The Hall of Fame is an institution that honors individuals for their athletic achievements. The Rockbridge Country High School Hall of Fame inducted six people on Friday, Sept. 19. The inductees are honored for the sports that they played and their achievements while playing the sport. There are 17 members currently in the Hall of Fame, and six new members were recently inducted.
Bruce Cooper, class of 2000, was inducted for football and indoor track and field. He ran outdoor track in all 4 years and indoor track his junior, and senior year. Cooper made it to All-Districts, region, and state honors in long jump, triple jump, 55-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter, and the 4×2 relay. Cooper also earned the state title as the anchor leg in the men’s 4×200 that set the state record in 1999. While not on the track running, he was on the football field. Cooper’s accomplishments include, rushing 394 yards in a single game, setting the record for yards rushed, longest run from scrimmage of 94 yards, and averaging 9.1 yards per carry.
Cooper finished school with MVP and offensive player awards in football, was Male Athlete of the Year, and was also the MVP of indoor track and field.
“It feels great to be a part of a special group of athletes that have been inducted into the RCHS Hall of Fame,” Cooper said.
He still holds records today for his amazing athleticism and hard work.
Dakota “Koda” Wagner graduated in the class of 2014 and was a part of many sports, baseball, football, power lifting, and wrestling. Wagner sadly passed away in September of 2022, but his achievements are still going to be forever recognized. During his senior year, Wagner won the state championship in wrestling with a record of 153-33 for Rockbridge. He later wrestled at Ferrum College and became an assistant wrestling coach for Waynesboro High School.
Wagner’s dad, Shawn Wagner, was very proud of his son.
“He had probably more determination for what he wanted to get done and passion. When he set his mind to doing something, if it was something sports-related or going to college or going into the Marine Corps, when he said he was going to do it, that’s what he was going to do,” Wagner said.
Jonathan Wilson, baseball, basketball, and football player of the Rockbridge County class of 2002, achieved many things while at Rockbridge. During his eighth through twelth grade years, he played as a shortstop and pitcher in baseball. He started football as a freshman on JV, but soon moved up the next year, serving as the varsity quarterback. While on his football journey, he earned the Topgun award, Top Running back award, the prestigious Stuart P. Brewbaker award. He also earned multiple regional honors: First team All Valley District Quarterback, Valley District Offensive player of the year, second team all region ll quarterback, A.P. Second team all state Quarterback, and all Timesland Quarterback.
Wilson played basketball his freshman and sophomore years as a forward and center on both JV and varsity. Soon after his high school years, he earned a full ride athletic scholarship for football and baseball to Virginia Military Institute.
Jeffery Early Jr., class of 2008, played basketball, football, and outdoor track and field all four years of high school. On the basketball court, he averaged 28.0 points and 11.2 rebounds per game his senior year. He earned First-Team All-State and All-District honors. On the football field, he was First-Team All-State as a wide receiver and safety. After his high school career, he pursued a professional basketball career that has taken him around the world to places like Luxembourg, Mexico, and Portugal. Early currently plays for the Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico’s top professional league, the BSN.
Grace Huffman, one of two females being inducted into the Hall of Fame, joins the five females already inducted. Graduated in the class of 2008, Huffman was a four-year starter on the golf team. She was the first girl at RCHS to go to the Virginia State Girls High School Golf Championship in her freshman, junior, and senior years. She was named All-District and All-conference teams her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Huffman was the MVP of her team and also captain for her final two years at RCHS.
Mallory Sandridge, class of 2005, took over the field as a four-year starter on the softball team. During her time on the softball field, she earned the Rookie of the Year award, Defensive MVP, Team MVP, and the prestigious Top Cat award. During her senior year, she batted .482 and was selected to compete in the VHSL All-Star Game. After high school, she went to play at Bridgewater College as a four-year starter at shortstop.
Sandrige shared with us how she feels being in the Hall of Fame.
“It feels empowering and deeply meaningful. Growing up, I looked up to strong female athletes, and to now be in a position to represent women in this hall of fame is both humbling and inspiring,” Sandridge said.
She is one of the few females in the hall of fame, so it makes it special that she is expanding the count.
All of the people that got inducted into the RCHS Hall of Fame made incredible accomplishments that led them to get many awards and acknowledgements. They all worked incredibly hard and strived to be the best that they could be during their time at Rockbridge County High School.
