2017 WLonRg EIslaSnTd &L BIeyNonGd HOF Executive Director, Lee Roy Smith is pictured in front of the newly refurbished National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum. The complete story of the project can be found on page 16 Law Offices of DERGARABEDIAN, DILLON, NATHAN, MARINO & RODRIGUEZ (Nassau and Suffolk Locations) 11 Clinton Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY • (516) 766-1619 200 Broadhollow Road, Suite 207, Melville, NY • (631) 390-8320 dergarabediandillon.com Personal Injury • Criminal Defense Vehicle and Traffic Matters Immigration • Family Law Available 24 hours a day Long Island Wrestling 2017 Published By : Meet the class of 2017 inductees into The National Wrestling Hall The Friends of Long Island Wrestling of Fame 775 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, NY 11793 • (516) 804-8676 Discover The “Bronx Bull” of www.friendsoflongislandwrestling.com • www.foliw.com wrestling Editorial Staff Read the story of a hero of the Executive Editor Jerry Seckler Layouts Bill Brennen “Perfect Storm” Deputy Editor Pascal Perri Jerry Seckler Copy Editor Roger Bogsted Staff Photographer Pete Venier Dan Gable comes to Long Island Design Director Bill Brennen Advertising Jerry Seckler for the 2016 golf outing & book signing Officers: Jerry Seckler, President Jack Friedman, Of Counsel 2017 High school wrestling Pascal Perri, Vice President Pete Venier, Comptroller preview by THE MAT SLAP Board of Directors: The 2016 “Pascal Perri Cup” Richard Appelbaum Bill Crum Dennis Dunne BA Schoen winning team Hilary Becker Mike Davey Nick Gallo Paul Schmidt Roger Bogsted Michael The Bethpage Credit Union and Louis Giani Roy Scott Bill Brennen Der Garabedian Mark Piven Scolarship winners Howard Greenblatt Frank Seckler Paul Brodmerkel Bill DeSario David Ironman Joe Settineri Richard Bury Ted DePasquale Check out the previews of many Robert Bury Reggie Jones, Jr. Noel Thompson college teams George Dlugolonski Larry Cantor Chris Messina William Zagarino Neil Duncan Pete Cimino Kevin Murphy Nassau & Suffolk 2016 High School Champions Our Mission Statement •To foster and promote public awareness and OUR SPONSORS : appreciation of amateur wrestling •To support active ongoing amateur wrestling ASICS /TW Promotions programs in our schools and youth organizations Thompson Global LP •To develop new programs and activities as necessary Bethpage Federal Credit Union •To assist in the marketing of our sport on a local Law Offices of DerGarabedian, and national level Dillon, Nathan, Marino & •To preserve and promote the history of amateur Rodriguez wrestling in the local community and on a We are saddend by the loss of our friend national basis and Board Member, Nathel & Nathel •To foster and promote a positive community Fred Holle.He was a identity for the programs of amateur wrestling valued member of The David Potruck that are active in our region Friends of Long Island Chairman, HIGHTOWER Wrestling Merrick Dodge Chrysler • Jeep Of Wantagh 1 Excerpts from a few of the many letters we have received over the past few months. We appreciate your comments. FOLIW As expected, your fine group of volunteers pulled off Just wanted to thank you all again for helping my son, another amazing Hall of Fame banquet (2016). I am not Ricky Stamm, with the scholarship. It was an honor sure how you seem to make each year's dinner better that neither he, nor my wife and I will forget. than the last, especially because they all are so good and Brian Stamm filled with a memorable evening for all that attend. It is an amazing and magical night for many. Each person in attendance can personally experience a night that exemplifies the power of the sport of wrestling and Dear Jerry, the so many different dimensions it allows us as Now that we're all back home in Virginia and North humans to experience and enjoy for the rest of our lives. Carolina, I wanted to take a moment to thank you and The words "friendship" and "wrestling" come together so your staff for all of the time and energy that went into well on a night to honor more great leaders in our sport. putting on the Hall of Fame dinner last Friday night . You have chosen your title so masterfully and well, It was terrific, and while we had some personally sad "Friends Of Long Island Wrestling". How well this defines moments, our family mostly reveled in the awesome your (our) organization. stories shared by the many men who attended. Most Congratulations again on a terrific evening and thank of them wrestled for our dad - Bob Hartman - over 40 you from the thousands of Long Island wrestlers that years ago. One fellow even flew in from California! appreciate your dedication to our sport. Your sacrifice You never know how important a great coach might to our great sport does not go unnoticed. have been until you hear it from the kids he guided and advised, coached, and loved. Thanks for giving Cordially, us the opportunity to hear some of those stories. It Nick