Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame Inducts Seven

The Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame held its 39th Annual Induction Ceremony at the Pearl River Elks Club and continued its tradition of excellence by inducting seven outstanding athletes, coaches and officials.

Marcel Cooper, Nyack High School 1988, was a State Champion Wrestler in the 126 lb. weight class and went on to become a two time Senior National Champion while serving in the United States Army. He now serves an assistant coach for the US Army Wrestling Team in Colorado Springs.

John Diffley, Albertus Magnus High School 1988, was selected to the First Team All State Soccer Team. John went on to play for American University and was a two time First Team All Colonial Conference Soccer Player. He now serves as an assistant athletic director at St. Johns University.

Tom McTaggart, Suffern High School, was an outstanding official in the sports of wrestling and track & field on both the high school and college level.  He has earned a reputation as one of the best track & field officials in the nation and is a mainstay at the Penn Relays each year.

Dennis O’Sullivan, North Rockland High School 1994, was a First Team All-State Football Lineman on the Red Raiders New York State Championship Team. He was Scholar Athlete of the Year at Tulane University and had a successful career in the NFL as a lineman with the NY Jets.

Dawn Sugrue, Ramapo High School 1991, was selected First Team All County in soccer, basketball, track & field, and was named Scholar Athlete of the Year at Ramapo High. She went on to Dominican College to lead the Lady Charger Baskeball Team and scored over 1,200 points in her college career.

Dan Sullivan, Albertus Magnus High School 1972, was one of the most successful basketball players in Rockland County averaging nearly 20 points a game as a First Team All County Guard. At Dominican College Dan was captain of his basketball team which had 85 wins and only 20 losses, and scored over 1500 points. His award was given posthumously and presented to his wife Nora Sullivan who was his best cheerleader throughout his athletic career.

Victor Veltidi, Pearl River High School 1948, was First Team All County Football as an end, captain of the basketball team and was selected First Team All County as a pitcher. He played professional baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers organization until he entered the service in the Korean War.

Ethel Doller received a special recognition for 33 years of service to the Board of Directors of the Sports Hall of Fame where she served as a secretary for many years. Ethel was inducted into the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as one of the outstanding bowlers who started her bowling career at the Nyack YMCA

  39th annual induction ceremony, 7, athlete, athletes, coaches, dan sullivan, dawn sugrue, dennis o’sullivan, elks club, ethel doller, gallery, inducted, inducting, john diffley, marcel cooper, officals, outstanding, Pearl River, rockland county sports hall of fame, seven, tom mctaggart, victor veltidi