HONORS
Murphy coach Gentry to N.C. Sports Hall of Fame
Legendary Murphy High School football coach David Gentry will be a member of the Class of 2025 to be inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame.
Gentry will be joined by UNC-Chapel Hill standout and former NFL player Greg Ellis, women’s basketball head coach and trailblazing administrator Nora Lynn Finch, long-time N.C. State cross-country coach Rollie Geiger, NASCAR’s Dale Inman and Bobby Isaac, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Cullen Jones, the late Chester McGlockton who was a NFL standout, Wendy Palmer who had more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in college and played in the WNBA, Jimmy Raye who was one of the first Black NCAA Division 1A quarterbacks, and Miles Wolff, who bought the Durham Bulls in 1980 and befriended the future producer of the movie Bull Durham.
The induction will take place in May in Greensboro.
Details: Tickets for the induction ceremony can be bought at ncshof.org.
WRESTLING
Middle school athletes conference champions
Middle school wrestlers from Murphy and Andrews competed in the Smoky Mountain Conference middle school championship meet Dec. 18.
Five wrestlers from Murphy Middle and one from Andrews Middle were crowned SMC champs.
From Murphy, Weston Adams in the 98-pound division, Zander Lucksavage in 132, Kaden Curtis in 138, Aiden Murphy in 150 and Jonathan Cowan in 157 won their weight class conference championship. Lucksavage is a three-time conference champ, while Curtis won a conference championship in his first season wrestling.
From Andrews, Isaiah Roehm won the conference championship in the 76-pound weight class.
VOLLEYBALL
Hiwassee Dam’s McNabb featured in documentary
Payton McNabb of Hiwassee Dam – who had her senior season of volleyball abruptly ended when she was struck in the face with a volleyball spiked by a transgender athlete on the opposing team – is featured in a new documentary.
The documentary, Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy Into Triumph, details the affects of the injury that Payton says still affect her today, as well as interviews with her parents and sister.
The film is now available on the Independent Women’s Forum YouTube channel and at press time Sunday had more than 10,000 views.
HONORS
Cooper gives two coaches Order of Long Leaf Pine
Two coaches with deep history in N.C. were honored with membership into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest honor a civilian can receive in the state.
Legendary University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill basketball coach Roy Williams and Carolina Hurricanes current head coach and Stanley Cup champion as a player Rod Brind’Amour were given the honors by Gov. Roy Cooper last week.
Williams coach the Tar Heels to three national championships in 15 season at the helm. Brind’Amour has coached the Canes for the last six seasons and led the Canes to the franchise’s only Stanley Cup in 2006 as captain of the team.
The award is given to those who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities. It has been awarded since 1963.
Compiled by Sports Editor Cannon Crompton. Email items to sports@cherokeescout.com.