10 athletes, coaches, and contributors will be inducted to the HOF on Sunday, June 23;

3rd Annual VHSL Golf Tournament tees off on Monday, June 24

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The 2019 Virginia High School Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Virginia High School League (VHSL), welcomes its 10 newest members who have made outstanding contributions to high school athletic and activity programs. The 30th Annual Hall of Fame induction dinner is Sunday, June 23, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Charlottesville.

The Class of 2019 includes: five athletes (Billy Baber – Western Albemarle, Natalie Baird Etheridge – Park View-Sterling, Kenny Easley – Oscar Smith, Larry Stepney – Norview, Rebecca Wakefield-Snider – Woodbridge); three coaches (Jeffrey Custer – Christiansburg/Woodbridge/Gar-Field/Lake Braddock), Bill Dee – Southampton/ Phoebus/Oscar Smith, Lou Sorrentino – George Mason/Culpeper County/C.D. Hylton/Mountain View), and two contributors (Nancy Burke –George C. Marshall/South Lakes, Ernie Hicks – Richlands).

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on-line: https://gofan.co/app/school/VHSL/Hall-of-Fame.

The Virginia High School League 3rd Annual Golf Tournament sponsored by VACORP is the day after the HOF banquet on Monday, June 24 at Spring Creek Golf Course, in Gordonsville. The tournament is a Captain’s Choice with an 11:00 AM – Shotgun Start. To register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGlUEbbbGRU8DUcXhT7K0pFvGN_10vZxLBh8ahW1lOOPiXXw/viewform

The Hall is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of outstanding achievements by students and adults in sports and activities within Virginia’s public high schools.

Athletes are eligible for consideration 10 years after completion of their high school careers and are judged primarily for their achievements in interscholastic sports. Coaches are eligible after 15 years of experience or upon retirement and are judged on the merits of their achievements at the high school level. Contributors are professionals who have rendered significant services in some other capacity such as administration, academic activities, officiating, media or sports medicine.

Members of the Class of 2019 will bring total membership to 295.

Billy Baber

Western Albemarle HS

Football, Basketball, Baseball

A three-sport standout at Western Albemarle earning 11 varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball…a four-year starter in football, he played tight end, defensive end, and punted…averaged 22.2 yards per catch…earned all-district, all-region, and all-state honors, including Group AA 1st team tight end selection by the Associated Press as a senior…named 1st team all-region at both tight end and defensive end as a senior…selected honorable mention to the Schutt High School All-American football team…named a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete as a senior…a three-year starter on the Warriors basketball team, he finished with over 1,200 career points and 500 career rebounds…averaged 17.1 points and 9.5 rebounds a game as a senior…had 18 double-doubles as a senior…a clutch player, he converted on all four three-point opportunities either tie or win the game as a junior…earned 1st team all-district, all-region, and all-Central Virginia…a three-year starter on the baseball team, his name appears in virtually every offensive category in the Western Albemarle High School baseball record book…he had a career .412 batting average and a .486 on base percentage…he is the Warriors all-time career leader in homeruns (28) and 2nd all-time in hits (91) and single-season leader in RBI with 39…earned 1st team all-district, all-region, and all-state as a junior and senior.

As standout tight end at the University of Virginia…finished his career with 54 catches for 544 yards and five TDs…played in every game starting 16 games his first three years and every game as senior…drafted in the 5th round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2001…played 4 seasons with the Chiefs (2001-03), San Diego (2004), and Tampa Bay (2004).

Natalie Baird Etheridge

Park View-Sterling HS

Outdoor Track & Field

One of the most decorated track and field athletes in VHSL history…Natalie Baird is a seven-time state champion in the discus and shot put…won four-straight state championships in the discus and three state titles in the shot put…currently holds the state discus record with a throw of 161-7…was never defeated in the discus during her entire high school career…led Parka View to state outdoor titles as a junior and senior…three-time Penn Relays Champion in the discus…only female high school student to accomplish feat…a four-time Nike All-American…named All-Met track athlete of the year in 2008…as a freshman in 2005 broke the Group AA discus record with a first-place throw of 139-11…also set district and region meet records as well…established another state record in the discus as a sophomore with a throw of 152-05…finished 1st place in the discuss at the 112th Penn Relays…broke the USATF Junior Olympic National discus record with a throw of 152-02…named to Nike All-American team and to All-USA Track Team by USA Today…set district and region meet records in the discus…as a junior again broker her state discus record with a throw of 159-04…repeated her win at the 113th Penn Relays…Nike All-American…established district and region records in the discus…as a senior won her fourth straight discuss title and established a new record with a throw of 161-07…Nike All-American in the discus and shot put…finished 1st in the discus and 3 rd in the hammer throw at the 2008 USA Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships…selected Gatorade Virginia Female Athlete of the Year...graduated Salutatorian of her class.

