The 2025 Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame class was inducted on Saturday, December 20, 2025, during a ceremony at Sachem High School North.
Brian Bravy earned a football scholarship to Georgia Tech after playing just one year of high school football. Despite limited experience and appearing in only eight games that season, he was named Most Improved Player in 1989.
At Georgia Tech, Bravy became a four-year starter for the Rambling Wreck and was a two-time All-ACC Offensive Guard in 1993 and 1994. He was also a member of the 1990 National Championship team, a historic achievement for the program.
In 1995, Bravy signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent, but was released later that year. He went on to graduate from Georgia Tech in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Management.
Professionally, Bravy has built a successful career in medical sales with Midmark Corporation for the past 18 years.
He is especially honored to be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside his two sisters, Christine Bravy Phillips and Karen Bravy Grace. He is also proud to be honored alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductee Pete Maiello, a former Georgia Tech teammate and close friend.
An avid golfer, Bravy enjoys traveling with his wife, Christine. They currently reside in Fort Worth, Texas.
A Sachem High School East football standout, Eddie Delaney earned All-Suffolk County honors as a senior after recording 76 tackles, 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, and three blocked kicks. He was named a Suffolk County 12th Man Award recipient, first-team All-Division selection, and team captain, while also earning two varsity letters. He played lacrosse as well.
Despite being born without a left hand and being diagnosed with diabetes at age six, Delaney walked on at the University at Albany and went on to become one of the most accomplished defensive linemen in program history. Standing 6’6” and 250 pounds, he earned three varsity letters and was selected to the All-Northeast Conference (NEC) team three times, including two second-team honors and preseason first-team recognition by Phil Steele. He recorded 30 or more tackles in three consecutive seasons and was the top returning tackler on the defensive line entering his senior year.
During his career, Delaney helped lead the Great Danes to three NEC Championships and the program’s first-ever FCS playoff appearance. He finished with multiple standout performances, including a career-high nine tackles against Duquesne and Saint Francis, and was named NEC Rookie of the Week in 2008. In 2012, he was honored with the Maxwell Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions in college football.
Delaney earned his undergraduate degree in Communication with a minor in Business Administration in May 2010 and received the UAlbany Disability Resource Center Student Recognition Award that same year. His commitment to advocacy and service has been a defining part of his life. As a student-athlete, he volunteered at Ellis Medicine Center’s Sugar Free Gang summer camp and spoke at juvenile diabetes research events.
Following graduation, Delaney became deeply involved with NubAbility Athletics, a national nonprofit serving limb-different youth. Since 2011, he has served as the organization’s head football coach, overseeing program development, camp planning, scheduling, and athlete management. He also manages a nationwide coaching staff of more than 100 volunteers and is a founding member of the NubAbility Athletics Foundation Board of Directors, playing a key role in fundraising and organizational growth. Under his leadership, NubAbility has expanded to provide one-on-one coaching and mentoring across 26 sports.
A two-sport standout at Sachem, Luke DaQuino established himself as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in school history, excelling at the highest levels of both lacrosse and soccer.
In lacrosse, he served as Team Captain and earned All-Division and All-County honors, as well as selection to the 2001 USILA All-America Team. He remains the Sachem all-time single-season points record holder, amassing 115 points on 61 goals and 54 assists, and was named Team MVP for his leadership and performance.
On the soccer field, he was also a Team Captain and earned 2001 All-County honors, helping Sachem finish runner-up in the New York State Championship.
Following high school, Luke continued his lacrosse career at the University at Albany, competing from 2002 to 2005 and leaving a lasting legacy at the Division I level. He was inducted into the University at Albany Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016 and made history as the program’s first All-American in 2005. He was a First Team America East selection three times (2003–2005) and a Second Team selection in 2002, while helping lead Albany to three consecutive America East Conference championships (2003, 2004, 2005). He was named America East Player of the Year in 2003 and finished his collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in points (234) and assists (131). He also holds the single-game assist record with eight assists against Hartford.
Luke went on to play professionally, being drafted by the Long Island Lizards in 2005 and later competing with the Denver Outlaws in Major League Lacrosse in 2006.
After his playing career, he transitioned into coaching, where he has continued to make a significant impact. He has served as a Varsity Assistant Coach at Mt. Sinai High School, helping lead the program to Class B/C Suffolk County Championships in 2015, 2021, and 2022, as well as the Class C Long Island Championship in 2021. He was also part of the coaching staff at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where the team won the Skyline Conference Championship in 2009.
