Herricks' Constantine Cheung wins Michael Capozzi Award
Capozzi Award winner Constantine Cheung will study mechanical engineering at SBU. Credit: Jack Cheung
Whether it’s sitting in a classroom for an exam, playing the cello at Lincoln Center in Manhattan or standing on a pitcher’s mound on a varsity field, Constantine Cheung is at his best when the pressure is on. The Herricks senior was a master in pressure-packed moments, and he believes often being in those environments helped him excel in multiple fields.
“As a pitcher on the mound, sometimes you feel really alone out there and that can give you a different perspective of how to deal with the pressure,” Cheung said. “Everyone is watching you on the mound and watching your next move and there’s a lot of pressure on you. With music, it’s the same as during the performances with everyone watching you, so music has helped me get used to that pressure.”
Pressure hasn’t been much of a problem for Cheung, who won the 31st Michael Capozzi Award presented by the Nassau Baseball Coaches Association. The award goes to a graduating senior who excels in academics, service, leadership and performances both on and off the baseball field.
Herricks coach James Bailin couldn’t think of a more fitting winner than Cheung.
“He is exactly what this award personifies,” Bailin said. “He is genuinely one of the greatest kids I’ve ever coached because of the type of person he is. He’s just the type of kid you want to be around and you hope more people are like him.”
Cheung will study mechanical engineering at Stony Brook next fall and will participate in the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra. Cheung, who played baseball, volleyball and swam at Herricks, said he may also play club baseball at Stony Brook. He was a three-year varsity baseball player and finished All-League as a senior.
He’s played baseball since the fourth grade and the cello since the third grade. He’s played at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and was an All-State cello player. Cheung graduated with a 3.869 unweighted GPA, which becomes a 4.039 weighted GPA after taking multiple AP courses.
“This is all the effort and hard work I’ve put in all into one award,” Cheung said, “so it really means a lot to me.”
