The 2022 Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame class was inducted on Saturday, December 3, 2022 during a ceremony at Sachem High School North.
As a Junior, Kevin Balkam was a starting offensive lineman for the first Sachem Rutgers Trophy team in 1977. As a senior, he was a starting lineman for their next Suffolk County football championship. In lacrosse, Kevin was the starting goalie as a junior in 1978, and in 1979 Sachem won its first state championship in any sport. He was a captain on the lacrosse team and an All-League and All-Conference selection that year as well. In College, Kevin played both football and lacrosse at Wooster College where he was a four-year starter and was selected first-team All-Conference in his sophomore, junior and senior years. By his junior year, he was an All-American, the first ever for Wooster lacrosse. In his senior season, Kevin was selected as the Conference MVP and in 1995 was selected to the Wooster Athletic Hall of Fame. Lacrosse championships run in the Balkam family … Kevin’s son Brian was the starting goalie in the 2016 lacrosse national championship for the University of North Carolina!
Michael Botti is one of the most skilled running backs in Sachem football history. The All-American Honorable Mention graduated as Sachem’s all-time leading rusher with 2,219 career yards, a record that stood for nearly 20 years. He had more than 2,600 all-purpose yards. He currently ranks fifth in school history. His 1,231 single-season rushing yards record from 1983 that helped propel Sachem to an undefeated season also stood for nearly 20 years. He was All-Long Island, All-County, and New York Daily News All-Metro in 1983 and 1984. His 9.25 yards per carry in 1983 is still one of the highest single-season rushing averages in Sachem history, meaning the Flaming Arrows got a first down almost every time he touched the ball. He was named Team MVP in 1983 and 1984. He also played baseball and ran track. At Rutgers, Michael combined for over 2,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 14 touchdowns. He had multiple ECAC Player of the Week honors and scored several memorable touchdowns, including a 57-yard touchdown against Penn State. Botti led Rutgers in rushing in 1988 and had over 1,000 all-purpose yards as one of the top offensive threats on the Scarlet Knights. He owns a local business, married his high school sweetheart Kerry and raised their children Joseph and Kristie, who went to Sachem East.
Sachem’s outstanding senior athlete in 1994, Kristen Bowes Burke was a three-sport star. While she was All-County and Team MVP as a senior in basketball and won the Unsung Hero Award as a senior lacrosse player, it was really on the soccer pitch that Kristen built her reputation. Kristen was a four-year starter at Division I Harvard University. During her time there she helped the Crimson win three Ivy League championships and they competed in three NCAA Tournaments making it as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1997. She played for the Eastern New York State soccer team and for the Olympic Development Program Eastern Regional Team for several years, traveling to Europe twice and Canada. After playing soccer at Harvard, she played briefly for the New York Athletic Club out of Travers Island. She has also competed in 14 marathons, including as recently as last year’s New York City marathon, qualifying for Boston as she has done numerous times. Today she coaches her son and daughters’ travel soccer teams, is General Counsel for Mercy College, and Towncouncilwoman in the Town of Pelham, New York. She is also in a select group to be inducted into both the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame and Sachem Hal of Honor for total career success.
George Cangero was the most prolific golf coach in Sachem’s history during a very successful time period. From 1999 to 2004 his teams were 69-3 and won Suffolk County championships in 2002 and 2003 and a Long Island championship in 2002. They won league titles every year he coached in Sachem. George also coached two Suffolk County individual champions. He coached at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue and was the golf coach at Farmingdale State at the time of his death. At St. Joseph’s, he won three Skyline Conference Championships between 2005 and 2015 and led the Golden Eagles to their first NCAA Division III National Championship. He carried the winning spirit west to Farmingdale in 2016 where the Rams have had two berths to the NCAA Championships and most recently was named Skyline Coach of the Year in 2021. George passed away in 2021, but his memory lives on today.
