Hall of Fame
Rollie Stichweh was a four-sport star for Mineola High School in Section VIII from 1957-61. Most known as a record setting quarterback and defensive back in football, he was also highly successful in basketball, baseball and lacrosse, and a key part of numerous Mineola championship teams in those sports. Stichweh started for three years, and in his senior season he helped the team to an undefeated record and the 1960 Nassau County Championship. His career was recognized with the Thorpe Award as a senior, recognizing the best high school football player in Nassau County, and being named to Newsday’s All-County basketball team his junior and senior seasons. In the spring, he played three years of varsity baseball before turning to lacrosse his senior season and earning the reputation as a tough, highly skilled player even without having much experience in the sport. Stichweh was a key piece to the school’s county championship in lacrosse in 1961. Upon graduation that year, Rollie earned an appointment to the United States Military Academy/West Point when he was a highly touted football recruit. At West Point, he was the starting quarterback all four years earning numerous awards including an NCAA All-East Football selection in 1964 and earning All-American status in 1965. In 1964, Head Coach Darrell Royal of the #1 ranked University of Texas team referred to Rollie as the best back in the country at the time. Stichweh graduated in 1965 and was required to serve in combat duty in Vietnam despite the New York Giants and Oakland Raiders expressing interest in drafting him to the NFL. He has been inducted into the Mineola High School Sports Hall of Fame, Nassau County Hall of Fame and the Army Football Hall of Fame.