Four sports figures, covering a wide range of athletic successes, will be inducted as the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame's Class of 2024.
A former Major League baseball veteran, a championship volleyball coach, a six-time JFK 50 Mile titlist and a respected coach and athletic director will be honored during the hall's 36th banquet on July 20 at Elks Lodge No. 378 on Robinwood Drive in Hagerstown.
The inductees:
Vic Barnhart
Barnhart represented the third generation of the Barnhart baseball family, playing three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He followed his father Clyde, who played with Pittsburgh for nine seasons, and brother Bob, who played in the minor leagues.
Vic started his baseball career at age 17, prior to his senior year of high school. A sports writer labeled Vic as the Class C Western Association League’s "top prize third baseman,” while playing for the Pirates’ Hutchinson affiliate. When he joined the Pirates, he eventually moved from third base to shortstop.
He played most of his 74 Major League games in 1945, along with two short stints in 1944 and 1946. He batted .270 over the three seasons with seven doubles and 19 RBIs.
He played 1,047 games over 10 seasons at various levels in the minors, hitting .292 with 27 HRs and 410 RBIs.
Vic graduated from Hagerstown High in 1940, where he starred in soccer, basketball and baseball. Bob and Vic played together on the 1938 Washington County champion Hoffman Chevrolet team as Clyde watched from the stands.
After baseball, Vic spent 20 years as an athletic director at Maryland Correctional Institute.
Megan Crawford
Crawford used the lessons she learned while playing at Williamsport High to create an era of success for North Hagerstown volleyball.
A steadfast use of two mottos -- “Work hard and set high expectations” and “team before me” -- were the cornerstone of 17 years of spectacular, yet disciplined, volleyball. It produced a career coaching record of 231-55 with four Maryland Class 3A state championships (2011-12, 2014 and 2022) before stepping down after the 2022 season.
She accepted North Hagerstown’s volleyball job in 2006. During her tenure, North won six region titles and played in five state finals. She coached nine Washington County players of the year and was the county coach of the year four times. In 2022, she was named Maryland Coach of the Year by the NFHS Coaches Association.
Crawford was a standout for Williamsport, playing on the Wildcats' 1999 Class 1A state championship team and earning a spot on The Herald-Mail's All-Area team. She also earned all-county honors in basketball and tennis for the Wildcats.
She played volleyball at Catawba College in North Carolina, where she is among the all-time leaders for aces in a season, and at Shepherd University, where she was a team captain in 2004.
Carolyn Showalter
Showalter has earned the label of “Undisputed Queen of the JFK 50 Mile” ultramarathon. She is a six-time JFK women’s champion, including five consecutive years (1985-89). The six titles, including the final one in 1994, are tied for the all-time record.
Showalter has finished the JFK 36 times (through 2023), including an incredible run of 22 straight events (1982-2003), to become a member of the race’s 1,750 Mile Club. She has finished second in the JFK three times and in the top 10 on 16 occasions.
Showalter also is a two-time top 100 women’s finisher in the Boston Marathon, the only Washington County woman to accomplish the feat. She has competed in marathons in Gettysburg, New York City, Chambersburg, Virginia Beach and Carlisle.
As of 2023, Showalter holds the active American record for most consecutive years completing an ultramarathon of at least 50 miles -- 45 years, spanning from Nov. 28, 1978 to Nov. 18, 2023. That span is also second-best internationally.
Showalter is a 1972 graduate of Lancaster Mennonite High School, where she competed in field hockey, basketball and track. She later graduated from Hagerstown Community College and Shepherd University.
Bill Sterner
Sterner was a Swiss Army knife in Washington County high school athletics. He spent 41 of his 44 years as a teacher, coach and athletic director, mostly at Hanco*ck before finishing at Clear Spring. There was no job or student too small to gain from his expertise.
After starting as a volunteer line coach in football, Sterner joined Hanco*ck’s faculty in 1983 as a teacher. Shortly after, he assumed athletic director duties. It was his first of two tenures at the post.
Sterner became Hanco*ck’s head football coach, guiding the team to its first playoff berth in 1986. Later, he guided the softball team to the 1993 state semifinals. His work kept the football program afloat at the smallest public school in Maryland.
In 2018, he left Hanco*ck to take over as Clear Spring’s AD to help the Blazers program.
One of Sterner’s strongest attributes was connecting students with support, guidance and tough love.
Washington County Sports Hall of Fame:The inductees, from 1986 to 2023
Honors and scholarship awards
The county sports hall will also present the following scholarships and honors to local high school athletes:
- Donald Stoner Coach of the Year Award: Cullan Ganley, Smithsburg
- William Lightner Official of the Year Award: Dave Grams, umpire
- Sara “Skip” Ward Scholarship Award: Haylee Hartman, Boonsboro
- Harry L. Cunningham Jr. Scholarship Award: Samuel Atkinson, Boonsboro
- Millie Shank Athletic Academic Scholarship: Camryn Eichelberger, Smithsburg
- Gregg DeLauney President’s Award Scholarship: Deontae Blake, South Hagerstown
- Carroll I. Reid Jr. Scholarship, sponsored by Cumberland Valley Athletic Club: Awls (Odin) Desir, North Hagerstown
- Carroll and Virginia Reid Memorial Scholarship: Zachary von Garrel and Ashton Redman, Smithsburg
- Jeff Scuffins Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Cumberland Valley Athletic Club: Michaela Gross, Smithsburg
- Dotty Piccolomini Scholarship: Avery Byard, North Hagerstown
Banquet information
Doors open at 5 p.m. The event begins with a social hour at 5:30, followed by dinner at 6. The presentation program will follow dinner.
For information or to purchase tickets, contact Frank Linn at 301-730-8401 or Gregg DeLauney at 240-675-1228.
