Newly honored members of the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame pose for a photo at the induction ceremony Oct. 11 at Alexandria City High school.
Electricity filled the air as Alexandria City Public Schools honored its 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame class Oct. 11 at Alexandria City High School.
Newly installed honorees included standout athletes, coaches, and teams during the ACPS Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
“It is an honor to be here today,” said Vernon Attles, who was inducted as part of the 1979 Indoor Track Team. “It was a great track team and we are still in contact to this day. The camaraderie that we built back there in 1979 never went away. They are truly my brothers and sisters.”
The event has been held annually since 2014 and recognizes individuals and teams whose contributions have left a lasting impact on Alexandria’s athletic legacy. The 2025 inductees were selected by the AHOF Advisory Committee following public nominations and School Board approval in June.
This year’s ceremony featured remarks from School Board vice chair Chris Harris, ACPS Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt, ACHS Acting Executive Principal Lance Harrell, and James Parker, Executive Director of Athletics and Student Activities.
“This ceremony is more than just recognition,” said Superintendent Kay-Wyatt. “It’s a celebration of the values that sports instill — teamwork, perseverance, and leadership.”
Plaques commemorating each inductee were unveiled as part of the ceremony and will be on display at Alexandria City High School.
The ceremony recognized three athletic teams: The 1947 George Washington High School Baseball Team, Virginia State Champions; the 1979 T.C. Williams Boys Indoor Track Distance Medley Relay Team, which set a national record at the U.S. Naval Academy; and the 1979 T.C. Williams Boys VHSL State Indoor Track & Field Champions, the school’s first state title team.
Individual inductees included: 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; and Gary Wyatt, T.C. Williams HS Class of 1974, Cross Country and Track.
“The school is so different now than when I was here,” said Attles, who traveled from New York to attend the ceremony. “They put a new track down but you could still feel that same feeling from back when we first used to run here. It’s a great feeling to be back.”