Sports

Hofstra Honors the Late Walter "Brick" Stone

L.I. colleges take part in cross-country meet named for former Lynbrook H.S. track star.

On Sept. 11 at Bethpage State Park, Hofstra University hosted the inaugural Walter "Brick" Stone Run, named for a former Lynbrook High School track star who coached Hofstra wrestling, cross-country, and track and field teams for over 30 years.
   
And Hofstra would honor the late coach's memory well, with the women's team finishing first overall with 35 points in the 5K run, and the men taking second place, with 44 points in the 8K run. The school competed against teams from Adelphi University, Pace University, C.W. Post, Suffolk Community College, and Farmingdale State University.
   
Pete Alfano, Hofstra's head men's and women's cross-country coach, said that with the university celebrating its 75th year, he felt it was important to look back at its history and honor those who have been an important part of it.    
   
"'Brick' played an essential role in Hofstra athletics as coach of the cross country, track and field and creator of the wrestling team," Alfano said. "As a Hall of Fame coach of Hofstra University, I felt he deserved to be honored and it was my pleasure to hold a meet in his honor."
   
Stone joined Hofstra in 1946 as an athletic trainer and head coach for the track team. He was also tasked with starting Hofstra's wrestling program, even though he had no prior experience with the sport. Even so, Stone would come to be known as the "Father of Hofstra Wrestling," coaching the team to a 77-53-10 record in his 13 seasons.
   
Stone retired from Hofstra in 1978. In 2005, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
 
Brit Stone, Walter's son and a longtime equipment manager at Hofstra, presented the awards at the end of the races.
   
For more information about the race, visit Hofstra's website.


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