Kevin Carberry is the best pole vaulter in Sachem history and one of the best in Suffolk County history, having held the county record at 15 feet, 5-and-¾ inches for many years. That still stands as the Sachem outdoor record and he still holds the Sachem indoor record of 14 feet, 3 inches. He was a four-time All-County and three-time NYS Championship Meet Qualifier. Kevin placed third at the Indoor State Finals and second at the Outdoor States Finals in 1993, the same year he received Suffolk County Coaches Association Outstanding Jumper award. Kevin continued his career at Northeastern University’s Division I Track and Field Program on Scholarship, won an American East Conference Championship in 1996, New England Championships in 1998, and competed at the IC4A’s at George Mason University. He finished his college career with a personal best of 16 feet, 2 inches, making Kevin Northeastern’s #4 all-time outdoor pole vaulter. His passion for the sport did not end there. He continued to jump and honed his coaching skills working with coach Jim Henderson, Olympian Jan Johnson and others across the country. Those experiences led him to a position as a part of the Legend High School Track and Field Program in Parker, Colorado, where he had the privilege to coach six State qualifiers between the Boys and Girls programs. In addition, he ran a Non-Profit Pole Vault Club, which continually had over 50 members. He helped kids travel to and participated in Pole Vault Camps, Clinics, USATF Meets and the Reno Pole Summit. Today, Kevin currently lives in Sayville where he volunteers his time at Sayville High School and coaches his son and daughter in the pole vault as a Parent Volunteer. In his short time coaching at Sayville, Kevin has coached two All-County athletes and a State Qualifier. Kevin has also helped Sachem North Vaulters over the past several years. Professionally Kevin is currently working for Kingston Technology, a $16-billion-dollar private company as a Senior Enterprise Territory Manager handling the East Coast. He has worked with several major Movie Studio’s, Entertainment theme parks, DNA, and Medical Companies for the past 10 years. Kevin has been married to Jeanne for 22 years and they have four kids – Abigail, Morgan, Tyler, and Catie.
A three-year varsity volleyball star at Sachem, Carrie Connors led her team to a 64-5 record from 1993-1995. The two-time team captain was All-State in 1994 and 1995 the same years she was named Suffolk County’s Girl’s Volleyball MVP. She was also All-County for three straight years and made the All-County tournament team each year. She led Sachem to back-to-back girls’ volleyball titles in 1994 and 1995. Sachem was a perfect 23-0 in 1995. Carrie was also a member of the Long Island Empire State Team in 1993 and 1994. She attended Molloy College for one semester and still holds the records for service aces per set and solo blocks. She later graduated from LIU Post with a degree in health and physical education. Currently a middle school volleyball coach and physical education teacher in Huntington, she is married to her husband Todd Postel and they have four boys, Connor, Logan, Brady and Tyler. They live in Sachem today.
Nick Demeo had the unique experience of playing varsity baseball at Sachem North and Sachem East, straddling the creation of the new high school in 2004. His senior year at Sachem East was one of the best single-season pitching campaigns in Sachem history and it anchored a team that went to the New York State championship for the first and only time in district history. He was 10-1 on the mound for the Long Island champion Arrows. He was also All-League, All-County, and All-State and was a Suffolk County Gold Glove Award winner in 2005. After high school, he was a four-year starting pitching at Pace University, played one year of independent baseball, and several years in the Coastal Plains League and New York Collegiate Baseball League before embarking on a career in the NYPD. While protecting and serving the people of New York City, Nick was a five-year member of the NYPD baseball team and won four gold medals at the United States Police and Fire Championship games.
One of the best swimmers in Sachem history, Cathi DeSimone – Greiner had a very strong youth career competing in multiple junior Olympics, Metropolitan Games, and Empire State Games. She was one of the first seventh graders to swim at the varsity level in Sachem history. Swimming alongside her sisters Christine and Cindi, Cathi was Sachem’s Most Outstanding Swimmer for three consecutive years from 1985 through 1987 and was Most Valuable Swimmer in 1988. The multiple All-County League I champion was also a multi-time state qualifier and a team captain. She was part of a very strong run in Sachem swimming history, completing every varsity season as a team dual meet champion with a 65-0 record by 1988. After swimming for one season at Northern Arizona University in 1988-89, she transferred to the College of St. Rose and had a Hall of Fame career. She was inducted into their athletic hall of fame in 2019. She held multiple school records at St. Rose, including 200 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley, 200 breaststroke, and relay records on the 200 and 400. She has been happily married to her husband Jeff for 27 years where they live in Orange County, New York with their children Jared, Connor, and Luke. She has worked as a speech-language therapist for 29 years at Minisink Valley High School.
Paul DiGregorio was a two-sport starter in baseball and basketball. He shined in baseball and was recruited by almost every Division I baseball program in the northeast as well as others from across the country. He was also on the radar of some MLB scouts until he tore a knee ligament as a junior. An All-Long Island selection and League I MVP as a senior in 1983, he led the county in hitting during both of his varsity seasons. His success led to a scholarship at Division I local power St. John’s University where he was a four-year starter and played in multiple NCAA regional tournaments. Following his collegiate career, he was a pro in The Empire League, a local pro showcase played at Hofstra, and was a great player in the men’s division of the Empire State Games, where he once again played for legendary Sachem coach Bill Batewell. That love of the diamond also had Paul playing professional softball in leagues across the country. Professionally, Paul worked for the Sachem security team for many years and was a vibrant and helpful resource in the same buildings that helped make him the person and player that he was. Paul passed away in 2021 but his legacy lives on today. Accepting the honor on Paul’s behalf today are his godchildren Desiree Ranieri and Joseph Bonura.
