Duo honored by Tri-State Track Coaches Association

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, June 22, 2018 | 4:09 PM

The inaugural lifetime achievement award, presented annually by the Tri-State Track Coaches Association, was given to Canon-McMillan's Joe Gowern in 1994.

Over the years, 46 people have been honored with the award, and two more were added to the distinguished list this year.

Baldwin's Rich Wright and West Mifflin's Mike Mazzarese were presented with the award May 17 at the WPIAL track and field finals at Baldwin Stadium.

Wright, 66, has been an assistant track and field coach at Baldwin for 25-plus years. He also has served as coach of the cross country program since 1992 and was joined by Bonita “Bunny” Schmidt two years later.

Mazzarese, 65, has been in charge of the track and field program at West Mifflin for 22 years and has been coaching for 43 years.

Baldwin coach Ed Helbig, a recipient in 2014, made the presentation.

“This award is presented to coaches who have promoted the sport of track and field not only for the school they coach, but for the sport overall,” Helbig said. “Rich and Mike have worked tirelessly for their high school teams, but they can also be found working most large invitationals, which helps athletes from many schools.

“Their tireless work on behalf of their athletes and the athletes of many other schools is why they were the 2018 recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Wright said he was honored to receive the award alongside Mazzarese.

“The award was a surprise,” Wright said. “I have watched some really great coaches receive this award, and to get it with ‘Maz' was an honor. So many coaches and people congratulated me and said it was well-deserved.

“I feel it stands for the work and time that I have dedicated to track and cross country, not to just Baldwin but all athletes in this area. And coming from Ed and the coaches means a lot.”

Mazzarese was humbled to be honored by his coaching peers.

“Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tri-State Track Coaches Association was a great honor for me,” Mazzarese said. “It is special because it comes from a group of my peers who recognize the years of hard work and dedication that I have given to my teams and to the sport of track and field in the WPIAL and Tri-State.

“My high school coach and mentor was Joe Esper, who gave me my first coaching position. I learned a great deal about coaching from him. To this day, I still call Mr. Esper with coaching and technical questions. When West Mifflin merged schools, Phil Shar became the head coach and I learned organization, strategy and motivation from him. I had two great teachers that prepared me for the head coaching job.”

Wright, who worked at the Bettis Atomic Plant in West Mifflin for 34 ¹⁄₂ years, started as a volunteer in 1987 before accepting the cross country coaching position at Baldwin in 1992.

Wright and Schmidt promoted a “family atmosphere” within the Baldwin cross country program.

“Our basic philosophy was to help each athlete gain confidence in himself or herself and to unify the athletes as a team,” Wright said.

Wright is a member of the United States Running Streak Association, a select group of people from around the country who run at least one mile every day. He also is a member of the Pittsburgh Running Hall of Fame.

Wright is in his 27th year of running at least one mile daily. He has logged at least one mile for almost 10,200 consecutive days, a streak that started Aug. 2, 1990, and ranks in the top 70 nationally.

“I have so many memories of the champions at Baldwin,” Wright said. “I have been able to watch great runners, jumpers and throwers throughout the years. Larry Quinn started the run of championships. Danny Mazzocco and Ryan Sheehan won state championships. We've had 20 WPIAL champions.

“Paul DeGregorio had a great win in the 3,200, and Andrew Kuchta won the next year. I remember the grace of T.J. Hobart, and the amazing David Adley, Chis Wolf, Dennis Logan, Matt Cecala and Jeep Crompton. We had five straight 4-by-8 (relay) champions. To me, regardless of place or time, they are champions in their own right.”

Mazzarese retired from teaching five years ago after 36 years as a social studies teacher.

“I have very fond memories of the numerous WPIAL individual champions and the many conference championships over the years,” Mazzarese said, “along with all of the athletes that have been part of the program.

“My greatest memories would be the four PIAA champions that I have been involved with: Paul Rozgonyi in the high hurdles (1986); Richard Ayers in the triple jump (1988); the 4-by-1 boys relay consisting of Montel Williamson, Tom Cline, Kevin Gray and Brandon Coleman (2004); and Jazmyne Hayes in the triple jump (2011). The 4×1 relay still has the WPIAL record of 41.83.”

Highlights from the 2018 outdoor track and field season still resonate with Wright, who serves as the finish-line coordinator for the Pittsburgh Marathon and can be seen volunteering at many area and regional races.

“I have enjoyed every athlete I've coached,” Wright said, “watching them push themselves to PRs and how proud they are.

“This year, there were the O'Malley boys (Bailey and Brendan), Laurel Bristow, Nick Lachut, Logan (Richards), Macy Hale, John Ziegler, Teddy Boehme and all my girls. I have loved the entire trip.”

Wright gave credit to many of the coaches he has worked with over the years.

“I have been coaching with some of the greatest people — Bill Veith, Bunny, Ed, Paul Roth, Chuck Helbig, Maz, Mike Agostinella from Mt. Lebanon, and so many more,” Wright said. “They all have given me a lifetime of memories.”

Mazzarese plans to return in 2019 as West Mifflin's coach for a 23rd season.

“I plan on coaching next year,” he said. “But at this point, I am only going year to year.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.