Mendon Soccer’s No. 9 Jersey Honors a Legacy and Recognizes an Outstanding Student-Athlete

Before the September 14, 2026, Mendon soccer match against Batavia, players, coaches and spectators observed 25 seconds of silence in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on that tragic day, including 1985 Mendon High School alum and soccer player Todd Pelino who worked in the World Trade Center. Todd was an outstanding teammate, captain and person who wore the No. 9 jersey as a Mendon soccer player. Each year, a player is selected to wear the No. 9 jersey in honor of Todd and the strength of character he demonstrated both on and off the field.

For the 2026 season, senior defender and captain Danny Coyne was selected by his coaches and teammates to wear the No. 9 jersey. Coyne also wore No. 9 during the 2025 season, making him just the fourth player in Mendon soccer history to wear the jersey of honor for two seasons.

Todd’s parents, Doug and Maureen Pelino, attended the game with family and friends. The program also welcomed two of Todd’s former Mendon coaches, Joe Borrosh and John Iaculli.

Since the tradition began, a select group of Mendon players have worn No. 9 in Todd’s memory:

• 2025–26 – Danny Coyne
• 2023–24 – Colden Forney
• 2022 – Luke Westervelt
• 2021 – John Santowski
• 2020 – Jeremiah Anandarajah
• 2019 – Ty Wilkes
• 2018 – Connor Krapf
• 2017 – Charles Shi
• 2016 – Adrian Padilla
• 2015 – Jimmy Keneally
• 2014 – Ryan Aspenleiter
• 2013 – John Vangellow
• 2012 – Josh Eidem
• 2011 – Slater Jameson
• 2010 – Andrew Smith
• 2009 – Luke Tylutki
• 2008 – Nick Wendel
• 2006–07 – Steven Suozzi
• 2004–05 – Peter Hill
• 2003 – Michael Pecchia
• 2002 – Angelo Suozzi