Seven former Oglethorpe County High School athletes will soon join the ranks of other Patriot legends.
Michelle Baughens Freeman (track), Derrick Gregory (wrestling), Frederick Gresham (basketball), Bobby Mitchell (basketball), Leslee Smith (softball), Sherri Smith (basketball) and Loretta Stribling Smith (basketball) make up this year’s class and will be recognized at the 2022 Sports Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at OCHS.
“It was very tough, very tough,” Oglethorpe County High School Sports Hall of Fame chairman Reginald Hunter said. “We had some people that were nominated and wanted to get in, but it just didn’t meet the criteria because we’re trying to make this an event that people will feel very proud to be a part of. It’s always a tough selection when you have to deny some people.”
Hunter said the seven individuals were selected from a pool of between 20-25 nominations.
OCHSSHOF committee member Marilyn Huff-Waller reiterated Hunter’s comments about the caliber of the class and the challenge to narrow the list.
“We received numerous applications, and they were some of the cream of the crop,” she said. “We had several that applied that did not quite meet the criteria, or they did not provide enough documentation, but we’re really excited about this class — the 2022 class.”
The committee selected 19 individuals to the first class in 2019. The two subsequent selection processes were canceled because of COVID-19.
Individuals can be selected as coaches, athletes or supporters.
Hunter said this year’s class will be recognized and the individuals will give brief remarks at the banquet.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the OCHS front office until Sept. 5. Tickets will be sold from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on those days.
The hall of fame is also accepting advertisements for the banquet’s souvenir program book. Full or half-page ads are being sold for $200 and $125, respectively, and can be submitted to ochsshof@gmail.com. Ad sales will end on Sept. 5.
“When you look back over the history of (Oglethorpe County) sports, they're very rich,” Hunter said. “I think that was something that went under the radar. Oglethorpe County has some good athletes, but a lot of people didn’t know about them.”
2022 Inductees
- Michelle Baughens Freeman, track
- Derrick Gregory, wrestling
- Frederick Gresham, basketball
- Bobby Mitchell, basketball
- Leslee Smith, softball
- Sherri Smith, basketball
- Loretta Stribling Smith, basketball
OCHS Hall of Fame
The 19 members of the OCHSSHOF were inducted in the inaugural class of 2019. They are:
- John Burgess, basketball
- Stephanie Cleveland, track/cross country
- Anthony Collins, track
- Doug Eberhart, wrestling
- Reginald Hunter, track
- Wesley Jackson, wrestling
- Charlie Jennings, basketball
- Delbra Bonds Kendrick, track
- Gary Mathews, coach
- Ralph Maxwell, supporter
- Scott Maxwell, football
- Loretta Morse, basketball
- Bill Nunally, coach
- Clare Frey Stevens, track
- Paul Stevens, football
- Jim Stoudenmire Sr., coach
- Tim Stoudenmire, wrestling
- Michael White, basketball
- Stella Burgess Winfrey, basketball