2024: A Year to Remember for LuHi Athletics!
2024 was truly a year to remember for LuHi Athletics, and we couldn’t be prouder of all our Crusaders—students, coaches, and alumni—who helped make it such an unforgettable season.
As we look back on the year, we want to share just a few of our favorite moments that made 2024 a historic year for LuHi sports:
Girls Varsity Basketball: #1 in the Nation!
The Girls Varsity Basketball team reached an incredible milestone, finishing ranked #1 in the nation! With standout players heading to top programs like Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Arizona, and La Salle, this season was one for the record books.
Boys Varsity Basketball: Elite #4 in the Nation!
The Boys Varsity Basketball team earned a spot among the nation’s best, finishing #4 in the country! Major shoutout to our top commits heading to Baylor, Seton Hall, Buffalo, and Siena—the future is bright for these Crusaders as they are all making an impact at the next level.
McDonald’s All-Americans: History Made!
This year, 4 LuHi athletes made history by earning the prestigious McDonald’s All-American title:
- VJ Edgecombe
- Kate Koval
- Kayleigh Heckel
- Syla Swords
The Girls Team made history becoming the first girls team with 3 All-Americans in one year!
Alumni Achievements
We’re so proud to see our alumni continue to excel in their professional careers:
- Ryan Dunn (’20) and Celeste Taylor (’19) were both drafted to the NBA and WNBA—truly an amazing accomplishment.
- Messiah Swinson (’20) signed with his first NFL team, the Greenbay Packers, as an undrafted free agent.
Boys Varsity Baseball: 4x PSAA Champions!
Another championship season for the Boys Varsity Baseball team, who clinched their 4th PSAA Championship title! Their dedication and hard work have truly paid off as they solidify themselves as a top contender on Long Island.
Girls Varsity Lacrosse: 3x PSAA Champs!
The Girls Varsity Lacrosse team also had an incredible year, bringing home their 3rd PSAA Championship title. The future is looking bright for this talented squad.
LuHi Volleyball: Hosting and Winning!
For the first time ever, we hosted the LuHi Volleyball Invitational, and our teams showed up strong. Later on in the season, our team was able to secure back-to-back PSAA Championship titles! What an exciting moment for our volleyball program as they continue to grow!
College Commitments
In 2024, over 10 athletes from our Baseball and Football programs committed to top schools, a testament to the hard work and talent they’ve put in over the years. Congratulations to all of them—we can’t wait to watch them succeed at the next level!
Uniball Partnership & National Signing Day
We also celebrated our first-ever Uniball National Signing Day, honoring 5 athletes who signed with top programs. It was an exciting day that highlighted our commitment to supporting our student-athletes in their next steps.
Athletes Included:
- Kayden Mingo- Penn State, Men’s Basketball
- Nigel James- Marquette, Men’s Basketball
- Ikechukwu (Nick) Onyekwere- Florida State, Men’s Basketball
Kate Ross- Long Island University, Women’s Lacrosse - Emily Butera- Molloy University, Softball
Syla Swords (’24) on the Canadian Olympic Team
In an amazing achievement, Syla Swords made her debut with the Canadian National Team in the 2024 Olympics in Paris! We couldn’t be prouder of her representing LuHi on the global stage.
Ashton Kay’s Record-Breaking Performance
In golf, Ashton Kay set a new Varsity Gold record with a score of 31 on a 26-par, 9-hole course! What an impressive performance!
Jacob Butler: Crusaders’ All-Time Leading Receiver
A major milestone for Jacob Butler, who passed 2,000 career receiving yards, becoming the all-time leading receiver for the Crusaders. Great job, Jacob!
LuHi Girls Basketball: Iolani Classic Champions!
The LuHi Girls Basketball team brought home the 40th Annual Iolani Classic Championship in a thrilling competition. Another well-deserved title for these talented young ladies as they start the 2024-25 year off with a 10-0 start!
VJ Edgecombe (’24): Allen Iverson National Player of the Year
Finally, VJ Edgecombe was named Allen Iverson National Player of the Year, capping off an incredible year for this standout athlete. VJ was also named back-to-back NYS Gatorade Player of the Year.
With such an amazing 2024 behind us, we can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for our Crusaders. The future is bright, and we’re excited to support all of our athletes as they continue to break records and achieve greatness.