Nick DeCillis was involved with Suffolk County high school athletics for more than 65 years and spent a lifetime dedicated to student-athletes. Section XI is mourning his loss after he passed away at the age of 90.

For much of the last 20 years DeCillis was Section XI’s administrator for fundraising and helped build partnerships with local and regional businesses.

“Nick was and will forever be a major part of what we do at Section XI,” said Tom Combs, Executive Director of Section XI. “He spent his lifetime caring about student-athletes and was integral in business development on behalf of the organization. His personality, character and spirit made all of us better and we’re fortunate to know and have worked so closely with him.”

A New York City native and Seward Park High School graduate, DeCillis attended New York University and in 1956 started his tenure in the Middle Country School District.

From 1956 through 1959 he was a football, baseball and track coach at Newfield High School where he was a physical education teacher. For the next 35 years he was the district’s athletic director. He served as an interim athletic director following his retirement.

DeCillis is an inductee of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, and New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. The football field was named in his honor at Newfield in 1998, and the conference room at the Section XI offices was named in his honor in 2021.

Service information: Friday, September 16 from 2-7:30 p.m. at Branch Funeral Home.

I am very sad to write that long time MC AD Nick DeCillis passed away. Nick dedicated his life to the student athletes of MC & continued to work for all student athletes of ⁦@SectXISuffolk⁩ until his passing at age 90. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family😔 pic.twitter.com/eDzdj0RQiv

— MC Athletic Director (@MCAthleticDept) September 11, 2022

Congratulations to Jessica Herrmann (Islip), Mary Frances Monroe (Northport) and Mike Reilly (Islip) the Section XI representatives who were inducted to the New York State High School Soccer Hall of Fame.

Herrmann graduated from Islip in 2006 as New York State Player of the Year. She helped Islip to four Suffolk County championships in her five years as a varsity player before playing at Penn State and N.C. State.

Monroe graduated from Northport in 1996. At Northport she was all-state and helped the Tigers win a state title. Splitting time between UCONN and UCLA, she was a four-time college All-American and was a candidate for the Hermann Trophy as the top player in college. She also played on the USWNT from 1996 through 2000.

Reilly has a 251-69-27 record from 2002 through 2021 at Islip High School. His team’s  won 13 league titles, 10 Suffolk County titles and 1 New York State title. A two-time New York State coach of the year, he has been president of the Suffolk County Girls Soccer Coaches Association since 2011.

Section XI is thrilled to welcome West Islip based McHugh Neurosurgeon as a new partner/sponsor.

Learn more about McHugh.

For the 2022-2023 school year, the W20 Foundation’s Project Team Up 4 Community is challenging Youth Athletes to give back throughout our Long Island Communities in the Nassau Vs. Suffolk Challenge. #NassauVsSuffolk

From September 1st, 2022 to June 23rd, 2023 every month an athlete, team, school or organization that involves athletes, ages 6-24 YO, can participate in the Nassau Vs. Suffolk Challenge with a chance to receive an exciting prize simply by sharing the community service work you are a part of!

Athletes, teams, schools or organizations involving athletes can upload a community service project to www.TeamUp4Community.org throughout the school year and select which county (Nassau or Suffolk) they are representing.

The TU4C website features an online interactive dashboard that will consistently tally the hours contributed by athletes from each county.

The winning County, the one with the most community service hours by June 23rd, 2023 will be presented with “The Winners Cup.”

Congratulations to Harborfields girls varsity soccer coach Scott Wallace on reaching career win No. 300!

Shoreham-Wading River native Ethan Wiederkehr, along with head coach Pat Fitzpatrick lead Northwestern over Nebraska in Dublin to open the 2022 college football season.

Wiederkehr, a sixth year senior, is working on his second master’s degree.

At Shoreham-Wading River he was one of New York’s top football recruits and was named New York State Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

Northwestern beat Nebraska 31-28.

Bayport-Blue Point Athletic Director Tim Mullins has moved into First Vice President of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

Mullins has been the Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics at Bayport-Blue Point since 2003. Prior to that he worked at West Islip School District and has been a member of the Section XI and NYSPHSAA boys’ lacrosse committees since 2006. After serving a two-year term as the NYSPHSAA second Vice President (2020-2022), Mullins will now serve two years as the first Vice President (2022-2024).

“As I conclude my tenure at second Vice President, I look back with tremendous pride with what NYSPHSAA was able to provide our student athletes during the difficult time period of COVID,” said Mullins. “Despite the many hurdles encountered along the way, we as an association took a collaborative approach and remained steadfast to work with all stakeholders to afford our student athletes the best possible HS athletic experience. NYSPHSAA has always been a student centered, membership driven organization and it was never more prevalent during this time to see how teamwork and a vision can produce positive results for all.”

Please review the slides below about issues and solutions facing high school sports officials.

It’s another big week … games begin! First scrimmages and then real action. Good luck to all Section XI student-athletes embarking on their seasons.