Jerry Mondalto 1969-1972 was one of, if not the greatest all around athletes ever to graduate from AHS. Former football coach and Athletic Director Doug Wood commented,” During Jerry’s junior and senior years, along with a host of very talented athletes surrounding him, Landry Stadium was filled with spectators at every home contest.” That hadn’t happened since the glory days of Coach Tazz, Tino Bertolini and Larry Moran, Jr.
Jerry broke numerous records in football and baseball and was an outstanding athlete that played basketball. Jerry was also captain of all three sports, earning eleven varsity letters.
In football, Jerry was a four-year starter for varsity. Captain his senior year; he rushed for 2,985 yards, scored 44 touchdowns and a career total of 292 points. He was a Boston Globe All Scholastic in 1971, Sunkist All American 1971, and All American in football. His football jersey #22 was retired. He was in Sports Illustrated “Faces in the Crowd”. Also, Massachusetts Italian Athlete of the Year. He won many all-league and local media awards. Bill Burnham, former play by play announcer for Amesbury cable television was quoted, “Jerry was the most exciting player I’ve ever seen at AHS. He was fast, powerful and a terrific open field runner.” Athletic honors Football
Freshman year – linebacker first team Northeastern Conf. Hon. Mention All Scholastic
Sophomore year – linebacker first team Northeastern Conf. Hon. Mention All Scholastic, Lynn Item all-star team, MVP Newburyport Thanksgiving game.
Junior year – halfback first team Cape Ann League, first team all Class D, State of Massachusetts, MVP Newburyport Thanksgiving game, Letterman Magazine one of the top 50 backs in United States, Essex County Newspapers back of the year in Mass. to watch for 1971 season.
Senior year – halfback first team Cape Ann League, halfback first team All Scholastic Boston Record, Globe and Herald, first team halfback all Class D Mass., first team Essex County newspaper chain, first team Salem News, First team Haverhill Gazette, MVP Newburyport Thanksgiving game, MVP Amesbury High School team 1971, Jersey #22 retired at the end of the season at Amesbury High School. (All American also)
In basketball, he was a three-year Varsity starter and captain his senior year.
In baseball, he was a four-year Varsity starter and again captain his senior year. He had a career batting average of .430 and pitching record of 19-8.
He was a Northeast Conference All Star and batting champion in 1970. Additional achievements noted are Boston Globe All Scholastic 1972, All American 1972 and featured in Sports Illustrated in 1972.
During his senior year at AHS Jerry received a full four-year scholarship to UMASS Amherst in both football and baseball. After a 7-year stint of professional baseball in Italy, Jerry returned to coach baseball at AHS. He was head coach from 1982-1989 and again from 1994-2007. To this day, he owns the best varsity baseball winning percentage and has placed many of his former players on college diamonds throughout the northeast. During Jerry’s coaching years, his teams won CAL championships in 1994, 1996 and 1997, north area champions in 2000 and 2001 and state champions in 1997.
Coach Wood commented, “In short, Jerry is one of the best contributors to the overall history of AHS athletics.”
Congratulations to Coach and Athlete Jerry Mondalto, Class of 1972.
