Competing Athletes Team Up To Give Life Skills Student Forever Memory

EAST END, NY — Sometimes, the lessons learned on the field are far more important than who wins and who loses.

And that's exactly what happened recently when competing athletes from Southampton and Greenport teamed up to make one seventh grade life skills' student's dreams come true.

According to the Southampton Union Free School District, when Samuel Arevalo Sangurimo, a seventh grader at the intermediate junior high school, joined the Southampton Junior High football team season this fall, "no one knew the lasting impact that he would have on his teammates and coaches. It was such an impact that his teammates collaborated with players from Greenport to make his last game of the season a memorable one," the district said.

“We wanted to do something memorable for Samuel since he attends every practice with a smile and willingness to participate,” said Southampton Coach Matthew Babb. “Although we always make sure to get him in each game, usually on defense only, we wanted to give him that truly special moment and let him know that he belongs.”

That memorable moment came on Oct. 26, the district said. Greenport had the ball with a minute and a half left in the game and, as agreed prior to the game between coaches — including Greenport Jr. High Coaches Greg Tulley and Joe Corrado — players, and officials, Greenport "fumbled" on the next play and Southampton picked it up, with officials immediately "blowing the play dead," the district said.

That generosity of spirit set up what would become Samuel's memorable 50-yard touchdown run, with Greenport running "attempted diving tackles" as Samuel made his way down the field, the district said.

“He was extremely happy after,” said Babb, adding that Sangurima made the season memorable for all. “The team fully supported him during every practice without any prompting from the coaches,” he said.

The season was Sangurima’s first and his experience has led him to join other clubs at his school, including the Community Club, Woodworking Club and Yearbook Club, the district said.