Was an outstanding outdoor and indoor track athlete at William & Mary…broke the freshman records in both the indoor shot put and weight throw…named CAA Outdoor Track Rookie of the Year…set W&M’s outdoor school records in the discus, and freshman records in the discus, hammer, and shot put… won the CAA outdoor title in the discuss as a sophomore…earned four All-CAA and three All-East honors.

Kenny Easley, Jr.

Oscar Smith HS

Football

Regarded as one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Hampton Roads area as a standout athlete at Oscar Smith High School…named All-Southeaster District, All-Tidewater, All-State, All-South, and All-American during his four-years on the Tigers football team…played quarterback/free safety/kicker/kick returner/punter/punt returner…was the first player in VHSL history to rush and pass for over 1,000 yards in a single-season…recruited by 350 colleges during his senior year…his #5 jersey is retired by the school…his high school football field is named Beard-DeLong-Easley Field…chose his high school coach Tommy Rhodes to be his presenter for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A legend at UCLA, he became the first player in PAC-10 history to be named first-team all-conference four-straight years…was a 3-time consensus All-American…elected to the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame…was the 4th overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks…played seven seasons with the

Seahawks…selected to the NFL All-Rookie team and was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year…earned All-Pro honors four times, made five Pro Bowls, selected NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 and named to the NFL’s 1980’s All-Decade Team…selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017…a Chesapeake native, the South Norfolk athletic fields were re-named the Kenny Easley Athletic Fields at James W. McNeil Park in his honor.

Larry Stepney

Norview HS

Football

Regarded as one of the finest running backs to ever come out of Norfolk…held Norview High School records for rushing and scoring…he rushed for 3,504 career yards and scored 320 career points…rushing records were not kept during his freshman and sophomore seasons…his 1,604 rushing yards and 150 points in 1969 are still school records…when he graduated he was the all-time leading rusher in South Hampton Roads history…following his senior season in 1970 he was named All-District, All-Tidewater, All-Region, All-State, and All-American…recipient of the Ernie Davis Award which recognized the best African-American high school running back in the nation.

He was an All-CIAA running back at Norfolk State…still ranks in top 10 all-time in punt return yards and punt return average for the Spartans…led Norfolk State to the 1974 CIAA championship…was drafted by the Philadelphia Bell (WFL) in 1975…taught and coached football and track in Norfolk Public Schools for over 30 years…long-time head football coach at Booker T. Washington (1992-2006)…led the Bookers to a 82-72 record in 15 seasons…assistant coach at Granby, Norview, and Maury before going to Booker T. Washington…inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Hall of Fame.

Rebecca Wakefield-Snider

Woodbridge HS

Soccer/Basketball

A two-sport standout, Rebecca Wakefield is regarded as one of the best girls soccer players in VHSL history…she was a 1st team all-state soccer selection as a senior in 1988 (the first year an all-state team was selected) and led her team to the Group AAA title…she scored both goals in the 2-1 overtime win over Lake Braddock who had eliminated Woodbridge the year before in the state semifinals…she finished her career as the VHSL’s all-time leading girls scorer with 134 goals…selected District POY as sophomore, junior, and senior…she was a two-time 1st team All-Met selection in soccer…in basketball, she averaged 10.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds a game her senior year and was voted Commonwealth District MVP…selected 2nd team all-state and led her team to the Group AAA state basketball semifinals…was named the 1988 Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year by USA Today…her #24 soccer number is retired at Woodbridge…the girls soccer MVP award is named the Rebecca Wakefield-Snider MVP Award.

At William & Mary she established single season and career scoring records for the Tribe women’s soccer team…she earned 1st team All-Region honors all four years and was named an All-American her senior year…twice named team MVP…is a member of the William & Mary Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coaches

Jeffrey Custer

Christiansburg HS/Woodbridge HS/Gar-Field HS/Lake Braddock HS

Boys-Girls Indoor-Outdoor Track & Field/Cross Country

Head boys & girls indoor track, outdoor track, and cross country coach at Christiansburg (1997-2000), Woodbridge (1992-95), Gar-Field (1995-2009), and Lake Braddock (2009-present)…has led 13 teams to state titles in girls outdoor track (1997, 2000), girls indoor track (1999, 2000), boys indoor track (2014), girls cross country (2012, 2015, 2016), boys cross country (1989, 1990, 1991, 2014, 2015)…he also finished state runner-up 11 times…claimed 14 girls and boys outdoor track region championships, 16 boys and girls indoor track region titles, 10 boys and girls cross country region championships…totaled 75 district championships in indoor/outdoor track and cross country…coached two-time Olympian Sheen Johnson (2004, 2008) at Gar-Field.

