Ponaganset High School Athletic Hall of Fame
Induction Class of 2013
Mark Santucci
Athlete
Class of 2002
Basketball & Tennis
Mark Santucci was a two sport standout athlete in Tennis and Basketball at Ponaganset from 1999 to 2002. As a tennis player he was the best to step on a tennis court at Ponaganset. He was also one of the best tennis players in New England. At Ponaganset, Mark quickly became a leader and was named team captain, a position he held all four years. Mark was also named team MVP all four years. Mark was a USTA ranked tennis player through his years at Ponaganset. In 2001 he was ranked #6 singles player and #1 doubles team in New England. Mark won the state Singles Championship his senior year. Mark is the only male athlete in Ponaganset history to be named First Team All-State all four years in the same sport.
When Mark wasn’t playing tennis he was playing basketball for the Chieftains and was the point guard on the 2002 State Championship team. He was surrounded by talent, but it was his leadership that made the team go. He was a menace on defense, possessing the best defensive footwork a basketball player could have. Mark was also blessed with a court presence that allowed him to find an open teammate in a split second. He was a true leader on the court. In the championship game, Mark shared high scoring honors with Jay Steere and was named Tournament MVP.
Mark went on to Division I Marist College where he continued to excel in Tennis. He won over 75 singles matches and over 50 doubles matches. He became team captain and received First Team All MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) honors for doubles and Second Team All MAAC honors for Singles play.
Mark now lives and works in New York. He is the Director of Tennis at the Yonkers Tennis Center in the New York City Metro area. Mark got married June 8th 2013 to Michele Salino.