Garden City’s Zach Olson has finished his high school football career a perfect 46-0, making him the winningest player in Long Island history.
A quick glance at the numbers shows Garden City’s Zach Olson had one heck of a high school career. Those numbers are 4 and 46.
But for him, they have nothing to do with touchdowns or yards. For the 6’5”, 285-pound two-way lineman, it’s something a whole lot bigger.
The 46 represents both the number of games he’s played in — and the number of wins he’s collected since being called up to varsity in Week 3 of his freshman season. Yes, he’s a staggering 46-0 during his varsity career, making him the winningest player in Long Island history. (Garden City is currently on a 66-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation.)
As for the 4 — Olson has won four Long Island Championships during his four-year varsity career.
No other player in Long Island history has done that. (Garden City won its fifth straight LIC last weekend; no other team has ever won more than three in a row.)
Zach Olson helped Garden City survive a 10–7 thriller over East Islip to win its 66th straight game on Nov. 29. (Credit: Kevin Rogers, used with permissions.)
“It took a while, but it finally sunk in,” Olson told Greater Long Island. “But to be honest, I have mixed feelings. The accomplishments are amazing but I can’t believe I’m never putting on a GC uniform again.”
And while those numbers are outstanding, dig a little deeper and his Garden City career reads like something out of a dream.
Olson played just two games on the Trojans’ junior varsity before getting called up — and he won both of those, too.
Before that, he spent two seasons on the middle school team during pandemic-shortened schedules, and yes, his team won every single game. That means since he started playing football for the Garden City School District, Zach has never lost a single game.
“It’s surreal. I could never have imagined this much personal success,” said Olson. “But this is a team game so I share the credit with every teammate I’ve ever had.”
So when was the last time Olson remembers losing a football game — possibly during his pee-wee days? His answer may surprise you.
“I actually never played pee wee or PAL because I was too big,” Olson said with a chuckle. “I was a big kid growing up, 40 pounds over the weight limit, so I wasn’t allowed to be on the team.”
Olson says when he moved to Garden City from Sherman, Connecticut, in third grade, the coaches broke the news to him. He knew his size would be an issue, so he didn’t try organized football until the middle school team.
“I wasn’t an athletic kid. I didn’t play sports. But when I finally got my chance in 7th grade, I fell in love.”
After his sophomore year, Olson decided it was time to get even bigger. He gained 55 pounds of “mostly muscle” and quickly became a dominant force.
“I knew it was time to get serious and get in shape.”
Harvard noticed, and that’s why he’ll play offensive line for the Crimson beginning next year.
“Zach has had an amazing GC career,” Garden City head coach Dave Ettinger told Greater Long Island. “We have had dominant offense and defensive linemen before but he’s the first one that actually looks like a lineman.”
As for the legacy he leaves behind? Zach says the numbers are nice, but that’s not what matters most.
“I just want to be one of those guys they still talk about in this town, on this team, in 10 years,” said Olson.
And as for his personal winning streak — it’ll next be put to the test in September, when he puts on his Harvard football jersey for the first time.
Zach Olson and his Garden City teammates celebrate their fourth consecutive Long Island Class II championship win Saturday afternoon, Nov. 29. (Credit: Kevin Rogers, used with permissions.)
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