Utsav Deshpande and Drew Alfano will never have to think too hard about which college team will win on their March Madness bracket. They both signed letters of intent with big time Division I schools who are known in track and field as much as they are basketball.
Deshpande will run at Villanova University, while Alfano will jump at the University of Maryland.
Both are strong student-athletes, who rank high regionally and nationally in their respective events.
Deshpande is ranked No. 2 in the state in intermediate hurdles. He’s close to qualifying for Penn Relays, one of the premier prep track events in the nation, and he recently led one of Sachem East’s relay teams to a sixth place finish in the National Indoor Track and Field Championships.
“We’re looking at having a great season from him and he made a great choice about going to Villanova,” said Sachem East coach John Horst.
Deshpande, who will run the 400-meter hurdles and major in computer engineering, said he worked hard to improve his grades and times in order to get accepted to Villanova and it’s been worth the extra effort.
“I’m excited to see how much I can improve,” he said, “and I’m excited to go against some of the best athletes in the nation.”
Alfano is ranked No. 12 in the nation and second in New York in long jump.
“He’s had a tremendous career and we’re looking forward to finishing that career this spring by winning a state championship,” said Horst. “He’s got that much talent.”
Alfano said Maryland fit for him academically as his education is his primary focus. He was also considering Florida, Rutgers and Stony Brook.
Many of the coaches at Maryland have Olympic experience in his specialty areas of triple jump and long jump, so he’ll benefit greatly from their lessons.
“I’m excited to run Division I and compete against the best athletes,” he said. “Competing against the best really gets the best out of you, so I think I will strive for more and jump longer.”
Maryland, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, regularly boasts All-Americans, and conference champions in both men’s and women’s track and field.
Villanova competes in the Big East and has a similar track record of success.
-Words and photos by Chris R. Vaccaro