Scholastic Roundup: It’s back to the future for LIU

April 26, 2024 Andy Furman

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The Evening of Champions – commemorating the outstanding achievements of past and recent student-athletes at LIU – which includes the 2024 senior athletic awards and Hall of Fame ceremony, is set for Monday, April 29th.

Among the distinguished honorees are Fred Salon ’67, Jim LeClair ’66, Simon Hodnett ’05, the 2009 men’s lacrosse National Championship team and the 2017-8 women’s track and field team.

Salon, a renowned tennis player from Brooklyn, emerges as a standout figure in the world of tennis. His illustrious high school career in which he never lost a match, paved the way for his recruitment by LIU.

During Salon’s career – 1963-67 – he had an undefeated streak except for a single loss, which he later avenged triumphantly in a regional postseason tournament at Forest Hills. His performance earned him a No. 2 seed in the Ryder Cup tournament, where he advanced to the finals.

Jim LeClair, hailed as one of LIU’s most decorated quarterbacks, solidified his legacy by transitioning to the NFL following his selection in the 16th round of the 1966 NFL Draft.

LeClair showcased his talent with the San Francisco 49ers in 1966 and the Denver Broncos from 1967 to 1968, and threw for 676 yards and two touchdowns.

The 2009 men’s lacrosse National Championship team etched their names in history by clinching the NCAA Division II title with an 8-7 victory over previously undefeated LeMoyne College at Gillette Stadium.

The win capped off a stellar season for LIU, marking a program-best 15-1 overall record in its 50th season.

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The 2017-18 women’s track and field team clinched the NEC Indoor Championships under the leadership of the late Simon Hodnett.

Hodnett guided the team to an impressive 10 Northeast Conference championships throughout his coaching tenure.

Recognized as the 10-time NEC Coach of the Year, Hodnett’s remarkable influence extended to nurturing nearly 500 All-NEC honorees over his 15-year stint in Brooklyn.

His coaching produced six individual Division I indoor and outdoor track and field All-Americans, three Olympians, one Indoor World Relay Gold medalist, and one Outdoor World Relay Bronze medalist to success.

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The Evening of Champions is set for 7 p.m., Monday, at the Tillies Center.

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The LIU women’s golf team wrapped-up a very successful NEC Championship weekend, Sunday. In round one, last Friday, the Sharks set a program record with a team score of 288, besting the prior record of 297. For the tournament, LIU finished T3 with a total score of 914. Three Sharks finished in the top 18, with two posting top ten finishes.

Emily Byrne was the best LIU golfer, finishing in third with a +7 (69,75,73=217). The grad student was tied for the most pars throughout the tournament in Pine Mountain, Ga., with 36, and scored the seventh-most birdies (six).

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Olivia Fantigrossi scored six goals in LIU’s 20-3 lacrosse win over Central Connecticut State, Saturday afternoon. The Sharks took an 11-2 lead into halftime thanks to goals from Fantigrossi, Rachel Weber, Jen Gaffney, Amanda Weber, Pierson Schuchart, Erin Harkins, and Julia Trainor. Trainor finished the game with four goals.

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The Girls Catholic High School Athletic Association (GCHSAA) tabbed six Brooklynites to their 2024 Hall of Fame class.

Danielle Johnson, Denise Lewinger-Naftaly, Rusell Rodriguez and Alan Wharton were all greeted into the new class.

Johnson, was a member of the cheerleading, swimming, and softball teams while a student at St. Edmund Prep. She starred on the St. Francis College swimming and water polo teams. Currently, she is the head coach of the Eagles’ varsity boys’ and girls’ swim teams and the school’s assistant athletic director. She also teaches physical education.

Johnson was also awarded the Joan Casazzone Service Award – one of five given out this year – to longtime coaches and league officials for their dedicated service. The award is named for the former league president and longtime basketball coach who fell to cancer in 2017.

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Denise Lewinger-Naftaly helped organize and form the Fontbonne Hall Academy cheerleading program where they captured six Brooklyn-Queens championships.

Russell Rodriguez began officiating GCHSAA volleyball in 1994. He was later selected to officiate conference championships and NCAA Tournament matches in Division I, II and III for both men’s and women’s volleyball.

In 2005, he became girls’ volleyball assignor for the Brooklyn-Queens GCHSAA. He later became boys’ assignor and then was tabbed for the Archdiocese of New York’s girls’ volleyball league in 2021.

Alan Wharton founded the New York City Soccer Officials Association in 1973 and is currently president of the group. He has been the GCHSAA league soccer assignor for over 40 years. Wharton is also a member of the boys’ CHSAA Hall of Fame and he has also officiated baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, and World Team Tennis.

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The Pratt Institute men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up their regular season and celebrated their six seniors hosting the Pratt Invitational Sunday afternoon at Queens College track.

Senior Asa Brandyberry won the men’s shot put with a toss of 11.86 meters while senior Mia Wong posted her first sub-20 second time in the 100-meter hurdles, winning in 19.61.

Seniors Christina Sancho-Spore was the top Division III runner in the 800 meters finishing in 2:33.93 while fellow senior Ava Hunwick was also the top Division III runner in the 200 meters clocking in at 30.58.

Giovanna Lisa won the women’s 1500-meter run in 5:41.31. Hannah Kim won the women’s shot-put tossing 10.32 meters. Kayla Galvan celebrated her birthday posting a personal-best 20.13 in the 100-meter hurdles.

Dominic Paolini was the top collegiate finisher in the men’s 1500-meter in 4:27.39 while senior Daniel Bhopaul followed him in 5:13.54. Senior Jack Phelan ran the 100-meter dash in 13.21.

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The Pratt Institute women’s tennis team will head to Fredericksburg, Va. for the Coast-to-Coast Conference Championships, with a perfect 11-0 record, May 3 at the University of Mary Washington.

The women wrapped up their perfect regular season with a 9-0 triumph over Manhattanville Saturday afternoon at the USTA National Tennis Center.

The Cannoneers celebrated their lone senior Nastazja Cancellaro prior to the match and Cancellaro turned in a straight-set, 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 5 singles in her lone match of the day.

Pallavi Verghese remained perfect in dual match play securing an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles with Beatrice Crespo and turning in an 8-1 win at No. 1 singles. Crespo also won her match at No. 2 singles by an 8-1 margin.

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