Sachem North’s Henry Sarro and Sachem East’s Ryan McGarvey were named Most Valuable Players of the annual Ralph Pepe Classic boys lacrosse game on Saturday afternoon, recognizing standout performances in one of the district’s premier rivalry matchups.

The Ralph Pepe Classic continues to serve as a meaningful showcase of talent and sportsmanship within the Sachem community, bringing together two proud programs in honor of the game’s tradition and legacy.

The game is played in memory of Ralph Pepe, a longtime special education teacher at Sachem North who dedicated 33 years to the district before retiring in 2013. As a student-athlete, Pepe played football and lacrosse at Sachem and later competed at the collegiate level as an attackman at Dowling College from 1973 through 1977. He passed away in 2018.

Following Saturday’s game, Pepe’s family, including his wife Mary, a longtime Sachem teacher, presented the MVP plaques to Sarro and McGarvey.

Pepe’s passion for lacrosse extended well beyond his playing days. He served as the head men’s lacrosse coach at LIU Southampton from 1992 through 2004, compiling a 75-51 record and leading the program to ECAC championships in 1995 and 1997. He was also an assistant coach at Stony Brook University in 1985, when the program captured an ECAC title.

At the high school level, Pepe coached across Suffolk County, including stops as head coach at Smithtown West and Westhampton, and as an assistant at Riverhead. He also coached football at Kings Park and Harborfields, and worked with Sachem’s lacrosse program at the freshman and junior varsity levels in the early 1980s.
His lacrosse camps and clinics on Long Island’s East End became widely respected, helping develop generations of players who went on to compete at the varsity and collegiate levels. He was honored as Suffolk County Lacrosse Man of the Year in both 2007 and 2015.

Pepe’s impact continues to be felt throughout the Sachem community. Since his retirement, the special education staff at Sachem North has hosted the annual Ralph Pepe Turkey Bowl each Thanksgiving in his honor.