Watch the Rye High Boys’ basketball team play— they’re currently tied for the league lead — and there’s no missing senior Mark Croughan, a tower of strength in the middle on both ends of the floor.

By Mitch Silver

Watch the Rye High Boys’ basketball team play— they’re currently tied for the league lead — and there’s no missing senior Mark Croughan, a tower of strength in the middle on both ends of the floor. The 6’5” center looks for the open player on offense, muscling his way under the basket for rebounds and shooting only as a last resort.

Even so, he’s averaging eight points a game to go with his eight boards for the 12-4 Garnets. He recently amassed 18 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in the championship game of the Mamaroneck Tournament, earning him first-team All-Tournament honors.

Now, another honor has come Mark’s way: the Rye Lions Club and the Rye High Athletic Department have named him Rye’s Athlete of the Month for January.

His coach, John Aguiar, was pleased to learn the news. “Mark is our leader on and off the court, a two-year starter and captain and the anchor of our defense.  

“What’s more, Mark is an outstanding student and epitomizes what we want our student-athletes to represent. A member of the National Honor Society, he has a 93 GPA. His teachers all express how respectful he is to them as well as his peers. I can’t think of a better role model for the younger Garnets to look up to.”

January’s honoree takes his mentoring seriously. Mark has volunteered to help run the Rye Rec basketball program during the school year, and he’s spent summers working at both Rye Rec and the Orienta Beach Club as a camp counselor to second graders along with taking his charges on field trips around the metropolitan area.

In the classroom, Mark has taken an armload of Honors and AP courses. “I’m really enjoying Economics and Psychology. Maybe it’s because I’m coming fresh to them — subjects like History, English, and Math build on what you’ve studied before, but Econ is a stand-alone class in a way. Psychology, too. And what you learn has immediate application in the real world. I like that.”

Speaking of the real world, Mark has applied to Colgate, Washington & Lee, and other colleges. And what will he be preparing for over the next four years?

“I’ll probably study Political Science. I want to help make a difference in people’s lives, possibly in government.” So what does he make of the current mixed-up election campaigns? “When you get past all the shouting, we’re talking about what kind of country we want. It’s important. And interesting.”

Before he runs for President, though, Mark will join the other monthly winners at The Osborn in June for a dinner sponsored by the Lions Club.