Haldane Athletic Hall of Fame

Larry Brigati is a beloved figure in the Haldane community, and for good reason. He dedicated his life to the betterment of Haldane athletics and his contributions were immense.

In 1973 Coach and his wife, Dorothy, moved their family to Cold Spring from the Bronx. Coach Brigati began his coaching career in 1976 as the first assistant football coach at Haldane. He held this position for 11 seasons, and during that time he helped lead the Blue Devils to a number of successful seasons. In 1989, he returned to Haldane as the offensive coordinator, where he continued to be a key member of the coaching staff for another six seasons.

In 1995, Coach Brigati was promoted to Head Varsity Football Coach, where he led the Blue Devils for three seasons. He also helped to revive the Haldane football program, and he is credited with helping to create a more positive culture around the team. Coach Brigati also received the 12th Man-Award from the Haldane Football program in 1998.

In addition to his time and efforts with the Varsity football program, Coach Brigati spent many years working with the Haldane junior high football team and the girls' basketball programs. During his time with Girl’s basketball, the team won numerous Sectional Championships. Coach Brigati even spent time coaching his two granddaughters. Lastly, Coach Brigati was a substitute teacher at the Middle and High School, highly respected by students and teachers alike. According to Dr. Richter, Coach Brigati was one of the very best substitute teachers he had the pleasure of working with.

In 2008, the Haldane Athletic Field was named in Brigati's honor, led by the newly formed Haldane Blue Devil Booster Club, Athletic Director Sue Reid, and Board of Education President Dave Merandy. This was a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to Haldane athletics. Coach Brigati is a true Hall of Famer, and he serves as an inspiration to all who know him. He was a man of great character and integrity, and he is sure to be remembered for his many contributions to Haldane.

Though no longer with us, Coach Brigati still serves as a role model for young athletes and coaches alike, as he inspired countless people with his dedication and commitment.

The 1990 Haldane Varsity Baseball Team brought back members of a team that had reached the sectional finals the previous three years but was unable to break through into the state tournament – until 1990. The season started out tough with several rainouts, followed by a sloppy loss to Edgemont. But the boys gained their confidence and took off on a run; however, no one might have known how far they would go.

The first goal of the team was to win the league championship, which they had shared with Pine Plains and Spackenkill the year before. The regular season saw the team fight against some hard league foes like the aforementioned Pine Plains and Spackenkill, along with Dover and larger schools like Byram Hills, Eastchester, and Yorktown. The boys used a combination of timely hitting (outscoring their opponents 173-95), dominant pitching, and speed on the bases (stealing 99/102 attempts successfully) to amass a 12-7 regular season record – good enough for a share of the league title with Spackenkill.

Once the postseason started the boys turned it up a notch. They quickly disposed of North Salem 15-0 in the quarterfinals and took down the defending sectional champion, Dobbs Ferry, 5-1 in the semifinals. That set up a showdown with rival Tuckahoe for the sectional crown. Tuckahoe had defeated the Blue Devils for the title in the two and three years prior, but the Blue Devils left no doubt who the top dog was in 1990, sweeping Tuckahoe by 19-4 and 26-5 to win the first baseball sectional crown in school history. Everyone contributed - they batted close to .400.

Luckily, the boys were just getting warmed up as they stormed past Eastport in the regional finals 18-11 to advance to the New York State Final Four. In their first game they were able to scratch out a 4-3 win over Germantown in 11 innings. Unfortunately, the format of the Final Four had the semifinals and finals being played on the same day, so the weary Haldane team came up short to Poland in the finals. However, it was a great season that included Haldane’s first baseball sectional title, the first trip by any boys’ team to a state final game, and an overall record of 18-8. It was a season worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame.

Members of the team included: Head Coach Jack DelVecchio, Assistant Coach Chuck Phanes, Steve Burke, Michael Caputo, Greg Galassi, Scott Kiesbye, Tony Leonard, Matt Ligay, Jon Lombardi, Marc Lombardi, Jarrod Maddocks, Josh Maddocks, Tony Pickett, Peter Piermarini, Mark Scanga, Dan Schmitt, Chris Shields, Brett Stevenson, Rob White, and Tommy Wills.

*To be celebrated in 2024

Anthony Del Vecchio was a three sport athlete during his Haldane career, emerging as a standout in football and wrestling, as well as a member of the baseball team. In addition to being an exceptional athlete, Anthony was always willing to help others throughout the community and was a great role model throughout his high school career.

As a captain of the wrestling team his junior and senior year, Anthony portrayed great leadership, work ethic, discipline, and accountability. Anthony wrestled in the 125lbs weight class his junior year, earning All-League and All Section. During his senior year he wrestled in the 140lb weight class and earned All-League and All-Section, as well. His ability to stay focused and determined helped him earn over 100 wins during his wrestling career at Haldane. During the 2001 sectional tournament, Anthony had an impressive victory over an opponent who had beaten Anthony by more than eight points during the regular season just three weeks prior. Anthony had a very successful wrestling career but, more importantly, his leadership and helped build and maintain the wrestling program during the early 2000’s.

