Sad rites for teen

A HIGH SCHOOL football player was remembered as a role model Tuesday at a heartbreaking funeral packed with his family and teammates.

More than 1,000 mourners filled the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ronkonkoma, L.I., for a farewell to 16-year-old Joshua Mileto.

“Maybe we’ll take some lessons from his life,” said the Rev. Kevin Thompson as the teen’s mother Sayydia wept. “He was kind to everyone before himself. He was so much a people person . ... He loved the Boy Scouts, sports, baseball, football.”

And, as Thompson noted, Joshua was the kind of kid who loved both his teammates and his opponents.

“Today, the world is Team Joshua,” the priest declared. “Tomorrow, too. And the day after that.”

His parents were joined by Joshua’s three brothers during a service that saw a steady flow of tears. One of the Sachem East High School coaches doubled over in agony, sobbing hard, as the casket was brought out afterward.

Mileto died last Thursday in a freak accident where he was hit in the head with a 10-foot, 400-pound utility pole used in a training camp exercise.

Mileto and four teammates were lugging the log above their heads in a team-building exercise when the massive piece of wood somehow fell on top of him.

His teammates, including those who witnessed the horrific scene, turned out for the funeral in their white, gold, black and red jerseys.

Some sobbed, and others clutched prayer cards bearing a picture of the 5-foot-6, 134-pound Mileto.

At the end of the service, Mileto’s parents and three brothers stood at the rear of the hearse before all placed their hands on the casket.