Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame shows off new features during Class of 2016 induction by Shannon Fagan, Sports Editor, Cherokee County Herald

CENTRE – On Saturday evening, the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2016 at the Gadsden State-Cherokee Arena in front of a packed arena floor, giving all seven new members and their families a night they’ll always remember.

The event has certainly grown since it began in 2005.

One of the things Hall of Fame President Mike Welsh said the organization is most proud of is the unveiling of the plaque room in the arena lobby. Anyone can now read about all 51 local legends who have been bestowed the Hall of Fame honor. It’s something Welsh said has been in the works for some time.

“We’re excited about the display of our Hall of Fame plaques up there in the arena lobby,” Welsh said. “It’s a small place, but it’s a good place. It looks really neat. That’s thanks to Joy Perry, Thereasa Hulgan and the Chamber (of Commerce) working with Gadsden State and offering that to us. It looked like everybody was enjoying that really well.”

In addition to reading about Hall of Fame classes past, those in attendance Saturday were treated to video montages from the Class of 2016 and their presenters – something else that was a new feature added this year.

The video montages were created by WEAC-TV 24 personality Gerhard Mathangani and were presented following emcee Jon Holder’s comments on each honoree.

“So many people put in so much work to make this happen. It really went well,” Welsh said. “I hope it was special for these new inductees. I think it was a good experience for everybody in attendance.”

People interested in learning more about Saturday’s ceremony, as well as other Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame classes, can go to the organization’s new website, www.cherokeecountyalabamasportshof.com.

“It’s another way to honor the inductees from every class, with the pictures and bios,” Welsh said. “It’s a lot of teamwork, but maybe that teamwork has contributed to making tonight seem like such a big night.”

Welsh encourages anyone to nominate deserving members for the next Hall of Fame class, to be inducted in 2018. Nomination forms and a list of criteria can be found at the organization’s new website.

The following is a list of accomplishments made by each member of the Class of 2016. You can read more in-depth stories on each honoree at

The Herald’s website,www.northwestgeorgianews.com/cherokee_county.

Paige Anderson McDonald – Basketball, Volleyball – Spring Garden High School
Five-time All-County Basketball Team 2004 through 2008; 3-Time MVP 2006, 2007 and 2008
Five-time Cherokee County Basketball Champions 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
Six-time Northeast Basketball Regional All-Tournament Team 2003-08
Three-time Regional Basketball MVP 2006, 2007 and 2008
Class 1A Northeast Regional Basketball Champions 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
Five-time Class 1A Basketball All-State First Team 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Class 1A State Basketball Champions 2004, 2005 and 2008
Class 1A State Basketball Tournament MVP 2008
Four-time Class 1A Basketball Player of the Year Finalist 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
Samford University Southern Conference Basketball Tournament Champions 2011 and 2012
Samford University women’s career top 10 in scoring (902), free throws made/attempted (217/261) and 3s
Two-time Class 1A Basketball Player of the Year 2006 and 2008
Bryant-Jordan Overall Scholar-Athlete Winner 2008
North vs. South All-Star Game MVP 2007
Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Game 2008
Women’s NIT 2010
NCAA Tournament 2011 and 2012
Made 144-of-379 shots attempted in 126 basketball games played
Southern Conference All-Conference Team 2012
Volleyball Class 1A State Runner-Up 2005
Volleyball Class 1A State Championship 2007
Volleyball Class 1A State Tournament Most Valuable Player 2007 and First Team All-State
Spring Garden High School Valedictorian (4.16 GPA) 2008
Samford University Dean’s List 2008-2012
Samford University Magna Cum Laude 2012
Jacksonville State University Master’s of Business Administration (3.90 GPA) 2014

Taylor Burt – Volleyball, Basketball, Softball – Sand Rock High School
Volleyball First Team All-State 2005
Basketball First Team All State 2005-06; 2 nd Team All-State 2004-05
Softball First Team All-State 2003, 2004 & 2005
Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Basketball Game 2006
Alabama North vs. South All-Star Game 2005
Softball Career: 779.1 innings pitched with a 0.99 ERA; Nine no-hitters; 1,303 strikeouts; .399 batting average
Volleyball Class 2A Final Four 2004 and 2005; All-Tournament Team 2005
Basketball Class 2A State-Runner- up 2006; All-Tournament Team
Volleyball Career: 1,102 Kills, 227 Aces, 134 Blocks, 773 Digs
Basketball Career: 2,789 Points, 656 Rebounds, 424 Steals, 805 Assists
Gadsden State Community College Softball All-State and All-East Regional
First Gadsden State Lady Cardinal to be selected to the All-South Region Team
Auburn University at Montgomery Softball All-Conference Second Team 2010
Southern States Athletic Conference All-West Division Softball Team 2011
Southern States Athletic Conference All-Academic Team 2011

