Sports

Patrick Burke is named Coach of the Year

RIVERHEAD COURTESY PHOTO | Riverhead boys cross country coach Patrick Burke was named the Section XI Coach of the Year after guiding the Blue Waves to their first league title since 1998.

After helping guide the Riverhead boys cross country team to its first league title in 15 years, coach Patrick Burke was honored as the Section XI cross country Coach of the Year. The Blue Waves won 15-47 in their final dual meet against Half Hollow Hills West Oct. 15 to finish 5-0 in League IV.

It was their first league title since 1998.

The Blue Waves went on to compete in the Section XI Division Championship and finished fifth in Division II. In the Section XI State Qualifier Nov. 1 at Sunken Meadow State Park, senior Joseph Gattusso ran the top time for Riverhead in 19 minutes, 38.71 seconds.

“I didn’t want to be overly confident, but I felt good and I felt if we were going to do it, this was the year, and everything was in place,” Burke said after the Blue Waves beat Hills West.