Sports
Papa Finishes Husky Career With a Flourish
The Harrison track and field team had several athletes that helped make the program successful this year, including Joe Papa.
Joe Papa has been a fixture for the track and field program during all four of his years at Harrison High School, running spring and winter track for the maroon and white.
In his final season as a Husky, the senior had to battle a variety of leg injuries just to compete, but was an alternate for one of the top relay teams in the state by the end of the year.
The injuries made it difficult for Papa, but by the end of the season he proved to be one of the most consistent athletes on the team.
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“I got hurt a couple of weeks into the season,” Papa said before the Section I championships, “so I haven’t really been able to see what I can actually run until about now.”
After four years on the team it became easy for the soft-spoken Papa to lead by example. The senior wasn't the most talented athlete on the track, but hard work and determination helped him overcome injures and set an example for the younger players on the squad.
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Even when he couldn't participate, Papa was always out on the track, helping out and cheering his teammates to victory.
“As a senior you’re more expected to do the right thing,” Papa said. “You have to set a good example for the younger kids.”
That selfless attitude and team-first mentality made him a great role model to younger athletes. His reliable performances in competition also made him one of the most dependable athletes on the team.
“The ultimate team player,” said Coach Dom Zanot, “he is a kid on the team who is probably the number three to five sprinter, but he is there at practice every single day, he is consistent and we know what kind of performances we are going to get out of him.”
Papa says he prefers running outdoors in the spring rather then inside in the winter because it is simply more enjoyable.
“I like spring track season better then the others,” said Papa. “The hot weather makes it more fun, the meets are outdoors and the relays are more competitive, you only get that in spring.”
Next year Papa will be attending SUNY Farmingdale, where he hopes to walk on to the school’s track and field team as a sprinter. When asked about what he can improve for next year, Papa very simply said:
“It’s all about the start, your start can make or break the race.”
Best of luck and continued success to Joe Papa, Harrison Patch’s athlete of the week.