A two-year varsity starter on the boy’s soccer team, Frank DiPrisco was All-County as a senior, a Newsday exceptional senior, co-MVP with Dennis Comstock and DJ Hodson, and scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Hills East in the Suffolk County championship. A strong student-athlete ranked No. 13 in one of Sachem’s largest graduating classes with 1,600, Frank spent the next four years at NYU. He was a four-year starter on the soccer team and was two-time All-State and two-time All-Conference. Frank won the Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award and Founder’s Day Award in 1992. After graduating with a degree in psychology in 1992 he went to NYU law and graduated in 1995. Professionally he worked at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP from 1995 through 2002 before helping run Bryant Park Market Events where his team’s primary function was managing the Winter Village at Bryant Park, which many of you have probably frequented. He plans on practicing law again in 2023. He is married to Sandra Cummings, they have seven rescue cats and he has also run two marathons both in New York City an Fort William, Scotland.
John Ebmeyer was a four-year varsity letterman in both gymnastics and golf. In addition, John competed for three years on the varsity diving team. Despite his late arrival to the sport of gymnastics, starting in 7th grade, John earned All-American status on floor exercise and parallel bars during his 10th-grade season. He continued to excel as a gymnast, earning All-American honors in the all-around during his junior and senior seasons, and took great pride in his efforts before, during, and after performing for his teams. During his senior year, John was recognized as an All-American gymnast, All-State in diving, and All-County in Golf all while serving as Team Captain of all three sports teams. In 2004, John was recognized as a News12 Scholar-Athlete and was awarded the Richard Van Noor Award as the top student-athlete in Sachem. After graduating, John attended Penn State University and earned a degree in Professional Golf Management as well as minors in Business and Kinesiology. John has been fortunate to serve as a Golf Professional at some world-renowned golf clubs including Deepdale Golf Club, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and Augusta National Golf Club. John is currently the Director of Golf at Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter, a prestigious private club in the new home of golf; Jupiter, Florida. John lives in Tequesta, Florida with his wife Krissy, and two children Bennett and Audrey.
Norm Ebmeyer was a four-year varsity letterman for Sachem Gymnastics from 9th grade through 12th grade. Norm was one of the most naturally talented, gifted, and prolific gymnasts that legendary Sachem Gymnastics Coach and Hall-of-Famer Ken Friedheim had seen come through the program. While Norm suffered an unfortunate injury during an exhibition meet at the start of his senior season that sidelined his ability to perform as a gymnast, he continued his passion for the sport and Sachem Athletics by later serving as an Assistant Coach for the Sachem Varsity Gymnastics team as well as Head Coach of the Junior High School Gymnastics program at Sagamore. Norm’s efforts as a coach, particularly at Sagamore, helped to save and revive Men’s Gymnastics not only at Sachem High School but throughout Suffolk County. Norm currently lives in Tequesta, Florida with his wife Virginia, and works as a carpenter. They have two children who both attended Sachem: John Ebmeyer and Meagan Dollman and have four grandchildren.
A three-sport athlete, three-sport captain, and three-sport MVP, Ed Fabian was an absolute model student-athlete at Sachem in the early 1970s. He was a three-year varsity player in basketball and baseball and a two-year varsity football player. He was all-league in all three sports and all-county in basketball. A 2003 Dowling College Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, he was a four-year varsity basketball player where he was part of four conference championship teams and was a two-time captain. He was team MVP as a junior when Dowling was 29-1 and one year later he led Dowling to its first NAIA Tournament in Kansas City. A two-time all-conference selection, he holds the Dowling College career assists record and was the recipient of the Stephen B. Ramsey Sportsmanship Award as a junior. Married his high school sweetheart Toni for 43 years, and they have three children and six grandchildren. Ed proudly joins his brother Jim and sister Patty as previous inductees of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame.
