In the fall, Rye senior Phoebe Greto made the all-section volleyball team after captaining the Garnets to league and section titles and amassing over 500 kills in her varsity career.
Then, she turned around and put on another captain’s hat, this time leading coach Margo Hackett’s basketball team to the section semifinals.
To cap it all off, Greto was named February’s Athlete of the Month by the Rye Lions Club in association with the high school’s athletic department.
“There is nobody more deserving than Phoebe,” Hackett said. “This season, Phoebe has been a dominant presence on the basketball court, averaging a double-double and reaching the remarkable milestone of 1,000 career points.”
After winning the section championship as a junior, Greto helped the Garnets return this March to the Westchester County Center, where they lost a hard-fought semifinal game against Ossining. For the second straight year, Greto made the Section 1 Class AA all-tournament team.
“A dedicated multisport athlete, Phoebe has distinguished herself through her hard work, competitiveness, and commitment to excellence,” Hackett said. “She earned a spot on the varsity basketball team as a ninth grader after playing JV as an eighth grader and has continued to grow into one of the program’s most impactful players. Her teammates unanimously voted her team captain, a reflection of the respect she has earned through her leadership, work ethic, and team-first mentality.”
Greto’s parents were both multisport athletes as well. Her mom played basketball and volleyball, and her dad baseball and football. Both of Phoebe’s older siblings were also Rye High School athletes. The 5-foot-10 Garnet standout was asked which of her inherited skills account for her athletic success.
“The first thing is my strength, I guess,” Greto said. “I supplement it by lifting weights and working out when I’m not actually playing. Then, of course, there’s my height. And my quickness: both basketball and volleyball require you to get off your feet and change directions in an instant. Finally, there’s my hand-eye coordination. Shooting a basketball and spiking a volleyball both require it.”
As a member of Rye High School’s Academy, a program of selected students, Greto is studying the effects of dementia on patients and caregivers in a year-long research project led by math teacher Ashley Blanch. Meanwhile, art teacher Anthony Campbell chose her to lead marketing for Rye’s yearbook, something that has led her to consider majoring in marketing when she attends Denison University this fall.
“The people and the basketball team were very welcoming to me,” Greto said of Denison. “After considering it for a couple of weeks, I knew it was the right decision.”
Inside and outside of school, Greto belongs to a number of caregiving organizations. She is president of the school’s Bridges Club, which promotes social inclusion. She also belongs to Rye’s Best Buddies, a group that, among other things, supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Her community service includes three organizations: The Sharing Shelf, which donates clothing for families in need; Meals on Main Street, for whom she distributed holiday gifts for needy families in Port Chester; and Bread of Life, another group that provides food and supplies for those in need.
“One of the most meaningful examples of her leadership came through her involvement with the Unified Basketball program,” Hackett said. “During the spring seasons, Phoebe steps up to help organize and lead the program, working closely with special-needs athletes and partners to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. She helps run practices, encourages every athlete to participate, and ensures that each player feels valued and supported. Her compassion and enthusiasm help to make the experience special for everyone involved on the court.”
Greto was just as appreciative of her coach, who nominated her for the monthly Lions Club recognition.
“Ms. Hackett not only made me a better player,” Greto said, “she made me — and each of my teammates — a better person.”
As with the other monthly winners, Greto is now eligible to be named Rye’s Athlete of the Year at the Lions Club’s annual awards luncheon this spring.