A five-year member of the Varsity Swim Team, Christine DeSimone was recognized as one of the top distance freestyle swimmers in Suffolk County for five consecutive years. She earned All-County and All-State honors all five years and was a New York State finalist in three events each season. Christine played a key role in one of the most dominant runs in program history, helping lead Sachem Girls Swimming to five consecutive Suffolk County championships from 1979 to 1983, during which the team remained undefeated every year. Her leadership and performance earned her MVP honors as a junior and senior, and she served as Swim Team Co-Captain her senior year. She was also a valued member of the Varsity Cheerleading Team during her junior and senior years.
Beyond high school, Christine competed for both the Long Island Aquatic Club and the Sachem Swim Club, where she was among the top swimmers in the New York area in the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle events. She was also a four-year member of the Empire State Games Team, competing in the 800 freestyle and multiple relay events.
Christine’s success in the pool earned her scholarship offers from several Division I universities, including Fordham, NYU, St. John’s, UConn, and Northeastern. She chose to attend Northeastern on a full scholarship, where she became a Division I All–New England honoree and set program records as part of the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay teams.
Following her competitive career, Christine dedicated herself to education and coaching. She began her professional career in Sachem, teaching at Wenonah Elementary and Sagamore Junior High. During this time, she also returned to the pool as a coach, serving first as an assistant coach under Hall of Famer Joyce Brown, and later as Head Coach of the Sachem Varsity Swim Team, continuing the tradition of excellence she helped establish as an athlete.
Christine is especially proud to join her sister, Cathi, as members of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame, making them one of the few sibling pairs honored for swimming at Sachem. Their late father, James, would have been especially proud. He was their first swim coach and a New York City Swim Champion in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1959 and 1960, and his influence helped shape their love for the sport.
Christine is happily married to her husband, Tom, whom she proudly calls “the best man alive.” They are the parents of two wonderful children: Riley, a collegiate track athlete, and Sawyer, who currently competes in college soccer and team handball.
Now retired after 25 years as a Guidance Counselor, Christine continues to give back to her community. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a cancer survivor. She serves on the Patient Advisory Board of the New York Cancer and Blood Center, continuing her lifelong commitment to leadership, resilience, and service.
Lori Durham is one of the best high school basketball players in Suffolk County history. She is the second player in Sachem history to reach the 1,000 point mark, following her sister Barbara, who was an inaugural inductee of the Sachem Hall in 2003.
They both went on to star at Wake Forrest in the ACC. Lori was a four-year letterwinner for the Demon Deacons. She died tragically in a car accident in 1993. At Sachem, Lori was a three-time All-County and two-time All-Long Island selection as well as a two-time team MVP.
At the time of her graduation, she owned the Sachem career and single-season records for rebounds. Her 1,083 career points are still eighth all-time in Sachem district history and third all-time in Sachem North history.
During the mid-1980s, a decade that produced some of the most formidable teams in Sachem football history, Paul Engelhardt emerged as a key contributor for legendary head coach Fred Fusaro. Paul was a two-year starter at strong safety and served as a team captain of the 1986 Arrows, one of the most dominant squads the program has ever fielded. That team captured the Suffolk County Conference I Championship and was awarded the Rutgers Cup as Suffolk County’s top football team. At season’s end, Paul was honored with the Black Helmet Award and named Defensive MVP on a defense that allowed just 44 points over a 10-game season.
Following his graduation from Sachem, Paul continued his football career at LIU C.W. Post, where he played from 1987 through 1990. During his time with the Pioneers, he competed alongside several fellow Sachem standouts, including Fred Kemp, Dave Shanahan, Mike Johnson, James Byrne, Pete Clark, and Brian Harvey. Paul and former Arrow teammate Dave Shanahan were named co-captains of the 1990 team, which went on to win the Liberty Conference Championship. A four-year starter, Paul earned All–Liberty Conference honors in each of his four seasons, was named a Preseason All-American, and earned All-ECAC recognition during his senior year.
Paul credits Coach Fusaro, along with coaches Hackett, Tuttle, Petillo, and Batewell, for instilling in him and his teammates a deep commitment to teamwork, discipline, and the competitive edge that defined the 1986 championship team.
After college, Paul embarked on a distinguished career in public service, becoming a Lieutenant Investigator in the Intelligence Bureau of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. After 26 years of dedicated service, he recently retired and looks forward to the next chapter alongside his wife and best friend, Christine, an elementary school teacher. Paul and Christine are the proud parents of Hanna and Owen Engelhardt.
