It is often said of an athlete's commitment that it's "in his blood." For Carey's Tom Daddino, no axiom is more befitting. An arduous work ethic and perpetual desire for greatness has payed dividends. Next fall Daddino will attend Hofstra University on a football scholarship.

Tom's fervor is the product of a long-standing Daddino family tradition of athletic excellence. Older brothers Al and Gerard were football players. Gerard was a state-wrestling finalist for Sewanhaka in 1998. His cousin Matt was an All-Conference linebacker for Carey and State Champion Wrestler for the district wrestling team, and won the 1998 USA cadet freestyle-wrestling championship. Currently he is the 18th ranked 197-pound wrestler for Division I West Virginia, after transferring from DI-AA Hofstra, where he won 31 matches over two years.

"His family is so supportive," observes Sean Bradley, the Sewanhaka District wrestling coach. "That contributes to every athlete's success. They have a great thing going. The Daddino family is a legacy. They all have the same work ethic."

Younger brothers Danny, a sophomore, and Patrick, a freshman, played varsity football for Carey this year and are ranked third and fourth respectively for the wrestling team in 2003.

"It all started when we were little; both sides of the family were into sports. At all my games or wrestling matches, my family would come down and watch and be rooting me on. I would go with my brother and cousin to their games," explains Daddino. "We all love competition."

A two-sport star, Daddino has excelled on the wrestling mat with the Sewanhaka District Wrestling Team. He won a Gold Medal at the 2003 Empire State Games and the NYS Freestyle Championship, which earned him All-American accolades in Freestyle wrestling. Also an All-Long Island wrestler in 2003, he is undefeated this season.

"Tom, is a real good wrestler. He takes full advantage of his talents. Wrestling got him in a relentless mode he never stops and that translates to football," says Coach Bradley. "He works real hard, his work ethic is outstanding; that's what he's all about. He is the kind of person every coach wants on a team. What is impressive about him - - as the captain of the team, he takes the new guy aside after practice and spends time going over moves and teaches him. That rubs off on the team."

A captain of the football team as well, in four years with the Seahawks Daddino has been All-Conference and All-County three times. A middle linebacker, Daddino made over 100 tackles and followed that effort with 90 tackles this year. In 2003, he was named to the All-State team and was the only All-Long Island selection that did not play in a playoff game.

"Teams put a bull's-eye on his chest. Without question, he is a game changer. He has forced teams to plan around him. He was not doing it with one or two kids on him, he was doing it with three guys running right at him leaving players on our defense," punctuates Carey Head Coach Matt McLees. "I've been here for 14 years and he is our first real blue chip scholarship player. Someone will be playing his position next year, but he is irreplaceable."

Also a fullback with Carey, the 215-pound Daddino will play linebacker for the Pride, after considering offers from Northeastern, and Delaware as well as Syracuse who was looking at him as a fullback. Daddino is looking forward to the opportunity to continue his football career at the Division I-AA program, which comes off a 2-10 season in which they gave up 30 points per game.

"Just still another level of picking up the game. It's a step up next year, a big step. Everyone is equal. I just have to try that much harder to be better. It's going to be harder competition, taking it to the next level. It's a different game a different speed, faster," remarks Daddino. "Without a doubt going to Hofstra is going to be something. I've dreamed of this since I've been 4 years old, football is something that I love. People that put in their time and effort pick them out willing to go for what they want."

McLees, a former star at Southern Connecticut who was in training camp with the Cleveland Browns thinks the sky is the limit for Daddino, even going so far as to draw comparisons to another former Long Island All-State Middle Linebacker, Miami Dolphins' Marlon Greenwood.

"I've been here for 14 years and he is our first real blue chip scholarship player," said McLees "Tom has the drive to be a great player. His own peers watch him perform and he sets the standard to emulate. He is just a competitor; he competes on the football field and on the wrestling mat. The truly great ones are able to do that."