9.30.2011
FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University has announced its Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2011 to be inducted on Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m. in the Blackwell Ballroom on campus. The school's fourth class of inductees will include Darryl Case '84, the school's only four-time All-American in men's soccer; Claire Reyes Williams '01, a two-time All-American in field hockey and the 2001 Virginia NCAA Woman of the Year while one of 10 finalists for NCAA Woman of the Year; along with the 1991 Baseball Team that finished a school-record 41-8 while advancing to the Final Four of the Division II World Series.
“Longwood University is proud of its outstanding student-athletes and we are pleased to have an opportunity to recognize their accomplishments through the Athletics Hall of Fame,” said Longwood President Patrick Finnegan. “The 2011 inductees not only achieved great athletic success, they also represent the excellent qualities of all Longwood student-athletes -- determination, honor, and hard work. Congratulations to the members of the 2011 class!”
Darryl Case '84 | Men's Soccer | 1981-84 became the first, and remains the only, four-time All-American in men's soccer at Longwood. He was a first team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American as a senior in 1984, following second team All-America selections from 1981-83 for former head coach Rich Posipanko. A four-year starter, Case totaled 15 goals, seven assists, and 37 points while leading the Lancers to a record of 50-15-12 and two Virginia State Championships (1982, 1984). He was a four-time All-Region first team, three-time All-State first team, All-Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Association (VISA) first team, and Virginia All-Star, as well as a two-time team MVP during years that the program was nationally ranked (1982, 1984). Case was also a two-time MVP Defender of the Longwood Invitational (1981, 1982). A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Darryl is a 1984 graduate, earning a bachelor of arts degree in business administration. Case and his wife Laurie live in San Diego, California, and he has three step-children (Ryan, 28; Briana, 19; Riley, 17). He serves as a Regional Manager for Ferguson Enterprises, a company he has been with since 1985.
Claire Reyes Williams '01 | Field Hockey | 1997-2000 was a two-time All-American in field hockey at Longwood, and the 2001 Virginia NCAA Woman of the Year while one of 10 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year (2001). She was a first team All-American as a junior and senior in 1999 and 2000, respectively, while a three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) National Academic Team selection from 1998-2000 for former head coach Nancy Joel. A four-year starter, Reyes Williams totaled two goals, four assists, eight points, and six defensive saves while leading the Lancers to a record of 49-27 and three-straight appearances in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Championships (1998-2000) -- including the 2000 ECAC?Title. She was chosen to participate in the 2000 NFHCA Senior All-Star Game, and was named the 2001 Longwood Female Athlete of the Year. A native of Virginia Beach, Claire is a 2001 graduate, earning a bachelor of science degree in exercise science. Reyes Williams earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the Medical College of Virginia at VCU in 2004. After traveling as a physical therapist, she returned to Virginia Beach where she continues to work in orthopaedics, helping high school and college athletes return to competition after injury or surgery. Claire is married to Michael J. Williams.
The 1991 Baseball Team finished a school-record 41-8 while advancing to the Final Four of the Division II World Series May 25-June 1, 1991 at Paterson Field in Montgomery, Alabama. Coached by veteran head coach Charles Buddy Bolding, Longwood went 3-2 at the World Series and was within one victory of the championship game, defeating American International (8-5), Florida Southern (11-6), and Missouri Southern State (11-8) while also falling twice to Missouri Southern State (3-6, 6-9). The Lancers had advanced to the National Championships after sweeping the South Atlantic Regional May 18-19 in Savannah, Georgia with three-straight wins past North Alabama (5-2), Armstrong State (10-4), and North Alabama (8-3), respectively. Longwood completed the regular season with a record of 35-6, including winning streaks of 16 and 11 consecutive victories, respectively, and established school records for wins (41), winning percentage (.837), and runs (431-8.98). The Lancers' roster totaled nineteen (19) team members: Dennis Hale '91 (team head captain), Scott Abell '92 (team captain), Eric Hutzler '91 (team captain), Michael Adams '93, Todd Bowman '93, Matt Carlisle '91, Nealan Chandler '91, Eric Hill '94, John Hutzler '93, Shawn Jones '93, Bill Martz '93, Chris Mullins '92, Chris Peebles '93, Chris Porter '93, Bill Reeves '95, Terry Taylor '93, Michael Tucker '93, Kyle Weaver '93, and Wayne Weaver '95. Coach Bolding was assisted that memorable season by Robert Jackson '89. Top individual honors for 1991 included Tucker (first team All-American, Regional Player of the Year), Hale (second team All-American, first team Academic All-American, Regional Pitcher of the Year), Abell (first team All-Region), Eric Hutzler (first team All-Region), Porter (second team All-Region), and Coach Bolding (Regional Coach of the Year). Tucker was previously inducted into the school's inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2005, while Hale was previously inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2007.
For ticket information to attend the Hall of Fame Luncheon and Class of 2011 Induction, please call Chris Stratton at 434.395.2059 or email at
strattoncm@longwood.edu.
