Takisha Williams, who graduated Sherwood in 1995, is one of the inaugural inductees to the Sherwood Athletic Hall of Fame.

During half time of the football game vs. Springbrook Friday, October 29, Williams and several other great student athletes, coaches and special contributors will be inducted into Sherwood’s new Athletic Hall of Fame.

Physical education teacher Gene Orndorff is the organizing force behind the Hall of Fame. “I have been a teacher at Sherwood for 29 years and have watched many outstanding athletes and teams of all sports. It has always been in the back of my mind that all these coaches, athletes, teams and volunteers should be rewarded and remembered in some way,” said Orndorff.

The ceremony itself for the inductees will take place over two days. Prior to the half-time ceremony when all the inductees will be announced with a brief overview of their achievements, the inductees will be given a tour of the building and will participate in the unveiling of the Hall of Fame wall. On Saturday night there will be a dinner which will be held as the official induction ceremony. During this dinner each inductee will be presented with a plaque, and a second plaque will be placed in the main lobby area as a permanent reminder of everything that these individuals have achieved.

The 2010 Hall of Fame inductees are football player Richie Anderson, baseball player Jack Bentley, basketball player and track and field participant Katie Jenkins, soccer player Oguchi Onyewu, gymnast Nina Roffee, baseball player Charles “Pickles” Smith, football player and track and field participant Mike Smith, wrestler Bobby Truby, basketball and track and field participant Takisha Williams, football coach Tony Caruso, basketball, cross country, and track and field coach Warren Crutchfield, wrestling coach Marshall Dauberman, special contributor Art Fennington, and members of the 1978 undefeated state champion soccer team.

A few of these inductees have gone on to have professional athletic careers. Richie Anderson, a 13-year NFL veteran as fullback for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys, is currently the wide receivers coach for the Kansas Chiefs. Oguchi Onyewu, also went on to play professionally, playing soccer at Clemson University for two years before making his debut in Europe and playing on several club teams overseas. He is currently a defender on AC Milan in Italy’s Series A team and a member of the U.S. National Team.

Not all of the inductees will be able to attend the induction, as some have professional commitments and some are deceased. However, inducted honorees Roffey, “Pickles” Smith, Smith, Williams, Crutchfield, Dauberman, Fennington and members of the 1978 State Championship Soccer Team will attend the ceremonies.

The athletes, coaches and volunteers that will be inducted were voted upon by the Selection Committee based on nominations sent in by those who felt these candidates met the criteria for induction. Each inductee must have met certain guidelines, including graduating ten years prior to the nomination. Although each set of guidelines is different for each type of nominee, all must have a great commitment and passion for what they do.