The Virginia High School Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Virginia High School League (VHSL), welcomes its nine newest inductees who have made outstanding contributions to high school athletic activity programs. The Class of 2022 includes a southwest Virginia flavor, a former VIA and VHSL coaching legend who led the way in integration, national champions, and the first-ever student academic activity participant, Brandon Farmer, who joins an outstanding class of enshrinees.

The Virginia High School Hall of Fame Class of 2022 features five athletes/academic activity participants (Brandan Farmer – Galax HS; Kiamesha Otey – New Kent HS; Luke Owens – Grundy; Mia Pollard – New Kent HS; Ashton Bishop Williams – Gate City HS), two coaches (James Johnson – Luther P. Jackson HS/Cumberland HS; Donnie Qualls – Rye Cove HS), and two contributors (Jerry Carter – athletic director, Liberty (Bealeton)/Briar Woods; Carey Harveycutter – Director of Civic Facilities, City of Salem).

The 33rd Annual Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner is 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 24, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Charlottesville. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online: https://gofan.co/app/VHSL.

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 ten years after completing 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 evaluated on the merits of their accomplishments at the high school level.

Contributors have rendered significant services in other capacities, such as administration, academic activities, officiating, media, or sports medicine.

Nominations are necessary to ensure the very best in the VHSL’s long history are recognized for their outstanding achievements.

Members of the Class of 2022 will bring the total membership to 327.

 

Class of 2022

JERRY CARTER
Contributor … Liberty (Bealeton) HS/Briar Woods HS … Athletic/Activities Director

He started his career in 1979 as the freshman basketball coach at McLean HS … he continued his coaching career until 1994 when he became the athletic director at the newly opened Liberty High School in Bealeton … in 2008, Jerry became the first athletic director at Briar Woods High School in Loudoun County from 2008 until his retirement in 2021 … his sizeable state impact on VHSL athletics and activities included leadership roles as chairman at the District and Region level … he also served the VHSL as the state tournament director at numerous state championships … Jerry also directed multiple district and region tournaments … the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) recognized him with it’s prestigious “John Youngblood Lifetime Award of Merit” in 2021 … the VIAAA named him state athletic director of the year in 2010 … he served as president of the VIAAA during the 2003-2004 school year … the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association recognized him with its State Award of Merit in 2004 … he graduated from Fauquier High School in Warrenton.

BRANDON FARMER
Academic Activities Participant … Galax High School … Forensics/Theatre

Brandon becomes the first-ever academic activities participant selected to the Virginia High School Hall of Fame … his record is unparalleled in VHSL history … He was the first to win four consecutive state titles in forensics in four different categories … He remains the only to have done that while also receiving four consecutive outstanding actor awards at state theatre festivals in which his school won the state championship once and finished second twice … in 2003, Brandon was awarded the VHSL Group A Academic Activities Achievement Award for the music, comedy, and depth of character developed through those fours of high school … During his high school career, Brandon also played baseball and competed in track and field and cross country … He was an integral part of the brass section of the GHS marching band …. Annually, Brandon serves VHSL district, regional, and state theatre and forensics competitions as a judge … As a VHSL judge, he is especially sought after and respected for his creative suggestions, honest critiques, and depth of insight … He has written two plays, and one musical: “We Will Glorify”, “The Chesterfield Hotel” and “Myrtleburg: The Musical” and is completing his first novel, “The Curious Gospel of Finely Floyd”. Today, Brandon practices law in Salem, Virginia.

CAREY HARVEYCUTTER, JR.
Contributor … City of Salem … Director of Civic Facilities

Carey served as the Director of Civic Facilities for the City of Salem from 1980-2014 … he was responsible for the Salem Civic Center, Salem Memorial Ballpark, and Salem Stadium … the city of Salem has become synonymous with VHSL state championships in basketball, football, volleyball, wrestling, and the Spring Jubilee … he has hosted and assisted with over 30 VHSL district and region championships … As a contributor, Carey has been dedicated to interscholastic athletics as a civic center director, director of tourism, Treasurer for the regional destination marketing organization, and a multitude of other positions that have been very supportive of the VHSL … He has significantly impacted the sports business overall in the Virginia’s Blue Ridge region that includes the Cities of Salem and Roanoke and Counties of Botetourt, Franklin, and Roanoke … whether local, AAU, VHSL or NCAA, his impact in Salem, the Commonwealth and especially the athletes, coaches, and administrators of the VHSL and the United States have enjoyed exceptional experiences, tremendous national accolades and consistent quality product regardless of the level of the event … he is a Hall of Fame member of the inaugural class of Salem Alumni Hall of Fame and the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame … a life-long resident of Salem, he graduate from Andrew-Lewis High School .. he is currently the Director of Tourism for the city of Salem.

