2 successful sisters going different ways

The Daltorio sisters have been teammates on three teams for two years.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For two seasons, sisters Danielle and Dayna Daltorio of New Middletown have been teammates on the Cardinal Mooney High girls basketball, volleyball and track teams.
But come next school year, the two sisters, who also have achieved athletic success as well as high academic averages, will part ways.
Danielle, who set a school record for both girls and boys by winning 11 varsity letters and achieved a 3.8 grade-point average, is a graduating senior and will attend the University of Akron where she will join brother Dominick who will be a sophomore.
The previous record for most letters won at Mooney was held by Pandora Fecko with 10.
Danielle, who won four letters each in volleyball and track and three in basketball, will bypass sports at Akron and focus on her major in health science.
She also was selected to receive for the Principal's Award at Mooney by principal Sister Jane Marie Kudlacz, who also made the presentation.
The award reads: "Inrecognition of her outstanding contribution through service, leadership and Christian witness throughout her four years at Cardinal Mooney High School."
Perfect GPA
Dayna, meanwhile, who completed her sophomore year and carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, will return to Mooney for her junior year and rejoin her father, Dom, who is head coach of the track team and assistant coach for the basketball squad.
He also coaches boys and girls golf at Springfield.
Dom, a retired Springfield High boys basketball coach, and his wife, Marilyn (Colla), have another son in college, Patsy, who will be a junior at Toledo.
Danielle and Dayna competed together on the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams while Danielle also ran the 800 and Dayna the 400. Both sisters qualified for the regional this year in the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams. Their 4x800 team placed seventh in the regional.
Danielle helped Mooney to win three straight SVC track meet championships, the last two with Dayna. Danielle also made All-SVC in the 4x400 relay as a freshman, and All-SVC in the 4x800 as a senior along with Dayna.
Danielle volleyball ace
In volleyball, Danielle made All-SVC for three straight years, earning first-team honors as a junior and senior and second-team as a sophomore. She and Dayna helped Mooney win the SVC volleyball title last season.
Danielle was a three-year starter in basketball and a four-year starter in track and volleyball.
Dayna has won four letters so far, one in track as a freshman and three as a sophomore in volleyball, basketball and track. She had an outstanding sophomore campaign, making All-SVC first team in basketball and the All-SVC second team in volleyball.
Brothers
Dominick, meanwhile, is majoring in education and mathematics at Akron and wants to become a math teacher.
"[Dominick] is going to try out for the golf team this year. He played four years of golf at Mooney and lettered all four years," said mother Marilyn, who also is a Mooney graduate.
Patsy is majoring in education at Toledo.
"[Patsy] will try out for the golf team this year. He also lettered all four years in golf at Mooney," said Marilyn, noting that Patsy and Dominick also lettered two years in basketball at Mooney.
Marilyn said that still another Daltorio, Dina, now is climbing the athletic ladder.
Dina is a seventh grader at Holy Family and yes, like her older sisters, competes in volleyball, basketball and track.
That bodes well for the continuation of the Daltorio family tradition at Mooney.
kovach@vindy.com