Hendrick Hudson Athletics Announces its 2014 Hall of Fame Class
On Friday, October 17, 2014, the Hendrick Hudson Hall of Fame Committee will induct its Class of 2014 into the Hen Hud Athletic Hall of Fame. In the ninth annual banquet, the inductees will celebrate their enshrinement at the Hollowbrook Country Club at 7:00 pm. Hall of Fame weekend at Hen Hud is always one of the annual highlights for homecoming weekend. The inductees are also presented to the community at halftime of the homecoming football game on Saturday, October 18. The game begins at 5:00 pm with the Sailors taking on Byram Hills. The halftime Hall of Fame celebration will be emceed by WHUD radio personality, and Hen Hud alum, Kacey Morabito.
Hen Hud Hall of Fame Chairperson, Will Mauro, Hendrick Hudson Class of 1991, is proud to be a part of the Hall of Fame committee, “Hen Hud Hall of Fame Committee is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond of our past athletes with the present and future student-athletes.” Hall of Fame weekend has become a staple of the annual homecoming weekend. Athletic Tom Baker is proud of the accomplishments as well when he commented, “Hall of Fame Day here at Hen Hud is always one of the most rewarding days of the year. I thoroughly enjoy seeing some of our past athletes return with such pride. Our current athletes are always very intrigued by the inductees, and some wonderful connections have been established with this committee. The entire Hen Hud Hall of Fame committee is a group of dedicated alumni, and community members, that deliver such a great experience for all of Hen Hud.”
This year’s inductees are:
1976-77 Boys Basketball Team
Coach Joe Ruyack and the 1976-77 Boys Basketball Team finished the Regular Season with an undefeated league record of 12-0 and an overall record of 16-2. The Sailors were led by four All-League standouts in Ray Glashoff, Glenn Price, Ed Rial and Bob Wheeler and Honorable Mention All-League big man Mike Hermann.
The Sailor team wound up winning 19 consecutive games before losing in the Class B Sectional Final at the Westchester County Center. The Sailors had four players average between 12 and 14 points per game and in league play, they averaged 77 points per game and held their opponents to only 51 points per game. At the time, the team had scored the most points in Sailor history for regular season games and in an overall season with 1620.
Richard McHale
Class of 1989
A three-year Varsity wrestler, Rich McHale guided his team to 2 consecutive League titles as Captain and was named All-Section and All-League both his junior and senior seasons for the Sailors. McHale was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 1988 Divisional Tournament where he was also crowned Champion in 1989, as well as being a two-time finalist at the Section One State Qualifying Tournament in both those years. A Con Ed Award Winner, Rich won Individual Tournament titles at the prestigious Super 16, O’Connell Invitational, Ardsley and numerous others while being a finalist in every tournament attended his junior and senior year. With over 70 career wins, Rich earned Most Improved, Most Dedicated and twice Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades which only a select few have ever attained.
A three-sport standout, Rich was as “tough as nails” on the gridiron and lacrosse field as he was on the wrestling mat. In football, Rich played tight end and outside linebacker on the Varsity as a junior and senior leading the Sailors to a bowl game appearance in his senior year. McHale earned the Most Improved Rookie Award, as well as Mr. Hustle during his Varsity tenure and was selected All-League Honorable Mention. Rich also played lacrosse in his senior year.
Brian Kuritzky
Class of 2004
A dominant midfielder, Brian Kuritzky led his Sailor soccer squad to the New York State Final Four in his senior season. A First Team, All-New York State recipient, Kuritzky was also a Con Ed Award Winner and was named All-Section and All-League for his junior and senior seasons.
A fierce competitor, and an outstanding leader, he led the Sailors to two straight Section 1, Class B Finals, capturing the title during his senior year, when the Sailors beat a dominant Our Lady of Lourdes team. Brian continued the run, by leading the team to a NYS Regional Championship over Owego, and a berth in the Final Four.
The 2003 North County News Player of the Year, Kuritzky culminated his career with four varsity letters in Boys Soccer, and scoring 24 goals, with 23 assists in the magical 2003 season. One of the finest midfielders in the history of Hen Hud soccer, Brian’s recognition as one of the top 11 players in the state was well deserved.
Brian also was a varsity wrestler and received 2 letters in that capacity.
Sara Yakin
Class of 2004
The greatest skier ever to come out of Hendrick Hudson, Sara Yakin was crowned the 2004 New York State Skimeister, the only New York State Skimeister from Hendrick Hudson or Section One. A five-year varsity skier, Yakin was named All-Section and All-League all five years. She was the Ski Team’s Captain and MVP from 2001 to 2004. She was named to the New York State Ski Team in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Sara was crowned the Section One Skimeister her senior season and competed in the Eastern High School Championships. Sara competed in the New York State meet every year. In her junior campaign, she finished 5th in the Slalom and 9th in the Giant Slalom and in her senior season, she captured the gold in the Slalom, Giant Slalom and Combined, winning her the Skimeister title.
Sara was a Con Ed Award winner, the 2004 Journal News Athlete of the Season Award winner, the Sally Davis Scholar Athlete Award winner, Hendrick Hudson Scholastic and Athletic Achievement Award winner and the Peekskill Rotary Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete Award winner. Yakin also competed in the 2004 New York Empire State Games.
Dina Bertoline
Class of 2003
One of the pioneers for the Hendrick Hudson Girls Volleyball program, Dina Bertoline was named Journal News and North County News Player of the Year during her senior campaign for the Sailors. A two year captain, Dina was a Con Ed Award Winner and was named All-Section and All-League for three seasons. She was also named to the New York State Team her junior and senior campaigns. Bertoline’s teams won the Section One title three years in a row from 2000 to 2002 and made the New York State Final Four in 2001 – the first Sailor Volleyball team to win Sectionals and Regionals and play in the New York State Tournament.
Dina tallied 1203 assists, 98 service points and 110 aces over her stellar high school career as a setter for the Sailors. She was named the Peekskill Rotary Club Outstanding Graduating Female Athlete Award winner in 2003.
Dina was also a standout basketball player for the Sailors, playing varsity for three years.
Joan Staten
Class of 1988
Joan Staten was a three-sport athlete that excelled in all three sports. She played Tennis, Basketball and Softball. She played on the varsity in all three sports as a freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior. In the fall seasons, she played tennis, receiving All-County honors in her senior season. In the spring season, Joan played softball. She was named All-County and All-League in her junior and senior campaigns.
The winter season was where Joan really excelled. Joan was a phenomenal basketball player. Joan was an All-County and All-League performer in her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. In four years of Sailor Basketball, Joan scored a total of 1,054 points, only the third girl and only the fourth Hendrick Hudson Athlete to score over 1,000 points in basketball for the Sailors.
Joan, was one of the best three-sport athletes ever to attend Hendrick Hudson High School.
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