WATCH: Lynisha Nelson Joins Brother Reggie Nelson in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame
By Steve Wilson // April 27, 2022
2021 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
WATCH: Standout basketball player Lynisha Nelson has joined her brother, former Palm Bay Pirate, Florida Gator and two-time All-Pro Reggie Nelson, in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced the induction of both the 2020 and 2021 classes will take place on Friday, May 13 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. The induction of both classes were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
While playing for the Panthers, Nelson left her record-setting mark on the Florida Tech basketball court
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Standout basketball player Lynisha Nelson has joined her brother, former Palm Bay Pirate, Florida Gator and two-time All-Pro Reggie Nelson, in the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
The Nelson’s are the first-ever siblings to be inducted in the history of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Reggie was inducted in the inaugural Class of 2012 and Lynisha, this year, with the Class of 2021.
Lynisha Nelson, one of the top basketball players to ever come out of Brevard County, is going into the Hall of Fame in the college category. However, she could have just as easily gone in, in the prep category.
In high school, Lynisha Nelson scored more than 1,000 points for Melbourne Central Catholic. She received varsity letters all four years while playing for the Hustlers and while at MCC, she was the definition of a student-athlete. She was an honor roll student as well as a top-flight ballplayer.
After graduating from Melbourne Central Catholic, Lynisha Nelson attended the Florida Institute of Technology, which was just a short drive for her from MCC. When talking about why she chose Florida Tech, she said she liked the fact that it was a smaller school and loved the academics.
“I loved the one-on-one interaction with my professors,” said Lynisha Nelson. “That was a major factor for me in choosing Florida Tech.”
Related Story:Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Inductee Randy Pobst Honed His Driving Skills as Teenager in Brevard
While playing for the Panthers, Lynisha Nelson left her record-setting mark on the basketball court. After closing out her career in the 2010-2011 season, she finished with the most career free throws made (488), most assists (605) and most steals (409).
Lynisha Nelson also garnered quite a few individual awards as she was a two-time Sunshine State Conference Defensive Player of the Year, was named First Team All-SSC for three consecutive years and was selected All-South Region Second Team for three consecutive years.
She showed her versatility her senior year leading the Panthers in points per game (16.0), points scored (527), field goals made (155), free throws made (164), assists (192) and steals (122).
After graduating from Florida Tech, Nelson made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army. She was in the service for three years and is currently in the Army National Guard with the rank of Sergeant.
When asked if she learned anything from playing sports that have carried over to her career in the military, she talked about the importance of “teamwork.” She went on to say, “nothing can really get done without a team.”
Related Story:WATCH: Larry Garrison to be Honored With Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award
Being inducted into a Sports Hall of Fame is nothing new for Nelson as she was inducted into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018.
Reggie Nelson, and now, Lynisha Nelson are both members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame and are among the best athletes to ever come out of Brevard County.
When put on the spot, and asked, who’s the better athlete, herself or her brother, Lynisha laughed and said, “definitely me! I won a couple of back-yard games!” She also said if you asked Reggie, that he would say he is!
Regardless of who’s the better athlete, the brother-sister team of Lynisha and Reggie is the first-ever for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
Related Story:America’s Tough Guy and WWE Super Star ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan is Professional Wrestling Icon
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT 2022 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
CLICK HERE TO SEE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced the induction of both the 2020 and 2021 classes will take place on Friday, May 13 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. The induction of both classes were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festivities include a Meet and Greet with the area’s sports royalty beginning at 6 p.m., and the dinner and induction proceeding will start at 6:45 p.m. and includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.
The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event will also include the Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, which will be held Friday, May 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., also at the Cocoa Beach Country Club, to kick off morning and evening events honoring the area’s outstanding athletes, coaches, administrators and sports celebrities.
The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held on the evening of May 13, with a Meet and Greet at 6 p.m. and dinner and program at 7 p.m. The Meet and Greet will include an opportunity to talk with the area’s sports royalty, followed by dinner and the induction proceeding, which includes compelling video tributes of each of the inductees.
During the Breakfast of Champions, more than 40 awards will be presented to the best of the best student-athletes.
Businesses and individuals looking to support these outstanding youth and prep athletes can sponsor an award for $500 and includes recognition during the awards event and in the program.
