Riverhead AD Melissa Edwards is eager for future of district sports

In her first year as director of health, physical education and athletics, Melissa Edwards has fully submerged herself into all things Riverhead sports. Whether it’s the peewee leagues or all the way up to varsity, the Riverhead native has a pulse on it all. 

“One of my main focuses is to bring pride back to our town,” Edwards said. “Make our kids proud to wear the blue and white. Build community, build awareness. And the only way to do that is to start with our youth programs; increase interest, increase numbers. We have to foster a connectivity between our youth and the varsity athletes.”

Though numbers aren’t finalized yet for high school fall sports participants, there’s optimism for a continued rise. Two years ago, Riverhead coaches were faced with barely fielding varsity and JV teams. If you signed up for the team, you made it. That’s not normal for a Division I school in Suffolk County.

“That’s why our focus has been introduction of sports at the youth levels,” Edwards said. “We have to get to them younger and get them involved now. We need to build our base in order to build a competitive product that will last for years to come.”

Riverhead football coach Don Nelson said 80 players have signed up to play during the school year. That’s a massive change from the 30 or so players that finished the season last year.

“Our teachers and coaches are doing a great job at Pulaski Street and the middle school to get kids interested in trying new sports,” Edwards said. “A lot of that falls on our P.E. teachers, but we have varsity coaches in Pulaski as well that can encourage kids.”

The sports at the varsity level went from barely having enough to field a team to having cuts. The boys basketball team had to make cuts for the first time in years last winter. The boys soccer team had a record turnout and had to cut a lot. The Riverhead track and cross country program has doubled in size.

It’s a sign of a changing tide.

“We’re doing clinics constantly,” Edwards said. “Our gyms and fields are full. We have a great partner in the Riverhead Athletic Club that’s been able to get some clinics together, and our coaches have been working hard to try to teach the youth.”

Part of that ability to appeal to the youth is hiring the right coaches to lead the sport programs. An invested coach is locked in on not only what’s going on at the varsity level, but at every level along the way.

Two longtime beloved coaches retired last year: Vic Guadagnino for boys lacrosse and Cheryl Walsh-Edwards for field hockey. They have been replaced, respectively, with the hiring of Evan Philcox and Rebecca Winkel. 

“When I hire coaches, I want to hire good people first,” Edwards said. “A resume is a resume, but who are you as a person? How passionate are you about Riverhead? We want people here that want to advance Riverhead forward and not just collect a check.”

There have been many longtime coaches who retired recently that really helped shape Riverhead during its heyday: Leif Shay, Scott Hackal, Steve Gevinski and many others. The goal is to replace them with people who are just as passionate and enthusiastic about Riverhead.

“I want these coaches to own their programs,” Edwards said. “To be a coach here, I want you to be all in, and we’re getting all the right coaches in place to do that. When I have the right coaches in the right seats, they’re going to cultivate and get the kids out in the fields. We have to bring the excitement back.”

Sitting at some games this year, Edwards was shocked at the negativity of some people in the stands. In her eyes, the only way forward and to become successful is to have everyone buy in.

“We need everyone to support the process,” she said. “We need our community to understand that we’re all committed here. From the very top with administration to the bottom. Nobody wants things to turn around more than me. I am giving my coaches everything they need.

“They need better equipment? I’ll get it. They need better fields? I will get it done,” she continued. “Nobody wants to hear excuses anymore. I get it. But I truly believe in everything that’s going on here, and in due time everyone will see what we’ve created.”