Russell Athletic named Huntington High School the 2016 “Fight Like Dylan Award” recipient. Now in its sixth year, the award honors high school sports teams that have used inspiring perseverance to overcome odds and achieve success through teamwork.
A panel of judges, led by Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy, selected the recipient after reviewing submissions from across the nation.
Through this initiative, Russell Athletic will present Huntington High School with a $50,000 grant for sports apparel and equipment in a celebratory event hosted at the high school. The Huntington football team took inspiration from an honorary teammate battling a terminal disease to turn their season around and become a stronger, more inspired team that made the playoffs.
Huntington football’s inspiration and honorary teammate was Eli Mollineaux. The Blue Devils struggled early in the season and were a long shot to make the playoffs, but Eli, who suffered from Pearson Syndrome – a mitochondrial disease – was defying his own odds at age 14 after doctors told his parents he would not live past kindergarten. Eli’s “personality, charisma and bravery” were the motivation for the Huntington football team adopting the mantra #bELIeve this season in his honor. The turning point for the Blue Devils’ season came in September during a game recognizing Eli. After losing their first three games, Huntington was scheduled to face their rival, Smithtown West. As a tribute to Eli, players invited the young man onto the field to score his first touchdown with 1,500 fans chanting, “Believe.”
“We are proud to be the brand that gives voice to such amazing stories of communities that have struggled, but still found success through teamwork. After careful review of all the submissions, we are proud to have Huntington High School as our 2016 Fight Like Dylan Award recipient,” said Matt Murphy, VP of marketing, Russell Athletic. “The support for Eli and his determination to beat the odds is what made the story so profound, proving that the power of team can make a difference in not only one life, but an entire community.”
The Huntington Blue Devils and Eli Mollineaux represent the team message Russell Athletic espouses through the “Team On” campaign that kicked off during the 2016 football season.
