Some of the best reminders come from the people who lived the history. On Saturday night, word arrived from Chris Horn — a member of Sayville’s 1971 boys cross country state championship team — and his note ties two Sayville titles together across 55 years.

On Saturday, November 14, the Sayville girls won the New York State Class B cross country championship at Queensbury. As Chris points out, it was 55 years ago, almost to the day, that he and his teammates won the state title for Sayville in the fall of 1971, under Coach Carl Varone. Chris (SHS Class of 1973) was one of that team’s first five finishers.

Chris was there for this year’s run, too — he attended the Suffolk County championship race on November 5 and cheered the girls on as they won the county title that carried them to States.

And there is one more happy note in his message: Chris has moved back to Sayville. “Loving being back home,” he writes. Welcome home, Chris.

Thank you for the reminder, Chris — today and 55 years ago, Sayville are state champions. Go Flashes!

Read the story of that 1971 championship team, in Chris’s own words, here: 1971 Sayville High Cross Country Team State Championship! 50 Year Anniversary! And our celebration of the girls’ 2026 title is here: STATE CHAMPIONS! Sayville Girls Win the New York State Class B Cross Country Title

Sports Reporters Wanted! The Alumni Association is looking for volunteer reporters to help cover Sayville’s boys’ and girls’ sports. At a game? Send us your scores, notes, and photos — email halgbrown@sayvillealumni.org and help us keep every Sayville team in the spotlight.