ART CARDI
Class of 2008
ART CARDI

Official

 

Arthur Cardi was a graduate of Ballston Spa High School where he excelled as a halfback in football for the Scotties when he graduated in 1959. He would then go on to Ithaca College where he was a star athlete in track, football and wrestling for the Bombers.

In 1967 Art would become the head football coach of the Siena Indians football program in Loudonville, NY after serving one year as an assistant coach. Cardi would be the most successful coach that the Siena club would have during its 40 years existence having a record of 27-13-1 during his leadership from 1967 to 1971. Cardi would gain national recognition as he coached Siena's club to a perfect 9-0 record in 1968 and finished 2nd in the Coach of the Year honors when his club was nationally ranked for the year and competed in the Power City Bowl. Cardi would continue his football coaching success with the Hudson Falls Green Jackets from 1972-1974 where he won the Valley Division Championship of the EFL in 1973 and made the playoffs each year.

A long time wrestling official, Art's focus would become more on wrestling when in 1974 he was named the President of the Adirondack AAU Freestyle Wrestling Association. He was also the President and co-founder of the Adirondack Three Style Wrestling Association (ATWA). Art was also named State Chair for the newly formed Empire State Games and was also the National Treasurer of the AAU.

Art was instrumental in promoting wrestling and international wrestling throughout the region. Cardi would organize and promote international teams to come to the area and would setup matches against local wrestling teams and led delegations of wrestling teams to other countries. In 1980 Cardi was behind bringing the Russian wrestling team to Glens Falls and organized an impromptu parade through the streets of Glens Falls that culminated in a wrestling match between Russia and the USA at the Glens Falls Civics Center. In 1981 Art Cardi was named leader of the national AAU senior men's wrestling team which traveled to the Soviet Union to compete in three dual meets.

Cardi was a member of the Capital District Wrestling Official Association (CDWOA) and officiated countless matches throughout the area including Section 2 Championships and State Tournaments. Art was inducted in the Section 2 Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008 and was also inducted into the Ballston Spa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017.

Today Art is happily retired from his construction business and lives in Burnt Hills.