The Tom Thorpe Memorial Award, given to the best football player in Nassau County each season, has been presented 83 times. Dylan Martini became the first player from a storied Wantagh program to win it. 

Dylan, a senior at Wantagh High School, received the Newsday-sponsored award at the recent Nassau County High School Football Coaches Association banquet. He started playing the sport at 4 years old with the Wantagh Football Club, joined the middle school team in seventh grade and was selected to the Warriors varsity squad as a sophomore. 

The running back and safety finished with 1,976 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns in the 2024 season, including the regular season and playoff games. He was instrumental in leading the team to the Long Island championship. 

“It means a lot,” he said of winning the award. “Wantagh football is just so historic. It’s crazy to see that I’m on par with many of the great players here.”

Wantagh has had several finalists for the Thorpe Award, but Dylan is the first to win it since its inception in 1942. Following a nomination by his coach, Dylan put together a video featuring 20 plays and two full quarters of action, along with submitting letters of recommendation from coaches. 

“I didn’t focus on this award until after the season was over,” he said. “The main goal was winning the Long Island championship. You don’t win a game unless you are on the same page and everyone had the same goal in mind. This award was something extra.”

Dylan fell in love with football from the moment his father took him to his first Wantagh varsity game as a child. He was inspired by his older cousins, Tyler Martini and Jake Martini, who played for the Warriors in recent years. They graduated in 2022 and 2024, respectively, and set an example of working hard and being good teammates. This year, Dylan was joined by his younger brother, Luke Martini, who made the team as a freshman. 

In the spring, Dylan will play his fourth season on the varsity lacrosse team. He has committed to playing lacrosse for the University at Albany, where he is considering majoring in either business or sports medicine. 

Although his football days are now over, it couldn’t have ended any better. Dylan is “going out on top” with a team championship and major individual recognition. 

Varsity head coach Keith Sachs said Dylan is highly deserving of having his name added to the Thorpe Award plaque, which the district gets to keep for the next year. The coach described Dylan as one of the best players in the history of Wantagh football along with having a top-notch character. 

“He’s a ridiculous athlete on the field and he combines that with being the hardest worker and the best teammate,” Coach Sachs said. “He raises the level of everyone around him. His attitude and his effort is off the charts.”