Another season has come for Wantagh High School’s Varsity Football team and the Warriors have once again proven they do not come to play, they come to win. Led by captains AJ Bardi, Jake Martini, TJ Carlo, Thomas Conway, Joe Merro, and Paul Fontana along with coach Keith Sachs, the team went 7-1 on the season.
With the seniors of the Varsity Football team playing their last season for Wantagh, there has been a great deal of reminiscing on seasons past. Graduating seniors include AJ Bardi, Nick Benedetto, Justin Bifone, TJ Carlo, Thomas Conway, Paul Fontana, Lenny LaRosa, Jake Martini, Joe Merro, Joe Robins, Christian Russo, Jack Scarry, Jack Tate, and Niko Zervos.
The captains of the 2023-24 Varsity Football team have been playing together for years and had this to say about their time playing for the Wantagh Warriors:
Wide receiver TJ Carlo and running back Jake Martini have been playing football since the first grade and both love playing because they are “surrounded by [their] friends.” Carlo said he feels he is a role model on the field for his teammates and that he and his fellow captains work hard to “keep the team composed”. One aspect of playing for The Warriors that Carlo will take with him past highschool is “the friendships [he has made] and the feeling of taking the field with [his] best friends,” a feeling he says he will never forget. Martini expresses the pride he feels in his ability to “lead by example” for his younger teammates so they can continue Wantagh Football’s great reputation for years to come. A memory Martini says he will keep with him past Wantagh is winning the county championship as a freshman with his brother, a sentiment any younger sibling can identify with.
The “free feeling” felt when you step on the field is an aspect of playing football that every captain said they would always remember. Offensive Lineman Paul Fontana said “I just love the feelings on game day. You only have one game a week so it makes it extra special.”
Wantagh High School has watched this group on and off the football field for four years through highs and lows as they have played through the Covid pandemic and great losses to the Wantagh Football community. We have also cheered them on to county championship victories and record seasons. The entire Wantagh community wishes these Warriors the best of luck on the field and in their lives in the future and looks forward to watching the underclassman lead the Varsity Football team as masterfully as their predecessors.

TJ Carlo:
Q- What is one aspect/memory of playing for The Warriors that you will carry with you after graduation?
A- “The friendships and the feeling of taking the field with my best friends are things that I will never forget.”
Q- How long have you been playing football? What draws you to the game?
A- “I have been playing football since first grade. I love playing football because I’m surrounded by my friends.”
Q- What role do you play in the locker room and on the field as a captain? What kind of influence do you have on your teammates?
A- “I feel as if I’m a role model on the field. I feel like I can keep the team composed along with the other captains on the team.”

Paul Fontana:
Q- What is one aspect/memory of playing for The Warriors that you will carry with you after graduation?
A- “There were a lot of great memories and more to come, but the best memories were early morning weight room because it was so fun hanging out with everyone before school.”
Q- How long have you been playing football? What draws you to the game?
A- “I have been playing football for only five years and I just love the contact and feeling free on the field and just the feelings on game day. You only have one game a week so it makes it extra special.”
Q- What role do you play in the locker room and on the field as a captain? What kind of influence do you have on your teammates?
A- “I like to make sure everyone is doing the right thing on and off the field and I love to help all my teammates become better athletes.”

Jake Martini:
Q- What is one aspect/memory of playing for The Warriors that you will carry with you after graduation?
A- “Winning the county championship as a freshman with my brother.”
Q- How long have you been playing football? What draws you to the game?
A- “I’ve been playing since first grade. I love playing with my best friends on every Saturday.”
Q- What role do you play in the locker room and on the field as a captain? What kind of influence do you have on your teammates?
A- “To lead by example and set good examples so the underclassman follow for years to come.”