---------
A Coach’s Impact
Charlotte senior Tyler Cardillo never imagined he’d be a runner. A basketball player, maybe. A soccer star. Those were all possibilities, but during his eighth grade year his P.E Coach approached him and as they say the rest was history.“He asked if I would like to run a cross country meet. I came home and told my parents, and my parents said no, that I was already playing soccer, basketball and tennis. When I told them I was not going to work out and I was only going to run one race they said okay. Little did I know that he signed us up for the All-Catholic Middle School State Championship. Having never run a day in my life and borrowing my dad's shoes that we're two sizes two small (I wore a size 13 in the 8th grade) I ran the race and became the state champion.”
That success propelled his father to reach out to an old friend, Cliff Clark. Clark’s resume included running in the 1972 Olympic Trials and competing against some of the most well known distance runners like Steve Prefontaine, Frank Shorter, and Kenny Moore.
“He developed other talented runners to become All-Americans and my father thought if anyone felt that I had an ability, Cliff would be very candid if I did or did not”
Cardillo admits he had no clue what he was getting into and even asked Clark how could one get faster in running? He thought you “could either run or couldn’t.”
Coach Clark saw that Cardillo definitely could run and has become a mentor and summer coach throughout his high school career.
“He’s actually flying in tomorrow from New York, which I’m really looking forward to. We'll probably do some light runs, the team will get together and strategize certain parts of the race so we can better our performance from Pre-State, and we'll also play a few light games of ultimate frisbee, just to keep it light and fun.”
A light week before the state tournament on Saturday, Cardillo admits while he owes a lot of credit to Coach Clark, he also wouldn’t be where he is today without his 8th grade P.E teacher, and Charlotte coach Chris George.
“Coach Kluesner left the following year, he coached our soccer team to two undefeated years and two regional championships. If it wasn't for him asking me to run, I probably never would have run a day in my life. Coach George is also a very talented runner in his own right having done exceptionally well at FIU. It was not only his insight as a runner, but being open to new ideas that gave us an opportunity to fast track both our cross country and track programs.”
Senior Year
After being one of four runners to break the old course record at Pre-State, Cardillo knew how great he could be this season. His time of 15:10 ranks the sixth fastest time in the state. However, it’s not all about him; he has high expectations for his team as well.
“I've got multiple goals for Saturday, obviously to win a team title, but I'd love to become a state champ as well, while that may be a more daunting task. I got 10th last year, I had a tough race last and just didn't have the finish I was looking for. When I made it to states as a freshmen, I was the only one to qualify and it was always a dream of mine to become a state champion; however, after winning the states as a team for track last year, I can't imagine a more euphoric feeling than I had when celebrating with my team.”
A standout on the cross country course it’s track that has his heart.
“I can't wait for track season I love the camaraderie in cross country, but the track is where my true talent lies.”
His goals for the track season are much like that of cross country, nothing but the best for himself and the team.
“My goals for this season are to win another team title in track, I would love to win a state championship as an individual in the 800, I've been trying to do that since sophomore year, but we've had some really great guys pass through recently. The 4x800 is going to be so much fun this year. We have most of the team back from last year and we're only looking stronger. I would be thrilled if we hit 7:35 this year, I think the state record of 7:37 is really do-able for our group of guys. Bryan Hilgar and Ryan Schnulle really know when to step up and make it count.”
Cardillo attributes his athletic bloodlines to his father.
“My dad was on a nationally ranked soccer team in high school, he sprinted, he taught water skiing and played college football in Long Island.” I don’t like to race him though; he’s too fast for me.”
So is he conceding to dad?
“He would probably take me in the 100 and 200, but I think I could get him in the 400.”
Recruiting Rundown
Cardillo’s Facebook picture shows the senior dawning blue and orange. While he admits to having UF on his list of possible college destinations, he is taking the process in stride.“It's crazy how fast the years have gone by. I have been on four recruiting trips Duke, Columbia, Georgetown, UF and my last visit is Oregon. I have it down to UF, Georgetown and Oregon, and I'm really anxious to make a decision.”
While on a recent trip to Gainesville he had a chance to hang out with some of the state’s top female runners.
“Yes, Sarah (Spann) and Grace (VanDeGrift) were on my recruiting trip. They're both really nice girls, and it's fun to have Sarah around the area, she's a great runner and it's fun watching her. She and Grace will have great runs at the state meet.”
So does one program lead for the senior’s services?
“To be politically correct can I say FLORGTOWN? Does that cover them all? Each program is uniquely strong in it's own way.
Cardillo talks about the factors that will go into his decision, when he will decide, and the positives of each of his three finalists.
“I'm trying to balance my decision between academics and athletics as I would like to see how far I can take my running while pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery. I'd really like to wait until my official visit to Oregon which is in January, so hopefully around then I’ll decide.”
Oregon: “It's a far trip from home, but they have such a storied program, and my coach told me about the aura that Hayward Field gave him when he circled laps there.”
Georgetown: “I love the city/campus feeling that Georgetown offers, and not to mention it has a great academic and athletic history to it.”
Florida: I have grown up a Gator most of my life and I love the academic and athletic standard of excellence that it offers not to mention I love the feeling of 93,000 screaming fans packed into a stadium.”
Getting To Know Tyler Cardillo
Nicknames: “My mom calls me mouse and little foot. Mouse because I was always pretty little when I was younger and little foot, I think you can guess on that one. I wear a size 14 shoe now and I think having a bigger foot does help increase my stride a little, it kind of stinks going up to the starting line because I have to line up a foot behind the line because my shoes go over it. My dad was pretty concerned about my shoe size at such an early age; he threatened that if I did not grow into them that he would enter me into Disney as a theme park character.”
Three things people don’t know about you: “I really enjoy playing squash (it's a sport that involves four walls, sort of like racquetball), I'm English, Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, and Argentine, and I really enjoy viewing surgery and dissecting things. I dissected a cadaver this summer with my uncle. He's the head orthopedic surgeon at NYU and took me in with his Harvard interns and I learned how to do ligament replacement this summer. It was amazing.”
If you had a super power what would it be: “I think my super power would be to read minds. I think it would be pretty cool to know what people are thinking (not in a creepy way haha).”
Stranded on an island with three things: “I would want to have my cell phone, someone fun to talk to, and a bible.
If you were a type of shoe what kind would you be: “I think I would be a flip flop, it would probably best relate to me because I like to relax and have fun.”
Final thoughts: “Track and cross country have opened up many doors that have not only given me the confidence in myself, but have also brought me closer to God. I have met some really talented athletes. I have also found a gift and potential that I did not realize that I had, but most importantly as a runner through the trials we face it has brought me closer to God.”
More with Tyler and Charlotte
Video Interview with Cardillo, Coach George, and teammate Ryan Schnulle from Pre-State
Charlotte Closing the Gap: Earns the W at Disney, Looks Toward November
Charlotte knows they have an uphill battle this season in their quest for a 3A state title. With Belen Jesuit in their classification it's a tough road, but Coach Chris George is pleased with their progress. Since their distant fifth place finish at the FACA Classic in their first meet of the year they've improved each week, including a close 17-point second place finish behind their 3A rivals last week at flrunners. This week they took headed to the Disney Classic for the first time in five years and came away with an unexpected team victory in a close one against Colonial and Ocean City, NJ.
