Scholar, 3-Sport Athlete Leads By Example

Long Islander News photos/Janee Law
As a three-sport athlete, Harborfields High School’s Falyn Dwyer has earned several accolades across her career as a Tornado.

Falyn Dwyer, of Centerport, is pictured playing lacrosse during the opening round of Suffolk’s Division II playoffs earlier this year.

By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com

Eighteen-year-old Falyn Dwyer said that, as she was headed for her senior season with Harborfields High School girls lacrosse team, she knew the Tornadoes had talent. Still, she wanted the team, and herself, to work hard in practice and capitalize on those skills.

The Tornadoes made it to this year’s playoffs, advancing to a May 23 match against Comsewogue, which they beat, 14-7. The game, she said, showcased the team’s development.

“We went into the game a little cautious because we only beat them by one point earlier in the season and we had trouble scoring,” Dwyer, of Centerport, said. “We were a little nervous, but then we started rocking and rolling and it was awesome. It was a lot of fun.”

As a senior middie, Dwyer tried to lead the team by example, she said, adding, “I always gave 100 percent and hustled every second when I was on the field, which I hoped my teammates would do as well, and they did.”

A four-year player on the varsity squad, Dwyer and the Tornadoes advanced to Suffolk’s Division II semifinals, but ultimately fell to Eastport-South Manor.

Kerri McGinty, coach of the team, called Dwyer a fierce competitor who is extremely self-motivated and always looking for ways to help her team.

“When Falyn is running full speed down the field, it is in your best interest to get out of the way,” McGinty said, adding that Dwyer played key parts on both offense and defense. “She utilized her athleticism against top opponents and continuously beat other players out on the draw. Teams were left dumbfounded as to how to prevent Falyn from getting the ball.”

But this is just one of three sports that Dwyer has suited up for as a Tornado.

Although her favorite sport is lacrosse, she was also a midfielder on the soccer team and shooting guard on the basketball team. She played all three sports across her high school career and earned herself several accolades for it, including being named to the Harborfields High School Wall of Scholars and was the school’s 2017 female nominee for the prestigious Dellecave Award, which is given each in honor of Guy Dellecave, a founder of the Suffolk County Hall of Fame, to student athletes who display ability, character and integrity.

She also gets it done in the classroom. Her 108 grade point average has her ranked seventh in her graduating class of 300.

“Falyn attacked the classroom the same way she attacked her sports,” Glenn Lavey, girls basketball coach, said. She was one of the best two-way players in the entire league, he added. “She spent a lot of lunch hours in the library and, just like she did on the court, she earned everything in the classroom by hard work and effort.”

In her fifth and final year at the varsity level for basketball, the Tornadoes won the Suffolk League V title, but then fell in the Suffolk Class A final.

Today standing at 5-foot-8-inches and 135-pounds, Dwyer began playing soccer at 4 years old when she joined up with the Northport Cow Harbor United Soccer Club. When she was 8, she took up basketball and played for the Lightning AAU League. Three years later, her lacrosse career began with the Long Island Top Guns.

With the Tornadoes soccer squad, Dwyer played four years at the varsity level. This past season, the team snagged a Suffolk League V title and made it to the county finals.

Scott Wallace, coach for the girls soccer team, said Dwyer enjoyed a tremendous soccer career and was one of the most coachable athletes he’s ever worked with.

“Her speed and crossing ability created the majority of our scoring opportunities,” Wallace said. “Falyn’s particular skill set is the reason most of our offensive sets were designed to be played through her.”

This past season, Dwyer earned All-Conference and All-County Academic honors for both soccer and basketball, and an All-County nod for lacrosse. For her junior year, Dwyer earned All-League for basketball and All-Division for lacrosse.

At Harborfields, Dwyer is also part of the National Honor Society; French Honor Society; French club; marching and concert bands, for which she plays the French horn; and Athletes Helping Athletes.

This fall, Dwyer plans to attend Fordham University. Although she’s undecided on a major, her interests include environmental studies, teaching and law.

She’ll also be, for the most part, hanging up her soccer and lacrosse cleats, and basketball sneakers. She said she doesn’t plan to continue her athletic career for Fordham’s official teams, and will instead focus on her academics. She does, however, want to play for the school’s club soccer or lacrosse teams.

Looking back on her time with the Tornadoes, Dwyer said, she has created lifelong friendships and memories.

“I’ll always be proud to have been a Harborfields Tornado,” she said. “The athletic program here will always have a special place in my heart.”