The CHSAA held its annual Hall of Fame induction golf outing and dinner on May 18 at the Inwood Country Club on Long Island.
A group of 10 inductees joined the ranks of dedicated former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials who have dedicated their lives to Catholic high school sports in the New York City area.
Meet this year’s class.
Sal Fischetti
A 1983 graduate of St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, Fischetti began teaching full time at his high school alma mater in 1987 in the Physical Education Department. He then coached girls’ varsity basketball from 1989-1996 and was named Coach of the Year in 1995 when his team won the New York State Class ‘B’ Federation championship.
He was appointed chairperson of the Physical Education Department in 1991 and by 1998 he assumed the additional role as athletic director. He now serves on a number of local sports committees and continues to be the tennis chairperson for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, L.I.
After nearly four decades at St. Francis Prep, Fischetti says that he’s “been blessed to work in a community with so many people that he admires and respects.”
Nick Melito
Nick Melito’s athletic endeavors began as a Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) basketball and baseball player for St. Mary Winfield, Woodside. He then attended Msgr. McClancy H.S., East Elmhurst, where he earned All-Diocesan honors in both sports.
After a successful baseball career at New York Tech as a pitcher, he broke into coaching baseball at Christ the King H.S., Middle Village. In 2000 Melito returned to McClancy, where his varsity teams made the playoffs 17 years in a row. He was named Coach of the Year in 2003.
Melito is also a member of the McClancy Hall of Fame, New York Tech Hall of Fame, and the CYO Hall of Fame.
Ron Winchester
A lifelong New Yorker and product of Catholic schools — including Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ozone Park — Ron Winchester has been a football official for 47 years. He has been the president, treasurer, and a board member for the Long Island Association of Football Officials.
Winchester now holds the distinction of being the first football official to be inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame.
Chris Beal
Chris Beal began his career in Catholic athletics at Salesian H.S., New Rochelle, N.Y., in 2003. He was the head varsity boys’ basketball coach and led the team to the CHSAA ‘B’ city championship. He soon moved into an administrative role as athletic director.
In 2007, he created the school’s Hall of Fame, which includes former Olympians and professional athletes among its ranks. He also negotiated a sponsorship agreement with Under Armour and spearheaded the building of the school’s athletic center. He became the NYC CHSAA treasurer in 2015.
Frank Conroy
Frank Conroy ran track at Iona Prep, New Rochelle, N.Y., and began his teaching career there in 1980. He then coached basketball at Salesian before coaching stops at the College of Mount St. Vincent, St. Thomas Aquinas College, Greenwich H.S., and St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, as a full-time assistant.
Conroy returned to Iona Prep where he started the Varsity ‘B’ team in 1995 and continues to coach it today. His teams won the CHSAA championship in 1999, 2008, 2020, and 2022. He is also a member of the Salesian and Iona Prep Halls of Fame.
William Hackshaw
William Hackshaw was a member of the 1984 cross-country city championship team at Mount St. Michael Academy, the Bronx. He also ran on the 1985 distance medley relay team at the prestigious Penn Relays.
After running at C.W. Post, he coached at the Mount from 1992-2010. During that time, his teams won five CHSAA city championships. He then coached at Cardinal Spellman H.S., the Bronx, for four years and later LaSalle Academy, Manhattan, where he’s captured the past two CHSAA city championships.
Anthony Garofalo
Anthony Garofalo was a standout student-athlete at Msgr. Farrell H.S., Staten Island, in football and track and field. After graduating in 1989, he returned as an assistant football coach. He has held many roles over the past 29 years, including his current role as athletic director.
During his tenure, he coached track and field, freshman football, and varsity football. He amassed a 35-26 record as varsity football coach in seven seasons and reached the 2021 CHSFL ‘AAA’ championship game. He currently serves on the CHSFL’s executive committee.
Bob Malandro
For 30 years, Bob Malandro’s name has been synonymous with the Holy Trinity H.S., Hicksville, L.I., varsity baseball program. He coached the team for more than 30 years, in addition to his work as a police officer in both New York City and Nassau County.
He guided his teams to a career 428-259 record to go along with five Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA championships: 1997, 1998, 2003, 2010, and 2012. He was named Coach of the Year six different times, Nassau County Coach of the Year in 2010, and New York State Coach of the Year by Major League Scouts in 2012.
Richard Duffell
Richard Duffell went to St. Helena’s H.S., the Bronx, where he played baseball and threw shot put. After serving a tour in Vietnam, he returned to receive his degree in physical education and health at Lehman College.
He went to coach all three levels of football at Xavier H.S., Manhattan. He’s also coached 33 years of baseball and counting, as well as 32 seasons coaching the junior varsity basketball team. His hoops teams have captured 10 division titles and city championships in 1995, 1998, and 2022.
Larry Musanti
For 53 years, Larry Musanti has been a fixture at Msgr. Farrell. He rose through the administrative ranks and currently serves as the school’s principal.
He attended St. Peter’s H.S., Staten Island, and began coaching baseball at Farrell in 1980 as a varsity assistant. He took over the program in 1983 and retired following the 2001 season. His teams reached the CHSAA city championship game three times.
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.