Kevin Fitzgerald began his high school baseball career as a catcher for the Sachem Arrows. He would pride himself on how fast he could make the throw from home to second base. He would pitch occasionally, but it wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he began his full-time pitching career. His efforts were rewarded when he received a full scholarship to Stony Brook University. During his time at Stony Brook, he began as a reliever and then became a starter. In his first two seasons, he struck out 80 batters in 80.2 innings. As a starter in his sophomore year, he was instrumental in the team winning the America East conference in 2004. In the College World Series regionals, Kevin pitched a complete game against The University of Tennessee. His record did not go unnoticed by scouts and he was drafted in June 2005, after his junior year, by the St. Louis Cardinals. He is one of nine Sachem players in history to be drafted by a major league team. After his time playing in the Minor Leagues, he played in the independent leagues, setting a single-season record for saves – which still stands – in the Can-Am league, while pitching for the North Shore Spirit in Massachusetts. Married since May of 2012, Kevin, and his wife Jenna moved to North Carolina in 2021. They currently reside there with their two daughters, Madelyn and Harper. Kevin’s success in baseball is not only attributed to his hard work, discipline, and dedication to the game, but also to the constant support and guidance given by his parents, Kevin and Carol Fitzgerald.
One of the most accomplished wrestlers in Sachem history, Wade Genova was a two-time Suffolk County runner-up and two-time New York State Greco-Roman Champion. He was also a two-time Sprig Gardner Tournament Champion, NY State Freestyle Champion, Eastern Junior Nationals bronze medalist, and two-time Junior National Greco Roman All-American. Wade was a three-sport athlete at Sachem, excelling in gymnastics and track and field as well. At the collegiate level, he graduated from Boston University as the winningest wrestler in school history and was a three-time Division I New England Conference Champion. He was a team captain in Boston as well. His wrestling career accelerated at this point, and he achieved great success from being New York State Open Greco Roman Champion, two-time Eastern National Open Champion, 1981 University National Greco Roman Champion, 1981 University National Freestyle Champion, 1983 National Sports Festival Gold Medalist, 1989 US Olympic Festival Silver Medalist, and three-time Olympic Trials Qualifier. Internationally, he was an alternate on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team, was a member of the 1984 Greco-Roman Olympic Team, and was a U.S. Greco-Roman National Team Member, 10X Greco-Roman All-American. Wade relocated to Colorado Springs to be near the U.S. Olympic Training Center. In Colorado, Wade has run wrestling camps, clinics, and international competitions and has traveled as a coach and team leader on a number of international tours. Wade was employed at USA Wrestling, the U.S. National Governing Body for Wrestling, where he held the position of International Exchange Manager. Following ten years at USA Wrestling, Wade left to start World Sports Alliance, an international travel company, where he continued to provide athletes opportunities to travel and compete overseas.
Tim was a Suffolk County champion and runner-up in New York State as a senior wrestler in 1991. Godoy was three-time all-county. He was also second at the Cadet Nationals and an All-American in 1989. In college, he placed third at the East Coast Athletic Conference tournament in 1991 at Hofstra before transferring to Cortland State where he became a three-time All-American. Since 1996 he was been a teacher at Uniondale High School where he has turned their wrestling program into one of the top in Nassau County. He has coached several all-county and all-state wrestlers and was named Nassau County Coach of the Year in 2005. He lives in Seaford and his son Jack was a Nassau County champion at Seaford High last year, so the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Nothing like Sachem DNA!
A multi-sport athlete, Grace Giarmoleo was a dominant talent in the early 1990s on Sachem’s field hockey team from 1990 to 1992. As a senior, she helped Sachem to an undefeated League I championship as a team captain and was All-State, All-County, All-Conference, and All-League. She was Team MVP and was invited to the USA Field Hockey Junior Olympic Futures Development program. She won a bronze medal at the Empire State Games in 1993 and a silver medal in 1992. Grace was also a varsity softball player and JV basketball player. At Hofstra, she was co-captain on the field hockey team in 1996 and a multi-year academic award winner. Following a long career as a physical education teacher in Middle Country Schools, she became a police officer in Southampton Village in 2020. She was also a varsity head field hockey coach at Centereach in 2013-2014, a JV coach at Newfield High School in 2012, a U14 USA Field Hockey Futures coach, and the head coach at Selden Middle School and Dawnwood Middle School in several sports. She lives in Rocky Point with her boys Dominick and Jamie.
