A fun homecoming in Islip ends with football victory

On a sunny Sept. 14, the Islip school community celebrated homecoming pride all day long, beginning with a joyful parade from the Oconee East Diner to Islip High School.

Leading the parade were the fire department, board of education members, district and school administrators as well as the high school’s marching band, cheerleaders and kickline.

Islip Middle School, Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School, Commack Road Elementary School and Wing Elementary School were all enthusiastically represented with marchers bearing banners, while the high school’s students displayed grade-level floats including the seniors’ winning “Under the Sea-niors” octopus creation.

Following the parade, students and the community walked to the high school’s soccer field for the annual carnival, which featured games, inflatable slides and a memorable dunk tank.

The varsity football team came out pumped and ready to show off their skills and Islip pride, bursting through the banner held by the cheerleaders to start their Suffolk III opener against Kings Park. The Bucs scored quickly thanks to Jake DeGennaro returning a punt for a 62-yard touchdown and walked off the field with a 34-20 victory.

In other highlights, Christian Hall scored on a 55-yard blocked field goal return and rushed for 75 yards and a TD. Quarterback Brady Nash passed for 190 yards, going 12-for-16, and rushed for 60 yards and a TD. Dylan Smith racked up three sacks and four catches for 110 yards, while Robbie Rais and Caden Tierney added two sacks apiece.

At the beginning of halftime, the school announced homecoming king Jason Cuttler and homecoming queen Brianna Gabbidon. Shalaya Coke, Sophia Martinez, Nicole Matute, Brady Nash, John Oggeri, Josiah Patterson, Dylan Ruland and Tatyana Wilson rounded out this year’s homecoming court.

“I look forward to homecoming every year,” student union adviser Kristen D’Attoma said. “The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time marching in the parade. The carnival was fun for everyone, but I think the crowd favorite was getting to dunk their teachers and administrators in the dunk tank.”