There may not be a better ending to a career in Sachem history then what Trent Crossan experienced last season.
After suffering from a myriad of injuries throughout his four-year varsity career, Crossan scored the game-winning touchdown for the Flaming Arrows in the final minutes of the Class I Long Island championship. It was historic, marvelous, remarkable; call it what you want.
Now Crossan is moving on to the next chapter and ready to write more history.
He will attend Suffield Academy in Suffield, CT this season. He’ll use this fall to get bigger, stronger and faster and hopes to attract the eye of college scouts. Remember, Crossan hasn’t played a full season of football due to injuries since his freshman year. Suffield is also strong academically.
“Coach [Drew] Gamere is a great coach and will put me in the position to be successful,” said Crossan, who will play slot receiver. “Going to Suffield will help my exposure. The level of competition is much higher.”
Suffield recently moved into the Class A conference and will have arguably the toughest schedule of any school in the New England region.
“I was very happy for Trent after our playoff run to the Long Island championship because he battled through so much adversity,” said Sachem football coach Dave Falco. “I am very aware of what he went through and how hard he worked to just get back to the level where he could play at the end of the season. His presence and performance made all the difference. Trent will be very successful at the next level because he has a work ethic second to none.”
It’s no surprise that Crossan’s life goal is to play football on the highest level, but he also has his sight’s set on joining the military and playing at one of the country’s service academies. Suffield is one step closer to his goal.
One of the most selfless students-athletes in Sachem history, Crossan said his most fond moment in Black & Gold was holding the Long Island championship trophy with his teammates.
“It’s a feeling that can not be described,” he said. “To play football at Sachem means so much to me. It’s a special privilege that not many people can experience.”
Citing “the best coaching staff on the island,” that runs the program, “as close to a college program as possible,” Crossan speaks volumes about his four-years in Lake Ronkonkoma.
“We have the best game day atmosphere on the island and I wouldn’t change that for the world,” he added. “I’ve made friendships and memories that will last forever through playing football at Sachem. Coming to Sachem was the best experience I could have hoped for. The school pride is unlike any other school. I was able to achieve goals that I dreamt about since I was little. In the end it couldn’t have been written better, ending my Sachem career with a ring.”
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro