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Coach Tom Henning started the Flying Dragons in the fall of 2009 with 23 HSMSE students who wanted to learn how to run farther and faster. He applied his long experience as a distance runner and his teaching philosophies to create a successful cross country team. In the spring of 2014 an Outdoor Track team was added and in the winter of 2017-18 an Indoor Track team.
The program has grown in size to become the largest extracurricular program at HSMSE: 60 members of the class of 2025 were on the team at least one season during their high school career, and in any given year about eighty girls and boys are active one or more seasons. In the past fifteen years, six hundred students have completed at least one season on the team.
Head coach
Coach Henning teaches Physics, Engineering, and Design classes at HSMSE. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in engineering, and has taught at the university and high school level for 30 years after a career in Silicon Valley. He recently earned a Level 2 Coaching certification from USA Track & Field and has completed the NYC Triathlon eight times. Lastly, he's the faculty advisor to the school's Gender & Sexuality Alliance.
Assistant Coach
Mr. Tirado teaches Physics and AP Environmental Science at HSMSE. He attended New York City schools and ran track & field in high school on Staten Island. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Seton Hall University.