Is in the top five in the state for career wins in boys cross country, girls cross country, and girls outdoor track…has coached over 60 individual and relay state champions…finalist for National Coach of the Year for girls track & field in 2013…named boys/girls track and cross country coach of the year 18 times by various organizations...inducted into the inaugural Gar-Field High School Hall of Fame…graduated from Christiansburg High School where he held five school records in track and cross country…was an All-Big South Conference cross country runner at Radford…graduated with a BS degree from Radford in 1988 and a master’s degree from George Mason 1997.

Bill Dee

Southampton HS/Phoebus HS/Oscar Smith HS

Football

Took over a previously struggling Phoebus program and turned it into a state powerhouse…led the Phantoms to state titles in 2001, 2002, 2006, and 2008…was 98-9 with four state championships in his final eight seasons at Phoebus…took over Oscar Smith in 2016 and although battling cancer he led the Tigers to a 13-2 record and the state finals before losing to Westfield 34-28 in double overtime …he compiled a career 256-78-1 record in 29 years as a head coach at Southampton (1981-84), Phoebus (1985-2008), and Oscar Smith (2016)…his final team at Phoebus compiled a perfect 15-0 record and a #3 national ranking…he also led his squads to seven regional and nine district titles…selected state coach of the year three times, district or region coach of the year nine times, and national coach of the year in 2003.

Left Phoebus to become an assistant at Christopher Newport in 2009 and joined Old Dominion’s staff two seasons later. Dee spent five seasons at ODU (2011-15) as both offensive line coach and defensive coordinator…passed away at the age of 63 on February 23, 2017.

Lou Sorrentino

George Mason HS/Culpeper County HS/C.D. Hylton HS/Mountain View HS

Football

Head football coach for the past 28 years at George Mason (1991-92), Culpeper County (1993-2002), C.D. Hylton (2003-2010), Mountain View (2011-2018)…compiled 216 career wins…took over a losing program at Culpeper County that hadn’t won a region title since 1941…claimed the Division 5 1999 state title at Culpeper…won Division 6 2002 state title in first year at C.D. Hylton…teams won 6 Northwestern Region titles and 10 district championships during his years at Culpeper and Hylton…named All-Area Coach of the year in 1991 by The Free Lance-Star.

Inducted into the Moravian College (PA) Hall of Fame after stand out college (1978-81)…a two-time first-team all-conference defensive back…2nd all-time leading tackler and second all-time leading interception leader…graduate of Annville-Cleona High School in Annville, PA…received a BS in Education degree from Moravian College in 1982 and master’s degree in Education from George Mason University.

Contributors

Nancy Burke

George C. Marshall HS/South Lakes HS

Athletic Trainer

Spent 31 years of service to VHSL athletes as a coach annd athletic training… science/biology teacher and athletic trainer at George C. Marshall (1976-78)…health/physical education teacher and athletic trainer at South Lakes (1978-2005)…coached and taught two years at Galax (1973-75)…Galax’s first girls basketball and track and field coach…the sports medicine facility at South Lakes High School named “Nancy Burke Center”…selected to the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame in 2018…member of the Virginia Athletics Trainers Association Hall of Fame…member of the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame…recipient of the VHSL Award of Merit

Developed curriculum for first sports medicine class in Fairfax County (all schools in Fairfax have this class presently)…first athletic trainer at George C. Marshall and second athletic trainer ever in Fairfax County…developed protocols for relationships with coaches, supervisors, physicians, and EMS…wrote early protocols for heat and hydration in Fairfax County…developed Fairfax County protocol for cervical spine injury and instructed local hospital emergency room staff on proper helmet and shoulder pad removal…provided athletic training for district, regional, and state championships for over 20 years…developed emergency action plan used by the Virginia High School League and utilized in the NFHS (National High School…trainer for World Cup Women’s Lacrosse, World Cup Saver Fencing, The Atlanta Summer Olympics, World Figure Skating Championships……written in numerous scholarship publications…well respected presenter on prevention of injuries and treatment nation-wide.

A graduate of McLean High School…received BS from James Madison University (1973) and a master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University (1976).

