VIDEO: Wantagh's Ryan Sliwak to Play in Empire Challenge Football Game

Wantagh’s Ryan Sliwak will play in the annual Empire Challenge all-star football game Tuesday, June 21 at Hofstra University.

Sliwak, who will play receiver in the game, will represent Long Island on the gridiron one last time as they look to beat the New York City team in the game meant to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis and youth football for the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

“It’s an honor to be picked among the best players on Long Island,” he said. “I’m just going to do whatever I can to help the team.”

Sliwak, a finalist for the Dragon Award as the top receiver in Nassau County last season, will be playing college baseball next year at Division I Stony Brook University.

His father Robert, who worked as a bond broker for Cantor Fitzgerald, was killed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Sliwak wears a shirt with his picture on it, as well as wristbands with 9/11 written on them to honor his father's memory.

There have been 22 other players from Wantagh selected in the game since its inception 16 years ago.

Long Island players spent last week practicing at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma and will hit the field at Hofstra multiple times before Tuesday’s contest.

Stay tuned to Patch.com for coverage leading up to the event and updates on game day.