During his senior year in 2000, Anthony was a full-time starter and one of the best lineman on the football team helping them become Sectional and Regional Champions. Although he was undersized, he had the heart of a lion and fulfilled his role at a high level. His work ethic and determination was noticed by all of the coaches and he earned All-League his senior year.

Anthony also played baseball at Haldane and was a part of the 2000 Regional Championship team and the 2001 state finalist teams.

During his years at Haldane, Brian Rubino ‘05 left a legacy as one of the school’s finest Scholar Athletes. For most of his high school career, Brian was a three season varsity athlete and helped lead the Boys’ Soccer, Boys’ Track, and Wrestling teams to notable accomplishments.

Brian started on the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team as a sophomore playing right fullback, and was a key part of the defense helping the team win the Section One Championship in 2002. Brian also started as a defender in 2003 when the team was moved into the Class C division, which they also won. In 2004, he was appointed Co-Captain and awarded All Section Honorable Mention.

Brian was a member of the Haldane Boys’ Track and Field Team which traveled to the Penn Relays in 2002 and set the record for Haldane Boys’ 4x400m relay time. The team won Section One Class D Championships in 2002 and 2003. For for several years, Brian also set and held the boys’ 800m school record.

However, the true sport where Brian excelled was wrestling. Brian started wrestling at a young age under the tutelage of Coach Nick Mastrantuono and was already formidable when he joined the varsity team as an eighth grader at 112 lbs. He went on to place at the 2001 Divisional Tournament against much older opponents from much larger schools (at the time, wrestling was considered an individual sport and was not organized by school size). Brian placed at the Divisional Tournament and was invited to the Sectional Championships in 2002 at 125lbs, in 2004 at 140lbs, and in 2005 at 145lbs (he did not compete in the 2003 postseason due to injury). Under the leadership of Coach Nick, Brian was the first wrestler in Haldane history to achieve the milestone of 100 wins during his senior year as Co-Captain of the team. Many of Brian’s wins were pins, and he was notorious for his ability to catch his opponent making a mistake and put them in a match-winning cradle or headlock. Brian finished his Senior year placing 2nd at the Section One Championships and was named alternate for the State Tournament. His final record over five years stands at 105-37.

In the classroom, Brian was an exceptional student and graduated as Salutatorian of the Class of 2005. He was designated a National Merit Scholar and awarded the Scholar Athlete Medal by the U.S. Army Reserve. Brian also served as Class President for three years. Coach Nick summed up Brian’s high school career as “the model student-athlete…kind, good natured student outside the mat… tenacious, tough athlete in the circle.” What Brian remembers most fondly about his athletic career are the experiences he shared with other teammates and their families representing Haldane and the greater community.

Over the years Haldane has produced many excellent track and field athletes. Joe Schatzle, Wayne Stellefson, Christine Helbock, Brenna O’Connor, and Theo Henderson are just a few of the names that immediately come to mind. Abbey Stowell has certainly joined their ranks due to her accomplishments over her six year career, beginning in 7th grade as a varsity athlete in track and field. She excelled in almost every event in the sport as clearly indicated by the numerous school records she holds.

Abbey qualified for the state championship in individual events for three straight years. She earned eleven individual league championships and two individual Class C championships. For four years in a row she was the North County champion in the Pentathlon, and in 2018 she also won the North County girls’ javelin championship. Abbey holds the following school records in Girls’ Track and Field: pentathlon, high jump, long jump, 100 meter hurdles, and 200 meter dash. In addition, she was a member of five relay teams that set school records.

Not surprisingly, Abbey went on to a distinguished track and field career at Ithaca College. In 2022 she placed second in the women’s heptathlon at the Liberty League Outdoor Track and Field Championship and first in 2019 at the AARTFC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. It should be noted that the heptathlon is an incredibly demanding event, calling on a wide range of skills. It is an understatement to say a track and field athlete has to be well-rounded to even compete as the heptathlon includes seven events in all: 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200 meter dash, long jump, javelin, and the 800 meter run. All of these events must be completed in two days.

Abbey’s track and field career continues today. While she is earning her master’s degree in physical education at SUNY/Cortland, Abbey serves as the Assistant Track and Field Coach. She works primarily with the sprint, hurdle, and multi-event athletes. No doubt, Abbey will one day be an outstanding head coach at whatever level she chooses.

At Haldane, Abbey was not only an outstanding athlete, she was also an outstanding leader. She served as Captain of the track and field team her senior year. As Coach A.J. McConville stated of her years at Haldane, “She was one of the best and hardest working multi-sport athletes, and a great leader in and out of the classroom.”