Pearl River will hire new varsity head coaches for three spring sports in time for the official start of practice March 11.
In addition to Mike Carlacci with the softball team, Joan Smith (boys tennis) and Liam McGuirk (girls track and field) will also not be back for the coming seasons.
"We're begining to interview applicants," Pearl River Director of Athletics Todd Santabarbara said. "We want to hire the best person to continue to be successful at the section and state level.
"The priortiy is the varsity head coaches given that they are ultimately responsible for the entire program."
New coaches must be approved by the board of education. Santabarbara said he wants to have the new coaches chosen in time for the board of education meeting Feb. 20 at the latest.
"We are trying to find the best fit in the quickest amount of time to give the athletes time to prepare for the season," Santabarbara said. "Typically, in January and February, spring tams begin preseason workouts.
"You can't just pick up a bat and ball March 11. You can't pick up a lacrosse stick March 11 and be successful."
The jobs were posted internally first, then on OLAS (Online Application System for Educators). Santabarbara said he could not talk specifically about candidates, but that he received applications from more than one qualified person with softball experience.
He added that he would not speak for the individual coaches who left, but that he expects Smith to continue to coach the girls tennis team in the fall.
Wrestling Second at Edgemont, Readies for Rockland
The Pearl River wrestling team took second place at last weekend's 31st Annual Edgemont Tournament with 162.5 points despite competing without junior . Edgemont won won the team title with 167.5 points.
Sophomore James Kelly won the lone individual title for the Pirates at 99 pounds with an 8-2 decision over Edgemont's Kyle Aslanian. Aslanian had pinned Kelly's teammate, Sean McGarvey, in the semifinals.
Juniors Rob Gullo (152 pounds) and Nick Simeti (132) and freshman Jake Kurtzals (113) finished second in their weight classes. McGarvey, an 8th grader, and senior Chris Flynn (182) took third.
Full results from the semifinals, finals and third-place matches can be found here. Pearl River will compete in the Rockland County Championships Saturday at Tappan Zee High School.
Upcoming Schedules
Pearl River's varsity sports teams are off today due to mid-terms.
Friday's Events
- Pearl River girls basketball at North Rockland, 4 p.m.
- Harrison at Pearl River boys basketball, 7 p.m.
- Pearl River ice hockey vs. Byram Hills at Sport-O-Rama, 9:15 p.m.
Saturday
- Pearl River boys and girls indoor track teams in New Balance Games at The Armory, 9 a.m.
- Pearl River wrestling in RCPSAL Tournament at Tappan Zee, 9:30 a.m.
- Pearl River ice hockey vs. Ossining at Sport-O-Rama, 7 p.m.
Share Sports Results, Pictures on Patch
Coaches, parents and other followers of Pearl River athletics, please send scores and information to ryan.buncher@patch.com or upload your pictures directly to stories about games as they are posted on Pearl River Patch.
Don't forget this can include youth sports as well as updates on local athletes as they compete on the college level.