During his time at Sachem, Shaun Harney was a multi-sport student-athlete, competing in both basketball and baseball. He played on the JV basketball team during the 1976–1977 season under Coach Luke Morgan, and later served as the JV baseball team’s shortstop in 1977 under Coach Steve Rich. He went on to play varsity baseball at shortstop for Coach Batewell during the 1978 and 1979 seasons, helping lead the team to a Suffolk County Championship in 1979.
Following his playing career, he devoted more than three decades to coaching and education, building an extraordinary résumé across four sports. In football, he coached at Seneca (1987–1990) and Sagamore (1991–2003), for a total of 17 years. His baseball coaching career included time at Seneca (1984) and Sagamore (1985–1995), spanning 12 years.
He also made a lasting impact in basketball, coaching girls’ basketball at Sagamore (1991–2004) and Sequoya (2005) for a total of 15 years, and boys’ basketball at Sagamore (1987–1990), Sequoya (2010–2016), and Samoset (2017) for 12 years.
In total, his dedication to Sachem and its schools resulted in an extraordinary 56 combined seasons across four sports over 30 years, reflecting a lifelong commitment to student-athletes, teamwork, and Sachem pride.
Chris Iorio stands among the most accomplished wrestlers in Sachem history, earning state, national, and international recognition during an extraordinary high school career.
A four-time All–Suffolk County selection, Iorio placed 4th in 2003, 2nd in 2004, and captured 1st place honors in both 2005 and 2006. He was a two-time Suffolk County and Section XI Champion in 2005 and 2006, establishing himself as the top wrestler in the region.
On the state stage, Iorio was a two-time All–New York State honoree, finishing 3rd in 2005 and 2nd in 2006, and he captured two New York State Freestyle Wrestling Championships. His dominance extended nationally, where he earned three USA Wrestling Junior National All-American honors in Greco-Roman wrestling at Fargo, North Dakota, placing 2nd in 2004, 3rd in 2005, and 4th in 2006.
Iorio also achieved two FILA Junior All-American honors, finishing 2nd in 2005 and 3rd in 2006, and was a two-time USA Wrestling Northeast Greco-Roman Regional Champion in 2004 and 2005.
Following high school, Iorio was ranked on the Olympic ladder and earned a full scholarship to the U.S. Olympic Education Center (USOEC) at Eastern Michigan University, where he trained full-time for Olympic competition. His elite career was unfortunately cut short by a shoulder injury suffered at the prestigious Dave Schultz Memorial Tournament. In a defining moment of his career, his final victory came when he pinned the reigning Senior World Silver Medalist from Kazakhstan in the match immediately before the injury.
A former member of the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team, Eric LaMorte, competed internationally with a specialty on the still rings. As a high school standout, he made history as the first athlete to win five consecutive state championships, capturing five straight state titles on rings from 1998 to 2002.
He was also a two-time All-American State Champion (2001–2002) in rings, vault, pommel horse, high bar, and all-around.
Transitioning to elite competition, he continued to dominate nationally and internationally. He earned first place on still rings at the 2002 Junior Olympic National Championships, at the 2004 USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships, and at the 2005 Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas. In 2005, he also captured a bronze medal on rings at the American World Cup.
In the spring of 2005, he earned a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team, representing the United States internationally at the 2005 Internationaux de France in Paris, further cementing his legacy as one of the nation’s elite gymnasts. He joined his brother Chris in the Sachem Hall.
Michael Johnson was a two-year letter winner in football, helping lead the 1983 team to League and County Championships, a No. 7 ranking in New York State, and a 9–0–1 record, making it the only undefeated team in school history. During the 1984 season, he earned the nickname “Miracles” from Daily News columnist Ed Kirkman while helping the team capture another League Championship.
In basketball, Mike was a three-year letter winner, competing on the 1983 team and the 1984 League Championship team, which advanced to the County Finals. As a Tri-Captain in 1985, he helped guide the team to a 9–3 record and a League Championship victory in double overtime at Port Jefferson–Miller Place.
As a quarterback, Mike earned All-League, All-Conference, and Team MVP honors. He finished his career ranked first all-time in season touchdown passes, season completion percentage, and career touchdown passes, completions, passing yards, and completion percentage. He was named Most Athletic, alongside fellow Hall of Famer Heidi Pilecki Mass, and was selected as the starting quarterback in the PAL All-Star Game. He remains Top 10 in all passing categories except attempts and still holds the all-time county finals records for touchdown passes in a game (3) and career (5). Above all, he takes the greatest pride in being part of six championship teams and the overall success achieved alongside his teammates.
