Mepham’s Mike Valentino named to Nassau’s Golden 11 Team

From the fields of the Bellmore Braves football program to Wellington C. Mepham High School’s Pirates, senior Mike Valentino has always had a driving passion for the sport.

“I love the family unit aspect of it,” he said. “I just can’t imagine not playing.”

Valentino’s talents both on and off the field are what got him selected to the Golden 11 team.

The Golden 11 is an honor given to the 11 players who best embody the behavior expected of student-athletes on and off the field, which includes maintaining scholar-athlete status and attaining All-County accolades. Only one student-athlete can be nominated from each school and selections are made by a committee of coaches from each conference.

The National Football Foundation (NFF) chooses just 11 athletes from all of Nassau County.

“To be acknowledged as a Golden 11 scholar-athlete and to forever be in the NFF Football Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” said coach Anthony Cracco.

Valentino plans on studying business while playing football at Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania. He has been named All-County and All-State in football and is a member of the school’s Athletes Helping Athletes club.

All Golden 11 scholar-athletes were honored at a ceremony in April.

Photo: Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District