Michael The Magnificent!

Monday was a big night for High School West football standout Michael Cascione.

Michael, who recorded five interceptions this season, earned the Tom Cassese Award as the top defensive back and was the only student-athlete to be named a finalist for four major football awards at the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association dinner at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge.

“It’s an honor to receive this award, but the credit goes to my coaches for putting me in the best position on the field at free safety,” Michael said. “I also credit my teammates for trusting me—if they were beat in man coverage, they knew I’d be there.”

Michael was selected as a First-Team All-Long Island player and was a finalist for:

• Newsday’s Carl A. Hansen Award (Suffolk’s most outstanding player)

• The Joe Cipp Award (county’s top running back)

• The Burnett Award (best defensive player in the county)

He also earned All-County honors along with teammates Jake Rearick, Nick DeVito, and Nick Zins. Zins was one of three finalists for the Collatta Award, given to the county’s top linebacker.

Congratulations to Michael, his family, his teammates, and West Head Coach Perrino on these outstanding achievements!