By Darran Simon
Newsday
SHOREHAM, N.Y. — Students returned to Shoreham-Wading River High School on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after one of their classmates, a junior football player, died after colliding with an opposing player in a game.
Several parents didn’t stop to speak to media as they drove past Suffolk County police who were stationed at the school’s main campus entrance.
School officials stopped cars as they drove to the entrance, turning away media from the grounds.
Junior Tom Cutinella, 16, a guard and linebacker on the school’s football team, died Wednesday night after collapsing during a game in Elwood earlier in the day, authorities said.
Cutinella was pronounced dead at Huntington Hospital after sustaining a head injury in a varsity game against John Glenn High School, part of the Elwood school district, police and school officials said.
The district posted a statement from Superintendent Steven Cohen on its website, saying “our school community is truly devastated by this awful news and we all extend our deepest condolences to Tom’s family and friends.”
The statement said sudden loss can have a profound effect and noted that grief counselors will available to students and staff for as long as needed.
At John Glenn High School, the site of the game, school buses lined up the entrance to the school and students streamed inside, just like any other day. But a flag flew at half staff as school officials stood guard outside; reporters were not allowed on school grounds.
The death shook the Elwood community, said Peter Illovsky, a parent who had just dropped off a student. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. It’s just devastating.”
News that Cutinella had died blindsided students, coaches and parents assembled in the hospital’s intensive-care waiting area late Wednesday.
Several students cried out when hearing the news their classmate was dead, and two people fell to the ground, weeping. Dozens of friends and teammates consoled one another.
About 45 minutes after those at the hospital had learned of Cutinella’s death, his father arrived wearing blue jeans and a red and white T-shirt.
He briefly hugged about 15 supporters before two officers escorted him behind a pair of double doors.
Moments later, he emerged with about a dozen of his son’s teammates. Four officers then ushered the group into an elevator.
Shoreham’s head coach, Matt Millheiser, sat alone in a corner and appeared numb after hearing of the death of his player.
“He was a great kid,” Millheiser said before leaving the hospital late Wednesday with some of his football staff.
A spokeswoman for both districts, Deirdre Gilligan, confirmed Cutinella’s death, saying he had been in the intensive-care unit Wednesday night after undergoing surgery.
“It was a big hit,” Millheiser said shortly after his player was taken off the field by an ambulance.
The coach was among 60 friends, relatives and teammates who spent hours at the hospital.
Before news of his death, the waiting area had been silent for much of the night.
Many of Cutinella’s friends and teammates, wearing the school’s colors of navy and gold, paced the hallway or watched television.
Hours earlier, they watched Cutinella and other Wildcats play at John Glenn High School in Elwood.
The Suffolk Division IV game, which started about 4 p.m., was halted in the third quarter with Shoreham-Wading River leading 17-12.
“His health and safety is more important than any high school football game,” Glenn coach Dave Shanahan said shortly after play was suspended. “And our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the entire Shoreham-Wading River team and community. I asked my team to pray for him.”
Jack Costas, a member of the Shoreham-Wading River school board, said, “We’re a small community and we’re all devastated. It’s always tragic when someone so young and so full of life has their life ended. It’s going to be a very, very difficult road ahead from this.”
Costas said safety will likely be discussed Tuesday when the board meets.
“I think that, obviously, we’re expecting to get a full report, find out exactly what happened and do an audit of our equipment and, if there is some way to ensure safer play, then, obviously we’re going to have to make some adjustments,” he said.
In a statement, Shoreham-Wading River Superintendent Steven Cohen offered condolences and said grief counseling will be provided for students and staff.
Cohen said Cutinella had played football for the district since ninth grade. He became a member of the varsity team this season and played lacrosse, Cohen said.
Cutinella was a member of the Natural Helpers program, which focuses on peers helping peers by giving advice or just a sympathetic ear, district officials said.
“He excelled academically, had a great sense of humor and was just a great individual overall,” Cohen said. “He was well-liked among students and staff, and he will truly be missed.”
With Deon J. Hampton, Ellen Yan, Bob Herzog, Víctor Manuel Ramos and Zachary R. Dowdy.
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©2014 Newsday