Nassau County H.S. Athletics HOF 2024 class announced

The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2024 induction ceremony Sept. 25 at the Crest Hollow County Club. For more information, tickets and the full list of honorees, go to www.sectionviii.org. The following is a list of honorees local to the Herald coverage area.

TOM CATAPANO: He’s been nothing short of a wizard since becoming the girls’ basketball coach at Baldwin in 2010. He’s guided the girls to 12 Nassau Class Conference AA championships, 10 Nassau Class AA titles, 5 Long Island Class AA crowns, a pair of New York state public school championships, and a State Federation title.

CANUTE CURTIS: One of the greatest in a long line of great football players from Farmingdale, Curtis was a standout two-way star at running back and linebacker while leading head coach Don Snyder’s Dalers to an undefeated 10-0 record and the Rutgers Cup in 1991. His dominating performances as a senior were good enough to earn Curtis All-Nassau, All-Long Island and All-State honors.

CRYSTAL DUNN: A genuine soccer phenom at South Side. So talented at a young age that she missed her junior season because she was playing for the United States Under-17 team in New Zealand. The Cyclones won three state championships (2006, 2007 and 2009) with Dunn, who scored 46 goals and assisted on 35 others. She was a two-time All-American at North Carolina and played defense for the U.S. Women’s National Team and is a two-time Olympian.

JIM GRAZIANO: The best big man developed at Farmingdale and one of the best to play basketball on Long Island. The 6-foot-10, Graziano was a four-year starter, outstanding as a freshman and improved every season until his senior year when he averaged 26 points and 15 rebounds. A three-time All-Long Island selection, he was the New York State Player of the Year in 1976. He starred at South Carolina and was drafted by the NBA’s Denver Nuggets.

JAY IAQUINTA: One of the most decorated football coaches in Nassau County over the past three decades, Iaquinta has amassed 211 victories with stints at Lynbrook, Hewlett and Manhasset. Named the county’s Coach of the Year in 1986 and 2021.

CHARLENE LIPSEY: She played basketball, volleyball, and softball at Hempstead before focusing on track. In just three years she became a five-time state champ and the Gatorade New York State Runner of the Year. Lipsey went on to a decorated career at LSU and was an eight-time All-American and three-time SEC champion.

MATT McLEES: Head coach of Carey’s football team for 16 years and the winningest coach in school history with 76 victories. He was named Nassau Coach of the Year three times, served as President of Nassau Football Coaches Association and is currently the Athletic Director for the Sewanhaka Central School District and Nassau’s football coordinator.

GARY MIMS: He grew up in Freeport but became a son of Massapequa. He played three sports for the Chiefs (football, wrestling and lacrosse) and returned home to coach the wrestling team for 29 years, beginning in 1977. He was named Nassau Coach of the Year three times and produced 31 county champions while winning 291 dual meets.

RICH OHRNBERGER: A star two-way lineman for three years at East Meadow, in 2003 he not only won the Martone Award for being Nassau’s top lineman but also the Thorp Award as the county’s best player. After a stellar career as an offensive lineman at Penn State, he was drafted by the Patriots and later played for the Cardinals and Chargers.

VICTOR RANDAZZO: It has been 52 years since Randazzo graduated from Long Beach, and his senior year was special. He was the New York State champion in the Still Rings competition and the Rope Climb. He won the Still Rings at the Empire State Games five times and went on to become the NCAA Still Rings champ for Southern Connecticut State, helping it to the 1976 collegiate team title.

MAX SEIBALD: A special athlete, Seibald was an All-County selection in four sports (football, soccer, track and lacrosse) at Hewlett and a superstar in the latter. He led the Bulldogs to a county championship and was a four-time All-American at Cornell. In 2009 he won the Tewaarton Award as the nation’s top collegiate player. He was a five-time Major League Lacrosse All-Star.