John Corning '05, Football

John Corning's athleticism and versatility quickly set him apart in high school football. After his first freshman practice, a teammate, impressed by John's skills, acknowledged that he was the best athlete he had ever played with—fast, strong, and towering over others. That initial impression was spot on. John became the starting quarterback, leading the Freshman and JV teams to undefeated regular seasons. As a junior, he transitioned to wide receiver, where he finished as the league's second-leading receiver in yards during both of Xaverian's seasons at the AAA level.

John earned numerous accolades, including Brooklyn Tablet All-Star honors and second-team All-CHSAA honors in both his junior and senior years. He also represented Xaverian in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, an all-star game between New York City and Long Island. After high school, John continued his football career at Southern Connecticut State University and later played for the Brooklyn Mariners.

"John was not only one of the best athletes on our team but in the entire athletic program," said his coach, Dom Laurendi. "He was extremely versatile and excelled on both sides of the ball. His best quality, however, was that he was a wonderful teammate."