It’s rare enough to excel in one sport, but mastering two takes extraordinary talent. That’s exactly the case for young athlete Ryan Leary, whose skills earned him spots on both the soccer and football teams. Yet despite his coaches’ support, Leary now faces the surprising setback of being barred from playing either sport.
The decision marks a major setback for Ryan Leary, a standout athlete and key player on both rosters, known for his skills and commitment to his teams. However, Carle Place High School has denied him the chance to compete in both soccer and football, citing safety concerns as the reason behind the ban.
Despite Coaches’ approval, Carle Place High School denies Leary chance to play both sports
It’s not every day you find the talent and versatility of Ryan Leary, a standout athlete at Carle Place High School. Leary has showcased his skills in soccer, football, and basketball, quickly becoming one of the school’s most talked-about players. With his athletic potential, he is already drawing attention as a strong candidate for a future college sports scholarship.
Nevertheless, the very teams Ryan Leary has defended throughout his high school years have now clipped his wings, preventing him from playing both football and soccer in upcoming tournaments. The decision is especially disheartening as the Carle Place senior had already been approved by both his football and soccer coaches to compete for their teams.
“During the summer, I brought it up to Coach Selhorn, and he said, ‘We’d love to have you. The team would love to have you,” Leary recalled in an interview with New York Post. Football coach Paul Selhorn was enthusiastic about adding him to the roster, recognizing the value he could bring to the team.
“Coach Selhorn was fine with it, and when I spoke to Athletic Director [Justin] Block, he told me, ‘This is your decision. If you want to do both, you’re allowed to,” Leary explained, recalling the initial approval to pursue both sports.
Ryan Leary forced to choose: soccer or football at Carle Place High School
However, life took an unexpected turn for Leary. Despite his determination to play both sports at the highest level, he was pulled aside during football practice by Superintendent Ted Cannone, who informed him he would not be allowed to compete in both. The school ultimately forced him to choose just one sport for the season.
“I was heartbroken,” said Ryan Leary. “I decided I was going to play football and then hopefully get it all sorted out so I could still play soccer.” The senior described his frustration at being barred from both teams, adding: “It was crazy to me because I was told yes, and then suddenly told no. It was hard to hear.”
Superintendent Ted Cannone later explained the decision in a statement to News 12, citing safety and fairness as the school’s top priorities. “The district’s thinking is grounded in safety and security for all student-athletes and in fostering equity for all team members. It is inadvisable for a student-athlete to play two high-contact sports in the same season,” Cannone said.
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