Jamie Hampton – Football, Baseball  – Cedar Bluff High School
Second Team All-State Football 2005
First Team All-State Football 2006
Class 1A Football Back of the Year Finalist
Gadsden Times Football Dandy Dozen
Top 20 Finalist for Wendy’s Heisman
Alabama vs. Mississippi Football All-Star Game 2007
Career rushing: 203 carries for 1,272 yards and 17 touchdowns
Career passing: 295 completions in 595 attempts for 4,971 yards and 65 touchdowns
Played football at Troy University
Discover Orange Bowl Courage Nominee 2010
National Football Foundation Scholar
National Strength and Conditioning All-American 2012
Academic All-Sunbelt Selection
Pro Day: 40 Yard Dash 4.47; 225 lb. bench 17 reps; Vertical: 31.5; Broad Jump: 8’11”
First Team All-State Baseball 2007
Honorable Mention All-State Baseball 2006

Lucas McMichen – Football – Sand Rock High School
Class 2A State Runner-up Sand Rock Wildcats 1997
First Team All-State Football 1998 and 1999
Honorable Mention All-State 1997
Cherokee County Offensive MVP 1998
First Team All-State Baseball 1999
Class 2A Back of the Year 1999
Career 435-of-754 passes for 6,183 yards and 65 touchdowns
All-County and All-Region in Football and Basketball 1997-99
3.7 GPA, FFA, Beta Club and Student Government Treasurer
Athletic Scholarship to the University of West Georgia
Academic All-State 1998
Four-year letterman and three-year starter at quarterback for University of West Georgia
Threw for 1,072 yards and four touchdowns in 2003
Captain Award University of West Georgia 2004
Senior Award University of West Georgia 2004

Josh Moten – Football – Cedar Bluff High School
Honorable Mention All-State 2000
First Team All-State 2001 and 2002
Class 1A Back of the Year 2002
Alabama Sports Writers Super 12 Team 2002
Alabama vs. Mississippi All-Star Game 2003
Set AHSAA record for career receiving yardage at 4,272
Capped career as the AHSAA’s fourth best in total receptions (218) and fifth overall in touchdowns (43)
Held the fourth (281) and fifth (273) spots in AHSAA history in single game receiving yardage
Tied for fourth in AHSAA history in single game touchdown receptions with four vs. Parrish 2002
Four-year letterman and three-year starter at wide receiver in football at Jacksonville State University
Accumulated 1,266 receiving yards in the 2002 season ranked as seventh all-time in AHSAA history
Athletic Scholarship to Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University Ohio Valley Conference Champions 2003 and 2004

 

Bobby Sanders – Baseball – Hatcher High School
1957 Earned Athletic Scholarship to Florida A&M University
Shortstop for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1958-1959
One of two Black players chosen to join the Philadelphia Phillies baseball organization in 1960
Led the Pioneer League in Home Runs (40), RBIs (118), Slugging Percentage (.642) and Total Bases (291), second in Runs Scored (113) and seventh with an average of .325 in 1961
Negro League All-Star Game East League Representative in 1958 and 1959
Played for the Class “D” Elmira Pioneers in the New York-Penn League in 1960
Led the Pioneer League in Home Runs (40), RBI’s (118), Slugging Percentage (.642) and Total Bases (291), second in Runs Scored (113) and seventh with an average of .325 in 1961
Set a post-war Pioneer League record for Home Runs with 40 in 1961
Led Eastern League in Runs Scored with 98, tied for second in Home Runs (20), third in Batting Average (.320) and top five in several other categories while playing for the Class “A” Williamsport Grays in 1962
Williamsport Grays crowned East League Champions in 1962
Eastern League Most Valuable Player in 1962
Promoted to Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the South Atlantic League in 1963
Closed out professional baseball playing career with the Williamsport Mets in 1964
Five-time individual National Senior Division Champion in Racquetball from 1981-1995
Paired with Otis Chapman and won 30 Ohio State Racquetball championships from 1977-1995
Inducted into the Ohio Racquetball Hall of Fame in 1995

Charley Whorton – Basketball – Cherokee County High School
Hardin Junior School All County 1951-52 and 1952-53
Hardin Junior School County MVP in 1952 and 1952
Cherokee County High School All County 1953-54; 1954-55; 1955-56
Cherokee County MVP 1954-55 and 1955-56
Cherokee County Champions 1955-56
Cherokee County High School single-game record of 42 points vs. Gaston
Cherokee County High School record for points in a season at 513
Cherokee County High School record for points per game at 28.5
Gadsden Times News Northeast Alabama All-Century Basketball Team

 

Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2016

The Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2016 on Saturday evening at the Gadsden State-Cherokee Arena. From left is Josh Moten (Cedar Bluff), Jamie Hampton (Cedar Bluff), Charley Whorton (Cherokee County), Taylor Burt (Sand Rock), Paige Anderson McDonald (Spring Garden), Glenda Jemison and Yvonne Wright (sisters accepting on behalf of Hatcher’s Bobby Sanders) and Lucas McMichen (Sand Rock). Photo by Shannon Fagan.

 

Hall of Fame Room Unveiled

Part of the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame festivities on Saturday evening at the Gadsden State-Cherokee Arena included the unveiling of a plaque room in the lobby, which includes the Class of 2016. Photo by Shannon Fagan.