Varsity Insider

Tonight at Westchester Country Club, 12 football players from Westchester and Putnam were honored as the 2009 “Golden Dozen” Scholar-Athlete Team. They are:

Golden Dozen —
• Anthony Cardon, White Plains
• P.J. DeMercurio, Mahopac
• Matt Fedro, Yorktown
• Andrew Madigan, Somers
• Cole McCormack, Rye
• Jack Miller, Mamaroneck
• Timmy Muller, Fox Lane
• Brian Murray, Bronxville
• Obinna Nwakeze, Rye Country Day
• Jameson Pickel, John Jay
• Charlie Rollins, Rye
• Ryan Shilling, Carmel

Here are the players who were named honorable mention: Ben Berkey, Horace Greeley; Michael Brereton, Mahopac; Anthony Brunetto, Dobbs Ferry; Mike Cardi, John Jay; P.J. Castracucco, Tuckahoe; Danny Collins, Briarcliff; Sean Cronin, Pleasantville; John Crowley, Somers; Kyle Davy, Ossining; Chris Denison, Pelham; Mike Fata, Dobbs Ferry; Brian Glazewski, Rye Country Day; Josh Gorlick, Hastings; James Houghteling, Hackley; Michael Miceli, New Rochelle; Robert Millman, Mamaroneck; Danny Morrissey, Pelham; Marc Palmer, Kennedy; Mark Parascandola, Iona Prep; Dan Prager, Briarcliff; Joe Riley, Ossining; Kyle Shaub, Horace Greeley; Dean Simkins, Byram Hills; Corey Smith, Port Chester.

Six of the recipients were awarded scholarships. Here’s a look at each scholarship winner, as well as some background about each scholarship:

• Chris Mello Award and Scholarship: Andrew Madigan, Somers — Named in honor of the former Rye star and Golden Dozen recipient who was killed in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
• Vincent Draddy Scholarship: P.J. Castracucco, Tuckahoe — Vin Draddy attended New Rochelle High School, where he was a star on multiple teams. Vin went on to attend Manhattan College in the late 1920’s, where he became a star quarterback and team captain. Over the 8 years of high school and college football, he scored over 80 touchdowns. Vin’s professional legacy is legendary, as he is credited with taking a tennis shirt designed by Rene Lacoste and turning it into a cultural icon here in the united states known as the Izod brand of sportwear. Vin is also known for his great philanthropy. He was the founder of the Thunderbird Charity Golf tournament here at Westchester Country club, an event which has now morphed into the Barclays classic still here at Westchester. Vin was also a major benefactor of Manhattan College, where the gymnasium is named after him. Vin also served as the Chairman of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, and help found our Westchester Chapter of the NFF.
• Marc Palmer, Kennedy (Tony Sabella Scholarship): Tony Sabella was a dominant figure on the landscape of high school athletics in Westchester County for over 30 years. Tony was a longtime administrator and eventually the Superintendent of Schools for the Bedford School District. But sports was his real passion, and he officiated over 500 local high school football and basketball games over his career. He eventually became the President of the Westchester Officials Association and its chief interpreter of rules. He served as President of Section One Athletics, and is credited with popularizing the Section One Basketball Tournament at County Center. He also served as President of the New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association. For all his efforts on behalf of high school athletics, Tony was elected to both the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame and the New York State Public High school Athletic Association Hall Of Fame.
• Brian Glazewski, Rye Country Day (Bud Huntington Scholarship): Bud Huntington was a lineman on the Football team at New Rochelle High School, where he was named an All County player three times from 1923 to 1925. As a lineman at Colgate University, Bud was named to the All America Team by the NY Post and the ALL East Team by the Coaches Association. Over the years, Bud recruited dozens of Westchester county football players to attend Colgate University and play football there (including Steve Joyce). Bud was a founding member of the Westchester Chapter of the National Football Foundation. Professionally, Bud worked at the New York Telephone Company for over 40 years, eventually rising to Manager of Development and Operations.
• Jack Miller, Mamaroneck (William Cunningham Scholarship): Bill Cunningham was a three sport athlete at Mamaroneck High School, where he was an outstanding running back on the football team. After high school, Bill was unable to attend college due to the financial circumstances of his family. He did play semi-professional football and baseball for several years, and even had a tryout with the NY Giants baseball team. Bill served on the Mamaroneck Police Department for over 30 years and was elected to the Westchester County Hall of Fame in 1976. This scholarship was established by his family, in part, so that other deserving scholar athletes from Westchester would be able to realize their dreams and potential through a college education.
• Anthony Cardon, White Plains (Bill Morton Scholarship): Bill Morton played football at New Rochelle High School in the late 1920’2, and became a star quarterback and hockey player at Dartmouth College in the early 1930’s, eventually being named to All American teams for both football and hockey. Upon graduation, Bill became an investment banker at Chase Manhattan. Later in his career, he started his own investment banking company which was ultimately acquired by American Express in 1966. Bill continued to work for American Express, and in 1968 became the President of American Express. Bill was elected to the College Hall of Fame, and was honored by the National Football Foundation with its Gold Medal award in 1986.