By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY — The Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame will grow to 99 on Monday night when the Hickory Metro Sports Commission (HMSC) includes classes selected for 2020 and 2022.
The HOF has not had an induction ceremony in two years because of COVID.
The ceremony is Monday at 6 p.m. at the Highland Recreation Center and doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets were all advance sale — closing on May 2 — and none will be sold at the door.
The class of 2022 includes former Hickory High, Western Carolina and professional baseball standout Christopher “Grant” Brittain; longtime NASCAR driver and former Hickory Motor Speedway track champion Dennis Setzer, longtime local coach, teacher and administrator Jerry Willard, and legendary professional anglers Elwood “Buck” Perry and James “Jim” Ledbetter.
The 1971-73 St. Stephens baseball state championship teams are also being honored as the 2022 Team of Distinction.
Also to be inducted on Monday night is a class chosen for 2020 that did not yet have a ceremony because of COVID at that time.
The 2020 Catawba County Sports Hall of Fame Class includes former Bandys basketball standout Tiffany Chappell Freeman; longtime St. Stephens wrestling coach Billy Baker; former Newton-Conover standout athlete and longtime SEC referee James “Pud” Mosteller; former Maiden basketball standout Jo Anne McCaslin Potts; former Hickory High and Lenoir-Rhyne men’s basketball player Daniel Willis; and the 2020 Team of Distinction — the 1964 Ridgeview High School football team.
Along with these inductions, two students from each of the 11 high schools in Catawba County will be honored as Scholar Athletes of Excellence.