Despite some setbacks due to injuries, both the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams finished the season strong, with a solid showing in the League and Sectional meets. Sadly, along with this being the last Cross Country season for the senior athletes, it is also the last season of coaching for Boys’ Varsity Coach Craig Sandhaus, after 31 years at the helm.
By Lauren Dempsey
Despite some setbacks due to injuries, both the Boys and Girls Cross Country teams finished the season strong, with a solid showing in the League and Sectional meets. Sadly, along with this being the last Cross Country season for the senior athletes, it is also the last season of coaching for Boys’ Varsity Coach Craig Sandhaus, after 31 years at the helm.
The Boys’ team finished with a 7-2 record, while the Girls’ team finished with a record of 6-3. The strength of both varsity teams was their depth.
Co-Captain Matt Maloney said, “Time and time again throughout the season, we saw how much talent the underclassmen have and how good the team will be in the next few years.”
Rye is graduating two girls: Amber Altamura and Liza Morrell, and 11 boys: Matt Maloney, Joey Viger, Jason Chen, Jack Durkee, Will Frolich, Phil Pignato, Chris McGinnis, Jack Agosta, Zach Carpinello, John Kelly and Jack Carty.
The end of the 2012 Cross-Country season brings with it an end of an era of Rye High School running sports. Arriving in Rye in 1981 as a coach and a special education teacher, Coach Sandhaus is retiring. During his 31 years behind the whistle, Sandhaus has coached Cross-Country, Winter Track, and Spring Track and Field. Along the way, he has also helped coach the Wrestling team and taught karate to students before school.
Assisting Sandhaus this year were Michael Griffin and Joe Brown, who will continue the program next year. A solid Modified team will also help boost the strength and depth for the upcoming years.
