As the 2019 football season progresses for the Lynbrook Owls, one player in particular has especially stuck out: senior linebacker Dom Barbuto. Barbuto is one of the team leaders on the defensive side of the ball and is beginning to make appearances on the offensive side as a tight end as well. He finished his junior season with 125 tackles for the Owls, leading them to a 4-4 record last season and a playoff appearance. His performance earned him the opportunity to play football at multiple prospect camps for different colleges, including Columbia, Albany, and Sacred Heart, before he ultimately committed to play Division I football at Army West Point.

Barbuto, a three-year member of the varsity football team, has continued to prove himself as one of the best players on Long Island year after year. His impressive stats along with his leadership make him one of the most crucial members of the Owls. Barbuto’s teammate, senior running back Mekhi Lewis, knows Barbuto makes everyone on the team better. “Dom’s leadership makes us all work harder and play our best football,” commented Lewis. He added, “His ability to see the play developing and how he flies to the ball is impressive.” Senior wide receiver Jake Belmont agreed: “Dom’s leadership has a positive impact on the team. As much as he can do on the field, he helps the team just as much off the field by his knowledge and unmatched work ethic… It’s awesome to pay with Dom; he’s a fantastic player and an even better leader.”  

Barbuto’s playmaking ability is shown week after week. “The way he can just dominate the guy he is going against impresses me. He makes everyone’s job so much easier,” commented Belmont. “I think my biggest strength on the football field is patience,” commented Barbuto. “I take my time in recognizing plays, and when I figure out what it is, I go as fast as I can to make the play,” he added. 

“My teammates have helped me tremendously throughout my four years of [high school] football and three years on varsity,” commented Barbuto. “During my earlier years, I would try and mimic the play type of many of my older teammates and try to make it my own which ultimately made me a better player.” All of the hard work Barbuto has put in over the past four years has helped him earn a spot on the West Point football team, “My biggest factor in choosing West Point is that I like to challenge myself,” said Barbuto. “With challenging myself, I also believe that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that not a lot of people have where I can succeed academically and athletically.” 

Although Barbuto’s senior season has been interrupted a bit with injuries, he continues to put up monster numbers against everyone the Owls play against. “The biggest thing I’m going to miss about Lynbrook Football is the brotherhood,” commented Barbuto. “Being able to play with my best friends whom I grew up with is something I’m going to miss the most.” Although Barbuto’s Lynbrook football career is coming to a close, fans are excited to see what the next chapter at West Point holds for this talented star.