Last Updated on May 29, 2024 2:58 pm
The Watauga High School Athletic Department is excited to announce our 2023 Hall of Fame Class. Each year we can induct up to four athletes, two coaches, one team, and one special contributor. The Watauga High School Athletic Hall of Fame exists to recognize and honor Watauga High School athletes, coaches, teams, and sports contributors for their achievements and/or contributions to the Watauga High School Athletic Department. This year we are excited to induct the following members into our Watauga Pioneer Athletics Hall of Fame:
Athletes:
Brittany Bolick
Brittany was a 2005 graduate who played soccer and basketball all four years of high school. She was All-State in soccer and Honorable Mention All Northwestern Conference in Basketball. After high school, she competed at Charleston Southern University in soccer.
High School Accomplishments
Brittany was All Conference NW4A in 2003 and 2004 as well as theNW4A Conference Player of the year in 2005. She was All Region- 2004. Brittany was All State in 2005 and the Charlotte Observer #2 Player in WNC in 2005. She was selected for the East West All Star Team in 2005
College Accomplishments
At CSU Brittany started every game of her college career She is tied for 1st All Time games started in a career. She was Big South All Conference and Team MVP in 2007 and 2008. She also earned Big South All Tournament Team and All Academic Team in 2007
Travis Coffey
Travis is a 2007 graduate who wrestled and played football. He was All-State and All-Conference wrestling. After high school, he wrestled at the United States Military Academy.
High School Accomplishments
Travis had a 158-12 record. He was a two-time State Champion and was the 2006 NCHSAA 4A Most Valuable Wrestler. He won numerous conference, state, and tournament titles and awards over his 4 years. Travis earned All-American status at multiple national tournaments, most notably was the Junior National Championship (Fargo, ND) and the Super 32 (NC). He finished 4th at both events. An extensive list of accomplishments can be found here.
College Accomplishments
Travis was a National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships All-American Wrestler and team co-captain.
Josh Honeycutt
Josh was a 2000 graduate who played baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. He was All-State in soccer. Josh is also on the baseball Hall of Fame board.
High School Accomplishments
Josh was All-State, All-Region, and All-Conference in baseball and soccer. He Led the State in drag bunts and led the conference in steals. In soccer, Josh is # 2 all-time for goals, assists, and points. He scored 50 goals, had 29 assists, and had 129 points. Both the baseball and soccer teams were undefeated in conference play his junior and senior seasons.
College Accomplishments
As a member of the 2000 Appalachian Men’s Soccer team, he scored a goal against Penn State University.
Jon Steinbrecher
Jon is a 1979 graduate who competed in football, wrestling, and tennis, earning a total of 11 varsity letters
High School Accomplishments
Jon was a defensive back and place kicker on the 1978 State Championship Football Team, earning All-State and All-Conference honors. Jon also earned All-Conference honors in tennis. He was the Trailblazer Award winner in 1978-79. He went on to Valparaiso University where he played football and tennis. Jon was previously inducted into the Watauga County Sports Hall of Fame.
College Accomplishments
Jon was a two-sports athlete at Valparaiso, competing in football and tennis earning eight varsity letters. He earned all-conference and academic all-conference honors in football and won an individual Conference tennis championship in tennis. He was also Valparaiso’s MVP in tennis in his junior and senior seasons. Jon was named Valparaiso University’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1982-83. Jon was selected as the HCC Tony Hinkle Award winner in 1982-83 recognizing the top scholar-athlete in the conference and was the first Valparaiso student-athlete to be so honored. He is a member of the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Professional Career
Jon has gone on to lead a distinguished career in intercollegiate athletics administration. He has served 31 years as the commissioner of an NCAA Division I conference across three conferences (Mid-Continent Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Mid-American Conference) which is the longest tenure of any Division I conference, and was the youngest Division I commissioner in the country when hired at age 32. He is also the longest tenured commissioner of a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Conference as he is now in his 16th year as the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference. Jon serves on numerous committees including the College Football Playoff Management Committee and is in his third term as Vice Chair of the NCAA Division I Council. Jon was recently appointed to the Valparaiso University Board of Directors.
Coaches:
Coach Pete Hardee
Coach Hardee led the baseball team from 1995 through 2015, compiling a record of 285-223. He started his coaching career at New Bern HS and is presently the head coach at Alexander Central. In 2018 he was elected to the NC Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His 1999 team made the State quarterfinals and the 2000 team made the State semifinals. He was a pitcher at Appalachian State and was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1984.
Coach Doug Kidd
Coach Kidd coached the soccer teams from 1992 through 2007. He won more than 440 games as head coach, 16 conference titles, and conference coach of the year many times. He has been inducted into the NC Soccer Hall Of Fame. Coach Kidd started the women's soccer program at WHS. He has been recognized as the State Coach of the Year as well as the National Coach of the Year. Coach Kidd was the foundation of the success that WHS men's and women's soccer programs have been blessed to see throughout the years.
Team:
1985 Women’s Cross Country
NCHSSA State Champions. They won by 20 points over the closest team while missing one of their top runners due to illness. This was the last year in which there was only one classification. They were also conference and regional champions. The seven runners who participated at the State Championship were: Windy McIntire Shull, Jodie McIntire Pine, Janet Rumpf Husemeier, Heidi Pendergast, Amy Coulthard, Fran Perry Davis, and Jenny Hinshaw. Other members on the team that year were: Kristi Bingham Ray, Julie Winkelmann Vogel, Laura Pedroni, and Trecia Sox.
Coach:
Head Coach: Lan O’Loughlin
Special Contributor:
Jody Shuford
The late Jody Shuford served as the Watauga Touchdown Club President from 2005 to 2013. Jody spearheaded many fundraisers that helped youth, middle, and high school football in Watauga County. He worked closely with the coaches to ensure that all of our football programs had what they needed to help them be successful. He was also heavily involved with the Boone Optimist Club. It will be hard to find anyone who loved Watauga Football more than Jody Shuford. Jody passed away March 27th 2022 but one thing that will always be remembered about Jody Shuford will be his love for Watauga Football. When asked about Jody Shuford, former WHS Head Football Coach Adrian Snow said “I cannot say enough about Jody Shuford and the support he gave Watauga County and most importantly Watauga Football. He helped start a culture of giving which helped lay a foundation for the football program. He was a great friend and always willing to help support Watauga Athletics.
Plans for Recognition
The 2023 Hall of Fame Class will be recognized at the home basketball games vs Hibriten on Friday 1/17/25. The class of 2024 will also be recognized the same night. The class of 2024 will be announced during the Fall 2024 Athletic Season.