Gallo did our hearts good. Class of 2000 I thank you also for your patience with us in getting you pictures, articles, and artifacts related to Dad's wrestling career. We never imagined we could lose both Dear Jerry Seckler and to all who put together the parents in a seven-week time span. We did our best on Wrestling Hall of Fame Dinner, all accounts. Again, we thank you for all of your efforts. They are I want to thank you from my family and myself for the SO appreciated. beautiful evening on April 29th. It was such a happy Sincerely, evening and from our view, a perfect celebration. Judy Hartman Brown You handled all the details from many years of Holly Hartman Flynn experience. We appreciate all your efforts. Robert Stephen Hartman Jr My husband had to retrace his wrestling experiences over a 38 year period. Some of the pictures and stories were stored in closets and had to be dug out after many Dear Mr. Seckler years. They brought back so many memories. The nice On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Nassau part, friends made through those wrestling years were Community College Foundation, please accept my back in touch with him once again. At his now 81 years, sincere thanks for your generous support of there were many friends that are no longer here, and $2,000.00 for our event. would have been so much fun to share the experience with. Sincerely, Joy DeDonato, MS With sincere appreciation, Ex. Director, Nassau Community College Foundation Carolyn and Jerry Harrell 2 2016 Annual Hall of Fame Dinner Downstate NY Chapter Each year, The ceremony begins with the presentation of the Colors and the singing of the National Anthem Guest Host, Tim Flynn, Edinboro State University Head Wrestling Krista Graff, representing The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Coach and Division I “Wrestling Coach of the Year” in 2014 greeting the crowd of over 500 guests Krista and Tim present Bill Davey his plaque and jacket Krista and Tim present Laura and Tom Maddock with their plaques and jackets 3 Annual Golf Outing Big Hit With Dan Gable June 28th, The Friends of Long Island Wrestling— teed up at the gathering about leadership and the need for all of us to support wrestling. Windwatch Golf and Country Club, Hauppauge, N.Y. for a day of Before the day was over, another old friend and ardent supporter reunion,competition, fun and primarily to support the great sport of of amateur wrestling, Billy Baldwin, of movie and television fame, wrestling. Our guest host for the day was none other than U.S.A. dropped by to say, “Hello”! Billy spent time visiting and shaking hands Wrestling’s most famous Icon- Dan Gable. with the group. It was a busy couple of days for Dan and a great time for our sport. On At last year’s Golf outing, Larry Owings, was a surprise visitor, who jour - the 27th of June. Dan appeared on television on “Good Day, New York”, neyed all the way from Oregon to play golf with us. At a Friends of Long then onto an interview on “Talks with Google”, which goes online world - Island golf outing, there is always a “notable” who pops in to visit. wide. That evening, Dan appeared at “The BookReview”, Huntington, Long The event was a special day for all who participated, with Nick Gallo’s Island, before a large and enthusiastic audience for a book signing event. team (son Lucas, Ricky Scott and John Cummings) winning the team On the following day, June 28th, Dan appeared at the Friends of Long championship. Island Golf Outing where he personally autographed books for the many This golf event is important to our yearly program. It is our only fundraiser players and guests. and we need participation to be successful. It is a rewarding day for Dan chatted with the players, personally autographed more everyone attending- it is a great way to support our sport. than 100 copies of his book, “A Wrestling Life”, and addressed the SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday June 27, 2017 at the Windwatch Country Club Be A Player • Come To Lunch • Come To Dinner • Buy A Tee Sign Become A Sponsor • Make A Donation 4 Friends of Long Island Wrestling And Beyond COME JOIN US AT OUR 14th Annual Golf Outing THIS EVENT IS OUR MAJOR FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR. THE GOLF OUTING IS A.N IDEAL TIME TO STEP UP AND ASSIST THE FRIENDS OF LONG ISLAND WRESTLING IN OUR MISSION TO SUPPORT WRESTLING PLAY GOLF Fourome $ 900 Single $ 225 TEE-SIGN $ 100 GREEN SIGN $ 150 COME TO DINNER ONLY $ 100 DONATION (Any Amount Appreciated) BECOME A SPONSOR Breakfast $ 500 Lunch $ 1000 Dinner $ 2000 DATE Tuesday, June 27, 2017 PLACE : Windwatch Golf Country Club 1713 Motor Parkway Hauppauge, NY 11788-5217 PHONE: (631) 232-9850 A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT WRESTLING Billy Baldwin talking with Dennis Papadatos, Head Wrestling Coach Save The Date!! of Hofstra University 5 Supermen are all the rage these forward like a caricature of a blind wrestlers, making his way to the days.