Wantagh's two-sport star Dylan Martini wins Tom Flatley Award

There are plenty of star athletes in Nassau who thrive in football and lacrosse. But there’s only one Dylan Martini, and his combination of selflessness, talent and leadership is what led him to one of the most prestigious awards the county has to offer.

The Nassau County Lacrosse Coaches Association and the Nassau County Football Coaches Association named Wantagh’s Martini on June 18 as the ninth athlete to receive the Tom Flatley Award, which debuted in 2020, at Woodbury’s Crest Hollow Country Club.

Martini, the first recipient from Wantagh, led the boys lacrosse team to its first Long Island title since 2001. The Newsday first-team All-Long Islander posted 53 goals and 36 assists this spring under coach James Polo, who has known Martini since elementary school as his physical education teacher.

“It’s a proud moment for the program and for him,” Polo said. “It’s just nice to see Dylan get recognized for his great efforts, both on the lacrosse field and on the gridiron.”

The award is given to athletes who express talent, leadership and community values across both football and lacrosse. It honors Tom Flatley, who went 264-44-7 while coaching Garden City football to 18 county titles and five Long Island championships from 1985 to 2014. Flatley also coached Garden City’s junior varsity lacrosse team from 1988 to 2019, holding a 357-31-2 record.

Martini, an Army commit, rushed for 1,976 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on just 152 carries, adding 16 receptions for 417 yards and five touchdowns in the fall season.

Wantagh football coach Keith Sachs noted how the senior still found a way to help his teammates by helping draw up plays at the National Football Foundation All-Star Classic on June 21, despite being sidelined with an injury.

“He goes up as one of the best I’ve had in 35 years, on and off the field,” Sachs said.

His impact helped Wantagh football lift its first Long Island title since 2016 as Martini was named Newsday’s Nassau Player of the Year. He earned Newsday's Thorp Award in December 2024, given to Nassau's most outstanding football player.

“He’s the first kid to come up to me in a game and say, ‘Give the ball to so-and-so, that’s open,’ instead of himself,” Sachs said. “He raises the level of everyone around him.”

Martini spent his own time helping the Wantagh Nation Youth Flag Football team and volunteered alongside the varsity football team for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation fun run event, setting up chairs as early as 6 a.m.

“We always say it takes a community to raise an individual, and this is a prime example of that,” Polo said. “Family, friends, coaches, student-athletes, everyone has such high respect for this young man.”