Charlie Johnson was a track and field and cross country coach at Sachem from 1978 through 2006. Thousands of student-athletes felt his impact at Sachem High School and Seneca for four decades. He passed away suddenly in July 2006 and his family is here to represent him today, including his wife Sharon, daughters Krysta Johnson and Kaitlin Davidson, son-in-law John, and grandchildren Owen and Emery. Sachem East runs the Charles R. Johnson Memorial Track Meet in the spring and two scholarships are given out in his honor. He was an extremely positive coach who taught life lessons to all of his student-athletes that included teamwork, leadership, and consistency of effort. His athletes knew they were learning lessons they would hold with them for the rest of their lives. His teams worked hard, won meets and championships, demonstrated great sportsmanship, and always seemed to end a workout or meet day in high spirits. His love of sports also saw him referee girls’ lacrosse and field hockey at the junior high and high school levels. Longtime Sachem coach Alex Young has his team’s visit the garden named in Charlie’s honor at Samoset every year. He said, “he tells his teams about one of the greatest coaches Sachem ever had and about one of the finest men I ever met.” His family accepted the plaque on his behalf.
Born in Brooklyn, Coach McEneaney grew up in Elmont and attended Sewanhaka High School, where he earned seven varsity letters, including football, baseball, gymnastics and lacrosse. He accepted a scholarship to Yankton College in South Dakota and was a four-year starter as a safety and running back. The two-time all-conference selection was an NAIA All-Star in 1967. He was inducted into the Sewanhaka Hall of Fame in 2003 and named a “Greatest of the Great” at Yankton in 2006. He served our country in the U.S. Army during Vietnam in the First Cavalry Division and was awarded the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Accommodation Medal with Valor, New York State Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge. Let’s pause to applaud Coach on his service to America. After his service, he found his home at Sachem where he taught from 1973 through 2007. A social studies teacher, he developed two electives, “Vietnam and the American Experience,” and “War in the 20th Century.” He was also Sachem’s varsity lacrosse coach from 1977 through 1984 and had a 98-49 record. Most importantly, he led Sachem to its first lacrosse Suffolk County, Long Island, and New York State championships, which was also the first state title for any sport at Sachem. Sachem also appeared in the county finals in 1983. He was the head coach of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame Classic in 1984, the president of the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association in 1980-81, and was the lacrosse defensive coordinator at Suffolk County Community College from 1987 through 1990 and at Southampton College from 1991 through 2004 where he was part of two ECAC Championship teams in 1995 and 1997. Blayne also coached junior high football at Seneca and Sachem South for seven years from 1973-1980. He credits his student-athletes and fellow coaches for contributing to his coaching experience. He also wants to give special recognition to Glen Hart, Joe Taylor, Mickey Menna, and Sachem Hall of Famer Ralph Pepe. He also thanks Pete Creedon, former principal, friend, and mentor. Coach lives in Miller Place with his wife Jan and together they are approaching their 50th anniversary. They are blessed to have three children, Moira, Blayney, and Kara, as well as eight grandchildren.
Joe Murphy was a three-sport athlete at Sachem, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He was captain of the 1975 League 1 basketball championship team. During his senior year in football, he was the Bank of America player of the week twice for Sachem. He was Sachem football’s co-defensive MVP in 1974, and a coaches award recipient in basketball and baseball as a senior. After graduating, Joe attended Belmont Abbey College, where he majored in accounting, then Dowling, where he earned his education degree, and later received his master’s degree from Stony Brook. Upon returning to Sachem, where he coached for 39 years, Joe coached basketball, football, and baseball at Sagamore and Seneca for many years. He moved to the JV level in baseball, where he was the league one coach of the year five times, before moving up to the varsity, where in 2002, Coach Batewell nominated him for National Assistant Coach of the Year. Outside of Sachem, Joe helped start and organize the Police Athletic League high school baseball division, becoming the division’s director. He has worked as a baseball skills evaluator for Perfect Game, Blue Chips Prospects, and USA Baseball Identification Series. He has also been a director and instructor at Paul Gibson’s All-Pro Baseball Academy. He and Coach Batewell also did player evaluations of candidates for two years for the New York Mets’ open tryouts at Cyclone Park in Brooklyn. In 2008, he followed Coach Batewell to Bellport High School, becoming the head coach in 2019. That same year he won the Sportsmanship Award from the Eastern Suffolk Umpires Association and Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association President’s Award. In 2022, Joe was named the inaugural Bill Batewell Man of the Year by the Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association. Joe is most proud to have been a Sachem athlete playing for Fred Fusaro, Tim Clouser, Steve Rich, and Bill Batewell. He also believes he has been truly fortunate and privileged to have coached under these outstanding coaches in successful programs that not only won championships on every level but helped mold great Sachem athletes into great people.
