West's Zack Naja Receives All Metro, All Long Island Football Team Honors

West’s Zack Naja had a stellar 2010 high school football season – the junior defensive end recorded 76 tackles, 10 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 3 defensive touchdowns and one interception for the Bulls. For his accomplishments, Naja was chosen out of 15,000 high school student-athletes in the tri-state area to represent the MSG Varsity All Metro Football team and Newsday's 2010 All Long Island Football team.

“I was honored with All Long Island first team and I was the first Smithtown West kid to make that,” said Naja. “I was ecstatic for that and I was honored and really proud. My coach called me in his office and then a week later told me that I made all MSG Metro Team. At first I didn’t believe him.”

“He’s the first player from Smithtown to make All Long Island and All Metro team. It’s exciting for us and our program,” said West coach Pete Cerullo. “He’s fun to coach and has a great personality. He’s just an exciting player to watch—he’s got great speed, power and strength.”

Zack’s mother Mary, who is a teacher at West, was excited upon hearing the news of her son’s All Metro selection.

“He ran into the teacher’s lounge during my break to tell me of his selection – we were all shocked,” she said.

MSG Varsity will hold the brunch on Sunday, Jan. 30 to honor Naja and others who made the team.

Naja is the youngest in his family to play football, a family with football lineage, as his father, grandfather and uncles all played the sport. Naja’s Father Daniel introduced Zack and his three older brothers to organized football at a young age – Zack was introduced to the sport at four years old. Daniel and his four sons also spent many hours in their backyard playing.

“They didn’t want to play baseball or basketball, they wanted to play football,” Daniel said. “They liked to play in the backyard and my wife would always scream at me to bring them in the house. I told her that one day it would pay off—now the days are coming.”

West’s superstar defensive player is already getting looks from Syracuse University.

“Syracuse is looking at him but his dream school is UConn [University of Connecticut],” said his dad.

“I’ve been a UConn fan since I was little,” said Zack. “I love the whole tradition and the atmosphere. It’s close to home – but of course I’m a momma’s boy – I’d like my parents at the game.”

 “When he was 10 years old I had to buy him a Huskies jacket,” Daniel said. “But Syracuse is showing him the most love so far.”

Although the West junior is thrilled about his recent accomplishments, he’s already looking to finish where his team left off in 2010 and is dedicated to avenge a playoff loss to Bellport, the eventual Long Island champions.  

“I wish that we could have done better but there’s always next year,” he said.