Greenport students to join Mattituck in track & field
Greenport students can compete in track and field this spring for the first time alongside Mattituck’s varsity squad.
Greenport plans to send its coach, Jack Martilotta, to Mattituck with a contingent of track athletes, male and female. Mr. Martilotta will train the students in shot put and discus throws, while Mattituck’s coaches will instruct the students in running events.
Though students from Greenport and Mattituck will train together, when it comes to competing they’ll be on their own, Greenport Superintendent Michael Comanda said during the Greenport school board meeting Wednesday.
As Greenport students they’ll wear Porters uniforms when competing in joint track meets with Mattituck and other schools.
Mr. Comanda said Mattituck was hesitant to absorb the Greenport students into their team because adding more students would push the team into a higher league where schools generally have larger, more competitive teams.
Responding to a parent’s request, the Greenport school board voted for the joint team last spring, said school board president Tina Volinski.
Both Greenport and Mattituck have cinder tracks that are not up to standards for meets, and Mattituck’s meets would be held away. The Mattituck girls team competed at Westhampton Beach High School last spring for its one “home” meet against Babylon.
Greenport will pay Mr. Martilotta a $5,206 stipend for his work as the track coach.
