Newsday Athlete of the Week is Half Hollow Hills West boys soccer's Ryan Levy
Ryan Levy wants to leave a mark in the Half Hollow Hills West's boys soccer team record books while also making a strong impression on the football field.
He's well on his way to doing just that.
The senior, who has been playing varsity soccer since eighth grade and is also the kicker on the football team, is on pace to break Half Hollow Hills West's all-time soccer scoring record. Mike Zeller, who played from 1995-97, holds the record with 58 career goals. Levy has 53.
"It feels great that I'm up there with a couple of All-Americans and players that have played high D-1 soccer," Levy said. "It will be a great accomplishment to be No. 1 and have future players that look up to me try to break that record."
"He's one of the top three or four players we have ever had in our program," coach Doug Gannon said. "His soccer IQ is off the charts, and all that put together has turned him into a fantastic player that will be very good for the next level as well."
Levy has 19 goals this season, which leads Long Island . The five-year starter is on track to break the single-season goal record for the school, which is held by Donovan Fraser, who scored 25 in 2011.
The midfielder scored on a penalty kick in the 79th minute to win the game for the Colts in a 2-1 decision against Hauppauge on Tuesday, earning Levy Newsday Athlete of the Week honors.
"I told myself, 'It's my senior year, give it all you got,' " Levy said. "After our first game against Amityville, which is a pretty good team, I went out and scored a hat trick in the first half, and ever since then, I never held back, and I wanted to give it my all."
You won’t just see Levy putting in goals for the boys soccer team. You can also find him kicking field goals and extra points for the football team. On Sept 27, Levy converted all five extra point attempts in a 47-17 victory against Hauppauge.
"Kicking a soccer ball and kicking a football is different, but he put in time in the offseason, and developed as a kicker," football coach Gerald Filardi said. "He's been pretty automatic this season for us."
His coaches rave about how Levy carries himself as an athlete and a person.
"He's a dream student-athlete," Gannon said. "He hangs around some of the football players who are major D-I athletes. You think they would have an ego, but they don't. They are all so humble."
"He has a tremendous character," Filardi said. "He has a bond with his teammates, and all the players encourage him by going out to the (soccer) games and cheering him on."
Levy is motivated to win a championship for both teams, but first he has his sights set on the school's soccer all-time scoring record.
"I want to win LIC for both my teams," Levy said, "but I honestly also want to break the school's goal-scoring record."