5 Named To Westchester Sports Hall Of Fame

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — Five people were voted into the Westchester Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday: football players Ali Marpet of Hastings and Sammy Maldonado of Harrison; Mount Vernon basketball coach Bob Cimmino; women's basketball pioneer and longtime official Margaret "Mugssy" Gray Fraina of Yonkers; and Yorktown lacrosse coach Jim Turnbull.

The induction dinner is scheduled for Nov. 15 at the Glen Island Harbor Club in New Rochelle.

Marpet was an all-star offensive lineman at Hastings High School, Hobart College, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won a Super Bowl. He was the highest drafted Division Iii player in NFL history, and retired this year after seven years in the league.

Maldonado set many state and Section 1 records for rushing yards and touchdowns — by a large margin — records that still stand since 2000. He went on to play at Ohio State and ultimately Maryland.

Cimmino is the winningest coach in Section 1 history (594 victories). His teams won eight state championships and 19 Section 1 titles.

Fraina, who officiated for 48 years, was a trailblazer in a sport that was dominated by men, impressing with her ability, dedication, and drive. Her influence is credited with the growth of girls and women's basketball opportunities throughout Westchester, the state, and the nation.

Turnbull helped found the Yorktown High School lacrosse program, and went on to compile a 354-52-4 record. His teams won five state titles and 13 Section 1 crowns. After Yorktown, Turnbull moved to North Carolina and coached high school teams there to three state championships.

The 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.

To attend the dinner or obtain a nomination form for next year's induction class, contact Kevin Cook at kdc2@westchestergov.com.

The Westchester Sports Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester Parks and Recreation Department.

by Mark Alan Teirstein