LATHAM – The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) has announced the inductees for its Class of 2018 Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame, launched in 2002, is sponsored by Pupil Benefits Plan, Inc. and Crown Awards.

Persio “Andy” Capellan (Coach, Section I), Charles Engel (Coach, Section III), Tracey Fuchs (Athlete, Section XI), Ben Nelson (Administrator, Section IV), Heidi Mann Vittengl (Athlete, Section II), Mary Abigail “Abby” Wambach (Athlete, Section V) were chosen through a two-level selection process involving a screening committee and a selection committee.

Nelson, a native of Bainbridge-Guilford, is one of the most highly respected administrators in New York State and has made significant contributions as an administrator and high school coach in Section IV.

A five-sport letterman in baseball, basketball, track, volleyball and football, and graduate of B-G in 1958, Ben continued his basketball career playing at Trinity Pawling, Colgate, and Louisiana University. He also spent a year in Hannover, Germany as a player-coach for a Division II team as well.

After his playing career, Ben first began contributing to youth and high school athletics during the summers at Camp Dudley, where he’s been a coach or administrator for over six decades, and as a multi-sport coach at Oxford Academy, where he was also a math teacher.

At Oxford, he led the boys varsity basketball team, cross country team, and track and field team to several Class C Sectional Championships and Pioneer League Championships. He then achieved the same feat with the varsity girls team.

His success in administration began in 1988 when he took over as Athletic Director at Oxford after Al Doyle left to become NYSPHSAA’s first Executive Director. Then in 1998, he ascended to the Section IV Executive Director position overseeing the operations of the section on a day-to-day basis. Ben is currently the longest serving Executive Director in NYS.