Irvington Track Phenoms Keep Oley in Mind Entering Senior Season at UCLA

Never a man to resort to the vast sea of coaching cliches, Irvington's late Peter Oley motivated his athletes with innovative and inspirational messages. 

While making Irvington High School a formidable track power, establishing a New York State record with 133 consecutive dual meet victories, Oley's favorite motivational maxim was also the simplest:  "The beat goes on."

He spoke those four words at the culmination of every dual meet the Bulldogs won as they made history.

The quote also sheds light on Oley's "never settle" mentality, the lofty expectations and high standards (both on the track and in the classroom) the Hall of Fame coach held his student-athletes to during his 40+ years at the helm.

And their high school coach's words are forever embedded in minds of Scott and Casey DeCisare,two former Bulldog track stars now entering their senior years as pole vaulters at UCLA.

"He's the most amazing inspiration," said Casey DiCesare, who has '914' scribbled on his spikes to flaunt his Irvington roots.

"To Scott and me he was like a grandfather figure--very inspiring, whenever I'm down I just think of Coach Oley and how much he loved what he did," Casey continued. "We think of him and what he's done for us in our career. We'll take his life lessons to the grave."

Casey's twin Scott also expressed fond memories.

"Every day at the track, he's our influence," Scott said. "We can't ever get down ourselves. He was having a great time out there and he taught us how to enjoy the competitive nature. We always throw some Irvington garb on, whenever we're at meets--with Coach Oley there was always an inspirational saying on the back [of our shirts.]"

Scott took a redeye flight from California to New York to attend Oley's funeral in April of 2009. 

That same day, his twin brother was on the other side of the country, competing in a dual meet at the University of Oregon.

Though he was distraught and mentally drained, Casey tried to turn in a performance that would have made his mentor proud.

But the regional qualifier, who cleared 17-1 as a redshirt sophomore, was unable to perform to his usual standard that day. 

"I tried to get inspired, but I was broken up by the loss. My performance wasn't what I was expecting."

Not to worry.

The twins, both of whom helped (pole) vault Irvington to new heights in 2006, have one final season in which to honor their late coach.

Casey, a two-time All-American at Irvington, has his sights set on finishing within the elite eight at NCAA nationals.

He was ranked no.3 in the PAC-10 conference this past year and is burning to emerge as the alpha dog his senior season and establish himself as Pac-10 Pole Vault champion. After pole vaulting 17-7.75 during indoors and then earning a Top-25 national ranking the in May with a jump of 17-5.

"The Pac-10 was won at 17-9 last year; it's my goal to win that meet and at least be an All-American," Casey said.

Because many UCLA Bruins were injured last season, and a dearth of healthy jumpers derailed their chances, the DiCesares were thrown into the jumping events.

Casey captured first place in the long jump at the UCLA Invite Open, clearing 23-2.

And for Scott, the first priority is to establish himself as a healthy athlete after suffering from a hamstring injury and mono.

"Staying healthy would enable me to accomplish a lot," said Scott, who was the New York State pole vault champion and Empire State Games decathlon champion during his Bulldog days.

Now Scott is looking to right the ship and clear the height of 16-8 in the pole vault. Like his twin, he'd like to leave UCLA as an All-American.

The main challenge facing both brothers, however, is beating UCLA's blood-rival Southern California.

USC defeated the Bruins in three dual meets last season, burying them under a barrage of bragging rights and bravado. The rivalry has not lost any of its fire over the years.

The USC/UCLA rivalry, according to the DiCesares, is actually comparable to that of the Yankees and Red Sox--something they're all too familiar with having grown up Yankee fans in Irvington.

For a pair of athletes that never experienced a loss in high school, they want nothing more than to coil out of the 0-3 funk against the Trojans.

"You feel the passion of the rivalry; there's just a whole different vibe to it," Scott said, even though the twins' parents, Paul and Pamela, both went to USC.

"I've definitely grown into the passion of the rivalry," he added. "There's always controversy at the events; it always gets heated."

In 2002, Oley had one of Irvington's most talented classes of all time.

 With top-flight athletes such as Mike Ferrarin, John Billings, and Brent Wheatley all qualifying for the state championship meet in various events, Oley said he was ready to retire, with that star-encrusted bunch as his last team.

But after seeing the DiCesares, who were then on the modified team, Oley decided to stick around.

Now, for Casey and Scott this is it:

One last season to finish what Coach Peter Oley started.