Mike continued his football career at Ithaca College, starting as the JV quarterback in 1985 and serving as the backup varsity quarterback on the 12–1 Division III semifinal team in 1986. He later transferred to CW Post, where a shoulder injury forced a position change from quarterback to defensive back. After two injury-plagued seasons, he finished his collegiate career as Special Teams Captain on the 1990 Liberty Conference Championship team. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.
Mike feels blessed to have played alongside numerous Hall of Famers, including DiGregorio, Farley, L. Iacono, Botti, “Wojo,” Engelhardt, D. Shanahan, and Byrne, as well as many Arrow legends who defined Sachem football and basketball through generations.
He began his teaching career at Sachem in 1992, coaching Hall of Famer D. Shanahan and standout players such as Gazillo, Falkman, Cruz, and Nola. In 1995, he coached at Utica College, where he worked with NCAA Champion and Super Bowl Champion Will Smith. After earning his Master’s degree in Health Education from SUNY Cortland, Mike taught and coached at Mount Markham and New Hartford from 1997 to 2023, helping lead teams to the Carrier Dome twice and achieving three Top-15 New York State rankings. He continues to officiate high school basketball and has returned to Sachem as a football coach and security guard. He is most grateful for the opportunity to teach students the values of hard work, self-discipline, resilience, commitment, and a team-first mindset.
Mike extends his sincere thanks to the Sachem Alumni Association for this special recognition. He is deeply grateful to have been coached by Hall of Famers Fusaro, Tuttle, Petillo, Batewell, Blieberg, Rich, Savino, O’Flaherty, Atkinson, and Horst, as well as legendary mentors Coach Sparacia, Hackett, and LaCorte, who instilled in him the values of “The Sachem Way.”
Above all, Mike credits his success to his mother, father, sister Kristine Johnson Blando (Class of 1983), son Michael, and his entire family, friends, former teammates, girlfriend Sue, and colleagues for their unwavering love, guidance, and support. He also remembers with respect and gratitude the many departed Arrows—especially M. Huggins, B. Greenberg, J. Johnson, S. Crean, S. Sparacia, T. Prawl, F. Kemp, K. Huggins, and T. Goldhammer—whose legacies live on.
While at Sachem, Meghan Laffin was a four-year varsity volleyball player and scholar-athlete, building an outstanding high school career at Sachem East. In 2006, she was named Rookie of the Year, and in 2007 and 2008 she earned All-League and All-Conference honors, as well as being recognized as Sachem East’s Most Outstanding Player. As a senior in 2009, Meghan was voted Team Captain and earned Team MVP, All-County, and All–Long Island – the first from Sachem East to receive the recognition.
Meghan continued her athletic and academic success at Coastal Carolina University, where she accepted a full Division I volleyball scholarship. A four-year starter and member of the Presidential Honor Roll, she was voted Team Captain by her teammates during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. She received numerous preseason and all-tournament honors, including selection to the Big South All-Freshman Team (2010), the Preseason All-Conference Team (2011), and the Big South All-Conference Teams in 2012 and 2013. As a senior, she was nominated for the Big South Conference “Woman of the Year” award and was named Coastal Carolina’s Presidential Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Following graduation, Meghan began her professional career in broadcast journalism, accepting a position as a Broadcast Associate with CBS News’ national morning show, CBS This Morning. Over three years, she advanced to Associate Producer, working in the control room and managing live guests during the 2016 presidential election.
In 2017, Meghan transitioned careers, relocating to California to pursue an MBA at the University of California, Davis, while simultaneously working in the equestrian sports industry, where she has remained ever since. She now resides in Florida, where she competes in equestrian events and manages a stable for an Olympic bronze medalist.
Chris Panos has built a distinguished career in lacrosse as an elite player, accomplished coach, and respected leader at the high school, collegiate, professional, and international levels.
Panos was a standout performer for the Arrows, earning All-County honors in 1992 and leading Sachem to the Suffolk County Championship game that same year. He was the team’s offensive leader as a senior, finishing with 48 goals and 50 assists.
Panos continued his success at Hofstra University, graduating in 1996. A two-time All-America East selection, he helped guide the Pride to two NCAA Tournament appearances, establishing himself as one of the conference’s premier collegiate players.
He went on to enjoy a remarkable 12-year professional career in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). Selected 4th overall in the first round of the 1997 NLL Draft by the Boston Blazers, Panos reached the pinnacle of the sport as a World Champion with the Philadelphia Wings in 2001. Upon retirement, he ranked 7th all-time in goals scored by a U.S.-born player in league history.
