Track team and Holbrook Fire Department help create lasting moment
You may have seen a few prom-posal’s pop up on social media this year from around the country, and Sachem had its very own unique scenario thanks to North’s Tom Kubisa and Rebecca Block.
Block’s teammates told Sachem North coach Alex Young about an idea where Tom would surprise her at the end of track practice. This included some help from the Holbrook Fire Department and the track team. Kubisa was a member of Holbrook’s junior fire department for three years and has been a probationary fire fighter for the last six months.
The team assembled at their usual meeting spot at the track and stalled a bit while the distance squad was finishing its cool-down.
Becca, as she is known to teammates and coaches, turned to leave the team area, and a firetruck siren sounded. Parked by the Octagon at Sachem North and waiting for a signal from one of Tom’s friends who was near the team area, the truck then appeared on the track side of the building with a sign on the side of the fire truck asking her to prom.
“Becca was completely surprised,” said Young.
Team members cheered as Becca ran down to the firetruck, almost passing the flowers left at the track entrance for her. She hugged Tom and gave a quick and enthusiastic, “yes!” to his question.
Team members, including seniors Allaura Dashnaw, Gabriella Mott and Nicole Batinsey, helped to coordinate timing for the prom-posal.
“I loved it so much, I was so overwhelmed with surprise and happiness and I’ll never forget it,” she said. “The moment I saw the flowers and heard the sirens I put together what was happening and I was overjoyed. He told me he was missing practice to go to the dentist and I really believed him. It was the most thoughtful and well-executed surprise ever to happen in my life and I’m grateful.”
Block is a four-year member of Sachem’s cross-country, winter track and spring track. She will attend SUNY Plattsburgh next year. Kubisa is a four-year member of winter track, three-year member of spring track and two-year member of the golf team. He will attend Suffolk Community College next year.