Yorktown’s Veteri retires

Steve Veteri ended his decades-long coaching career at Yorktown in fine style as both the boys and girls bowling teams defeated Peekskill 7-0 on Jan. 29 at Hudson Valley Lanes and Games in Cortlandt Manor.

“We had seven first-year seniors bowl this year and it was awesome,” Veteri said. “They worked hard and really started to bowl well, it was great to see. I enjoyed every game this year.” 

One of those seniors, Kayla DiSanzo, qualified for the girls sectional tournament, which will be held Monday, Feb. 9 at Fishkill Bowl, with a 142 average. The other six seniors were Phoebe Banner, Ava Kelly, Michael Desiderio, Gianluca Marchini, Hunter Mezzatesta, and Chase Reynolds. 

Stella Amenn (junior), Zoe Yau (junior), Lilah Kelly (freshman), Christopher Collins (freshman), Ryan Kerrigan (freshman), Alex Palmentiero (freshman), and Gianluca Pearson (freshman) also made up the Huskers’ boys and girls bowling squads. 

It was a fitting end for Veteri, who spent 26 years at Yorktown and eight at Mount Vernon and also coached bowling from 2016 to 2025, boys basketball from 2000 to 2012 and girls golf from 2020 to 2024 at Yorktown.

“After 34 years, with my family growing, fourth grandchild coming on Feb. 27, I knew it was time,” Veteri said of decision to retire. 

Veteri said that coaching and teaching at Yorktown was a blessing.   

“I was so honored teaching, coaching and living in Yorktown,” Veteri said. “The outpouring of love from former students, athletes, parents and friends with my retirement has been amazing and humbling. 

“Yorktown is a special place and having my three children growing up here made everything great.” 

Winning on Veteri’s final day was important to his bowlers.  

“It meant a lot to everyone on both teams to finish the season with a 7–0 win and send coach Veteri out the right way,” Mezzatesta said. “He has given so much time and effort to the physical education program at Yorktown, and we all wanted to make sure his final competitive match reflected the standard he’s set for so many years. Seeing both the boys and girls teams come together to do that made it even more special.” 

Mezzatesta, a goalie who will play lacrosse at the University of Virginia, was one of four Yorktown lacrosse players to join the bowling team this winter, along with Marchini, Desiderio, and Reynolds. 

“Coach Veteri played a huge role in my decision to join the team this year,” Mezzatesta said. “Three other senior lacrosse players and I have had him as our gym teacher for many years, and we’ve always had a lot of respect for him. We wanted to honor him by playing varsity bowling in the final season of his career as a tribute to everything he’s given to us and to so many students over the years. This season, he taught us the importance of commitment, respect, and supporting one another, lessons that go far beyond bowling.” 

The impact of Veteri also goes far beyond the walls of Yorktown, according to one of his former golfers, Kayla Howell, who is now a senior and two-time captain for the Wesleyan University women’s golf team. 

“Coach Veteri has completely shaped me into the player I am today, and I would not be at Wesleyan without him,” Howell said. “From the start, coach Veteri always instilled confidence in me and made me believe that I was meant to be where I was. Imposter syndrome is very real in college, whether it's academically or in athletics, when you’re surrounded by people who are equally committed and hard-working, so coach Veteri’s continuous belief in me truly has helped me become the person I am today. Golf is also such a mental sport, and keeping a good head on your shoulders is so important, which is something Veteri always taught me and reminded me of.” 

Howell said that she learned a lot about how to be a leader through Veteri.  

“In my senior year, he gave me great liberty in helping lead a team of relatively young girls,” Howell said. “It was our biggest team in school history, made up of primarily underclassmen, so being able to lead such a large group of girls prepared me to help lead the team at Wesleyan later on. I also learned to let things go and not take everything so seriously. A big part of my team’s success at Wesleyan is being able to have fun with what we are doing, and even though we are here to play golf, it's important to take a step back and realize how lucky we are to be where we are.” 

Before every match, Howell said that Veteri would always tell his golfers to just have fun out on the links. 

“That’s what I believe is the whole point of sports, and it is important to be reminded of that (having fun),” Howell said. “It meant so much having coach Veteri as my coach because of his long history at Yorktown. Starting with my freshman year of high school, he was not only my gym teacher, but I would never have guessed that he would now be a lifelong mentor, role model, and friend, and I would not have wanted it any other way.”  

Hastings boys basketball coach and 2009 Yorktown graduate Chris Rohle, said that Veteri has had a tremendous influence on his own coaching career.  

“His leadership skills and passion are something that I carry with me to this day,” Rohle said. “It was great playing for coach in high school. So many great memories. It is crazy how fast time flies by and I wish him the best in retirement.”