A Culture Of Reward, Dominance And Inclusivity on the Track and Field Team

The team poses together after the Section 1 Class A championship at Suffern High school, May 29, 2025.Have you ever run high school track and field? If so, have you ever gotten a piece of candy for earning a personal record in a race? Most would question giving a sugary treat as a reward for an athletic achievement, but for the Scarsdale High School track team, this small tradition fosters a strong sense of belonging and The team after the completion of the first ever Scarsdale invitational on April 6, 2025serves as a way to celebrate even the small efforts.

On the SHS Track and Field team, every athlete is more than just their time or score, and the results of a race do not represent or define an athlete. When stepping on the track the goal is to live up to the team motto: “Surrender to the result. Celebrate the achievement. Build on the success tomorrow.”

This motto is a representation of the culture that has been built around the track team. Dominance and success are not guaranteed but there are plenty of athletes whose efforts earn them a personal record or lead to a trip to states or nationals.

The work for highly committed track runners begins earlier than you might think. To help these athletes prepare for the winter and spring season, Scarsdale recently added a fall track program. The other fall sport that many runners participate in is Cross country. The team competes in 5K races every Saturday from early September all the way to November. There are about 6-8 runners per season. Many of the sprinters are on the fall track team while many of the mid-distance and distance runners are on the cross country team.

The cross country team deserves credit to where credit is due. The Team now has a winning culture and an expectation to dominate on the cross country course every Saturday. Our girls cross country team won the 2024 Section 1 Class A Championship for the first time in over 40 years and a Westchester County Championship for the first time in 41 years, in that same year. Our boys cross country team, despite not winning a section title in 2025, the team captured the Class A title at the Westchester County Championship, taking down their rival New Rochelle.The girls cross country together one last time before their Nike cross nationals New York regional race, November 23, 2024 at Bowdoin Park in Wappinger Falls, New York.

Once the cross country season ends, the runners tend to have a week before the winter track season starts. Athletes who run winter track run around the indoor track at the Armory from November to March, preparing for the New York State Championship which takes place at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island.

Proving just how terrific the track team is, last March the girls won the 4x800 meter relay at the state championship and Freshman Adriana Pettinelli got second in the state last winter in the 1000M. On top of these wins, more athletes like Julie Scheffler who graduated last June, juniors Jake Saxon and Charlie Rich all competed at States and did very well.

(4) The girls 4x800 relay team of Leia Patel, Zoe Dichter, Ana Pettinelli and Rachel Rakower after their win at the state championship.

Thanks to their wins at States, Scarsdale sent about seven runners to Nationals that season. . There, the team of Rachel Rakower, Alice Nicassio, Zoe Dichter and Ana Pettinelli not only broke the school record, but got the 4th fastest time in Westchester County history. Julie Scheffler earned herself All American Honors and 2ND PLACE in the race walk and what was her first season ever doing the event.

Fast forward to the spring, where consistency and continued success led to more State Championship appearances. That outdoor season, there were about 20 athletes who competed at States followed by a grand finale at the great Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Nationals during the 2025 spring, was the end to truly a historic run. A few runners made the trip up to the University of Oregon to compete at Nike Outdoor Nationals, a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of the athletes. Scheffler rebounded off her second place finish at Indoor Nationals to become a National Champion in the 10,000 meter racewalk. Ana Pentinelli finished 4th in the 800 meter championship and the boys SMR Championship finished 5th and earned all American Honors. Other athletes like Jake Saxon and Charlie Rich made the trip out to compete and did the Raiders proud.

(5) Hugo Gueler, Labrone Brown, Charlie Rich, Jake Saxon, Julie Scheffler, Kaya Williams and Ana Petinelli pose together at Nike outdoor nationals in Eugene, Oregon, June 2025

Though it is easy to highlight all the team's success when it takes place on a track in Eugene, Oregon or at the State Championship, it is important to remember that it all starts with a team bond, which is what the Scarsdale track and field program has created.

Head track and field coaches Vincent Modafferi and Carlos Bedoya have dedicated much of their lives to running. Both coaches ran at the Division 1 level during their college careers. Modafferi, a graduate of Clarkstown South and Bedoya, a graduate of Stepinac, both are teachers at Scarsdale High School and both have been the drivers to the growth and success of the program.

