Henry Sarro of Sachem North Flaming Arrows and Ryan McGarvey of Sachem East Flaming Arrows were named Most Valuable Players of the annual Ralph Pepe Classic on Saturday afternoon, recognizing standout performances in one of the district’s premier rivalry matchups. Sachem North won the game 20-5 in dominating fashion.
The Ralph Pepe Classic has grown into far more than a lacrosse game. It stands as a meaningful showcase of talent, sportsmanship, and community pride, bringing together two respected programs each year while honoring the life and legacy of a beloved educator, coach, and mentor.
The contest is played in memory of Ralph Pepe, a longtime special education teacher at Sachem North High School who dedicated 33 years of service to the district before retiring in 2013. Pepe passed away in 2018, but his influence remains deeply woven into the Sachem community.
As a student-athlete, Pepe excelled in both football and lacrosse at Sachem. He later continued his lacrosse career at Dowling College, where he played attackman from 1973 through 1977. His love for the sport followed him long after his playing days ended.
Following Saturday’s game, members of Pepe’s family, including his wife Mary Pepe, presented the MVP plaques to Sarro and McGarvey. The moment added an emotional touch to a game already rich in meaning and tradition.
Pepe’s coaching résumé stretched across both the high school and collegiate levels. He served as head men’s lacrosse coach at LIU Southampton from 1992 through 2004, compiling a 75-51 record while guiding the program to ECAC championships in 1995 and 1997. He also worked as an assistant coach at Stony Brook University in 1985, when the program captured another ECAC title.
At the high school level, Pepe coached throughout Suffolk County, including head coaching stops at Smithtown West and Westhampton, along with an assistant role at Riverhead. He also coached football at Kings Park and Harborfields, while helping with Sachem’s lacrosse program at the freshman and junior varsity levels in the early 1980s.
His camps and clinics on Long Island’s East End became highly respected, helping develop generations of players who later competed at the varsity and collegiate levels. For his contributions to the sport, Pepe was named Suffolk County Lacrosse Man of the Year in both 2007 and 2015.
His impact continues to be felt today. Since his retirement, the special education staff at Sachem North has hosted the annual Ralph Pepe Turkey Bowl each Thanksgiving in his honor.
While Sarro and McGarvey earned MVP honors on the field, the true winner each year is the memory of Ralph Pepe—a man whose dedication to students, athletes, and community continues to inspire.