, Triumphant Agape House, Manigat works to maintain a weighted academic average above 100. He was named an Academic All-Conference player for his schoolwork. "He's a quality kid on and off the field," said Carroll.
He also plays shooting guard for the varsity basketball team. On Dec. 7, he sank a career-high five three-pointers in a win against Wantagh.
It's in football, however, that Manigat hopes to make his mark. If a professional career doesn't pan out, he hopes to work as a sports commentator. As far as the nearer future is concerned, he's looking at a number of schools in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, and Gettysburg College is courting him aggressively.
"It's nice to have a lot of options," he said. "Winning the Thorp really helps it."
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