4 Named To Westchester Sports Hall Of Fame For 2022

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Four notable people in the Westchester County sports world were voted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame by the selection committee Tuesday night: Lakeland lacrosse star Ric Beardsley; noted photographer Frank Becerra, Jr.; beloved county golf pro Thomas Avezzano, Sr.; and boxer, trainer, Valhalla football coach Ron Berlingo.

• Ric Beardsley was a two-time high school All-American at Lakeland and a four-time All-American at Syracuse University. In 1992 he was the captain of the world champion USA U19 team. He went on to six years of pro lacrosse, and then turned to coaching, guiding Christian Brothers Academy to a state championship.
• Frank Becerra has covered high school, college, and professional sports for The Journal News for more than 40 years, including nine World Series, three Super Bowls, three Stanley Cup finals, and the NBA championship. And through it all he has been a fixture photographing all Westchester local sports of every age level. (Frank's father, photographer and artist Frank Becerra Sr., was inducted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.)
• Thomas Avezzano has spent 65 years at Sprain Lake Golf Course in Yonkers, head pro since 1975. His immense impact included introducing players from all backgrounds to the sport through clinics, lessons, and junior golf camps. He also helped grow the game with popular long-standing tournaments, including the Halloween Scramble and the Turkey Scramble.
• Ron Berlingo played football at White Plains High School and began his career in the ring while at Springfield College. He was a runner-up in the Golden Gloves and the New England AAU championships. He went on to train boxers Renaldo Snipes and Carl "The Truth" Williams, then moved on to coach football at Valhalla, where his teams had a 78-29-4 record (13-3 in playoffs) and a state title.

The induction dinner is scheduled for Nov. 10 at the Glen Island Harbor Club.

Since 1968 the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame has honored more than 200 outstanding professional and amateur sportsmen and sportswomen, living or deceased, who have gained prominence in their fields and who have made substantial contributions to sports in Westchester County.

This year's inductees' plaques will join the others on display in the Hall of Fame room off the main lobby of Westchester County Center in White Plains.

The Westchester Sports Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester Parks and Recreation Department. To obtain a nomination form for next year's induction class, contact Kevin Cook at kdc2@westchestergov.com.

SEE ALSO: 5 Named To Westchester Sports Hall Of Fame In 2021