Speaking about the culture that has been built within the track program, Coach Mod applauded the consistent hard work of the kids who are invested in the program and emphasized that the coaches take a family-approach in which the team is more connected as a family and as a team rather than a few individuals. Mod mentioned that later in life, the runner’s times won't matter as much as the memories they walk away with and the experiences that are had together.

Many of the athletes I spoke with appreciate the emphasis that their coaches place not on breaking records but on building team spirit. Senior distance runner Nate Lynch mentioned how being friends with each other and their tight-knit community helps the team to push each other to achieve their best. Nate, also explained that everyone congratulates each other on their success, even when it's small, which helps to motivate everyone to push each other harder.

The boys 4x1 mile team of Brandon Lin, Charlie Rich, Nate Lynch and Jack Sheridan after earning the school record at the Jim Mitchell invitational on December 20, 2025

Ever since joining the track program, freshman runner Henry Lorch, has been focusing on personal growth and learning how to face the competition. Lorch joined the cross country and track teams and made an instant impression. He made sectionals for cross country, which is the top-10 runners for the boys and girls, and this accomplishment is not very common for someone of his age. He has carried his success into the winter track track season. Speaking about the success he has had so far, Lorch said it is important for a young athlete to never put themselves down and to make sure they are always testing their limits.

Hugo Gueler, Labrone Brown, Charlie Rich, Jake Saxon, Julie Scheffler, Kaya Williams and Ana Petinelli pose together at Nike outdoor nationals in Eugene, Oregon, June 202Cami Culang, a current senior and captain of the track team who has been a leader for many of the seasons that she has taken part in, shared her perspective of team culture. It is clear that as a leader, Culang sets high standards which helps to build a strong team environment. Throughout her 4 years, she has been an instrumental in cultivating a culture of inclusivity and strength. Culang humbly credits all the hard work, determination in training, and team bonding for the team’s strong culture.

Kate O’Connell, another senior on the team is not only a runner but she also played Varsity B soccer in the fall and sails which has no school affiliation. I was interested to hear from her, Does running and being on the track team have an impact on performance in other sports? I expected to hear, “Yes, because running and conditioning helps in a sport like soccer.” Safe to say, I got a different answer but a very intriguing point. O’Connell says that being on the track team allows her to grow closer with her teammates and despite not really competing with your teammates, you are helping them by cheering and supporting. O’Connell says this, not necessarily competition but being able to uplift your teammates, is what she carries over to other sports.

We also spoke to Jack Sheridan and Rachel Rakower. Both are seniors, both have been members of the track team all three seasons and both just truly have a passion for running that not many people can replicate. Jack and Rachel are two of the fastest and committed to the program.Senior captain Cami Culang

Rakower provided plenty of insight on the team's success and culture. She told me that she loves the community aspect of cross country and track. In terms of culture, Rakower talked a lot about how the different team events that take place from running together in groups, team bonding events, pasta parties before meets, warm up games at practice, are all things that help build a strong team culture. On the success side of things, Rakower talked again about being able to push each other in workouts and races as well being able to set strong goals with help from the coaching staff. Rakower explained that training and mileage are big factors and are both things that are built up throughout the course of the season. Rakower ended by noting the team's motto and realizing that stuff she doesn't get right the first time will happen. She lastly said, being able to celebrate current accomplishments and working towards future ones has helped the program rise to where they are today.

During the interview with Sheridan, he talked about training which he attributes to the teams’ success.The influx of freshman who have joined the team along with the seasoned distance veterans like Nate Lynch, Charlies Rich and Brandon Lin have all seen their training pay off with big personal records. Sheridan said the goal is to carry that training into championship season in hopes for States and Nationals; specifically in a relay. When talking about wanting to go to these big meets in a relay, Sheridan mentioned that all hands are needed on deck.

Lorch running at the Armory.Whether joining the track team just for cardio or if you are truly committed, athletes are sure to feel that family approach as soon as they step foot on that track.

It is always more than just runner’s “time”. It is about building a team of people who are not only dedicated but prepared for success during and after high school. “Small wins are just as important as big wins” and the “willingness to always push your teammates” has been central to the team’s big results.