Five new members inducted into Elizabethton Sports Hall of Fame
Published 1:18 am Saturday, September 28, 2019
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Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Several Hall of Fame members were present for the induction of the new class on Thursday night inside John Treadway Gym.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Eddie Carver inducted Andrew Wetzel II into the 2019 EHS Sports Hall of Fame class.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Adam Green and David McDaniel embrace after McDaniel inducted Green into the EHS Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday evening.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Coach Len Dugger was inducted into the EHS Hall fo Fame by Eddie Carver who helped Dugger coach some of his incredible basketball teams.
BY C.Y. PETERS
STAR CORRESPONDENT
There were some tears, some laughter, some good tales and a lot of hugging as five great men were inducted into the Elizabethton High School Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday night at John Treadway Gymnasium.
Former football superstar Jason Holly got the show started as he introduced some former athletes who were already in the Hall of Fame. University of Tennessee football star Johnny Mills while Mrs. Larry Alderson was there to represent Larry along with former Elizabethton greats.
Athletic Director Forrest Holt took over introducing Mike Koruschak who held prayer, then EHS Choral Director Debbie Gouge and the Women’s Ensemble sung the national anthem.
The Elizabethton Cheerleaders and the ‘Betsy Band both performed before Len Dugger was introduced to induct Corey Davis.
Dugger spoke about the good teams Davis played on and the fun he was in the classroom, always with a smile on his face and delightful to be around.
He now lives in Georgia and has two children that attend Georgia State and a son who is fifteen years old and plays sports in high school.
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Eddie Carver then took the stage to reminisce about some great basketball teams, both boys and girls, that Len Dugger had coached who was the second inductee of the night.
Carver told of past teams and players that kept the crowd’s attention and he took time out to go hug Samantha McClay. Carver’s shared the story of Dugger’s great run to a state title and his amazing 52-0 team that set a record that will not be broken for a long time if ever.
Carver went to the stands to retrieve Len’s dad to help him award Dugger with his plaque. As Dugger was introduced, he began to talk about his players as he fought back the tears, remembering the times he had and the players he coached and what great men and women they had turned into.
He also spoke about having to play with Barbie dolls with his granddaughter after some Friday night ballgames.
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David McDaniel was next to induct Adam Green who was on the Cyclones 2004 State Cross Country Championship team. Green spoke about the support he had from his coaches and his family that was always by his side.
McDaniel pointed out that Green was on two second-place state finishing teams. He continued his sports career at King University.
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Former Cyclone great and TSSAA Official Roger Childers was present to induct Big John Kelly who Childers referred to as the Funnel Cake man.
He talked about the football teams that Kelly made all-conference and all-state and won a game in the playoffs. Childers stated “Kelly was a sports figure and a good family man and a business owner.”
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Carver again took the stage and brought tears to many eyes as he spoke about Andrew Wetzel’s military service.
Wetzel volunteered twice to go and fight for his country to protect people just like Carver. He also stated that Wetzel’s sons had also joined the Marines following in their dad’s footsteps.
Wetzel thanked the former members of the Hall of Fame, the nomination committee, his family, his wife, and God as he accepted his induction plaque from his wife that Carver presented.
Wetzel hugged each of his family members and the induction came to a close.
