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Sports in RI: Cody Tow, Volleyball Past, Present and Into His Future – John Cardullo
by John Cardullo, sportswriter
North Kingstown’s volleyball player, Cody Tow, looks back on a career with no regrets – and looks toward the challenge of the future with excitement!
Since he walked onto the volleyball court at the ripe old age of 10, little did Cody Tow know then where the road would lead. “At first I wasn’t very good, I was a little undersized and wasn’t very aggressive.” Tow told me in our interview. “I was just learning the game, and everything was new to me.”
He began playing in the local club league for the South County “Mini” club. This gave Tow his first taste of competitive volleyball. It wasn’t until he went on to play for the South County Juniors when things clicked in for Tow.” It wasn’t until a couple of years into his young volleyball career when he decided that volleyball was “his” sport, and he focused on the skill set that would carry him through a very impressive high school career.
Coming from a family of athletes, it wasn’t a question if he was going to succeed, (his sister Emily was a softball player who went from North Kingstown to a 4-year starter for UMass Lowell) it was in what sport that he was going to succeed was the question. Growing to be a 6’ volleyball player that could jump higher than most taller opponents brought weapons of blocks and kills to a sport that the more a player can do is the more dangerous they become.
As Tow entered his first season as a North Kingstown Skipper volleyball player, the freshman went from the Junior varsity team to being promoted to the varsity almost immediately. The team entered the state volleyball tournament as the number one seeded team. As a matter of fact, during his volleyball career at North Kingstown, the Skippers entered every post season tournament as the number one seed. The Skippers won the 2022 State Championship by defeating LaSalle. The future was looking very good for Tow and his teammates, a possible volleyball dynasty was in the works. The North Kingstown team would only lose 7 games in the four years that this group was together.
His sophomore, junior and senior seasons were going to be filled with the highest highs and the lowest of lows. In 2023 the team lost to Chariho in the semifinals, but for Tow, he was named to the division 1 All State team. His ability to jump virtually out of the gym, making key blocks and “kills” was getting recognized throughout the state.
It’s been said that a coach said that when it came to winning championships, the importance wasn’t in the number of championships that the team wins, it’s the fact that they got to the position to win or lose them. For Tow and his teammates, they would strongly disagree with that statement.
In 2024 the Skippers had a rematch with LaSalle in the championship match. The Rams beat the Skippers for the title. The 2005 season seen North Kingstown run through the season going undefeated as they dominated the regular season. In the playoffs they knocked-out Coventry and sent LaSalle home in the semi-finals. It was the upstart Cranston East Thunderbolts that would derail what was going to be a perfect season for the Skippers. For Tow and his teammates, it wasn’t just getting to the championship game. For them the season went down like a bitter pill to swallow.
Through his disappointment, he credits his teammates and their efforts to put them in the position to succeed. The heavy senior team was led by first team All Stater and Player of the Year, Ryan Harrington. Senior Stephen Dufour who also was named as a 1st team All Stater and Tow who was named to his second consecutive 1st team All State squad. Senior Ryan Rathbum was named to the 2nd All State team. Seniors Connor Valois, David Carreiro and Evan Shea played together for four seasons.
It will be now up to Juniors Andrew Auclair, Dan Gormley, Owen Schneider, Sean Peters and Tim Harrington and Sophomores Finn Leedahl, Mark Sardelli and Jayden Yang and the two freshman Greg Gormley and Robert Zschau to carry the Skippers of the future down the road that was paved by the seniors.
Tow acknowledged that coaches that he had since he began his volleyball trek when he was 10 years old. But he especially wanted to thank head coach Brian Hesford, and all the assistant coaches who made an impact on shaping him and his teammates as one the best high school boys’ volleyball teams this state has ever seen. Chris Batzinger who Tow points out had a profound impact on the direction of his career. He was Cody’s coach on the JV team and has had the “most influence” on the progress of his game. Tow also credits coaches Royal Jones, David DeJesus, Gus Steppen and Ryan Murphy. Athletic trainer Shawn Petrucci and North Kingstown athletic director David Tober who collectively built a strong support system for the team.
Come this fall, Cody will be heading to URI to study Finances. He hasn’t yet decided if he wants to become an accountant but is leaning that way. He has come to terms that URI has a club men’s volleyball team and hopes to play for them, but he is ready to focus on his studies at URI.
Not ready to give up on competitive volleyball just yet, later this summer Cody will join his AAU team and head to Florida for a 4-day tournament. The team will be made up of several of his current North Kingstown teammates as well some from LaSalle, Bishop Hendricken and Cranston East. It will be a “who’s who” of the finest players in Rhode Island boys’ volleyball. “I have become great friends with these players over the years. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of teammates to go away to represent Rhode Island as a curtain call!” Tow said.
Photos: Phil Tow, Cody’s dad
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John Cardullo, sportswriter. John is a lifelong Rhode Islander. His sports experience is extensive, as a player, coach and sponsor of youth and high school sports. He has been the Public Address Announcer for the CCRI Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams. Both the Cranston East and Cranston West football, Cranston East Boys and Girls basketball for 12 years before moving onto the Central, Juanita Sanchez and Mt. Pleasant football teams. Also, Central HS Boys and Girls Basketball, Scituate High School Boys and Girls Basketball, Johnston High School Girls Basketball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Softball, Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and CLCF football.
John has been involved in Men’s softball for 61 years, starting as a batboy for his father’s team in 1964. He moved to the teams scorekeeper then became a player in 1975, and created the men’s team, Players Corner Pub, that went on to win 20 State Championships in their 35 year history. In the 1990’s he published the statewide softball magazine “The Fielders Choice” which was dedicated to all topics related to adult softball. As a feature writer, John and the publication won several media awards. In 2019 he was elected and inducted into the Rhode Island Slow Pitch Softball Hall of Fame which he also helped create. John is a softball umpire in Warwick, Rhode Island.
In his spare time John golfs with his life long friends in season. After retiring from the printing Industry after a 45-year career, he now writes specialty sports columns for RINewsToday.com, is still actively engaged in the high school sports scene, and will soon launch a radio show/podcast on high school sports.
More Sports in RI stories – HERE