Mike White Sr. to be honored at Section IX Track & Field Hall of Fame

Class of 1977 Washingtonville High School graduate and current track and field coach Mike White Sr. will be inducted into the Section IX Track & Field Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 26, for his outstanding accomplishments as a varsity Wizard athlete. The ceremony will take place at the Town of Wallkill Golf Club in Middletown, New York. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The Section IX Track & Field Hall of Fame was established in 2016 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, coaches and officials who have made Section IX one of the most prolific areas in New York for cross country and track & field.

Mike had monumental success throughout his high school career, earning many titles for his talents including eight OCIAA championships, nine Section IX championships, eight New York State medals, with the highest honor being second place in the state in the 330-yard hurdles. By the time he hung up his Wizard singlet, he held 11 school records, one of which still stands today, 48 years later.

As a four-year varsity athlete, he earned a reputation as a relentless competitor, a team leader, and a mentor to younger athletes. Mike never let anything deter him; as a seventh grader, his modified coach told him, “You’re too short to be a hurdler.”  Proving him wrong turned out to be great motivation. He broke both the sophomore and junior class state records for the intermediate hurdles in 1975 and 1976, respectively.

“Thank you for showing us what it truly means to be a Wizard—not just in name but in spirit: a family, a team, and a champion in every sense of the word,” Suzanne Lendzian, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, said.

Coach White is grateful to his high school coaches, Art Jessup and Tony Martelli, for helping him reach his full potential and demonstrating the power of a coach in a student athlete’s life.

His determination, hard work and talent gave him the opportunity of a lifetime, attending college on a full scholarship to Rutgers University. 

“I couldn't afford to go to college,” Mike said, “but Coach Jessup sat at my dining room table with the Rutgers head coach and worked through all the details. He’s the reason I became first generation college graduate.”

As a college athlete, he was a gold medalist as a member of the Vitalis Olympic Development 4x440 relay championship team, becoming an eight-time letterman by the time he graduated. Mike specialized in hurdles and the 440-yard dash until a torn Achilles tendon ended his career in his junior year. 

Returning to his hometown to coach and teach, Coach White always valued teamwork and camaraderie. A big inspiration for him as an athlete and a coach was his mentor, Art Jessup, whom Coach White got to work alongside for many years. Art was a big part of Mike’s life, a father figure to him who set a great example on and off the track. 

“Art Jessup was the epitome of class,” Coach White said. “He was a man that just brought out the best in everyone. He made a family out of this, and that's what I wanted to do when I took over the program.”

As a cross-country and track coach, Coach White’s competitive nature and experience as an athlete helped countless young Wizards develop their full potential. Coach White is proud of the 13 New York State champions and countless county and sectional champions he has coached. 

But what Coach White is most proud of is the impact he's had on hundreds of student-athletes throughout the years, cherishing the opportunity to impart valuable life lessons in dedication, teamwork, perseverance, and pride in a culture of excellence, collaboration, and inclusion. 

“Coach Mike has shown us that the greatest achievements in an athletic career aren't just about building a winning program—they’re about building people, " Ms. Lendzian said. “Through your leadership, you’ve instilled a deep sense of pride, unity, and belonging within our community. Congratulations on your remarkable success both as an athlete and as a coach. Washingtonville Athletics is proud of your unwavering commitment to interscholastic excellence and the legacy you continue to build every day."