Sean Kreuder is a former Amityville "Tide" football player who graduated in 2025. He, like many, was surprised to hear that the Tide's varsity team was canceling this season.
I was a little disappointed and shocked, because it wasn't that long ago that I was playing," Kreuder said. "I feel bad they are not going to have a senior season, especially after practicing all summer."
The school superintendent, Gina Talbert, sent a letter to the community saying the choice was made with heavy hearts and that the decision centers entirely on student-athlete safety and the long-term health of the program.
It stated in part, "Taking into account numerous player injuries on the varsity level, the program has made the decision to pause varsity competition for the upcoming season and focus all resources on a junior varsity schedule."
Tom Combs, the director of Section XI sports for Suffolk County, tells Eyewitness News that the decision was made after several athletes got injured in recent scrimmages.
"Most of it was 9th or 10th graders, and they felt it would be better off to drop the varsity and play at the JV level this year to build some of the skills and camaraderie," Combs said.
Amityville is the third school on Long Island to cancel its varsity football season this year; the others are Port Jefferson and Holy Trinity.
"Football is not an easy sport; the practices are hard, games are hard; it's not for everybody," Combs said.
Combs says every student, except for the seniors, can play on the JV team.
Amityville's football program has existed for over 100 years.
"I just think a lot of kids in the high school are not interested in playing anymore, and that's unfortunate," Kreuder said.
According to the letter from the superintendent, three dedicated senior athletes are prohibited from playing at the JV level, and they are looking for leadership roles for those students.
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