Michael Berkery Honored with the Thorp Award as the Most Outstanding Football in Nassau County

In a glittering ceremony held Crest Hollow Country Club on Monday, Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Michael Berkery, the standout running back of Garden City Trojans, was honored with the prestigious Thorp Award. The award, hailed as a symbol of excellence in Nassau County football, is bestowed upon the most outstanding player each year, and this time, Berkery stood out among his peers. Michael is the fourth Garden City football player to receive this honor and the third consecutive Trojan player: Terence Hartigan (2004), Jack Cascadden (2021), Stevie Finnell (2022) and Michael Berkery (2023).

The awards dinner, representatives of every school district in Nassau County, celebrated not only his exceptional athletic abilities but also his leadership, sportsmanship, and dedication both on and off the field.

Berkery’s journey to this accolade has been nothing short of remarkable. During the 2023 season he accumulated 945 yards rushing with 19 touchdowns on 79 carries. An incredible 12 yards per rush. He also had 201 receiving yards on 7 catches with additional 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Michael accumulated 38 tackles, 3 interceptions and a sack. To credit the impact, he had on the games, Michael was also a standout on special teams where he contributed 320 yards returning kicks with two touchdowns. What makes his statistics so impressive is that he only played a total of 22 quarters due to the game scores and a season ending injury in the third quarter of the Nassau County Championship game.

“So it’s really a team game and our team won the championship. When I look back at the 2023 season, I’m just going to remember having that ring on my finger at the end of the day and holding up that trophy.” said Berkery after accepting the award. “He is just a dynamite athlete. He is able to do things all over the field, offensively, defensively, special teams. He is a really competitive kid. I think that fuels him to have as much success as he can on the field.” said varsity head coach Dave Ettinger.

Michael Berkery joins the distinguished list of Thorp Award recipients, his legacy in Nassau County football is cemented. His name will be forever etched in the annals of local football history as an exemplar of sportsmanship, skill, and leadership.

As the awards ceremony concluded with resounding applause, it was evident that Michael Berkery’s impact extended far beyond touchdowns and victories—he had become an emblem of inspiration and aspiration for aspiring young athletes across Nassau County.