Scholastic Roundup: A star-studded luncheon down south

December 16, 2022 Andy Furman

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It takes a lot to impress Mike Saunders.

And it should.

The Newtown High grad was named Trainer of the Year in 1994 and was the NBA All-Star trainer in 1986 and 1998, while working for seven New York Knickerbocker coaches who are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Yet, it was Saunders who was impressed with the 40th Annual Original South Florida Basketball Fraternity luncheon – staged earlier this month at the Polo Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

“Bob Ryan (Boston Globe and ESPN), was Master of Ceremonies and told some great stories about Boston College Basketball and the Boston Celtics,” Saunders wrote to Scholastic Roundup.

Ryan was introduced to the assembled crowd by Steve Adelman, a sweet-shooting player for Boston College, and a classmate of Ryan’s, Saunders said.

“Lynette Woodard shad the crowd mesmerized when she spoke so eloquently about her introduction to basketball in Kansas and her Hall of Fame career,” Saunders continued.

Jerry Domershick, a former Thomas Jefferson High School basketball captain – and later three-year captain at CNNY — was the recipient of the Mary Groveman Good Guy Award.

Former Georgia Tech and College of Charleston basketball coach, Bobby Cremins – a Bronx native – was amazed at the knowledge of the crowd ad described the room as a “Basketball Museum,” according to Saunders.

Saunders has become an author—his book, Life Sentence – filled with quotes – is available from Amazon.

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Nga Warren, the first-year football coach at Transit Tech High School – and the school’s very first football coach – reminds that the school no longer offers the law program.

And he says, “Reverend Harry Dixon was a major community supporter/sponsor in the political community helping football emerge at the school.”

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John Vozab played freshman baseball for St. Francis College (l966-67) and baseball (’67-70) with Dan Lynch, Jr.

When asked about Dan Lynch, Sr. – who played, and coached at St. Francis and had his jersey retired at a ceremony last month –he said: “Mr. Lynch helped so any students in different ways. I will always remember him fondly for his advice, kindness, wit and for giving a Queens guy a home away-from-home in his Athletic Office on Remsen Street.

“When I think of St. Francis, he first images that come to mind are not the classrooms, the library or even the bar across the street. Instead, I remember the teammates and the laughs we shared. I remember fondly their personalities even now, years later and many miles apart. And I remember Mr. Lynch as such a positive influence on the St. Francis community. His smile or frown mattered to each of us, because in some way, he always made us feel we mattered to him.”

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A move is underway to have Dan Lynch, Sr. elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Veterans Committee.

In 21 years, Lynch amassed a 283-237 won-loss record for the Terriers as basketball coach – and is the winningest coach in school history. He would be the first St. Francis player or coach elected and enshrined in Springfield, Mass.

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LIU men’s track and field began its season at the Fastrack Season Opener and saw multiple top finishes.

Joseph Fontes, a junior from Lodi, Calif., was in a tight finish in the 400-meter dash and finished ninth. He was fractions away from a top-five finish.

In the 300-meter, Aidan Haughian maintained a steady pace and placed eighth (8:47.92) among 23 finishers. In the field competition, sophomore Connor Knight finished 15th (11.44m) in the shot put. The Blythewood, South Carolina native also placed eighth in the weighted throw (12.62m).

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LIU’s football team boasts a pair of new All-Americans.

Eric O’Neill was named to the FCS Freshman All-American Team and Victor Nelson, Jr. was named to the FCS Sophomore All-American Team from HERO Sports.

The 6-foot-3 O’Neill, a 240-pound defensive end previously had been named Defensive Rookie of the Year and first-team NEC. He also was a Jerry Rice Award finalist. He registered a league-leading 10 sacks this past season.

Nelson, a 6-4, 209-pound defensive back led the NEC with six interceptions, eight pass breakups and 14 passes defended.

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The first win of the basketball season for Kingsborough CC came on the road against conference foe Bronx CC 77061. The Wave had five players in double-figures led by sophomore Tyrese Grant, 13 points; freshman Troy Graham (13); Tabidi Abdelamaged (10); Byran Blanding (10): and Jhadel Auguste (11).

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The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams at St. Francis College has four representatives competing this week in two different championships – nearly 10,000-miles apart.

Cassandre Zenon will swim in two events at the FINA World Championships in Melbourne, Australia before Jedi Morland Janes, Mariajose Lopez and Laetitia Bouc all take n the CSCAA National Collegiate Open Water Swimming Championship, Sunday in Florida.

Zenon, a graduate student, will be representing Cameroon at World Championships. She competes in the 50-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle.

The event takes place at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

The trio of distance swimmers will put their talents to the test in the Sunshine State, competing in Open Water 5K races, located at the FIU Biscayne Bay campus in North Miami, Fla.

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Nasir Muhammad led Xaverian High with 27 points and seven rebounds and Don Colon-Lewis added 12 as the Clippers fell short to Archbishop Molloy, 53052 in their season opener last week. They host St. Francis Prep tonight.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR