RSS Feed
 |
|
||||||
Agostino inducted into Suffolk Hall of Fame
At a brunch at the West Lake Inn in Patchogue, Agostino and Fuller were told they would be inducted on May 7 into the hall, adding more memories to two careers that have been filled with success. Agostino is at the helm of one of Long Island's best basketball dynasties. The Warriors have won four New York State titles, eight Long Island Championships and 10 Suffolk County Championships. He has won over 350 games, has a winning percentage of over 80 percent and his teams have won 15 straight league titles. He will also be inducted into the New York State Basketball Hall of Fame on March 24. "It's been an amazing couple of months," he said. "I'm friends with Warren Fuller and it is great we're going into the Suffolk Hall together." "Jack is the type of coach that all kids would love to have," Amityville athletic director Jonathan Bloom said. "He's a great teacher and he cares about hisplayers on and off the court.This honor is well deserved and we're all very proud of him." Agostino is fondest of his 1991 Long Island title, the first in school history, and of course the time his team beat Lebron James' high school team at the Slam Dunk for the Beach Tournament in Delaware. "Those were some magical moments," he recalls. Fuller, Long Island's winningest girls' basketball coach with 508 wins (as of Feb. 14), passed the 500 win mark on Jan. 16 and has won three state titles, seven Long Island crowns and 16 county champion- ships. He has also been honored 11 times as Suffolk Coach of the Year. Fuller graduated from Wyandanch in 1966 and will join two of his former players in the hall. Floretta Jackson, a 1983 graduate and Adrina Crichlow, from the Class of 1985, were on some of the best teams Fuller has ever coached. "I was fortunate to have great players over the years," he said. "This is a great feeling. There are a lot of great names and a lot of Suffolk history there and to be a part of it is really overwhelming. It's a nice highlight on a wonderful career." His 1983 team was undefeated (27-0) New York State Champions and every year since then he's has consistent success. This year his team went 14-0 in league play and is playing smart, yet physical Wyandanch basketball as always. "I've had the talent and it's nice that I've had kids who buy into what I've been trying to do," he said. Other inductees include: race-car driver Joe Buzzetta, Long Island Ducks centerfielder and West Babylon graduate Justin Davies, track star Christine Gentile, martial arts veteran Ed McGrath, Shoreham-Wading River baseball coach Sal Mignano, Seton Hall (Patchogue) three-sport athlete Jim Plate and Half Hollow Hills multi-sport coach Cathy Vayianos. How they're selected;
Nominations are accepted year round by the Hall of Fame. A selection committee sifts through documents, photos, community service records, and overall achievement in his or her sport. There are about 200 inductees, including Carl Yastrzemski, Boomer Esiason, Craig Biggio and many other high profile athletes from the county.
|
for larger version       |
|||||
)
