Legendary Athletes, Coaches Named to New C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame

C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees: Back row from left: Ronald Stonitsch, John Mohring, John Zureck, Richard Scheinblum, and Dominick Anile; Seated from left: Darlene Crowe, Jim Davey, Albert Venturino, Tom Postel, Patricia Lamb Kennedy, and Patrice Walker; not pictured: Michael Brandeis, Richard Duffy, and Michael Schirmacher.

July 13, 2005 – Brookville, N.Y. – From Major League All-Star Richie Scheinblum, who used to sneak out of the C.W. Post dugout to compete in track events wearing his baseball uniform, to Patrice Walker, who holds the all-time basketball scoring record for both men and women, to beloved equipment manager Al Venturino – more than a dozen of the brightest stars in C.W. Post sports history were inducted into the new Athletic Hall of Fame in a ceremony on June 25, 2005.

The founding of the Hall coincided with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

The 14 inductees were honored at a dinner ceremony at Antun’s Old Country Manor on Old Country Road in Hicksville on Saturday, June 25, 2005. The Hall itself will be a commemorative wall located inside the Pratt Recreation Center on the C.W. Post Campus.

"It's important to honor your history and recognize the people who have been an integral part of the development of the Athletic Department," said C.W. Post Athletic Director Vin Salamone, Class of 1963.

Halls of fame already exist at C.W. Post for baseball, football and track and field. But the new Hall will cover all 17 of C.W. Post's varsity men's and women's sports programs and induct about 10 new members each year, Salamone said.

Scheinblum played in the 1972 Major League All-Star Game with Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan and many more baseball greats. As a three-sport athlete at C.W. Post, he sometimes left the baseball diamond to compete in track events scheduled at the same time.

Walker, today the coach of the C.W. Post Lady Pioneers basketball team, holds many school records including career points – 2,051, more than any player, male or female, in school history.

Venturino served as equipment manager for C.W. Post athletics from 1961 to 1991 -- a behind-the-scenes most valuable player and an essential member of the Athletic Department.

(Biographies of all inductees follow.)

For information call the Athletic Department at (516) 299-2376.

C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductees - June 25, 2005

The C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed significantly to C.W. Post’s athletic program. Persons may be recognized for their contributions as individual athletes, as members of a team, or for other unique contributions.

Individuals or teams are eligible for nomination if they have been named “All America,” have won an NCAA national championship, set a world record, led the nation in a recognized statistical category, succeeded as a professional athlete, participated in the Olympic games or otherwise distinguished themselves and the campus through athletic achievement. C.W. Post alumni, coaches, administrators and staff are eligible for consideration.

The inductees are chosen by a selection committee of at least eight members who include C.W. Post coaches, alumni and Athletic Department staff.

Dominick Anile – Football, 1969-79
Dom Anile elevated C.W. Post’s football program to national caliber and is one of the winningest coaches in Division II history, having compiled a record of 84-34-1. He also coached Pioneer baseball from 1962 through 1968. After coaching at C.W. Post, he served for three years as offensive coordinator for Columbia University, then began a career in the NFL, holding player evaluation positions with the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers. He is currently director of football operations for the Indianapolis Colts. Mr. Anile and his wife, Carol, live in Indianapolis, Indiana and Henderson, Nevada.

Michael Brandeis – Basketball, 1960-64
Mike Brandeis holds the C.W. Post records for field goals (614) and scoring average (20.1). His career scoring record of 1,589 points stood for 35 years. He set these marks at a time when there was no 3-point shot or shot clock. Mr. Brandeis went on to a career as a special education teacher in New York City and retired last year. He has made his home in Hewlett but plans to move to California. Mr. Brandeis and his wife, Barbara, have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Darlene Crowe – Softball, 1978-81
Darlene Crowe was a dominating pitcher who led the Pioneers to the national championship game in 1981. She holds school records in career winning percentage (.792, 61-16); career earned run average (0.91); career shutouts (32); single season ERA (0.32 in 1981); and single season strikeouts (217 in 1981). After graduating from C.W. Post, Ms. Crowe coached softball at St. Francis University. She is currently the director of athletics and chair of the Health and Physical Education Department at Staten Island Academy.

Jim Davey – Wrestling, 1954-87
One of the original coaches at C.W. Post, Jim Davey coached football, soccer and baseball but is best known for his leadership of the wrestling team. He produced some of C.W. Post’s first national-caliber athletes. Mr. Davey was also a physical education teacher and served as acting athletic director for a year. Now retired, he lives with his wife, Jane, in Ocean Pines, Maryland. They have six grown children, 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Richard Duffy – Wrestling, 1961-63
Rich Duffy concluded his Pioneer career as perhaps the finest wrestler in school history, losing just once during his three seasons of competition. He earned a trio of consecutive titles in the 157-pound weight class at the Metropolitan Championships, and closed out his career in impressive fashion by pinning each of his opponents in his senior year. Mr. Duffy and his wife, Bonnie, live in Kauai, Hawaii and have two children.

