CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — The Virginia High School Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) and VAcorp, welcomes its eight newest inductees who have made outstanding contributions to high school athletic activity programs. The Class of 2024 includes national champions, All-Americans, state champions, legendary coaches and contributors, and a two-time USA Paralympian.
The 35th Annual Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner is 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 28, at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel in Charlottesville. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online: https://gofan.co/event/1389602?schoolId=VHSL
The Virginia High School Hall of Fame Class of 2024 features one athlete (Andrew Courtney – James W. Robinson SecondarySchool); four coaches (Robert Casto – Riverheads HS; Alan Knight – Page County HS; Fred Priester – McLean and Oakton HS; Rudy Ward – Highland Springs HS); two contributors (Joyce Sisson – Official/Commissioner/VHSL Administrator; Cy Weaver – Central Virginia Official), and one activities participant (Josh Sundquist – Harrisonburg HS).
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 VHSL’s long history are recognized for their outstanding achievements. Nominations are due in the VHSL office by October 1.
ROBERT CASTO, Riverheads High School, Coach, Football
Riverheads head football coach for 26 years and compiled a 261-59-0 career record … won nine (9) state championships, including a state record six in a row from 2016-21, one state runner-up, and reached playoffs 23 times … following his final game in 2021, Riverheads held the nation’s longest active winning streak at 50 wins … VHSL Coach of the Year eight times and the National Federation of State High School Associations Virginia Coach of the Year in 2010.
ANDREW COURTNEY, James W. Robinson Secondary School. Athlete, Tennis
A three-time state singles champion and four-time state doubles champion … 101-6 career singles record and 71-2 career doubles record … led Robinson to three state championships … Washington Post All-Met Tennis POY in 2008 … High School All-American in 2008 … four-year starter at the University of Virginia and NCAA Doubles Champion in 2010 … UVa team captain (2011-12) … played professionally on the ATP Pro Tour.
ALAN KNIGHT, Page County High School. Coach, Softball/Volleyball
He taught at Page County HS for 34 years and has amassed a career coaching record of 1,023-521-1 in volleyball, golf, and softball … he spent 34 years coaching volleyball at Page County, posting an all-time 412-275 record and four state championships (1986, 1989-91) … as the school’s softball coach since 1982, has an overall record of 605-244-1, including three state championships in 2014-2015, and 2018 along with three state runners-up in 1982, 2004, and 2021 … reached Final Four in four other seasons (2006, 2010, 2016, 2019).
FRED PRIESTER, McLean and Oakton High School, Coach, Basketball
He currently owns 800 career wins as he enters tonight’s Region 6D championship game against Centreville … he joins West Springfield’s Bill Gibson (838 wins) coaches in VHSL girls basketball history with 800 wins … only legendary R.E. Lee (now Staunton) boys coach Paul Hatcher has more wins with 897 … he has led his Oakton teams to nine Final Fours and reached four state finals (2000, 2007, 2012, 2017) winning the state title in 2012 with a perfect 31-0 record … has won numerous coach of the year honors and was named head coach of the East team in the prestigious McDonald’s All-America game in 2013.
JOYCE SISSON, Official/Commissioner/Administrator, Contributor, VHSL Assistant Director, Rules Interpreter
A longtime basketball and field hockey, she was a true trailblazer … became the first female elected as Cardinal Basketball Officials Association (CBOA) Commissioner … following her five years as CBOA Commissioner, she joined the Virginia High School League (VHSL) as an assistant director … served on numerous NFHS rules committees … she was the state assignor for all VHSL state level basketball assignments and started a 3-day camp for officials … her efforts led to more women and minorities reaching the highest level of state competitions, including the state finals … is still the VHSL rules interpreter … is a recipient of the Ralph Gordon Award with is the highest honor that CBOA bestows.
JOSH SUNDQUIST, Harrisonburg High School, Activities Participant, Journalism
An outstanding student at Harrisonburg High School (1998-2002) … he served as the editor-in-chief of the student newspaper (Newsstreak) for two years … he received the prestigious VHSL Colonel Charles Savedge Award for the student journalist of the year … he is currently a nationally renowned motivational speaker, an executive producer/writer and author of four books … he was a member of the United States Paralympic Alpine Ski team in 2006 and the United State Amputee Soccer team in 2022.
RUDY WARD, Highland Springs High School, Coach, Football/Wrestling Coach
A coach and athletic administrator at Highland Springs from 1971 – 1993 …, he served as head football coach from 1983-93, winning four district championships, three region championships, and a state runner-up in 1989 … he was named district coach of the year twice, region coach of the year three times and the Richmond Metro Coach of the Year four times … the Springers head wrestling coach from 1975-82, he coached numerous district, region, and state champions, including 1992 U.S. Olympian, Anthony “Buddy” Lee … served as the school’s director of student activities from 1993-2014 … directed numerous region and state championship events.
CY WEAVER, Official, Contributor, Basketball/Baseball/Softball/Track
A legendary and lifetime contributor to VHSL as a high school athlete, educator, coach, and official … coached football for 42 years (1968-2010) and basketball for 50 years (1968-2018) at Louisa County and Charlottesville High School … throughout those years he left an indelible mark in high school officiating … he officiated basketball, baseball, and softball games in each sport for 50 years (1968-2018, including district, regional, and state playoff games … he has been the state meet starter for outdoor and indoor track for over seven decades.