 

 

JAMES JOHNSON
Coach … Luther P. Jackson/Cumberland HS … Boys Basketball/Girls Outdoor Track/Baseball

James is one of the most influential coaches in Virginia high school sports … After school integration in Cumberland County in the 1968-69 school year, he became the first African American to coach at Cumberland High School as well as the first African American to coach in the James River District … As a head basketball coach, he accumulated an impressive career record of 224 wins and 94 losses … his record includes three VHSL boys basketball state championships (in 1978, 1979, and 1981) at Cumberland … James also won six regular-season championships, six district tournament championships, and three runner-up finishes, and three regional championships … from 1978-81 his teams did not lose a home game … He also coached Cumberland’s girls outdoor track and field winning a state title in 1978 … at Luther P. Jackson, James led his boys basketball team to a third-place finish at the Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA) 1968 state tournament … Besides being an exceptional coach, James went on to become an elementary assistant principal, athletic director, high school principal, director of transportation, director of vocational education, and director of GED services … a graduate of Luther P. Jackson High School in Cumberland, he was an outstanding athlete … he was a world-class indoor and outdoor sprinter and is a member of the Virginia State University Sports Hall of Fame … he is also an inaugural member of the Cumberland Basketball Hall of Fame.

KIAMESHA OTEY
Athlete … New Kent High School … Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field/Basketball

From her high school freshman year in 1996 through her senior year in 1999, Kiamesha dominated the sprint events … When she graduated, she held six New Kent High School and three state records as a sprinter and long jumper …. Her 13 individual state titles and one relay title included four-consecutive state championships in the 100- meters (1996-99), 200-meter (1996-99), three consecutive state titles in the long jump (1997-99) … Kiamesha also won 14 individual region championships and 13 individual district titles … she was District and Region MVP for consecutive years … she was ranked 10th in the nation in the long jump in 1998 … she still holds New Kent records in 100 meters (11.7), 200 meters (24.7), long jump (19’6 ¼), and as a member of the 400 relay … In addition to her numerous district, regional, and state track & field individual and relay titles, Kiamesha was a four-year varsity letter winner in basketball earning All-District honors … she was four-year letterwinner in indoor and outdoor track at the University of Virginia … she was a three-time All-American in the 60 meters and long jump … she was the NCAA indoor champion in 2003 and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials … she is the current ACC record holder in the long jump … following her graduation from UVa, Kiamesha won the USA Indoor Track and Field indoor long jump championship with a leap of 20’9 ½ inches {6.33 meters) … she is a 2020 inductee in the New Kent High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

LUKE OWENS
Athlete … Grundy High School … Wrestling/Football

Luke’s athletic abilities are legendary at Grundy High School … His achievements on the football field and the wrestling mat are unparalleled in Grundy’s school’s history and its nationally recognized wrestling program … He was one of the most dominant wrestlers in the country during his junior and senior years … Luke is a three-time state champion wrestler at 275 pounds … he’s the school’s only ever national champion and was the 1997 Freestyle national champion… he was six-timeAll-American in Freestyle and Greco Roman … as an integral part of the Grundy wrestling program, Luke was a part of four state title teams (1995-98) … he produced three undefeated seasons (1996-98) and a 129-5 career record … he was the #1 ranked heavyweight in the USA in all three styles (Freestyle, Greco Roman, and Folk style) as both a junior and senior … his high school football career was just as impressive as an offensive lineman, defensive tackle, and linebacker… he was two-time All-State first-team selection as a junior and senior … named to the high school All-American team on the offensive line as senior … first-team all-district four times … first-team all-region four times … Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year and Region Defensive Player of the … Luke was a four-year letterman and two-year starter as an offensive lineman (2001 and 2002) at Virginia Tech for head coach Frank Beamer … he earned second-team All-Big East Conference … played on four straight bowl teams (1999 Sugar, 2000-01 Gator, and 2002 San Francisco Bowl).

