At The Wheatley School Winter Sports Awards Program on March 6, three former student-athletes will be inducted into the Wheatley Athletic Hall of Fame. These alumni were selected for induction in recognition of the outstanding contributions they made to the Wheatley athletic program and for their exemplary athletic performance throughout their high school careers.

Joe Iannotti (Class of 1962) was a member of the football, wrestling and track teams during his high school years. As a co-captain of the football team in his senior year, Joe led the team in tackles. Joe completed his four-year wrestling career with a record of 78-4-1 and during his senior year the team captured the Division Championship and Joe won a Nassau County title. He also excelled as a member of the track team and was a founding member of The Wheatley Varsity Club.

Carol Abby Benjamin (Class of 1963) started fencing when she was 15 years of age and for three consecutive years, she was the Nassau County and Long Island champion. During her senior year at Wheatley, Carol represented the United States in the under-20 World Fencing Championships in Belgium. During the summer after her high school graduation, she won a gold medal in the Maccabiah Games in Israel. Carol attended NYU on a fencing scholarship and after finishing second in the National Championship twice, she was the NCAA champion in 1966.

Michael Tafreshi (Class of 1983) was a fierce competitor and all-around athlete, competing in football and wrestling throughout his high school career. Michael was a football All-Star and earned All-County honors in wrestling.

A reception will be held in honor of the three inductees at 6 p.m. in Room 450 at The Wheatley School on March 6. All family members, friends, former teammates and any interested members of the Wheatley School community are invited to attend. The formal induction ceremony will be held in the high school auditorium at 7 p.m. All recipients will receive a plaque, celebrating their outstanding athletic career at Wheatley and their fine contribution to the athletic program. The Wheatley Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Wheatley Athletic Department and Varsity Club.