Rob Murphy worked and taught at Sachem for 37 years. He was a multi-sport athlete since seventh grade. A member of some very successful teams, including the 1977 Rutgers Trophy and 1978 County Championship football teams, he graduated in 1979. Upon graduating from SUNY Oswego in 1983, Rob found himself back at Sachem, teaching at Sagamore Jr. High. He has coached football at the Middle school and JV levels; Wrestling at the Middle school level; and Lacrosse at the Middle school, JV, Varsity assistant, and Varsity Head Coach levels. Rob was an assistant coach to the Varsity Lacrosse program in their two State final appearances in 1993 and 1995. He taught at Sagamore, Sachem North, and Sachem East. He has also been a clinician and speaker at lacrosse clinics in various states. He credits mentors and role models like Fred Fusaro, Rick Mercurio, and Bill Batewell with aiding in his experience as a Sachem coach. Rob is proud to have coached many great players – some of them Hall of Fame inductees – and maintain a friendship with them throughout the years. He is also proud to have a hand in molding and preparing Sachem athletes for the future and the next level, whether that be JV, Varsity, or College. Rob is grateful and proud to be a part of the Fred Fusaro and Rick Mercurio coaching trees. He is thankful to have been a part of the journey of such talented athletes and coaches over the years at Sachem and is especially thankful to his brother Joe, a fellow Hall of Fame inductee, for being his biggest role model, mentor, and supporter. He is the reason for Rob’s path as a teacher and coach. Rob resides in Medford with his wife Lisa.
Andy Rodriguez was one of the best lacrosse players in Sachem history. The All-American helped lead Sachem to a state title in 1993 the same year he was Team MVP. He also played football for the Flaming Arrows. After graduating from Sachem, he spent his freshman year at UPenn where he was All-Ivy Player of the Week several times and later transferred to Syracuse, a strong move bolstered by the national championship the Orange won in 1995. He also played in two other final fours during his career. After college, he coached in West Palm Beach Florida, Newport Beach California, Port Jefferson, and Riverhead. He is currently a Section XI lacrosse official and U.S. box indoor lacrosse official. He lives in Port Jefferson with his wife Kristiana, and two boys, Kristian and Julian.
Keri Seher is one of Sachem’s best all-season runners. She is also one of Suffolk County’s best-ever cross-country runners. She is ranked in Section XI’s All-Time sub-20 minute Sunken Meadow 5K list. Keri won the 1995 XC Conference and County individual titles, led Sachem’s 1996 XC County Championship team, and was team captain in XC, Winter T&F, and Spring T&F seasons as a senior. Also at Sachem, she was part of two Winter County Champion teams (’94, ’96), four Winter League 1 Championship teams (’94-’97), and four Spring County AA and League 1 Championship teams (’94-97). This two-time New York State Champion was part of the 1995 state title spring intersectional relay team and won a title in the 1996 winter 1500 meter run. That 1500-meter race is lauded as the top race of her high school career and she received praise from coaches across the state. After Sachem it was off to the University of Maryland where she continued her dominance as one of the Terps’ top distance runners. Keri was Maryland’s top runner in the 3000 and number two-miler in her sophomore year. She was part of countless ACC championship events in the outdoor and indoor seasons, including, but not limited to, 300 meters, 5000 meters, mile, and 1,500. In Keri’s junior and senior years, Maryland enjoyed top 5 finishes in ACC T&F rankings. She graduated from Maryland in 2001 with degrees in English, English Education, and Speech Education and is currently teaching High School English at Conestoga High School in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. She is married to Andy Phillips, a 1997 Sachem grad, and they have two daughters Mia and Skyler. Her parents Kathy and Bruce and sister Jaci were her biggest supporters.
