Compiled by Gavin Cardamone and Daniel Mezzalingua
Spring 2017
To view the article about Mr. Ridall, click here.
I’ll never forget the first goal I scored for MPH. … We were all so excited to have the lead on a team, I almost became unglued on the field. Don used this as a teaching moment to subtly tell me to calm down and stay composed, which I immediately did. Coach Ridall always set a high standard on and off the field, and this was the defining moment when I realized this.
The following year, [when I was] a junior, Coach Ridall picked Luke McKenney and me to be co-captains. This was probably the highlight of my high-school career. Being selected by Coach Ridall to lead the team meant a lot to me in more ways than one. It was the first time in my life that someone had given me a true leadership role. Don was helping me believe in [myself]. Small steps, huge impression, lifelong lesson!
I could go on and on about how Don made my high-school experience such a positive one. I know there are a thousand other alumni who would say the same thing.
— Mark J. Egan, Class of 1980
He was fun-loving and passionate about MPH sports and the students who played for him. And he was always in a cheerful, positive mood (probably because he got to wear sweatpants and sneakers every day and [didn’t have to follow] the dress code).
— Tracy Mezzalingua, Class of 1989
Mr. Ridall was constantly pushing me and others to have a commitment to our teams and the school, and [this] was a valuable trait to have throughout life.
— Steve Herron, Class of 2003
He was always our biggest cheerleader, even though he didn’t coach tennis or girls soccer. He constantly gave me tips on how to improve my soccer game.
— Tracy Mezzalingua, Class of 1989
Memories
His first practice ever, we brought the football practice equipment out, and the look on his face was, as they say, ‘priceless.’
— Barry Spevak, Class of 1978
The best memories I have of Mr. Ridall are the early mornings of preseason soccer. The attitude that he and Coach [Venezia] brought to every practice was the perfect combination of hard work and good times. Those beautiful days will truly remain in my heart for the rest of my life.
— Joey Cerio, Class of 2016
In seventh grade when I played modified soccer with Mr. Ridall’s son Patrick, Cady was being born but Mr. Ridall still had Pat show up for the second half to score a penalty kick — dedicated to the sport!
— Steve Herron, Class of 2003
During my sophomore year, I was the starting sweeper when we gutted out a win in overtime for the sectional championship. That was a very special moment to share with him and always something that I dreamed about since I became a ballboy for the varsity team as a little kid and watched them win championships.
— Willie Kniesner, Class of 2013
He was like a second dad to me, so there are so many great memories. I think the best was winning the sectional championship our senior year. The group of seniors on that team had been teammates and good friends for a very long time, and winning that championship for Mr. Ridall was a great vindication of his leadership over the years. We had a multiple-goal lead with a few minutes left, but I will always remember him coaching us and screaming on the sideline until the final whistle. Giving him a hug on the sideline with a few seconds remaining [is] a great memory.
— Brian Scruton, Class of 2003
My best memory of Mr. Ridall [is] the famous 2000 State Championship ‘knee slide.’
— Brian Perry, Class of 2002
Lessons
Passion + dedication + hard work = winning, [be it in] a soccer game or anything you attempt to do in life.
— Barry Spevak, Class of 1978
The most important lesson I took away was to never give up no matter what. Although at first this advice only related to winning on the soccer field, over time I was able to realize that the same mindset is crucial for being successful in life. Mr. Ridall understands better than anyone that sports mean miles more than what happens [on] the field or court.
— Joey Cerio, Class of 2016
Coach Ridall influenced me — and I use this approach to this day when assembling teams for work assignments, or when I coach recreation league sports — to evaluate your team and make the best of it and let the team know that everyone contributes. There are no superstars.
— Luke McKenney, Class of 1980
I came to MPH in ninth grade, so my first experience at the school was his soccer program in the fall of 2008. Coach Ridall welcomed me, pushed me and gave me a sense of belonging. As the years went on, our relationship matured and he began to consult me as a captain and veteran. He was even my Senior Thesis Project mentor when I helped coach the second- and third-grade soccer team at MPH. Coach Ridall showed that he trusted my judgment, character and abilities, and that is something I will always be thankful for.
— Tyler Greco, Class of 2012
He had a big impact on my life, including teaching [me] how to win and lose graciously. He truly cared for his players and wanted us to do well in school and life as well as on the field. He supported us in becoming well-rounded young men and pushed us to give our all.
— Dimitrios Telonis, Class of 2007
Mr. Ridall truly loves coaching and teaching important values to players on and off the soccer field. He’s an incredible coach but also an incredible mentor. It’s easy to look at his Hall of Fame record as a coach, but if you really want to see what type of coach/athletic director/mentor he is, just look at the incredible men and women that have graduated from the MPH sports program. He created an environment where teammates [support] one another, which [sets] a great foundation for young adults in sports and in life.
— Brian Scruton, Class of 2003
On the field, he gave us guidance, but also the freedom to be ourselves. That is what I loved about him the most. He allowed us to play to our strengths on the field and to be ourselves off the field. He was hard enough on us to [keep us] motivated, but nice enough that we always had fun. And when our teams came together, it was a beautiful thing. I have carried over that lesson to my regular life. It is always extremely important to be yourself, because otherwise, you will be unhappy.
— Willie Kniesner, Class of 2013
He taught me at an early age to work hard, but to balance that hard work with a bit of fun – or else what’s the point?
— Brian Perry, Class of 2002
— Lucy Zwigard, Class of 2014 |
the Pebble 