SPORTS HALL of FAME ATHLETE
Richard 'Rick' Mirabito '76

Rick Mirabito graduated from Sidney Central School in 1976. He was a three sport athlete earning first team all star honors in the Susquenango Association in football, basketball and baseball. But the story starts much earlier as Rick benefited from a nurturing home environment with plenty of siblings and a safe neighborhood full of kids whose days were spent playing everything from whiffle ball to kick the can - all of it outside! A sense of responsibility was also part of the growing up process which would serve him well later on.

A great set of hands and quick, darting cuts laid the path to his career as a wide receiver under first Coach Tom Robertson and then Chuck Anderson. A huge highlight came in the fall of 1974 (junior season) as Rick and his teammates upended Chenango Forks in a Sus West showdown 28-14 when Forks was ranked #2 for all small schools in NYS. Two weeks later, with the division title on the line, Rick caught an 85 yard TD pass against Windsor. Though the Warriors lost 4125, that distance is still tied for second longest in school history. He almost matched that mark with an 82-yard TD reception the following year. He was also a stellar defensive back.

In baseball, Rick usually batted lead-off, patrolled center field and was a base stealer extraordinaire. Both varsity season, he hit over .300 and during his senior season was a perfect 21 for 21 in stolen bases.

However, the versatile student-athlete had a passion for and excelled most in basketball. During an extremely competitive era among the local teams, and within the gym walls of Sidney, Rick played point guard and sparked the defense in two highly successful seasons. The 1974-75 team were Susquenango West champions, Section 4 class A champions, and in the first-ever inter-sectional round, NYSPHSAA Class A Regional Champions. That season ended with the Warriors earning a 20-2 record. Though the 1975-76 Sus West Championship included an undefeated league record, and a school record for average points scored (topping 100 three times!), the same 20-2 slate meant Section 4 Class A runner-up, losing on a last second basket by Elmira. Notre Dame in the title game in front of a packed gym at SUNY-Binghamton. Still, the Warriors were ranked 9th among Small Schools in the final NYS Sportswriters poll. And even the two losses - the other being the Oneonta Merchants Classic final, to the host Yellowjackets, in front of an overflow crowd - were considered among the area's best high school games played that season.

At the conclusion of his scholastic days, Rick was named co-winner of the Ralph Pyle Award given to the outstanding male athlete in 1976, which he shared with his teammate for all three sports, Steve Fessenden. He went on to play JV basketball at Union College for one season before concentrating on his studies. During his college summers, Rick got early managerial experience as Director of the well known Golden Valley Sports Camp (1976-81).

From there he went to work for The Hartford as an insurance underwriter, followed by a move to Mang Insurance in 1983. He worked his way up the ladder in sales, then was made head of commercial lines. By 2000, Rick had earned his way to the top when he was named CEO of Mang and has maintained that role ever since.

Rick currently resides in Norwich with his high school sweetheart and wife of 33 years JoAnn (Dewey) and they have two sons: Jeffrey and his wife Stephanie of Vestal; and Jason of Binghamton.

Congratulations to Rick Mirabito on his induction into the Sidney Alumni Sports Hall of Fame!