9 Inducted Into Suffolk Sports Hall Of Fame's Class Of 2021

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame announced its class of 2021 — with nine local athletes and coaches making the list.

The inductees were chosen through a vote by the organization's selection committee.

“There’s no greater honor than inducting these talented and influential people," Chris R. Vaccaro, Executive Director of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, said. “From the pros to high school we have a diverse class of individuals who left their mark on the local and national sports landscape.”

The Class of 2021 inductees includes:

• Karen Ferguson-Dayes, women’s soccer coach at the University of Louisville and former U.S. Women’s National Team player, who played at Sachem.
• Jason Fraser, Amityville High School and Villanova University basketball star who also coached with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA.
• Randy Givens, Amityville High and Florida State University track star who is an Olympian and an NCAA champion.
• Tony Guido, Rocky Point native, All-American and All-Ivy lacrosse player at Yale University.
• Val James, Hauppauge native who became the first black American in the NHL, playing for the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Rohan Murphy, East Islip native, decorated wrestler in high school and at Penn State, record-setting American Paralympian and motivational speaker.
• John Paci, Huntington native who was an All-Big Ten quarterback at Indiana and played for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins.
• Joe Reilly, Longwood School District track and field coach and one of the winningest coaches in New York State history.
• Don Webster, former Executive Director of Section XI and athletic director at Longwood School District and Ward Melville.

Since the class of 2020 induction ceremony was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, both classes will be honored at an event this spring. The ceremony is tentatively scheduled for May 12, and likely going to be held virtually.

"The health and safety of our inductees and their friends and family is our top priority," Vaccaro said. "We will not postpone the ceremony for another year and will likely have something virtual in the spring. It’s not ideal, but it’s important that we honor these deserving individuals in a timely manner, while staying safe."