Hills West's Gelman wins Dellecave Award

Nolan Gelman was at a party Saturday night and it just so happened that Alex Aurrichio, the 2008 Dellecave Award winner from Half Hollow Hills West, was there. Aurrichio, who plays college soccer and baseball at Columbia, told Gelman he had a good chance this year to win the award, presented annually to the best male and female athletes in Suffolk County.

Gelman didn't believe him.

He should have.

The three-sport star - soccer, football and tennis - from Hills West earned the honors Sunday morning at West Lake Inn in Patchogue. The award is sponsored by the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with Newsday.

"I don't really have anything prepared," Gelman, wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans, said to start an acceptance speech in front of a filled banquet room. "So don't expect much."

But he quickly came up with something, graciously thanking the Dellecave family, his athletic director for nominating him, and parents Rick and Lynn. Then he wished the other nominees good luck.

The other finalists from a group of 60 were Kenny Jackson (Connetquot), Nick Galasso (West Islip), Jonathan McGibbon (Lindenhurst) and Thomas Schreiber (St. Anthony's).

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- June

Gelman played soccer, football and tennis as a senior this year and was highly successful at each. In soccer, he was named co-Suffolk player of the year by the county coaches, was an all-state pick and led the Colts to a county final appearance. In the same fall season, he was an efficient kicker - making 92 percent of his field-goal attempts - for the football team that won a Long Island title.

In the spring, he won the Suffolk boys tennis singles title, didn't lose a set in county competition, and reached the second round of the state tournament. He's been an all-state tennis player since ninth grade. He plans to play tennis and kick for the football team at Bryant University in Rhode Island.

Staying sharp at each sport has been an exercise in time management. In the fall, he went to football practice three times per week for about 20 minutes as to not miss soccer practice. At the same time, he was unable to play tennis often, about one day per week, so when spring arrived, he found some opponents were more fine-tuned.

"The toughest thing is competing against kids who just play that sport," Gelman said. "Playing tennis, I'm playing kids who are playing every single day. But I think the athleticism is what helps me out."