No. 5 Sports Story of the Year: Villa soars to record heights

During the 2012-13 school year, Riverhead boasted three of the top pole vaulters in Suffolk County. This past year, after two of those pole vaulters graduated, that distinction was left to Charles Villa. 

The Riverhead senior went on to compile one of the best individual seasons for a track and field athlete in program history. In the indoor season, Villa got off to a superb start by clearing 15 feet in the pole vault twice in a two-week span in January. He accomplished those feats at the Molloy Stanner Games and the Hispanic Games, both at the Armory in New York.

In the winter state qualifier meet, he topped 14 feet to easily finish as the top vaulter in the county. Unfortunately, his trip to states was cut short by an ankle injury, which limited him into the outdoor season.

By the end of the outdoor season, Villa was back to form, winning the pole vault at the division championships and the state qualifier meet. He went on to finish fifth in the state meet and now competes at Binghamton University.

Top 10 Sports Stories

No. 10: A rejuvenated girls basketball program at Mercy

No. 9: Stars on the track

No. 8: A cross country state champion

No. 7: Title run comes to an end

No. 6: Chaos in Mercy athletic department