Josh Johnston The Harborfields High School in Huntington Long Island, New York, held its Athletic Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony recently.

To be inducted into the Wall of Fame, one must have exhibited amazing achievements and records while attending Harborfields High School, either as a student or a coach.

“You are all considered role models to the many students, parents, and staff that will pass by the Wall of Fame and stop to look over and marvel at your achievements. What you may not ever know is how a young student athlete who looks at your picture and reads your bio on the plaque may be motivated and inspired to one day make it their goal to join you on the Wall of Fame,” commented John Valente, director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics at Harborfields High School.

Josh Johnston was one of the ones inducted into the Wall of Fame. He graduated from Harborfields High School in 2002. During his athletic career, Josh played football and basketball. A truly gifted athlete who was known to be humble and unassuming in every regard, Josh more than left his mark on the football field and basketball court and is today still considered to be one of Harborfields finest scholar athletes.

In his high school football career, Josh’s hard work and talent to play the game earned him recognition as a three- time letter winner, threetime All League and All Division selection, two-time All Country selection, two-time preseason all metro team selection, sophomore year offensive MVP, and two-time team MVP. As a two-time captain, Josh really made headlines as a running back that performed unlike that of the average football player. His all star status earned him the prestigious Suffolk County Hansen Award issued annually to the most outstanding athlete in Suffolk County football. He finished his high school career with 4,422 yards which to this day is still the top 10 in Suffolk County for career rush- ing yards.

On the basketball court, Josh was a four-time letter winner, three-time All League selection, two-time All Division selection, and two-time team MVP. A two-time team captain, Josh finished his high school basketball career with an impressive 1,142 points.

Blessed with the rare combination of size, speed, and natural ability, he was the player that all coaches and teammates were ecstatic to have on their team and every opponent dreaded seeing.

Josh also added to his numerous athletic awards as the winner of the prestigious Jon B. Grace Award and was named Most Outstanding Athlete in his senior year.

Upon graduating from Harborfields High School, Josh went on to play football at Cornell University. At Cornell, he continued where he left off as a Tornado, being named Most Valuable Back in 2003 and Academic All District. Additionally, proving that his studies were equally, if not more important as his play on the gridiron, Josh was recognized on the Ivy League Honor Roll.

He is a living testament that hard work, unselfish play, and a commitment to the classroom do indeed pay off. It is no wonder that to this day, the name Josh Johnston still reverberates within Suffolk County football and Harborsfield High School.

Josh is the son of Mike and Patti Johnson of Long Island, NY and the grandson of J.O. “Spud” and Pat Bush of Colquitt.