Orange County News
For Immediate Release                                                                 Contact: Christopher Borek 
 Saturday, December 3, 2022                                                      845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c 

District Attorney Hoovler Hosts Breakfast for Local Highschool Football Teams Playing in State Championships

District Attorney hosts breakfasts for the James I. O’Neill High School varsity football team on Thursday, December 1, 2022, and for the  Newburgh Free Academy varsity football team on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

Both Teams are playing in New York State Public High School Athletic 

Association  Championship games this weekend.

 District Attorney continues to promote The Uncommon Athlete 

anti-bullying initiative.

On Thursday, December 1, 2022, District Attorney David M. Hoovler hosted a breakfast for the James I. O’Neill varsity football team, their coaches, faculty, and members of the school board, as they prepared play at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship games this weekend in Syracuse, New York.  James I. O’Neill High School is the  public high school of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District.   

On Saturday, December 3, 2022, District Attorney Hoovler hosted a similar breakfast event for the Newburgh Free Academy High School football team, their coaches, and members of the school district, as they also prepared to play in those same championship games. Orange County Sheriff-Elect Paul Arteta joined District Attorney Hoovler at both events.

“I wish both the James I. O’Neill and Newburgh Free Academy football teams, the best of luck on their games this weekend,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Throughout my tenure as District Attorney, I have spent much time and effort developing relationships with high school athletes, and their coaches, realizing that athletes have a platform within their schools to promote well-being, and anti-bullying. These breakfasts are part of that continuing effort.”  

 District Attorney Hoovler has previously sponsored gym programs to help young residents avoid being drawn into criminal or narcotics activity. Additionally, since 2016, the District Attorney’s Office has been sponsoring  The Uncommon Athlete events at various schools throughout Orange County. 

The Uncommon Athlete is a program of Rachel’s Challenge and the Cal Ripken, Sr., Foundation, designed to bring to student athletes tools that they can use to make themselves not only better athletes, but better citizens, and to help them to realize their potential as future leaders of our communities. The program impresses on young athletes the values of Perseverance, Relationships, Integrity, Courage, and Empathy (PRICE).  One of the goals of that program is to reduce bullying in schools and elsewhere.

No taxpayer or public monies were used to pay for either of the breakfast events.

District Attorney Hoovler and Sheriff-Elect Arteta with NFA Team Captains

District Attorney Hoovler and Sheriff-Elect Arteta at NFA

District Attorney Hoovler and Sheriff-Elect Arteta with James I. O’Neill football team

District Attorney Hoovler and Sheriff-Elect Arteta with James I. O’Neill cheerleaders

District Attorney Hoovler with James I. O’Neill staff and school officials