Emory & Henry College 2022 Sports Hall of Fame

The Emory & Henry College Department of Athletics inducted the 2022 Sports Hall of Fame class on Saturday, September 17, on Bob Johnson Court at the John Rutledge King Center. The group was further recognized with a public presentation on Nicewonder Field during halftime of the football game.

It was the first induction since 2019 as the 2020 and 2021 years were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Due to the two-year interlude, the class was expanded to present nine individuals with the College’s highest athletic honor. In addition, a pair of certificates of appreciation were presented by the Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2022 Emory & Henry College Sports Hall of Fame class consists of Adam Hall, Chris Epperly, Erwin “Bunny” Saltz, Jeff Herron, Marshall Doss, Ron Mabry, Shea Rickard Rasnake, Tarra Wardrup Stetson and Todd Woodall. The Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to Matt Hankins and the Football Chain Crew.

Sports Hall of Fame

Adam Hall ’08 established himself as an impact player on the baseball diamond during his time playing for the Wasps from 2005 to 2007. Hall set single-season program records in runs batted in and triples, while finishing in the top five in runs scored, hits, doubles and home runs. Hall was selected to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) All-Conference Second-Team in 2006. He finished his career as the all-time leader in runs batted in and tied for the all-time lead in triples while ranking fourth in slugging percentage and fifth in home runs.

Chris Epperly ’02 was a member of three ODAC championship teams, including the 1998 squad that registered an undefeated record of 10-0 and the 2000 team that made a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Chris was named to the 1998 All-ODAC Second Team as a kicker. Chris made Emory & Henry football history during the 1999 season by becoming the first and only player in Wasps program history to be named to the All-ODAC First Team as both a kicker and a punter. His accomplishments on the field earned him a spot on the 1999 NCAA Division III All-America Honorable Mention squad as a special teamer.

R. Erwin “Bunny” Saltz ’54 accumulated a record of 27-4-1 while playing halfback and quarterback for the Wasps, including a victory in the 1950 Burley Bowl and a trip to the 1950 Tangerine Bowl. The Wasps also won the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference (SMAC) all three years that Saltz was a member of the squad. He was selected to the Virginia Little-Six Honorable Mention Team in 1951 and First Team in 1952 for his performance on the field. Saltz also shone as a point guard on the hardwood for the Wasps. He was selected to the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference Honorable Mention Team in 1952 and All-Second Team in 1953. He was also a member of the All-Virginia Little-Six Second Team in 1952 and Honorable Mention Team in 1953. He rounded out his Emory & Henry athletic career by winning the SMAC Championship as the starting third baseman on the baseball diamond during the 1953 season.

Jeff Herron ’82 has coached at several different stops in the high school ranks throughout the state of Georgia and is the only coach in history to win a state championship at three different schools. Jeff has been named Region or Area Coach of the Year 25 times and State Coach of the Year nine times. Thirty of his assistant coaches have gone on to be head coaches, and his 2016 Grayson High School team finished with a record of 14-1 en route to winning the 7A State Championship. He is currently the head coach at Camden County High School in his second stint after coaching there from 2000-12. The program was selected as the Program of the Decade in Georgia for 2000-10.

Marshall Doss ’07 graduated from Emory & Henry in 2007 as a four-year letterman of the Wasps football team. Doss led the defense from the linebacker position and compiled a special 2006 campaign that saw him lead the team in tackles with 90. Marshall received conference recognition as he was named to the 2006 All-ODAC First-Team, as well as being named the 2006 ODAC Defensive Player of the Year. Doss also received national plaudits, as he was selected as an NCAA Division III All-America Honorable Mention.

Ron Mabry ’77 was a four-year letter winner for the Wasps on the football field, including starting at safety for the 1973 team that was crowned Virginia College Athletic Association Champions. He was selected to the VCAA All-State Honorable Mention Team in 1974 and the VCAA All-State First Team in 1975 as a defensive back. Mabry was then asked to switch to the offensive side of the ball during the 1976 season and excelled there as well. He led the ODAC in both receptions and yards per game during his lone season on offense. This led to him being selected to the 1976 All-ODAC First Team as a wide receiver. His accomplishments also translated over to the baseball diamond, where he is ranked amongst the all-time greats in Emory & Henry history. Ron led the team in on-base percentage, runs and stolen bases for three consecutive seasons while on campus. Ron was also a standout member of the Wasps track team. The 1976 squad finished with a dual meet record of 9-0.

Shea Rickard Rasnake ’99 was a four-year standout member of the Emory & Henry College women’s tennis program. The Wasps registered a 41-25 team record during Rasnake’s time on campus. She played the number one and number two positions in both singles and doubles, accumulating 48 wins in singles and 52 wins in doubles. Rasnake helped lead the Wasps to third-place finishes at the ODAC Championships in both the 1996 and 1998 seasons. She then led Emory & Henry to a second-place finish at the 1999 ODAC Championships.

Tarra Wardrup Stetson ’07 was a four-year member of the Emory & Henry women’s soccer program from 2003-2006 and is arguably the most decorated player in school history. Stetson helped lead the Wasps to 32 wins over her four-year career, and Emory & Henry qualified for the ODAC tournament twice in that span. She is the program record holder for career points, career goals scored and goals scored in a season. Tarra recorded an astounding nine hat-tricks in her career, which is also a program record. She was a key member of three of the top four scoring teams in Emory & Henry history. Her performance during the 2003 season earned her a spot on the All-ODAC Second Team.

Todd Woodall ’94 was a part of a Wasps football team that recorded four winning seasons from 1989 to 1993, including two ODAC Championships and a 34-game home winning streak. The 1992 squad finished with a record of 11-1 and a trip to the NCAA National Quarterfinals. Woodall led the ODAC in receiving yards, yards per reception, and touchdowns during the 1992 season to earn a selection to the All-ODAC Second Team. Todd was named a Pre-Season All-American prior to his senior year. He continued his stellar play, as he finished second in the conference in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions per game. Woodall was honored for his performance with a unanimous selection to the All-ODAC First Team.

Certificates of Appreciation

Matt Hankins ’94 has been the public address announcer for Emory & Henry Football since the 1991 season. He began his time as the “Voice of the Wasps” as a sophomore and has only missed six games (the five games of the 1994 season and one when he attended his grandfather’s funeral) through the beginning of the 2022 campaign. The first game of 2022, his 31st year as announcer, was his 150th behind the microphone. He has called seasons where Emory & Henry didn’t lose a home game, called home playoff games, called games in thunder, rain, sleet, snow, hail, mud, heat, cold and wind – and for many years in a press box that barely stood up to the elements. One of his favorite compliments came from classmate Rev. Sharon Wiley: “I don’t know what Emory & Henry football sounds like without you.”

The Football Chain Crew is a vital part of the game day operations staff. While they are selected and trained by the department, they serve as an extension of the game officials. A successful chain crew is dependable, punctual and has strong attention to detail. These men stand on the edge of “enemy territory” as their place is on the visitors’ sideline and they do their work calmly and quietly in public view and in every type of weather you can imagine. Through the 2022 season, the following five men have given of their time and talents for many years to make Emory & Henry Football games operate smoothly: Brian Owens (25 years), Fred Duncan (22 years), Keith Owens (15 years), Wayne McNeil (15 years) and Rick Trask (12 years).