2025 Athletic Hall Of Fame Inductees

The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame (AHOF) nominees were finalized at the June 12, 2025, Alexandria City School Board meeting. Each year, the School Board honors a select number of graduates, coaches and contributors with induction into the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Athletic Hall of Fame. The AHOF Advisory Committee recommends inductees nominated by the public. The athletes, teams and supporters will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 11, 2025, at 2 p.m.

The AHOF Advisory Committee, by overwhelming consensus, selected the following nominees for induction into the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame for 2025.

• 1947 George Washington High School Baseball Team
• 1979 T.C. Williams Boys (Indoor Track) Distance Medley Relay Team
• 1979 T.C. Williams High School Boys VHSL State Indoor Track & Field Champions
• Ron Bass, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1973, Football and Track
• Alfred Carter, Parker-Gray HS Class of 1944, Football
• Tracye Funn, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1981, Track & Field
• Maija Garnaas,T.C. Williams HS Class of 2002, Soccer and Tennis
• Mary Higgins, T.C. Williams HS Class of 2002, Crew
• Maria Lovelace, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1983, Track & Field
• Marty Nickley, Varsity Soccer Coach, TC Williams High School
• John Porter, GWHS Class of 1965, ACPS Administrator, Contributor
• Mike Porterfield, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1985, Football, Wrestling, Rowing
• Angela Russell, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1981, Track & Field
• Tony Suggs, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1984, Boxing
• Greg Wright, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1983, Track & Field, Basketball, and Football
• Gary Wyatt, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1974, Cross Country and Track

See the list of accomplishments that were considered when selecting the nominees for induction into the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame. 

1947 George Washington High School Baseball Team 

Declared the 1947 Virginia State Champions after defeating the highly favored Granby Comets  led by future Major League Pitcher Chuck Stobbs, the George Washington High School Team won Alexandria’s only high school state championship, thanks to its members: Coach Ray Stanger; All-State pitcher Willie Zehring; Huck Thomas, captain and three-year starting infielder; Buzzy Brown; Jake Dohner; Corky Fones; Don Hanback; Bobby Via; Bob Hensley; Billy Rorer; and Gene Fleming. 

1979 T.C. Williams High School Boys (Indoor Track) Distance Medley Relay Team 

Known for setting a national high school record during a meet at the United States Naval Academy with a time of 10 minutes and 15.4 seconds, the T.C. Williams High School Boys (Indoor Track) Distance Medley Relay Team members include: Mike Mansy, Dwight Stephens, Barry Mountain and Ricky Garcia. 

1979 T.C. Williams High School Boys VHSL State Indoor Track & Field Champions

The team was the first state champion in school history, the northern regional champion and the northern regional district champion. The team included four high school All-Americans. Its head coach was Mike Tomasello, along with assistant coaches Aly Khan Johnson and Bruce Washburn.

Ron Bass, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1973, Football and Track 

“Sunshine” Ron Bass quarterbacked the 1971 Titans to the State Championship. His role on the team at T.C. Williams High School averaging more than 30 points a game on their way to an undefeated season. Bass competed in the pole vault and high jump as a multi-sport athlete. He went on to star at South Carolina where he lettered at quarterback for four seasons. He also earned Sports Illustrated “Back of the Week” honors as a sophomore when he rushed for 211 yards on 39 carries in a game against North Carolina State University. Post college, Bass coached football in Simpsonville, South Carolina. 

Alfred Carter, Parker-Gray High School, Class of 1944, Football 

A stand-out athlete at Parker-Gray, Carter earned a football scholarship to Virginia State University, where he started as quarterback. Upon graduating, he returned to Alexandria City to teach and coach track and football at Parker Gray. He became the first Black assistant coach hired after the integration of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) in 1965. During his tenure, he created the first intramural sports program at George Washington Middle School and served as the Physical Education Department Chair until his retirement. 

Tracye Funn, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1981, Track & Field 

Funn set a school record in the high jump and placed first in the district in 1980, qualifying her for the Virginia State Championship. At the same meet, she also placed in the long jump and 55 meter hurdles. She was a member of the Flag Corps and Marching Titans for six years, beginning in seventh grade. At Hampton University where she graduated magna cum laude, she served as the flag captain and was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Nu honor society. Funn returned to Alexandria and has served on a number of local boards and organizations, including the Alexandria Cable TV Commission and was the first African American female to chair the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce. 

Maija Garnaas, T.C. Williams High School Class of 2002, Soccer and Tennis 

As a four-year varsity starter in soccer, Garnaas was selected twice to the All-Patriot district team. Among her additional accolades and achievements are her selection as part of the Washington Post 2002 All-Met First Team, winning the AAA Patriot District Player of the Year and being awarded the 2022 Alexandria Sportsman’s Club Female Athlete of the Year. She also played on the Virginia State and United States Region I Olympic Development Team. Garnaas continued playing tennis at the varsity level and was the 2002 District Singles Champion. At Princeton University, she played soccer all four years on a team consistently ranked in the top 25, even winning the All-Ivy Championship. She was twice named the First Team College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) District II Academic All American and started most games throughout her career.

Mary Higgins, T.C. Williams High School Class of 2002 , Crew 

Mary Higgins was the "stroke" for the lightweight eight, which won two national titles at T.C. Williams. She was a two-time first team All-Met selection and during her studies at Wisconsin University, went on to win three national titles in rowing.

Maria Lovelace, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1983, Track & Field 

Lovelace was the 1982 and 1983 State shot put champion in both indoor and outdoor track. Her award-winning record includes the following: 1982 Outdoor State Champion - Shot Put 40’0.75”; 1982 Indoor State Champion - Shot Put 42’5.25”; 1983 Outdoor State Champion - Shot Put 40’5.5”; and 1983 Indoor State Champion - Shot Put 44’5.” She also holds the TCW Invitation Record at 41’6.5.” 

