ALEX ZILKO
The 1930s were a golden era in ahtletics for Pearl River high School. Whatever confluence of factors contributed to the Pirates' sporting success is anyone's guess, but one need only look at the roster of all-stars plying their skills on the playing fields to understand how magical an epoch it was.

Continuing the stellar legacy was Alex "Zilch" Zilko, a 1939 Pearl River graduate. Like many of his era, Zilko was a multi-sport athlete. Unlike many, however,he excelled at whatever he tried. In football, he was a two-time All-County halfback.

In basketball, he made All-County and captained the team his senior year. The same year, he made All-County as a right haned pitcher,a season highlighted by a 23 strikeout performance in an extra inning game against Park Ridge, N.J. In track and field, Zilko also parlayed his natural speed and leaping ability into a Rockland County title in the long jump wth a mark of 19 feet, 4 inches.