As good a
track and
"You have to put school first," said Hughes, a North Rockland senior who has earned an athletics scholarship to Marist. "If you don't, you're really not going to get anywhere because athletics can't carry you everywhere. I have always been this way."
Even with school as his first priority, Hughes has an impressive list of track and cross country accomplishments.
Last fall he won the Class AA state cross country
championship, led the
Red
Now he can add the title of Rockland Journal News Scholar-Athlete of the Week to his list of accomplishments.
Hughes said he can recall crying over winning, yet never crying over a good grade.
"Although I place academics first, the championships hold weight," Hughes said. " My proudest accomplishment is being the state champion and being a Federation team championship member. It was something I worked hard for my whole life. It wasn't an accumulation of a few good practices, it was an accumulation of years."
Hughes, who will major in criminal justice at Marist, said support from his parents and coach have been influential in terms of helping him keep a good balance.
Gene Dall, who has coached the North Rockland boys
track team for 40 years, said Hughes has fit into the legacy and
"Nick has always been a great kid," Dall said. "He has a level of maturity beyond his age, especially when it comes to understanding what's important. He understands what it means to be committed to whatever you do."
Even with a schedule that Hughes describes as waking up earlier than most, going to school, participating in as many as three hours of practice, and then doing his schoolwork, he still makes time to give back.
"Coaching the PAL
basketball
Dall said Hughes works hard, shows dedication and cares.
"It's his consistency," Dall said. "There is a family commitment when it comes to Nick being a successful athlete. He understands the extents his family goes to and the sacrifices they make. He returns that by doing what is good for him and that contributes to his success."