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Monticello’s volleyball, boys alpine skiing and girls golf teams unveil this year’s championship banners

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — Stepping through the doors of the Monticello gymnasium, affectionately known as “The Pit,” one is immediately struck by the vast number of championship banners on the wall that denote the school’s storied athletic history of success.

At the school board meeting on June 19, three more banners were unveiled, attesting to the ongoing nature of that legacy as the girls volleyball team, the boys alpine ski team and the girls golf team proudly unveiled their banners for titles won in the 2007-08 school year.

The volleyball team, led by Section Nine Player of the Year Pollyanna Palhano and masterfully guided by Section Nine Coach of the Year Karen Atack, compiled a 17-2 record and tied Cornwall for the OCIAA Division III title. The team lost a heartbreaker to the Lady Dragons in the Section Nine finals. The Lady Monties were one of 15 NYSPHSAA scholar-athlete teams from the school this year, which surpassed the qualifying standard of posting at least a 90 percent average.

This year, Atack posted her 300th-career win and the team had four members chosen as Section Nine All-Stars.

The boys alpine ski team won its first Section Nine title in at least 10 years by defeating Onteora, who claims it’s been 16 years since it last lost. With a record of 37-6, the boys pulled off the stunning upset at this year’s championships held at Belleayre Mountain in February. The team was one of the scholar athlete squads attesting to the ongoing emphasis on academic success. The team was coached by Steve Duarte.

Earlier this year, the girls alpine ski team was awarded the NYSPHSAA Scholar Athlete championship banner for its state-leading 98.29 average. At an April 3 school board meeting, the girls alpine ski team was presented with its state championship scholar-athlete banner by Section Nine coordinator and NYSPHSAA representative James Osborne.

Finally, the girls golf team, coached by Kyle Hoar, presented its banner for winning the Division III title. The Lady Monties went undefeated in their division with a record of 10-0. The team went 11-2 overall.

Visit riverreporter-sports.com for pictures of other championship teams.