Dave Shanahan played football for the legendary Sachem coach Fred Fusaro. Dave was an All-County player his senior year. The 1987 Sachem Football Team was awarded the Rutgers Trophy to the best football team in Suffolk County. That 1987 team was loaded and had 12 student-athletes that went on to play NCAA Football and was led by a dedicated group of coaches. Dave attended C.W Post, where he played football and lacrosse and majored in Physical Education. During his playing days at C.W. Post, the 1990 team was the Liberty Conference Champions. In 1989, Dave broke the school rushing mark at that time with a record of 1,166 yards and was named First Team All-Conference. In 1990 he had the good fortune of being named team captain with high school friend and teammate Paul Englehardt. He was awarded Liberty Conference Player of the year and ECAC Player of the year. After his playing career, he coached one year as an assistant at Post and during the 1992 and 1993 seasons he coached at Stony Brook where he received his master’s. For one year he taught and coached football at Floral Park but then settled into his career at John Glenn. He has been the head football coach for 28 years and he has coached four players who were in the NFL including standout Ifeanyi Momah with the Arizona Cardinals and Trevor Coston with Chicago Bears. In 2010 John Glenn went undefeated and won the Long Island Championship and the Rutgers Trophy as the best team in Suffolk County. A year later they repeated as Long Island champs. In 2016 Dave was named Athletic Director at John Glenn after many years as a physical education teacher. He is devoted to his family. His wife Jennifer, whom he met in high school and credits for her support and sacrifices in his coaching career. He is also grateful for his children Kaitlyn, Kyle, Kristen, and Kamryn for allowing him to have time away from home to coach and teach and thankful for his mom Irene Gelardi, and stepdad John Gelardi for their years of support and encouragement. Dave’s father Adrian Shanahan who passed away in 2009 helped inspire the love of sport in his family and provided guidance throughout his life. Dave has three brothers Adrian, Patrick, and Doug, who is a fellow member of this Hall of Fame. His love of football and coaching is only superseded by his love for his family.
A three-sport athlete, Kathleen had a very successful Sachem career in soccer, basketball and volleyball. An all-league soccer player, Sachem won the 1993 soccer state championship and was ranked No. 5 in the nation. All-league in basketball, she was Sachem’s outstanding defensive player of the year in 1993. In volleyball, she helped Sachem win its first Suffolk County championship and was Team MVP in 1994. She also won a coach’s award in all three sports. Kathleen went on to a Hall of Fame career at William Patterson University where she played soccer and basketball. A four-year starter, three-time all-conference, and three-time all-region selection in soccer, she made school history by scoring the first goal for the newly formed William Patterson women’s soccer team in 1994. A four-year starter in basketball, she helped WPU to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including runs to the Sweet 16 in 1995, 1997, and 1998. She was inducted into the William Patterson Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. A pro soccer player for the New Jersey Lady Stallions from 1998 through 2004, Kathleen has also been a coach at William Patterson for many years. She was an assistant soccer coach for 23 seasons and an assistant basketball coach for three. At the scholastic level out of Wayne Valley High School in New Jersey, she has built an incredible resume in coaching boys’ volleyball, girls’ basketball and girl’s soccer: 9 county titles and 1 state title in boys’ volleyball; 7 league titles and 2 county titles in girls basketball; 5 league titles, 1 county title and 1 state championship in girls soccer; and she’s got around 500 career wins combined for all three sports. She was also the 2020 New Jersey Girls Soccer Coaches Association Coach of the Year; 2020 United Soccer Coaches State Coach of the Year for NJ Large Schools and 2021 NJ.COM Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.
Peter Spagnoli was a three-year varsity starter in football and wrestling and a two-year starter in lacrosse. He was captain for all three teams and graduated as the top male student-athlete at Sachem, winning the Richard Van Norr Award in 1978. Sachem reached one of its most successful periods during Peter’s tenure in those sports. He was All-County as a wrestler and lacrosse player and All-League in football. The football team won its first Suffolk County title and Rutgers Trophy when Peter was a senior. He also played two years of lacrosse at Suffolk County Community College and was a captain and the team’s leading scorer. Following college, Peter continued his athletic career by competing in triathlons and finding his niche for 15 years as a professional adventure racer. He has raced all around the world and has competed in over 100+ races. His Adventure Racing resume includes 7 world championships, 5x Primal Quest finisher top 10 in the world’s toughest endurance race, 10x USA adventure racing national championship with multiple top 10 finishes. He has competed in 100-plus triathlons and his resume includes 14 Ironman All-American statuses as well as numerous age group placements. Mountaineering is also one of Peter’s favorite activities, with his favorite being the Summit of the 20,000-foot Mt. Denali in Alaska, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with his brother Robert, as well as Aconcagua in Argentina at 23,000ft. He also has 50 summits of 14,000-plus feet. Peter’s career choice followed his athletic roots. He, along with his brother, became a physical therapist and has operated a successful private practice for over 30 yrs. Peter is married to his wife Jeanne for 40 years and he says he could not have achieved all of his success without her. His two children Tom and Kelly followed in his footsteps both in career choices and athletic achievements. Lastly, he says Mario, Alice, Michael, Steven, and Tommy were his inspiration.