Marty Nickley, Soccer Coach, T.C. Williams High School 

Head Coach for 28 years, Nickley has had the most wins in school history, which include three district tournament titles in 2008, 2012 and 2014; two state tournament appearances in 2000 and 2014; the 2014 region final championship and state championship. That same year he was selected as the 2014 Coach of the Year for the district and region, in addition to winning all four titles possible in the 2014 regular season district, district tournament, regional tournament and state championship. He also won the 2014 State Sportsmanship Award.

John Porter, George Washington High School Class of 1965, ACPS Administrator, Contributor 

Porter still holds the record for average yards per carry during his one carry for 25 yards while playing on the George Washington Junior Varsity football team. Since then, he has played important administrator roles at T. C. Williams, as its assistant principal from 1979 to 1984 and its principal between 1984 and 2006, a record 22 years as principal! During that time, he established and implemented the Titan Pride theme, still present today, which included the renowned taglines, “Once a Titan, Always a Titan” and "Can't Hide that Titan Pride.” Additionally, he received the Virginia High School League Regional Award of Merit. He has been the chairman of the Northern and Patriot District Councils and the treasurer of the Northern Region Athletic Council. Porter’s support has included founding and chairing the Crew Council and establishing the sports of lacrosse, ice hockey and rugby for boys and girls at the high school level as well as helping to develop and refine the 2.0 rule for athlete participation. 

Mike Porterfield, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1985, Football, Wrestling, Rowing 

Mike Porterfield is the epitome of the all-around athlete. His athletic legacy spans across the different sports of football, wrestling and rowing. In football, he was a two-year varsity starter, played on the first team at the all-district, all-region and all-state levels and was the 1984 state champion. As a wrestling team member, his record has been equally stellar, as a 1985 State tournament qualifier, unlimited weight division and as placing fourth in the 1985 Region Tournament and second place in the 1985 District Tournament. His rowing accomplishments include placing fourth in the 1983 National Championship and sixth place in the 1985 National Championship. He was a four-year scholarship athlete at Northeastern University where he won first place at the 1988 Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (ICRA) National Championships, second place at the National Championship, third place at the 1989 ICRA National Championship and third place senior at the 1989 National Championship. As a result of his status as a captain and his earned wins, Porterfield was also inducted into Northeastern University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. His illustrious career on the United States National Rowing team include: being a five-time World Championship team member; winning the silver medal in the 1991 World Rowing Championships and being selected as the 1991 Male Athlete of the Year. Porterfield has also been a U.S. National Rowing Team Coach where his coaching accolades consist of the silver medal for women’s pair at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as well as having been selected as the World Championships Assistant Coach two years in a row, in 1998 and 1999, after achieving the 1997 U23 World Championship Assistant Coach title. He has also been the Lightweight Rowing Head Coach at Georgetown University. 

Angela Russell, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1981, Track & Field 

Russell achieved a number of awards as a track and field athlete during her high school years. They include the following titles: 1979 4x200 Women's Relay District Champion; 1980 4x200 Women's Relay District Champion;1981 Women's 100 Yard District Champion and 1981 Women's 4x100 Relay District Champion. 

Tony Suggs, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1984, Boxing 

While at T.C. Williams, Suggs played varsity football; however, his true legacy lies in his many stellar boxing achievements. These include becoming an Olympic Festival gold medalist in 1987, the same year he was named Golden Gloves Outstanding Boxer of the Year. His regional and state Golden Gloves Champion titles contributed to making him a five-time Golden Gloves champion. As the number one ranked amateur boxer in the country and a three-time United States of America Amateur Boxing Federation (USA/ABF) champion, Suggs was also ranked number four in the world by the USA/ABF. At the 1988 Olympics, he was recognized as “the man to beat.” In 2018, Suggs was inducted into the D.C. Area Boxing Hall of Fame after an impressive career. 

Greg Wright, T.C. Williams High School Class of 1983; Track & Field, Basketball, and Football 

A versatile athlete, Wright’s many accomplishments on the track and field team particularly stand out. He was two-time All American in Track, won numerous Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards at T.C. Williams (TCW) where he led the team to six indoor and outdoor district and regional championships. He was the first TCW track runner to run under 35 seconds in the 300 meter race and still holds the record as one of the members of the 4x400 relay team. In 1984 and 1988, he qualified for the Olympics in the 200- and 400-meter runs. During his attendance at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), Wright was honored as a school All-American and will be inducted into the UDC Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. Alexandria City Public Schools has been lucky to have him as part of its staff for the past 25 years. 

Gary Wyatt, Francis C. Hammond High School & T.C. Williams High School, Class of 1974, Cross Country and Track 

Gary Wyatt’s achievements span across his 1970-71 attendance at Francis C. Hammond High School where he participated in freshman football, indoor and outdoor track achieving the indoor 660-yard freshman record and outdoor Freshman mile record, to his 1971-74 attendance at T.C. Williams High School where he achieved numerous titles over his three years of participation across a variety of varsity cross country and indoor and outdoor track tournaments. They include cross country All-District during his sophomore and junior years and district champion, all region, all state and all-met team in his senior year. Outdoor track accomplishments for Wyatt included the freshman mile record, the all district and all region mile run in his sophomore year and the all district mile and two mile, All region Mile Champion two mile, all met team in his senior year. Wyatt’s indoor track record consisted of the two-mile relay school record during his junior year and runner-up the two-mile run and all met team in his senior year. Wyatt holds school records in the following: two-mile relay, distance medley relay, four-mile relay, mile run, two-mile run and the regional record mile run.