Nassau athletics HOF class announced

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The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2019 induction ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For ticket information, go to www.sectionviii.org. Here’s a list of athletes and coaches.

ATHLETES:
ALICE JEAN ARDEN-HODGE: A 1932 graduate of Baldwin High School, she starred in field hockey, basketball and track. She was a field hockey captain, a defensive specialist in basketball, and long jumper/high jumper in track. She competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

COURTNEY CORNWALL: He was a superstar, not only locally at Lawrence, but on the national scene as well. Cornwall was a three-time New York State champ in the 300 meters. And he was the nation’s best in 1997 in 34.36 seconds.

WILLIAM DUMPSON: A 1947 Port Washington graduate, he played football, basketball and baseball. Led Port to a 35-game winning streak during the 1946-47 hoops campaign and the Long Island championship. He became a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.

JESSICA FOSCHI-GALLO: A 1998 Friends Academy grad, she was the NYS swim champion in 1995, '96, and '97 in the 200 and 500 freestyle. In 1996, she was the national high school champ in the 500. In 2001 while at Stanford University, she won the NCAA title in the 500.

RONNIE HELLER: A 1980 graduate of Farmingdale, he was a three-sport star. He won the Thorp Award as Nassau’s top football player, as well as the Martone Award given to the top lineman. In wrestling, he won 75 of 80 matches and was county champion in 1978, '79 and '80. In 1979, he won the NYS title and went 26-0.

JILL ROSE JANUSZEWSKI-KROL: The 1983 graduate was Oceanside's first female three-sport athlete. Earned All-County honors in volleyball, basketball and softball. In her sophomore and junior years, she helped lead Oceanside to the county title in softball while pitching every inning of every game.

 PAUL LANKFORD: One of the greatest athletes Farmingdale ever produced. The 1977 graduate excelled at wide receiver and cornerback and helped lead the Dalers to the Rutgers Cup in 1975 and '76 as team captain. In track, he held NYS records in the 60 and 100-yard hurdles.

 BETHANY LAMBLEY LESUEUR: The 2001 graduate from Garden City is Long Island's all-time leading basketball scorer, male or female, having dropped 3,167 points. She was twice named NYS Gatorade Player of the Year. She was a six-year starter helping the Trojans to a record of 121-12 and three Long Island crowns.

HEATHER MCADAM-POMILIO: A four-sport athlete at Long Beach (softball, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics), it was on the diamond where she made her name. Three times named All-County, she batted .500 for her career (108/216) while slugging 18 home runs and driving in 101.

 GERALD MCHUGH: He played five sports and earned 14 varsity letters, graduating from Baldwin in 1937. Football, basketball, baseball, track and swimming was where McHugh showed his athletic prowess. In football, he helped the Bruins go 18-0-3 from 1934-36.

BREANNE NASTI: A softball phenom, the 2000 Baldwin graduate was a record setter with the highest career average in the nation, .774! She was a three-time All-State player as well as a three-time All-American (1998, 99, '00). And she led the Lady Bruins to five county titles and a Long Island Championship in 1999.

 BILLY OMELTCHENKO: The 1974 graduate of Great Neck North starred in soccer, basketball and baseball and captained all three teams his senior year. "Omo" was a two-time All-Long Island soccer and basketball player. He finished his soccer career as the school’s all-time scoring leader. In hoops, he was a 1,000-point scorer.

 BOB RULE: He came to Manhasset at the start of his junior year. On the football field he was captain of both the '65 and '66 teams and was named MVP both years. In lacrosse, he helped the Indians go 18-0 as a senior as was MVP of the county championship game.

CHRISTIE WELSH: The 1999 Massapequa graduate helped lead the Chiefs to the 1997 NYS Class A girls’ soccer championship and was also the 1998 Gatorade Circle of Champions National High School Player of the Year. As a junior at Penn State, Welsh received the Herrmann Trophy, the sport’s most prestigious award given to the nation's top player.