Internationally, Panos represented Team USA in box lacrosse from 2001 to 2010, winning the Heritage Cup in 2001, earning bronze medals at the World Box Lacrosse Championships in 2003 and 2007, and capturing the Bowhunter Cup in 2010. He also achieved legendary status in Canadian senior lacrosse, winning the Mann Cup in 1999 with the Victoria Shamrocks and again in 2004 and 2006 with the Peterborough Lakers. In 2024, he was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a member of the Victoria Shamrocks (Team Category).
Panos has been equally impactful as a coach. He currently serves as Associate Athletic Director and Head Coach of Postgraduate Lacrosse at Fork Union Military Academy, where he was named 2025 Coach of the Year. He is also the founder and owner of Panos Lacrosse, a nationally recognized training brand.
His international coaching résumé includes serving as Head Coach of the Greece National Box Lacrosse Team (2024–present) and Assistant Coach of the Greece National Field Lacrosse Team (2018–present).
At the NCAA level, Panos amassed 10 years of coaching experience, including stints as an Assistant Coach at the University of Tampa (2014–2016), where the program reached the NCAA Final Four twice and the Elite Eight once, while winning three Sunshine State Conference championships. He later served as Head Coach at Queens University of Charlotte (2016–2023), leading the program to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019 and a national ranking of No. 12.
Jason Sama was a committed two-sport athlete in soccer and lacrosse. As a senior, he earned All-County, Senior Exceptional Team, Team MVP, and County Tournament MVP honors in soccer, while serving as team captain. He helped lead Sachem to a County Championship, a Regional Championship, and the school’s first appearance in the New York State Semi-Finals, a milestone he remains grateful to have shared with his teammates and coaches.
After graduation, Jason attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played four years of soccer and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He later completed two master’s degrees from Webster University and the Eisenhower School.
Jason went on to serve 23 years in the U.S. Army, commanding units from company through battalion level, including the Army Protective Services Battalion. He deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was selected to attend the prestigious FBI National Academy, an honor achieved by fewer than 1% of Army officers. His military career concluded on the Joint Staff, where he supported strategic planning and decision-making for global operations. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Jason is currently the Chief Growth Officer for Tigua Inc. and continues to mentor young athletes as a coach at Wakefield School in Virginia. He lives with his wife, Erges, and daughter, Ema, and remains deeply committed to leadership, service, and inspiring others to reach their potential.
In both his junior and senior seasons, Tom Schryer averaged over twenty points per game, led Sachem in rebounds, and earned multiple All-County and All-Long Island honors. He anchored a close-knit squad that had played together since elementary school, and in the 80-81 season, Sachem went undefeated at home, finishing with a remarkable 20–2 record. Tom contributes much of his individual success to his unselfish and dedicated teammates.
Remaining on Long Island, Tom continued his career at Hofstra University, where he collected multiple All-Tournament, MVP, All-Conference, All-NY City Metro, and All-American recognition. Known as a defensive stopper, he embodied his Sachem coach’s mantra: “No one scores in the paint.” His physical style set the tone early, yet his sportsmanship shone through—earning him the New York Mayor’s Trophy for Good Sportsmanship.
After Hofstra, Tom signed with the Long Island Knights in the inaugural season of the United States Basketball Pro-League. He traveled the East Coast competing alongside future and former Knicks players and rising NBA stars.
Tom’s passion for the game extended beyond playing. He coached for one season at Hofstra and later officiated basketball for more than a decade, working with youth, high school, college, and special Olympic athletes.
Off the court, his greatest joy is his family. He married his California girl, Carrie, at Pepperdine University, and together they raised a daughter and son. Today, they live in Springfield, Illinois, where Tom relishes time with his grandchildren and looks forward to their chosen journeys.
Al Scott has coached Sachem swimming and diving, both boys and girls teams, for more than 24 years. During that time, he coached varsity and middle school, with a two-year stint as the softball coach at Seneca.
His girls’ teams had winning records for 23 seasons, while the boys’ teams had winning seasons 18 times. Most notably, the girls won league championships in 2020 and 2021. Two of his swimmers reached All-American status, and several have competed at the New York State championships.
In addition to coaching the varsity program at Sachem, he has served as president and head coach of the Sachem Swim Club, president of the Three Village Swim Club, head coach at St. Joseph’s Academy, and served as a Pop Warner football coach for many years.