Robert Spagnoli was an All-County wrestler and Captain on the 1978/79 Sachem Wrestling Team who won the Suffolk County Championship in 1979. He was a three-sport athlete and starting halfback/ defensive back on the 1977 and 1978 Conference Championship football teams who also won the 1977 Rutgers Trophy. Robert was also a defensive midfielder on the 1979 New York State Championship Lacrosse Team. This capped off his senior year with three championship teams. Robert continued his education at Albany where he was recruited for football and wrestling. He decided to continue his athletic career in wrestling and earned All SUNYAC Honors as a freshman. In 1983, in his senior year, Robert was an All SUNYAC wrestler and qualified for the Division III National Championships in Wheaton, Illinois. He went on to become an All-American Wrestler, one of the first in Sachem history and helped Albany place seventh in the nation in team scoring. Robert was awarded the 1983 Scholar-Athlete Award at Albany. He continued his education at Upstate Medical Center and earned his Physical Therapy Degree in 1985, graduating with High Honors, and went on to complete his Master of Science Degree in Health Science at Stony Brook. He and his brother Peter opened their first physical therapy office, Spagnoli Physical Therapy, in 1994 and expanded to six offices from Centereach to Montauk. Robert continued his studies and earned two advanced manual therapy certifications making Spagnoli Physical Therapy one of the top physical therapy practices in Suffolk County. Robert was also a clinical instructor in the Stony Brook Physical Therapy Program for 10 years and taught advanced continuing education courses in manual therapy nationally for over fifteen years. Robert, along with his brother Peter as you previously heard, have continued their athleticism off the field summiting Mt Ranier (14,411 ft), Mt Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft), and Mt McKinley (20,320 ft). They have also done multiple triathlons and adventure races together and continue to do so. Robert has been married to his wife Susan for 36 years, who is also a physical therapist. They have three wonderful children, Jessica, Matthew, and Heather, and three grandchildren. Robert would also like to thank all of his amazing teammates and coaches. Special thanks to his coaches Fred Fusaro, Bill Batewell, Jack Mahoney, and Blayney McEneaney who mentored and guided him throughout the years as an athlete and as a friend and were truly phenomenal coaches. Robert, the youngest of five Spagnoli boys, was inspired by his four older brothers and his mother Alice, and father Mario who were devoted fans of the Red, Black, and Gold!
Mike Stanek began his Sachem teaching career in 1976 and taught math for 30 years before retiring in 2006. In 1982 he started the Sachem bowling team and coached for 33 years, even after his retirement. Sadly, Mike passed away in March 2022 at the age of 72. His wife Sharon and children Kerri and Chris are here today. His 335-111 record and .751 winning percentage are some of the best bowling coaching numbers in Suffolk County history. His teams won 17 league championships, five conference titles, six Suffolk County titles, and three New York State championships. He was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year in 1996. He coached countless All-County and All-State bowlers and was also vice president of the Suffolk County Bowling Coaches Association for 10 years. Mike coached Sachem golf and was the varsity assistant at Sachem North before being the first golf coach at Sachem East from 2004-2008. His teams were 44-12 with a .786 winning percentage and in his last season, Sachem East was 14-0 and won a league title. Mike was more than a coach. He was a mentor, a role model, and a friend to his student-athletes.
The four-year varsity soccer star helped the Flaming Arrows reach the Suffolk County finals as a freshman at Sachem North and as a sophomore, she transitioned to Sachem East, a new school at the time, and was on their first varsity girls’ soccer team. A three-time captain, by the time she was a senior the Arrows won a county and Long Island title and made it to the New York State semifinals. They finished with a 20-1 record and Tiffany had 14 goals and 13 assists, while also scoring the game-winning goal in the Long Island championship. Her success as a senior was underscored by her All-State selection and All-American nomination, two of the first distinctions earned by a Sachem East student-athlete at the time. She was also the Suffolk County Girls Soccer Player of the Year. At Division I Hofstra University she started all 85 games in her career and was a captain as a junior and senior. As a senior in 2010, she was named Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, the first time a Hofstra player earned this honor. She was also an All-American and just the third player in Hofstra women’s soccer history to garner this distinction. Hofstra was 19-3 and Tiffany scored the game-winning goal against UConn to advance Hofstra to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Aside from being First Team All CAA three times, and the first four-time All-Region selection at Hofstra, she was the first Hofstra student-athlete to earn a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. In September 2011 Tiffany had her number 19 jersey retired by the Pride. She is one of 25 players in school history and just the second in women’s soccer to earn that. Tiffany played her club ball with the Olympic Development Program where she won a National Championship. She was ODP all-state three times. Today Tiffany is a third-grade teacher in the Longwood School District and has coached girls’ travel teams at Longwood and William Floyd for the last seven years. She lives in Nesconset with her husband Spiros and children, Nick and Eliana.
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