Patricia Lamb Kennedy – Basketball, 1975-80; Field Hockey, 1975-77
Patricia Lamb Kennedy was the women’s athletic director at the founding of C.W. Post’s women’s sports programs. As basketball coach, her teams went 96-54, and her 1977 field hockey team holds the school record for fewest goals allowed in a season (12) and most scored in a game (13). Today, she is the assistant director of admissions at SUNY Maritime College. She has promoted women’s sports through the NCAA and other organizations, and has completed four marathons. She lives in Garden City and has five children.

John Mohring – Football, 1975-78
John Mohring was an All-American and holds the school records for career sacks (56), season tackles (135 in 1977) and career tackles (439). He played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. He went on to own a landscaping business in Locust Valley for 20 years before moving to Naples, Florida, where he lives with his wife, Trisha. They have three grown children.

Thomas Postel – Lacrosse player 1963-65, coach 1986-present
Tom Postel’s name is synonymous with C.W. Post men’s lacrosse. As a player, he set the school records for career points (269), goals (144) and assists (125) and single season points (96 in 1963 and 1965) and goals (60 in 1963). He went on to play and coach for world champion U.S. National teams. Mr. Postel has been the men’s lacrosse coach at C.W. Post since 1986. He led the Pioneers to a national championship in 1996. He is a member of the National Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. Mr. Postel and his wife, Sue, live in Medford.

Richard Scheinblum – Baseball, Basketball, Track 1961-64
Richie Scheinblum holds the C.W. Post records in career triples (12) and batting average (.395) and is tied with two others for the single-season triples record (5). He hit .415 in 1964. A three-sport athlete, Mr. Scheinblum sometimes sneaked away during baseball games to compete in track events – in his baseball uniform. He went on to play a nine-year career in Major League Baseball that included an appearance in the 1972 All-Star Game, which also featured stars such as Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan and many more baseball greats. After his playing days, Mr. Scheinblum became a businessman. He lives today in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Michael Schirmacher – Soccer 1961-63
Mike Schirmacher was the first of a number of standout performers who graced the Pioneer soccer field, leading the 1961 squad to the AALIC title, as well as its first NCAA berth ever. That season, he established a new school record by scoring 17 goals. He then closed out a remarkable career two years later by elevating that season benchmark with a 19-goal effort. The latter mark would stand for the next three decades. Mr. Schirmacher also tied the single-game scoring record with five goals and, at the conclusion of his collegiate career, held the school record for scoring. He was also an outstanding track and field athlete.

Ronald Stonitsch – Track, Cross Country 1967-71
An eight-time All-American and three-time national champion, Ron Stonitsch also ran a leg on the record-setting 4X800 relay team in 1970 and holds the Penn Relays 2 mile record (8:38). He also holds the third-fastest cross-country time in C.W. Post history at Van Cortland Park (24:41.) Mr. Stonitsch has been head coach of the Vassar College men’s and women’s cross country teams since 1982. He is also a human resources consultant/employer services representative for the New York State Department of Labor and has worked for the department since 1976. He lives in New Paltz with his wife, Barbara. They have two grown children.

Albert Venturino – Equipment Manager, 1961-91
Al Venturino was a father figure to C.W. Post athletes for three decades - a behind-the-scenes most valuable player and an essential member of the Athletic Department. He looked after the athletes and the programs in the finest tradition of sportsmanship and excellence. Mr. Venturino lives in Glen Cove with his wife, Rose. They have four grown children, all of whom attended C.W. Post, and 10 grandchildren.

Patrice Walker – Basketball player 1977-81, coach 1990-present
Patrice Walker holds the C.W. Post career scoring record – for men and women – of 2,051 points. She holds the single-season records for points (666), field goals (225), free throws (156), free throws attempted (199), scoring average (21.1), rebounding average (14), field goal percentage (.588) and steals (144), and she is one of just two players in school history to have grabbed more than 1,000 rebounds. Patrice has served as the head coach of C.W. Post women’s basketball since 1990 and has been named the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times. She lives in Valley Stream with her 3-year-old nephew, TyQuann Walker.

John Zureck – Football 1959-62, Basketball 1959-63, Golf 1960-63
John Zureck was a four-year starter in all his sports and a member of the Pioneers Football Hall of Fame. After graduation, he signed with the New York Giants. He has also been president of the Pioneer Club and an outstanding supporter of C.W. Post athletics. Mr. Zureck went on to become a partner in the accounting firm of Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Co., P.C. He and his wife, Kari Zureck, are the parents of three children and live in Commack.