 

MIA POLLARD
Athlete … New Kent High School … Outdoor Track and Field/Basketball

As a two-sport athlete at New Kent High School, Mia excelled in both outdoor track and field and basketball … her impact on both sports are legendary at New Kent and across the Commonwealth … She was a member of four consecutive district, region, and state championship teams for the powerhouse New Kent program from 1983-86 … Mia single-handedly outscored the state runner-up team in 1985 (38 ½ – 38 points) and in 1986 (48 ½ – 36 points) … in addition, she helped the Trojans to four-straight district and regional track championships … She won 13 individual state titles in her New Kent career ( 4 in the 400m, 2 in the 200m, 1 in the high jump, 1 in the 800m relay and 3 in the 1600m relay) … Mia still holds school records in the 400m, high jump, and 800m relay … she also won 11 individual region titles, six regional relay title, and three individual runners-up … at the district level, she won 10 individual titles, five relay titles, and three runners-up … her individual accolades include District and Region MVP honor four-straight years … she was named the Outstanding Female Performer at the Peninsula Relays in 1986 … Mia was also a 4 year starter for the New Kent girls basketball team … she finished her basketball career with 632 points, 631 rebounds, and 439 steals … she earned all-district honors … she was a two-time team MVP … Mia was a member of two district championship teams … was a member of the school’s Forensics team … she played basketball for current VHSL Associate Executive Director, and Virginia High School Hall of Famer, Tom Dolan … she was an outstanding indoor and outdoor track star at the University of North Carolina (1987-90) … earned All-American honors in the 800 meters … she was inducted into the initial class of the New Kent High School Hall of Fame … Mia has been a career educator holding assistant principal and principal positions at in elementary, middle, and high school … she is currently an administrator with the Hampton City Schools.

DONNIE QUALLS
Coach … Rye Cove High School … Girls Volleyball/ Girls Basketball/Girls Outdoor Track and Field

As a coach Donnie brought much success and recognition to Rye High School, a remote high school in Southwest Virginia … a Rye Cove lifer, graduated from Rye Cove High School in 1972 … in his nearly three decades as a teacher and coach, few influenced so many young lives as he did … During his 24 seasons as the girls volleyball head coach (1981-2003), Donne led Rye Cove to two state championships, 20 Cumberland District championships, 12 Region D championships, four state runner-up trophies, and four Region runner-up finishes … the Lady Eagles became the first school in Virginia to win two state championships in the same sport in the same year when girls volleyball moved from a winter sport to a fall sport … he amassed a 385-79 record … his volleyball teams participated in 16 of 19 VHSL state tournaments … named Cumberland District girls volleyball coach 20 times … Region D coach of the year 13 times … Southwest Virginia coach of the year 12, and Group A coach of the year four times … in 2002-03 season, he was named state coach of the year … Donnie guided the girls basketball program for eight years … He also his girls team to the state quarterfinals in basketball in 1997-98 … he compiled a 151-49 record winning six district championships and one region title … In addition, he coached girls track and field at Rye Cove for a decade, winning a district championship … he retired from coach in 2004 and teaching in 2006.

Ashton Bishop Williams
Athlete … Gate City High School … Outdoor Track and Field/Cross Country/Volleyball/Basketball

Ashton defines the term “multi-sport athlete”… she participated in Outdoor Track at Gate City from 2004 through 2007 … she won nine state championships and three runner-up positions … she participated in Cross Country from 2004 through 2007 … twice earning all-state honors … Ashton participated in Volleyball from 2004 through 2005 … she was a member of the 2005 state champion volleyball team playing front left hitter … she participated in Girls Basketball in 2005, 2006 and 2007 … she was a member of the 2006 state championship team playing forward and guard … Ashton was one of the most dominant track athletes on the 2A level during the years of 2004-2007 … she won multiple state championships in individual track events … Ashton won the outdoor high jump three times (2005, 2006, and 2007) … setting a meet record at the time with a jump of 5’7”… she won state titles in the 1600-meter run (2004) … as a hurdler and won two state titles in the 100-meter hurdles (2006) and 2007) and was state runner-up three times in the 800 meters (2004, 2005, and 2006) … Ashton won nine state championships and held two state records during her track career … she still holds Gate City records in 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and high jump … Ashton still holds the 800m and 300m hurdles records at the prestigious Times-News Relays … she continued her running career at East Tennessee State University she placed in the Southern Conference track meet in multiple events during her career … she currently lives in Hampstead, NC … is a Registered Nurse and is working on a Family Nurse Practitioner Degree.