April 22, 2008 03:56 pm
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — When the Washington Nationals opened a new stadium last month, Adam Cooley’s job took on greater-than-ever importance.
The Nationals staffer responsible for selling premium seats and luxury suites, Cooley had to make sure they were all filled on opening night, March 30, and beyond.
Mission accomplished, he’s happy to report.
Cooley, a 1996 graduate of Royalton-Hartland High School, worked his way into baseball’s major league using a combination of talent, sporting enthusiasm and the lessons he learned from a former coach, Mark Ryzda.
Under Ryzda’s tutelage in 1995-96, Cooley and his teammates propelled the Rams to their first Niagara-Orleans league basketball championship in 30 years.
Along with learning to compete and be best, Cooley said, Ryzda taught the young men about “taking responsibility for our actions, good or bad.”
Cooley also was lettered in soccer and baseball and said the lessons of competitive athletics helped a small-town kid achieve a big dream.
Cooley graduated from Elmira College in 2000 and quickly landed a job with the Washington Wizards. He went to the Nationals in 2004 after the team transferred from Montreal.
Today, home is in Maryland, where he and wife Cassie are raising Michael, 16 months, and expecting their second child in July.
Cooley visits his first home, Middleport, about every other month, since he’s a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder, an avid Sabres fan and a guy who just can’t stay away too long.
“If I could pick any place in the world to live, I’d take western New York,” Cooley said. “If the jobs were there, the money was there ... . It’s home; full of good people.”
When the Nationals played their first game in the new park last month, Adam’s parents, Mike and Mary Pat, were in the Capitol to help celebrate.
Occasionally, Ryzda asks Cooley to come back to school and talk with a new group of up-and-coming Rams. Cooley says he’s glad to share his story with them.
“Roy-Hart got made fun of a lot in the N-O league, in the area generally, and that was never right. I’m proof people do make it out of there and do well,” he said. “I’m doing well. I have a great life.”
• Who: Adam Cooley
• Where he is now: Washington, D.C./Maryland
• Reconnect with him: by e-mail at adam.cooley@nationals.com
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Photos
Then — In the mid 1990s, Adam Cooley was a Royalton-Hartland Ram starring in three high school sports, basketball, soccer and baseball.
Now — Middleport native Adam Cooley manages seat and suite sales for the Washington Nationals baseball team. Here’s Cooley with his wife, Cassie, and their son Michael at home in Maryland.