Ernie Hicks

Richlands HS

VHSL Pioneer

A pioneer during the early years of the VHSL…spent 61 years in the VHSL as a coach, teacher (English and Latin), and athletic director…founded football, boys basketball, girls basketball, and baseball teams at Richlands High School in the 1920s…one of the first in Southwest Virginia to start girls sports programs…personally financed all four programs…coached all four sports for three decades…head football coach from 1924-64…the only football coach ever at Richlands before his retirement…won 162 football games…won numerous county and District VII championships…won area and region titles prior to awarding of a state champion in football…he started district competition among all county schools (Richland, Tazewell, Graham, and Pocahontas High Schools)…well respected among his peers…received numerous coach of the year awards…served on numerous committees for the area, region, and state...football stadium at Richlands his named “Ernie Hicks Stadium.”

Nicknamed “The Old Gray Fox”…gave over two-thirds of his life to Richlands High School…born 1899 in Newport, Tennessee…passed away in 1981…football mentor and good friend was Notre Dame’s Knute Rockne…left a legacy of sportsmanship that is the benchmark for current Richlands High School…graduated from Athens High School, Athens, TN, in 1917…attended Emory & Henry College in 1918…received BA degree from Roanoke College in 1933.

Inductees in the Virginia High School Hall of Fame include:

1990: Athletes - Keith Atherton, Edd Clark Jr., Carroll Dale, Doug Dickinson, Benton Dodd and Ralph Sampson. Coaches - Jimmie Bryan, Fred Cooper, Bobby Crantz, Howard Deel, Bill Littlepage, Billy Martin, Alger Pugh, George Quarles Jr., Mike Smith and Gracie VanDyke. Contributors - John Caywood, Greever Crouse, Bob Frank, Art Greene, Marshall Johnson, Bill Pace and John Youngblood.

1991: Athletes - Ollan Cassell, Moses Malone, Sidney Snell and Bobby Stokes. Coaches - Vince Bradford, Julius Conn, Ralph Cummins, Pat Dean, Chester Fritz, Harry Fry, Husky Hall, Bill Long and Lefty Wilson. Contributors - Richard Fletcher, Hubert Grim Jr., Ben Hurt, Norm Lord, Frank McCue and Chuck Savedge.

1992: Athletes - Johnny Oates, Tommy Theodose and Ben Valley. Coaches - Gordon Bragg, James (Suey) Eason, John Epperly, Del Norwood, Charlie Nuttycombe, Al Rinaldi and Paul Sizemore. Contributors - Harry Blevins, Eddie Crane, George Gasser, Clarence Jones, Robert McLelland, Barbara Reinwald and Gene Thompson.

1993: Athlete - Paul Gentry. Coaches - Ken Brown, Bob Hardage, Charlie Harkins, Jim Holdren and Thad Madden. Contributors - Vic Blue, Joel Grimm, Bob McCoy and Wendell Seldon.

1994: Athletes - Raymond Crouch and Frank Eastman. Coaches - Francis (Boodie) Albert, Welton Bloxsom, Pete Brewbaker, Louise Martin and Joe Robinson. Contributors - Carl Deane, Earl Gillespie, Jimmy Jones, Charles Karmosky and Bert Smith.

1995: Athlete - Jeff Baker. Coaches - Eddie Dean, Paul Hatcher and Claude Warren. Contributors - Hud Clark, Don Riviere and James (Smokey) Stover.

1996: Athlete - Jacob Adams. Coaches - Donald Glick, Joan Hudson, Norman Lineburg, Ronald Skeen and Robert Williams. Contributors: Nancy Haga and James Omps.

1997: Athletes - Eric Sievers and Tom Trice. Coaches - Ed Henry, Phil Robbins and Frank Webster. Contributors - Robert Carson, Bill Knowles, Bill Lee and Betty Morton.

1998: Athletes – Paula Girven and Barty Smith. Coaches – Glynn Carlock, Nancy Fowlkes, Ann Lockett and Mack Shupe. Contributors – Richard Fitz, Charles Kurtz and Bob Sandell.

1999: Coaches – A.K. Johnson, Bill Lawson and Sam Woods. Contributors – Jennifer Bradley, Jim Carroll and Larry Pence.

2000: Athletes – Jackie Gordon, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, Buster O’Brien and Ken Willard. Coaches – Kate Carter and Chip Chappell. Contributors – Delmer Botkin, Bill Leffler and Bob Patterson.

2001: Athlete – Robert Banks. Coaches – Bill Brown, Jim Cutler and Willis White. Contributors – Buddy Comer, Ralph Harrison, Nancy Ruth Patterson and Jim Sangston.

