Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame announces 2015 inductees
The Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame recently announced its 2015 inductees, who will be formally honored at a ceremony May 8 in Hauppauge.
The hall of fame, located in Patchogue, has inducted numerous locals over the years, from football player Ed Danowski of Riverhead, to wrestling legend Jesse Jantzen of Shoreham-Wading River and former Riverhead sportswriter Bob Burns.
A total of 10 people will be inducted in this year’s class. They are:
Gary Lee Brown, football: A former NFL offensive lineman who attended Brentwood High School and Georgia Tech.
Harold Cooley, bowling coach: The girls bowling coach at East Islip High School since 1985. He’s the first inductee for bowling.
Ken Friedheim, gymnastics coach: He was the boys varsity gymnastics coach at Sachem High School for 37 years, beginning in 1969.
Rob Grable, baseball: A three-sport athlete at Connetquot High School in the late 1980s. He went to play baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.
John Gregorek, track & field: A two-time USA Olympian in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the 1980 and 1984 Games.
Bob Herzog, journalist: A Commack High School and Syracuse University graduate, he is currently a senior sportswriter at Newsday as well as adjunct professor at Stony Brook University.
Richard Mercurio, lacrosse coach: He totaled 316 wins as lacrosse coach at Sachem High School from 1985 to 2005.
Rob Pannell, lacrosse: A standout lacrosse player at Smithtown High School and Cornell University, he was the No. 1 pick in the 2013 Major League Lacrosse Draft.
Carol Rose, lacrosse coach: The varsity lacrosse coach at Northport High School for the past 25 years, she’s compiled 351 wins.
Walter Williams, athletic director: The former athletic director at Babylon High School from 1939 to 1960.
2015 Special Recognition Award: Central Islip Fire Department “Hoboes” Drill Team — The “Hoboes” captured seven tournament victories in the 2014 season, including the Suffolk County and New York State Championships.
