It has been another stellar year for Oyster Bay High School sports. The crowning moment came on June 8, when Kyle Cartwright won the State Championship for the Division 2 category of the 400-meter hurdles race. The last time Oyster Bay High School celebrated a state champion track star was 60 years ago when Rick Robinson won the crown. Robinson was the State Champion Long Jumper. He still holds the school record for that event and is an inductee of the inaugural Class of 2005 in the Oyster Bay High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Robinson wrote a sports column for many years for the Oyster Bay Guardian.
A major component of the educational program in Oyster Bay-East Norwich is the focus on building character as well as academic and athletic abilities. Character was front and center at the State Championships as well. Kyle Cartwright received recognition for his Sportsmanship throughout the season, and was one of two athletes in Nassau County who received the Sportsmanship award.
In his first race of the day, Kyle placed fourth in the state in the 110-meter high hurdles. Seeded 12th, he was not expected to earn a medal, but he ran his best time of the season, defeating most his competition that was expected to finish in front of him.
In what was no doubt Kyle’s best race of his career, he ran the 400- hurdles at a blistering pace, and finished with a time of 53.88 seconds. With this time, Kyle has New York State Champion. His time placed him first among his division 2 competitors and second overall in the federation, which includes all schools, large, small and private.
Adrian Maznio, Francis Kalombo-Ngoy, Teddy Hamlin and Jerry Ochoa ran in the 4×400 relay team, finishing with a time of 3:45.2. Courtney Cartwright ran the 400-meter hurdles for the girls. She ran an impressive time of 70.4 seconds.
The success of the athletic program in Oyster Bay-East Norwich can be greatly attributed to the work of one person. Elaine Ranaldo is the secretary for the athletic office. She handles everything to do with sports. It is a massive job with hundreds of situations to deal with on a daily basis. Ranaldo is one of the best at what she does. She has been recognized in the past as “Secretary of the Year.”
This year, Ranaldo is the recipient of the Todd Heimer Secretarial Award from the Nassau County Chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators. This award is given to a secretary of an athletic administrator who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to athletics in Nassau County for a minimum of five years.
Oyster Bay-East Norwich Athletic Director Kevin Trentowski had this to say about Ranaldo. “As a new director, I can tell you that I am extremely grateful to have Laine’s assistance each and every day. I appreciate all she does for the Health, Physical Education, and Athletics Department. She truly deserves this recognition for all of her great work and dedication to the Oyster Bay athletic community.”
Ranaldo was presented with the award at the Athletic Secretaries Luncheon on June 10.
Every year, in recent memory, Oyster Bay High School has celebrated at least one “Coach of the Year.” This year, there were six coaches so honored. Tim Brady was the Boys’ Soccer, Conference “ABC” Coach of the Year. Joe Knoll was the Football, Nassau County Conference IV Coach of the Year. Lou Ponterotto was Football, Nassau County Assistant Coach of the Year. Jim Frauenberg was the Boys’ Basketball, Nassau County Class B Coach of the Year. Jay Davis was Baseball, League B/C Coach of the Year. Brian Soper was the Boys Lacrosse, Conference IV Coach of the Year.
For the month of May, the athletic department added three more names to its impressive list of Athletes of the Month.
Girls’ Lacrosse player, Hannah Kaiser makes her second appearance this year as Athlete of the Month. She earned the honor last fall for her Field Hockey talents. In Lacrosse, Hannah finished her junior season strong scoring 15 goals and adding 6 assists in the Lady Baymen’s final four games of 2013. For the season Hannah totaled 44 goals and 26 assists. In addition, Hannah is the original record holder in goals in a game (6), assists in a game (5), and points in a game (8). For her efforts Hannah earned All-Conference honors.
A crucial member of the Oyster Bay Golf Team, Ryan Maloney ended his season with an average 9-hole score of 41. Ryan’s golfing ability took him to the County Tournament held at Bethpage State Park where he represented Oyster Bay with pride. Ryan commemorates his golf idol Bubba Watson with monster drives using his Bubba Watson Breast Cancer awareness driver.
And, of course, the final Athlete of the Month is the newly crowned State Champion who is also making his second appearance this year as Athlete of the Month.
Here is what Coach Kevin Cotter had to say, “I would nominate Kyle Cartwright for Athlete of the Month. Besides being team captain, and being an excellent leader and role model Kyle has individually: Become the division champion in the 400m, 400H, and 200 meter races; become the county champion in the 400 IH (intermediate hurdles), and all county in the 110 High Hurdles; broken school records in the 400 hurdles, and 110 High Hurdles; and has not been defeated a single time in the 400 hurdles, or 400 meter races this season, including at the State Championship.
It is fair to note that this year was the debut year for Oyster Bay-East Norwich’s new athletic director, Kevin Trentowski. With this year, Trentowski has set the tone and the standard for an exemplary career.
