The CHSAA hosted its 33rd annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony and golf outing May 10 at the Inwood Country Club. This year’s class was made up of seven deserving inductees who dedicated their lives to the local sports scene.
John Brennan
John Brennan turned to playing tennis after his skills in baseball and basketball did not translate into college at St. John’s University, Jamaica. He played two seasons on the St. John’s team.
Upon graduation, he moved out west to Los Angeles to begin a career as a tennis instructor. However, he was diagnosed with oral cancer and returned home to New York. After major surgery and radiation therapy, he went back to Los Angeles to continue his tennis career.
Later, Brennan was back in New York as the junior varsity boys’ tennis coach at St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows. He soon ascended to the varsity level, and in 1988, he took over the girls’ program as well.
His boys’ teams have won 10 city championships, and his girls’ teams have won 20 straight league championships, 18 state championships and 12 Mayor’s Cup championships. From 1998-2010, the girls posted 205 consecutive victories.
He is the first tennis honoree to be inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame.
Vinny Leonardo
Vinny Leonardo became the bowling coach at Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, in 1993 after running the youth bowling programs in Howard Beach since 1980.
In 25 seasons, his teams have won a combined 21 city championships and 25 Brooklyn-Queens championships on the varsity and junior varsity level.
He was named the varsity and junior varsity handball coach at Molloy in 1996. His handball teams have won three city championships.
Leonardo became the chairperson of both the CHSAA bowling and handball leagues in 2012. He also recently started a diabetes support group for the students at Molloy.
Alan Wharton
Since 1967, Alan Wharton has officiated soccer, basketball, softball, baseball and even World Team Tennis matches. He created and became president of the New York City Soccer Officials Association.
As part of his duties, he has trained more than 1,200 officials, many of whom have gone on to become top high school and college officiators.
Since 1970, Wharton has been assigning officials in the five boroughs for over 400 teams. He has been assigning for the CHSAA for more than 35 years.
Maurice Hicks
Maurice Hicks played basketball at Rice H.S., Manhattan, in the 1980s and finished his career as the third leading scorer in school history at 18.0 pts. per game over a three-year period.
After graduating from Loyola University, Baltimore, Md., he began coaching boys’ hoops at Brandeis H.S., Manhattan, where he led the school to their first and only Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) championship.
He then coached for 16 years at his high school alma mater Rice. He compiled a 402-86 record and five state federation championships – making him the only coach in New York City to win a championship in both the PSAL and CHSAA.
Hicks is a member of the Loyola University Basketball Hall of Fame.
Mary Scott (posthumously)
Mary Scott’s husband was Jim Scott, who became head track coach at Xavier H.S., Manhattan, in 1957. Jim soon moved to Fordham Prep, the Bronx, as head track coach.
Mary aided Jim in his coaching duties. In the mid-1960s, Jim became league director, and Mary was there to assist him fully each step of the way. As CHSAA sectional chair and co-founder of the N.Y. Relays, Jim leaned on Mary – a mother of five – constantly.
Mary brought order, organization and love to one of the nation’s strongest track and field leagues at the time. Even after Jim retired, she was still a presence at countless meets.
Known as “Mary, Queen of Scott’s,” she became the first woman to be inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame (separate from the GCHSAA Hall of Fame).
Jim Hughes
Jim Hughes graduated from Moore Catholic H.S., Staten Island, in 1975. In the spring of 1977, he began coaching CYO track and field at the Parish of St. Clare, Staten Island.
That same year, he began coaching track and field and cross-country at Moore Catholic. In 1982, his boys’ team won the Staten Island outdoor track and field championship meet. In 2001, the school won the Marty Glickman Award.
Hughes is a past president of the Staten Island High School Track and Field Association and has also served as vice president, secretary and treasurer.
Brother Bill Sherlog, C.F.C.
Brother Bill Sherlog fell in love with baseball at an early age. After graduating from Bergen Catholic H.S., N.J., he began teaching and coaching baseball at Iona Grammar School, New Rochelle, N.Y.
He then coached track and baseball at Cardinal Hayes H.S., the Bronx. He later taught, served as athletic director and coached baseball at Rice.
He currently is the moderator of athletics and assistant varsity baseball coach at Cardinal Hayes.
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.