Nassau Athletics HOF 2023 class announced

The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2023 induction ceremony Sept. 28 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information and tickets, go to www.sectionviii.org.

Here’s a list of athletes from the Herald's coverage area set to be inducted.

ROBERT ALABASTER: A man for all seasons, he played five sports at Baldwin starting in 1929. He was a three-time All-Scholastic football lineman and also a starter on the basketball, baseball, swimming and track teams. Won the county backstroke title in swimming.

RON ATANASIO: Regarded as one of the greatest Nassau County soccer players of all-time. Led Oceanside to three consecutive county and Long Island championships and starred on the Sailors’ 18-0 team in 1973 that outscored opponents 99-4.

THERESE DEVLIN: Among the best distance runners in Nassau history while at Wantagh and two-time state champion in the 1500 meters. She was the first female named Gatorade’s New York State track and field player of the year in 1986. She went on to star at Dartmouth and competed in the 1992 Olympic Trials.

BILLY DONOVAN: A Rockville Centre native, he played on championship basketball teams at St. Agnes and earned All-Long Island honors as a senior in 1983. Played collegiately at Providence and helped the Friars reach the Final Four. Third-round pick of Utah Jazz in 1987 NBA Draft. Coached Florida to 467 wins, including a pair of NCAA titles. Current head coach of the Chicago Bulls.

ARTHUR DUNN: A tremendous distance runner at Sewanhaka and the first in the state to place in the top 10 four times in cross country. He won NYS championships in 1953 and 1954.

D’BRICKASHAW FERGUSON: Generational football player at Freeport who won the Thorp and Martone Awards as Nassau’s best player and linemen. Helped the Red Devils to a Long Island title as a junior. Starred at the University of Virginia and in the NFL for 10 seasons with the New York Jets. A member of the Jets ‘Ring of Honor.’

PETER HENNING: Long Island’s and New York State’s first wrestling champion. Wantagh’s Henning won the 98-pound title in 1963. After losing his opening match that season, he ripped off 25 straight victories on the way to the historic state crown.

EAMON MCENEANEY: A three-sport star at Sewanhaka (1973 grad) who was a fearless football player despite his 5-foot-10, 155-pound frame. Also one of the greatest high school and college lacrosse players in state history, he led Cornell to two NCAA titles.

ANNIE PARK: She was forced to play on the boys’ golf team at MacArthur because there was no girls’ team. It didn’t matter. She became the top golfer in Nassau, beating all the boys and winning the county championship in 2012. Won the NCAA women’s title a year later while helping the University of Southern California capture the team championship.

DICK POILLON: A three-sport star at Valley Stream Central in the 1930s. Excelled in football and also played basketball and baseball. After playing college football at Canisius, he earned a spot on the roster of the then-Washington Redskins.

CLIFTON SMITH: Gatorade’s NYS football Player of the Year in 1988, Smith was a Thorp Award winner and also a finalist as a star linebacker for Freeport. He also played basketball and lacrosse. Was a standout at Syracuse and played in the NFL for Washington and Cleveland.

KEVIN SHIPPOS: An outstanding football player and wrestler at Baldwin, the 1997 grad was a two-time All-County fullback/linebacker and a three-time county wrestling champ and a one-time state champ. He also won the 215-pound national wrestling championship.

FRANK TASHMAN: A football and lacrosse standout at Sewanhaka, he teamed with future Heisman Trophy winner and Nassau Hall of Famer Vinny Testaverde to bring the school a county title in 1979 and unbeaten season in 1980. Tashman had 118 points as a senior lacrosse attackman.

NICHOLAS TINTLE: Rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2002 to help MacArthur capture its first-ever county football title. He then rushed for over 2,000 yards as a senior. One of the top lacrosse players in the state and earned Nassau Midfielder of the Year honors in 2004.

AL WILLIAMS: One of the greatest athletes of all-time at Hempstead. A four-year starter on the basketball court and three-year starting quarterback on the gridiron. Under his direction, the Tigers went 8-0 in 1967 and outscored the competition 245-46.

JAMES ZAFFUTO: A record-setting lacrosse player at Elmont, the 1977 grad set multiple Nassau scoring records that have stood for 45 years. Holds career records for points (498) and assists (288.) Played on three NCAA title teams at Johns Hopkins.