Sports

Bokina twins share Athlete of Year honor

Mattituck High School never had two boys share its Athlete of the Year award from The Suffolk Times until last year when James Hoeg and Tanner Zagarino were named co-winners in recognition of becoming the school’s first two state champion wrestlers.

Since then, Mattituck has had two more state wrestling champions crowned — twins Jack and Luke Bokina. The two seniors were named co-winners Thursday evening when Times Review Media Group presented awards to the top female and male athletes in each of the six high schools in its coverage area for the 34th straight year at its offices in Mattituck.

Liz Dwyer, a senior who played tennis and basketball, was recognized as Mattituck’s top female athlete. She followed in the footsteps of her older sister, Shannon, who received the award in 2013 and 2014.

Liz Dwyer is a first-time recipient along with The Suffolk Times’ other choices: Greenport’s Grace Syron (soccer, basketball, softball) and Jordan Fonseca (football, basketball, baseball) and Southold’s Hannah Sutton (soccer, softball) and Ryan Herrmann (soccer, bowling, lacrosse). They are all seniors.

Katherine Lee, known for her record-setting exploits in cross country and track and field, set yet another record of sorts Thursday. The Shoreham-Wading River senior was presented with her fourth straight Athlete of the Year award by the Riverhead News-Review.

No other Shoreham girl has won the award more than once.

Lee became only the second four-time winner in the history of the awards. Greenport’s Ryan Creighton received the honor in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The other recipients from the Riverhead News-Review are first-time winners. The final two winners for Bishop McGann-Mercy, which is closing, are seniors Melina Santacroce (soccer, basketball) and Allan Zilnicki (golf, basketball, baseball). Riverhead sophomore Megan Kielbasa (cross country, winter track, lacrosse) and senior Darnell Chandler (football, baseball) were selected along with Shoreham sophomore Xavier Arline (football, basketball, lacrosse).

Photo caption: The Athletes of the Year from Mattituck High School were Luke Bokina, left, Liz Dwyer and Jack Bokina. (Credit: Krysten Massa)

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