New H.S. Stadium on Long Island

A new high school sports facility has been unveiled on Long Island. On April 2, Saint Anthony’s High School in South Huntington cut the ribbon to dedicate and bless the James C. Metzger Stadium.

At the intersection of Pigeon Hill, Wolf Hill and Old Country roads, the new facility includes a turf playing field, low-rise bleachers and an electronic scoreboard. The field will be used for practices by school teams and for day games by both Saint Anthony’s teams and community teams.

The approximate $1.2 million facility is named for benefactor James C. Metzger, a former Long Island high school and college star athlete who now is the chairman and chief executive of The Whitmore Group, a leading insurance brokerage firm in Garden City.

Besides this gift to Saint Anthony’s High School, Metzger supports sports and education programs at his alma maters – Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, where he starred in lacrosse, football and basketball, and at Hofstra University, where he set lacrosse records and was inducted into the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame.

Local Charities, Education And Athletics

Metzger does not have a direct athletic or educational affiliation with Saint Anthony’s, which prompted some people to inquire about his decision to support the construction of the new facility.

“I grew up in the area surrounding the school, with my parish on one side and the park where I played basketball and tennis on the other,” explained Metzger during the dedication. “This was a part of me and I knew first-hand from people associated with the school that it had a rich history for not just athletics but for education and for preparing young men and women for college and life.”

Saint Anthony’s Don Corrao, the director of development, was aware of the community service long fostered by Metzger and The Whitmore Group. Besides the sports and education programs established at Half Hollow Hills and Hofstra, Metzger and his company also support many local charities that include the American Heart Association and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.

Corrao said that when Saint Anthony’s indicated its desire to become aligned with Metzger and The Whitmore Group, Metzger determined that the stadium project would benefit the greater Long Island community and allow him and his company to become closely associated with another leading Long Island educational institution.

“I thank the community of Saint Anthony’s for the opportunity to become part of their family,” added Metzger.

The Prayer of Blessing for the stadium included the following:

“We entreat Your kindness, that this stadium and its facilities will contribute to athletic activities that renew the spirit and strengthen mind and body. Grant that all who compete here may find the enrichment of team spirit and together offer You the praise that is Your due.”