WANDY WILLIAMS: A two-sport superstar, it was tough to say that there was anyone better than the 1964 Malverne graduate. In football, Williams scored 234 points and went on to be drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round in 1969, playing 11 professional games as a rookie. On the basketball court, he was named All-Long Island in 1964 and was a 1,000-point scorer.

COACHES:
TED ADAMS:
Coached the boys’ basketball team at Hempstead from 1983-2013. And under him the Tigers captured 17 county titles, 12 Long Island championships and three NYS crowns. He won 517 games and was named NYS Coach of the Year in 1990.

WILLIAM ASHLEY: He coached football and lacrosse at Freeport. On the gridiron, his teams went 124-38-6 in his 21 years and won eight league titles and five Rutgers Cups. He coached five undefeated teams and led the Red Devils to a 33-game unbeaten streak from 1956-60.

JOHN BAUMANN: Coached the Carey baseball team from 1961-1977. Under his guidance, he led the Seahawks to a record of 255-152. In 1970 and '71, Carey won the league title with the '70 season highlighted by a 17-game winning streak.

JAMES COLLIGAN: A 1965 graduate of Westbury, he certainly made his mark during 35 years at Carle Place. A health educator, and athletic director, he coached basketball at Carle Place for 33 years, including 29 at the varsity level where his teams qualified for the playoffs 24 times.

GEORGE DLUGOLONSKI: A 1968 graduate of Plainedge, he taught Physical Education and Health at Chaminade where he was the wrestling coach for 40 years and had a dual meet record of 536-156-3.

BRUCE GEHRKE: A 1942 graduate of Sewanhaka, he coached football and basketball at Mineola. On the gridiron, he coached from 1958-1975 and compiled a record of 91-48-6, winning seven division titles and two Rutgers Cups. On the hardwood, Gehrke's teams won 260 games, including the county championship in 1959-60.

JACK KALEY: The 1956 Sewanhaka graduate became one of the best to coach lacrosse. He coached East Meadow from 1968-88 and had a record of 227-96, including leading the Jets to three straight Long Island championships (1971, 72 and 73.)

ERNEST KIGHT, JR.: He graduated from Freeport in 1971 and went on to become one of the all-time great girls’ high school basketball coaches in the history of Nassau, doing so at his alma mater. Kight coached Freeport from 1977-2005 and amassed 399 wins, capturing five county championships and three Long Island titles.

PAUL LIMMER: His Mepham boys and girls combined cross-country league meet record was 555-15. His boys and girls combined spring track league mark was 570-25. He had four NYS championship teams and 20 NYS individual champs.

JOSEPH LORES: A 1976 graduate of Lynbrook, he’s coached girls’ soccer for East Rockaway/Malverne as well as boys’ basketball and softball at East Rockaway. His soccer teams have won 697 games and three conference titles. On the hardwood, Lores led the Rocks to county and Long Island titles. And in softball, Lores' teams have won 347 games including 11 county and three L.I. championships.

ALAN LOWE: The 1962 Hempstead graduate scored at that time a county lacrosse record 64 goals in only 13 games, including 12 in one game, a mark that still stands today. As a coach, from 1975-2006, Lowe's Manhasset teams went 511-110 and won two NYS titles, seven L.I. championships and nine county titles.

GLORIA O'CONNOR: A 1969 graduate from Carle Place, she made her mark as one of the best coaching field hockey and lacrosse. Her lacrosse program captured 11 league championships, eight county titles and five NYS titles. In field hockey, she guided the Frogs to seven Nassau and four NYS titles.

ROBERT PERPALL: At Seaford, Perpall's football teams have won 72 percent of its games including two Long Island championships and seven Nassau titles. His overall record is 157-62-1. And in softball, he coached for 13 years and amassed a mark of 202-62.

CARMINE VERDE: He’s coached some great softball teams in his 40 years including some outstanding seasons at Long Beach. He led his teams to victory over 350 times including the 2007 New York State Class AA title. The Marines have seven county championships to their credit.

HANK WILLIAMS: He coached the Malverne boys’ varsity basketball team for 27 years and amassed 450 wins, 20 conference championships, nine county titles and two NYS Championships. In the 1980-81 season, the Mules also captured the NYS Federation title.