Cory Nakata-Drewes
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High School Honors
3 volleyball letters. Honorable Mention All-PIL as a sophomore. 1st Team All-PIL as a junior and senior. PIL District Champions, team captain as a senior.
2 basketball letters. Honorable Mention All-PIL and team captain as a senior. National AAU basketball tournament participant.
3 softball letters. Honorable Mention All-PIL as a sophomore. 2nd Team All-PIL as a junior. 1st Team All-PIL and 1st Team All-State, PIL District Champions, PIL MVP and team captaina s a senior.
PIL Scholar-Athlete1992-95.
Post-High School Career
Yale University, four softball letters, starter all four years. Captain of Yale softball team as a junior.Fourth-most career assists and seventh-most career games in Yale softball history.
CYO basketball coach, 2017-2019, and CYO volleyball coach, 2017-2020.
Board of Directors, Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) non-profit sports organization in Port Washington, N.Y., 2016-present. PYA softball and basketball coachfrom 2011-2021. Commissioner of PYA Softball Program, 2018-2022. Inducted into PYA Hall of Fame, 2023. Elected as PYA vice president, 2025.
Commentary
I never would have gotten as far as I did in my athletic career without the support of my parents. I don’t remember them missing a single volleyball, basketball, or softball game through high school. My dad was my first coach, and coached many of my softball and basketball teams. And my mom, with her limited sports background since tennis and cheerleading were the only athletic activities available to girls when she was in school, would even strap on the catcher’s gear so my sister and I could practice pitching in the backyard.
I often think about how much sports opportunities for girls have advanced over the years. Participating in athletics made me who I am and I’m ecstatic about the current popularity of women’s sports. I have so many fond memories, including being able to play alongside my sister, Kelly, on the high school basketball and volleyball courts and softball fields. But maybe even more than the specific memories, it’s the feelings of being on a team, and the relationships and bonds with teammates and coaches that meant so much to me over the years. Even after 23 years of marriage, my Wilson High School softball and volleyball coach, Alicia Provost, has not missed sending a card on my wedding anniversary!
Thank you to the PIL Hall of Fame Committee for this amazing honor, and congratulations to my fellow honorees!
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