Oceanside’s first Olympian: Morley

Oceanside has been the hometown to a great many accomplished citizens—civic and religious leaders, war heroes, renowned entertainers, and ordinary people who have done extraordinary things. However, throughout its long history, until last year, Oceanside had produced just one Olympian. He was wrestler John Morley.

As an Oceanside High School senior in 1964, Morley was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Metropolitan Championships. He then went to Moorhead State University in Minnesota, and placed second in the 1969 NCAA Division II National Championships. In 1972, he was picked as an alternate for the United States Olympic team for the Munich Games. He was Oceanside’s only Olympian until Devin Logan won a Silver Medal in Socci, Russia, in February. He will always be the first.

Morley is a member of Moorhead State’s Hall of Fame, and was elected into Oceanside High School’s Circle of Pride in 2004.

The Oceanside High School Hall of Fame is preparing to induct a new class. Former PE teacher and coach Frank Januszewski, who believed that “A school that has no past has no future”, created the school’s Hall of Fame in 1960. For the next 55 years, with the help of curators Mike Limmer, Sean Keenan and Richie Woods, Januszewski worked tirelessly to make Oceanside’s Hall of Fame one of the most extensive in Nassau County.

In 2003, Oceanside unveiled its Circle of Pride, which included charter inductees Jay Fiedler, Steve Friedman, Patty Hanlon, Art Heyman and, of course, Januszewski himself. Today, the Circle of Pride offers visitors both a look back at Oceanside’s storied athletic history and the promise of its future. Artifacts and displays and team pictures date back to the early 1900s.

On Nov. 13, Oceanside will be adding to its Circle of Pride with an induction ceremony for Jayme Beamer, Bob Moltisani, John Randazzo, Jim Mormile, Alex Rosen, Lore Swegler, Ron Antonasio, Mike Trotta, Ira Gibel, the Orzano Family and the 1973 soccer team at the Knights of Columbus O’Connell Hall in Oceanside.

Tickets for the dinner and induction ceremony are $75 per person, with all proceeds from the benefit funding the Hall of Fame. Contact Richie Woods at rtwoods@gmail.com for more information.