Sultan reigns as Nassau's top scholar-athlete
Niv Sultan stepped to the podium and glanced back at the banner to remind himself of whom he had to thank at yesterday's brunch at Crest Hollow Country Club. There would be no missteps for this young star. He's too smart to make that kind of mistake.
The second glance made the crowd laugh and showed the playful side of Hewlett's ferocious 6-4, 245-pound, two-way football captain. Sultan charmed the crowd with his unique personality while accepting the 2010 Jay Fiedler Top Scholar-Athlete award at the brunch hosted by the National Football Foundation.
"It is a great honor to accept this award before all of my peers," Sultan said. "I wanted them to know how much I appreciate this award."
Sultan, who carries a 96 grade-point average and scored 1,400 in the two-part SAT, is the 15th recipient of the National Football Foundation's highest honor in Nassau County. The football star, who plays in the school's wind ensemble, also excels on the wrestling mat.
"Niv Sultan is the true definition of a scholar-athlete," said Leonard Genova, president of the Nassau chapter of the National Football Foundation. "He's a Newsday All-Long Island football selection and a brilliant student. He is a multisport athlete and he is involved in the community through the Key Club. We are honoring another exemplary group of student-athletes, and Sultan is at the top."
The All-Long Island defensive end had more than 80 tackles and led Hewlett, one of the top defensive units, in Nassau Conference III. He was an All-County selection as a sophomore before relocating with his family about 5,700 miles away to Hod Hasharon, Israel, about 20 minutes outside Tel Aviv, last year.
He returned for his senior season, to the delight of Hewlett coach Jay Iaquinta, and his presence made the Bulldogs an immediate title contender.
The Nassau Golden 11 consisted of Samson Bialostock of Lawrence, Connor Daly of Lynbrook, Gene Garay of Oceanside, Stephen Jahelka of Garden City, Harry Kucharczyk of Manhasset, Brandon Noblett of East Meadow, William Papadimas of Seaford, John Reicherter of Wantagh, Chris Shevins of Mepham, Peter Swiggett of Cold Spring Harbor and Drew Zahradka of Carey.
Among the other award-winners was C.W. Post linebacker Ronnie Modik, an Island Trees graduate, who earned the first NFF Outstanding College Scholar-Athlete Award. Ralph Rohr of Bethpage was presented the Frank Luisi Contribution to Youth Football Award for his work in the Police Athletic League. Joe Cairo of North Valley Stream is the Frank Nocerino Official of the Year.
Michael Lardner of Garden City, senior vice president and executive producer of MSG Varsity, accepted the Don Snyder Contribution to Amateur Football award on behalf of Cablevision's 24/7 television network dedicated to high school coverage. MSG Varsity will partner with the National Football Foundation to select the 2010 All-Metro team in the tri-state area.