He was named Catholic HS Athletic Association Coach of the Year in 1992 and 1996. He was awarded the “People of the Year in Sports Award” by the Three Village Times in 1999 for outstanding contributions to the Three Village Community.
Professionally, he worked for Verizon for 43 years, 35 of them as a manager. He is married, has four children, and six grandchildren.
In high school, Neil Viserto was a two-year varsity football starter at free safety, serving as Team Captain and earning Most Valuable Player honors as a senior. He was recognized with All–League honors, reflecting his impact and leadership on defense. In addition to football, Neil also lettered in varsity basketball during his junior year, demonstrating his versatility as a multi-sport athlete.
Neil continued his football career at Colgate University, where he was a three-year varsity letter winner at free safety. As a senior, he led the team in tackles, anchoring the defense with consistency and toughness. During his collegiate career, he competed against fellow Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame member Jack LaPrarie (Class of 1981), who was then the quarterback at Rutgers University, a testament to the high level of competition both athletes reached.
Following his athletic career, Neil graduated from Colgate University with a degree in economics and began a successful professional career on Wall Street as an Institutional Money Market Broker. He later transitioned into the media and professional sports industries, working on the business side of television in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
Neil went on to hold executive roles in professional sports, working in the front offices of both the Washington Commanders and the Los Angeles Angels. With the Commanders, he served as a Vice President, where he was responsible for negotiating media rights and sponsorship deals. He later became the only Vice President of the Los Angeles Angels, overseeing all aspects of the organization’s business operations during an 11-year tenure.
Eric Wilkinson was a key member of the 1980–81 Men’s Basketball Team coached by Sachem Hall of Famer Steve Rich. He averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, helping the team win the League 1 championship with an 11–1 league record and an overall mark of 22–2.
The team finished the season ranked 8th in New York State. Eric earned All-League, All-County, and All–Long Island honors and represented Long Island in the Newsday Classic as a senior. A rare combination and not achieved by many in the Sachem hoops program.
Following Sachem, Eric was awarded a full athletic scholarship to Bentley College, where he became a 1,000-point scorer for the Falcons. During his senior season, he led the team in both scoring (14 points per game) and rebounding (8 rebounds per game), guiding Bentley to a 26–5 record, a league championship, and a final national ranking of 7th in NCAA Division II.
Eric currently resides in New Braunfels, Texas, with his wife, Amy, and daughter, Holly.
As a student-athlete, Ron Zaczynski was a standout in cross country and track and field. He qualified for the Cross Country State Meet in 1992 and 1993, won the 600-meter Suffolk County Championship in 1992, and was part of the County Championship 3,200-meter relay team that same year. His relay team went on to finish fifth at the New York State Championships. In 1993, Ron placed third in the County Championships in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, was named the Spring Track High Point Athlete, and competed in the Empire State Games in the 800 meters.
Ron continued his running career at St. John’s University (1993–1994), where he anchored the 3,200-meter relay team at the Big East Championships and posted a 52-second time in the 400-meter hurdles.
From 1995 to 1999, Ron served in the United States Marine Corps, where his athletic excellence continued. He earned Battalion Iron Man honors in 1995, won the Iwakuni, Japan Base Iron Man in 1996, and captured Camp Lejeune Base Iron Man titles in 1997 and 1998.
Beyond his competitive years, Ron has remained active in endurance sports, completing the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Marathon (1998), earning top-10 finishes in the Lake Compounce Sprint Triathlon Series (2005–2007), and completing the Disney Half Marathon (2012) and the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon (2013). He has also recorded numerous top finishes in 5K and 10K road races.
Ronald has been married for 26 years to his wife Christine, who also graduated from Sachem. Together, they have three children: Alexah, Hailey, and Ryan. Alexah attends West Point, where she studies engineering and is a nationally ranked javelin thrower. Hailey is a nursing major at the University of Rhode Island, and Ryan is entering his freshman year of high school, having been accepted into Project Lead the Way for engineering.
Ron is a retired Captain and K-9 Unit Commander with the State of Connecticut Department of Correction, having completed more than 21 years of service. During his career, he recorded over 250 narcotics finds, seized hundreds of thousands of dollars, and recovered dozens of illegal firearms while working in conjunction with the ATF, DEA, FBI, and local law enforcement agencies. Ron was one of only two officers in department history to serve as an active member of all three tactical teams: CERT, SOG, and the K-9 Unit.
Following his competitive career, Ron has continued to give back to the community by assisting his wife, Christine, for several years in running the Derynowski Elementary School Running Program, helping inspire young students to develop an interest in fitness and the sport of running.