A Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame? East Rockaway, Lynbrook coaches chime in

Local sports stars to be recognized; Uniondale's coliseum a possible site

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Section VIII, the governing body of all public school interscholastic sports in Nassau County, has approved the creation of a High School Athletics Hall of Fame that potentially could be housed in the renovated Nassau Coliseum.

“It’s a great idea and it’s been a long time coming,” said East Rockaway High School athletic director Dom Vulpis. Tradition is an important part of high school athletics, and it’s important to recognize those in the past that have contributed to our present and future. The county has been waiting for this for a long time.”

The Hall of Fame would be open to athletes, coaches, contest officials, administrators and contributors whose accomplishments merit countywide recognition, and “whose achievements or contributions were relative to Nassau County high school athletic programs,” Section VIII officials said.

“Nassau County has a deep, strong tradition of excellence in athletics and we want to recognize that excellence,” said Nina Van Erk, the executive director of Section VIII.

Van Erk, along with Pat Pizzarelli, the athletic director for the Lawrence School District, sports journalist Carl Reuter, and two contest officials Tom O’Connor and lawyer Joe Cairo served on the planning committee.

National and state halls of fame exist to honor high school athletic history and Suffolk County has a sports Hall of Fame, Pizzarelli said. In contrast to Suffolk’s, only high school accomplishments will be considered for induction, he said. “We feel that Nassau County should honor people who were extraordinary in high school athletics, whether it be as an athlete, coach, official, administrator or contributor,” Pizzarelli said.

Lynbrook High School athletic director Tom Graham said the Hall of Fame was good news for high school athletics in Nassau County. “It’s a great idea. I’m sure there will be a lot of really deserving people that will be going in, and it will be great to honor the tradition of high school sports.”

Graham also said he was excited to see local legends honored for their careers in high school athletics. “It would be great to see someone like Jim Brown, who played football for Manhasset before going on to the NFL, get some recognition here at home.”

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