With honors

Richard Ross
Posted 8/21/12

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — And so another school year draws to an end, consigning a panoply of milestones into the annals of history. Final epic events like the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships …

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With honors

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SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — And so another school year draws to an end, consigning a panoply of milestones into the annals of history. Final epic events like the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships held on June 8, after a June 7 opening day postponement, signify the coda to 2012-13 scholastic athletics. That leaves only the New Balance track and field Nationals this coming weekend in Greensboro, NC for a few local elites to give their curtain call on stellar high school careers.

Before citing the litany of final performances at the state track meet and lauding the local golfers who went to states, the most notable honors of this narrative go to Tri-Valley coaching icons Joe and Missy Iatauro, whose careers of 39 and 34 years respectively conclude now with their retirement. Joe coached 117 consecutive seasons. The dynamic duo has mentored legions of young men and women, amassing more than 200 championships in cross-country, indoor and spring track. After many fond words of praise from T-V athletes and coaches at the spring sports awards on June 5, Team Iatauro, as the couple is fondly known, were honored at a dinner at The Sullivan on June 9, attended by over 230 people. Family, friends, former and current athletes, track officials, colleagues, former school officials and this writer extolled the couple for their tireless, remarkable commitment. Stories and photos drew smiles and tears. It was indeed a night to remember.

One day prior at the state meet, the I’s were busy coaching three of their athletes. Senior Aric Boyes took second in the Division II shot put with a lifetime best throw of 51-08.25. Mareena DiMilia finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 35-06.25, while teammate Katlynn Greffrath was 13th in the high jump with a mark of 4-8. Fallsburg’s Candhace Forrest was second in the Division II 100 in 12:39. She finished eighth in the Federation 100 against the top runners from schools large and small, including those from NYSPHSAA, New York City’s Public School Athletic League (PSAL), The Catholic High School Athletic League (CHSAA) and the Independent Schools (AISAA). Sullivan West’s Reed Scott was eighth in Division II in the 3200 with a time of 9:42.32. Monticello’s 4x100 relay team, which had the number one seed time coming in among public high school teams in the state, did not finish, as the baton was dropped between the second and third legs of the race. The most notable local performance was the Division II and Federation pole vault victory of Ellenville’s Justin Farrenkopf, who cleared 15 feet. He exited with a valiant attempt at 15-10.

At the girls golf state meet held at SUNY Delhi on June 7-8, Fallsburg sophomore Madison Levine (95-95-190) was 60th while junior Danielle Stratton (93-110-203) tied for 70th. One week prior in the boys golf state meet held at Cornell, Sullivan West’s Drew Billard (86-84-170) tied for 59th.

At Monticello’s Senior Night celebration, Shane Jackson and Haley Heins were this year’s recipients of the coveted Mayor’s Cup. Shane Jackson scored 57 touchdowns in his football career, lead the indoor track team to the Sullivan County championship this year, Shane was also a part of the boys outdoor track and field team’s Division III track championship this year, and has set or tied four school records during his outdoor track and career as well as being a part of several scholar athlete teams. Haley Heins was the Section 9 Alpine Ski female champion the past two years, leading her team to Division and Sectional championships during her ski career. Haley also was a sectional qualifier for girls golf as well as a member of several scholar athlete teams.

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