“One of the best things about coaching is witnessing a player set a goal and do everything in her power to make it happen.”
By Mitch Silver
“One of the best things about coaching is witnessing a player set a goal and do everything in her power to make it happen.” That’s Rye Girls’ Lacrosse Coach Dennis Hurlie praising Micheline DiNardo, his four-year starter at goalie and Athlete of the Month for May — an honor bestowed jointly by the Rye Lions Club and the High School Athletic Department.
“Micheline wanted to be a Division I lacrosse goalie,” Hurlie went on, “and she put in the time and the work to make it happen. An all-League and all-Section performer who’s led us to three League titles in a row, she’s been the best goalie in Section 1 the last few seasons and perhaps the best at her position that Rye High has ever seen.” He added, “Micheline loves to play and she loves to compete, which is why she’s an All-American. Beyond that, she has represented Rye and our lacrosse program with tremendous character and respect. She has been an absolute joy to coach and although she will be missed deeply here at Rye, we cannot wait to go watch her perform over the next four years at Georgetown.”
No surprise, then, that DiNardo will be joining the other monthly winners at the Lions Club dinner at The Osborn June 13, when Rye’s Athlete of the Year will be announced.
Make that “Student-Athlete of the Year.” Like the other contenders, DiNardo is a standout in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society with an overall 92+ GPA (carrying an academic load full of Honors and AP classes), the busy senior has earned departmental awards in Math and Writing while fulfilling all kinds of extra-curricular commitments.
Consider: Micheline has served as the Rye Varsity Basketball Manager, handling the scorebook at every game; she’s a Student Council member; a photographer for the Garnet & Black newspaper; and a member of both the Athletic Advisory and Awards Assembly committees.
And we’re not done yet. As part of Rye’s Mission for Girls, she’s helped the group raise money to educate a young student in Kenya. She’s been an officer of Adopt a Soldier, and sold bracelets to raise funds for the New Rochelle Humane Society.
All that is on top of the work she puts in on her sport. As one of the 50 best lacrosse players in the country, she has attended camps up and down the East Coast. This year, she’s not just a USA Lacrosse All-American, she’s a USA Lacrosse Academic All-American.
When we finally caught up to the whirlwind that is Micheline DiNardo, we asked her who had had the greatest influence on her life.
“My parents. They support me in everything I do and are always on the sidelines cheering me on. Every word they say to me is one of encouragement. They are always able to turn everything around and see the positive side of a situation. I know I can rely on them for anything and without them none of this would have been possible.”
As far as her future plans, DiNardo said, “I’ve always wanted to be in the FBI. I was lucky enough to take a SUPA (Syracuse University Project Advanced) forensic class here at Rye. I’m planning to major in Psychology and minor in Sociology, but I’m still deciding whether I want to be an FBI agent or go into teaching.”
How does it feel to be named Athlete of the Month?
“It’s a huge honor. I am surrounded by so many great athletes… and to be given the Lions Club Award is a dream come true,” said DiNardo.