As a sponsor, an invitation will be extended to you and up to four guests to join the festivities for the breakfast. You’ll be seated with the recipient of your award and their family, which is a great chance to meet these talented athletes and get to know them on a personal level. For information about the Brevard County Breakfast of Champions call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.
Both the Breakfast of Champions and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame events will be streamed live on Space Coast Daily TV.
The 2020–2021 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction event, and the Brevard County High School Breakfast of Champions recognition awards, are sponsored by Health First, Erdman Automotive, All Points, Clear Choice Health Care, Savings Safari, Friday Night Locker Room and Rock Paper Simple.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS to the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. For information e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com or call 321-615-8111.
INDUCTEES SELECTED IN FOUR CATEGORIES
Dozens of nominees were considered for the 2020 and 2021 classes in several categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports.
Nominees are chosen in four categories including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and amateur sports. Special honorary recognition is also bestowed upon individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to sports on the Space Coast.
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2021:
■ PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Amber Torrealba, Skimboarding; Randy Pobst, Auto racing
■ COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lynisha Nelson, Basketball; Bryan Cook, Baseball; Steve Freeman, Soccer
■ PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Julie Wollrath, Cross Country; Kaira Simmons, Track & Field; Cameron Harris, Jr., Football
■ AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Alli Penovich, Free Diving
■ COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lee Mace, Football; Jim Oler, Basketball
■ SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEE: Klaus Stafe
■ SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEE: Capt. Eric Ciocher
■ SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Charles Clemente
■ LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Larry Garrison
■ SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Rusty Buchanan
■ CHALLENGER AWARD INDUCTEE: Jordan Episcopo
■ TEAM OF THE YEAR: Astronaut High School Bowling
■ LEGACY CHAMPIONS: Merritt Island Baseball, 1999-2000
■ SPECIAL TRIBUTE: Fred Gay
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE INDUCTION CEREMONY
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2021 INDUCTEES PROFILES
SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020
• PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Jamel Dean, Football; Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Wrestling; Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Football; Mark Lake, Skateboarding; Juwaan Taylor, Football
• COLLEGE CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Derek Hamm, Football; Paulette King, Basketball; Dylan Lewis, Soccer; Melanie Murphy, Softball
• PREP CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Lexy Denaburg, Volleyball; Apryl Bigham Nickson, Swimming; Andi Sellers, Soccer
• AMATEUR/RECREATION CATEGORY INDUCTEE: Peter Blount, Track & Field; Karina Villegas, Sled Hockey; Caylor Williams, Wrestling
• COACHING CATEGORY INDUCTEES: Sean Ballard, Wrestling; Doug Butler, Cross Country and Track; Aubin Goporo, Basketball; Gerald Hodgin, Football; Bill Sinclair, Softball; Don Smith, Basketball
• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Loren McClanahan
• LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT INDUCTEE: Clint Hurdle
• SPORTS OFFICIAL INDUCTEES: Ted Ruta
• SPORTS JOURNALISM INDUCTEES: Steve Vaughn
• SPORTS DEVELOPMENT INDUCTEE: Judge A.B. Majeed
• SPORTS AMBASSADOR AWARD INDUCTEE: Congressman Bill Posey
• CHALLENGER AWARDS INDUCTEES: Brevard Special Olympics
• TEAM OF THE YEAR: Satellite High Cross Country
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 2020 INDUCTEES PROFILES
Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.
Serving on the committee are Space Coast Daily President & Publisher Tom Palermo, Partner Giles Malone, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Jim Palermo, Managing Editor Zach Clark, the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Orville Susong, Sports Editor Juan Rodriguez, Social Media Director Matt O’Hern, Assistant Editor Jordan Rocco, Digital Producers Ron Lighthall, Gavin Keith and Michael Malone, Production Director Brian Dillon, Sports Broadcaster Daryl Durand and Amateur Athletic Union President Rusty Buchanan.
The main athletic building on the Melbourne Campus hosts the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame, as portraits of the Hall of Famers are displayed on the wall in the building’s main hallway that runs parallel to the gym and outside the athletic department offices.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THE INDUCTION CEREMONY
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME
SPACE COAST DAILY TV: Tim Wakefield talks about his induction into the first class of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. Space Coast Daily created the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 and has so far inducted more than 200 of Brevard County’s most outstanding athletes, coaches and sports personalities.