2002: Athlete – Tamela Penny. Coaches – Pat Austin, Gerald Burke, Eddie Icenhour and Glenn Proctor. Contributors – Claudia Dodson, Carol Lange and Hugh Pendleton.

2003: Athletes – Barry Hamler and Grant Hill. Coaches – Stephen Hubbard, Joe May and Lillie Moore. Contributors – Karen Finch, Cecil Layman Jr. and Judy Wallace.

2004: Athletes – Doug Bates and Bryant Stith. Coaches – Leo Anthony and Leroy Dail. Contributors – Edward Allen, Evelyn Dawkins, Donald Hitt and David Morgan.

2005: Athlete – Evan Tracy Stallard. Coaches – Dominick Joe Colobro, Frances Ann Simpson, Jerry Lee Slaughter, Thomas L. Turner and Lucy Elizabeth Walker. Contributors – Larry Johnson and Vito A. Perriello, Jr., M.D.

2006: Athletes – Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber. Coaches – Bo Bowers and J.J. Updike. Contributors – Joe Gieck, Donna King, Nancy Phaup and Wilma Wirt.

2007: Athletes – Dell Curry, Terry Kirby and Chris Slade. Coaches – Wayne Cosby and Dennis “Koz” Kozlowski. Contributors – Bruce Bowen, Dr. Carol Chory, Jerry Deviney, Sandy Hadaway and Harry Ward.

2008: Athletes - Thomas Jones, Megan McCarthy and Calvin Talford. Coaches - Roger Bergey, Shelly Blumenthal, Patricia Mitchell and Jim Rike. Contributors - Martha Akers, Jeff Dietze, Ralph Law and Charlene Tiller.

2009: Athletes – Ronald Curry and Steve Jolley. Coaches – Kevin Denson and Cecil Maddux. Contributors - Alma Blythe, Doug Hunt, Dave Nelson and Bruce Phelps.

2010: Athletes – Walter Bowser and D.J. Dozier. Coaches – Michael Cooper, Nancy Specht, John Wymer. Contributors: Drew Bright, Bob Button, Jane Layman, Debbie, Turlip.

2011: Athletes – Charlie Beverly and Steve Marsee. Coaches – Alan Cantrell, Dave Crist, Jr., Dave Davis, Spencer Mayfield, Jr., and Tim Sarver. Contributors: Lora Bickley, Ron Richards and Emilie Tilley.

2012: Athletes – Stacy Ervin. Coaches – Pat Deegan, John Shotwell, Robert Smith and Troy Wells. Contributors: John Altizer, Mary Sue Crommelin, Steve Geiman and Bruce Patrick.

2013: Athletes – Mike Milchin and Anthony Poindexter. Coaches – Chip Berry, George Lancaster, Jr. and Jim Woodson. Contributors: Cindy Bomboske and John Williams.

2014: Coaches – Marie Crump, Stan Morgan, Steve Ragsdale and Rich Serbay. Contributors: Mark Kay Downs, Wylie French, Cecil Hurst and Linda Mercer.

2015: Athletes: Bobby Lockhart, Alonzo Mourning and Keena Schuler Wood. Coaches – Ray Heatwole and Don McCool. Contributors: Donald Darnton and Ted Salmon.

2016: Athletes: Cornelious Cousins, Jr., Heath Miller, and Meg Turner. Coaches – Robin Dotson, Tom Harding, Joel Hicks, Munro Rateau, Jr.. Contributors: Bettie Jo (B.J.) Carroll.

2017: Athletes: Blair Brown, Allen Pinkett, Bryan Randall, Michael Robinson, Katie Smrcka-Duffy, and Alan Webb. Coaches – Amy Reed and Norbie Wilson. Contributors: Francis Dall, Ken Tilley, and Deb Tyson.

2018: Athletes: Sharon Couch-Fikes, Sheena Johnson, Meghan McCarthy, Francena McCorory, and Charles Stukes. Coaches – Jack Baker, Jean Gillespie, and Jerome Loy. Contributors: Michael Ingrao, Robert Stratton.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame are due October 1 of each year, for induction the following year. Nomination can be submitted by anyone, those interested in nominating deserving individuals may secure a nomination packet from Mike McCall and/or Sharon Condoulis at the VHSL office (434-977-8475), mmccall@vhsl.org or scondoulis@vhsl.org or by downloading the application from the VHSL website: https://www.vhsl.org/virginia-high-school-hall-of-fame/, The Form is located under Resources.