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Bateman, Hartline, Wood chosen for Hall of Fame
Three athletes who excelled at Smoky Mountain High School have been selected for induction into the Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame.
The class of 2006 includes Lisa Bateman, Albert Hartline and Salem Woody Wood.
The 14th annual banquet and induction ceremony is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at L’il Harvey’s in Dillsboro Court.
Tickets are $20 and may be obtained from Hall of Fame board members, at Sylva Insurance Agency or by calling 586-2512.
Smoky Mountain’s 1993 state 3-A volleyball championship team will be honored.
The program will also include the awarding of scholarships to county high school seniors and the presentation of a Patron Award.
Donations are being sought to help defer expenses. Memberships are $25 and sponsorships are $325, but any level of financial support is acceptable. Checks should be made payable to Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame and mailed to Sports Editor, P.O. Box 307, Sylva, NC 28779.
Following is a brief look at the inductees:
Lisa Bateman – A 1995 Smoky Mountain graduate, Bateman was part of outstanding volleyball and basketball teams for the Lady Mustangs. She played for the 1992 and 1993 state volleyball champions as well as the regional basketball and volleyball champions in 1994.
She earned all-conference honors in both sports and was conference basketball player of the year in 1994 when she also was named All-Western North Carolina. She was named the most valuable player of the 1995 Blue-White All-Star Game.
Bateman finished her career as the school’s all-time leading rebounder and also scored more than 1,000 points.
She went on to play at Liberty University and was a member of two Lady Flames teams that won Big South Conference championships and participated in the NCAA Tournament.
Bateman lives in Raleigh and works for BB&T.
Albert Hartline – Hartline began his wrestling career at Sylva-Webster High School and was part of the first graduating class at Smoky Mountain (1989) following the consolidation of S-W and Cullowhee. As a senior, he became the only person from Jackson County to win a state individual wrestling championship.
Hartline posted a 24-5 mark as a sophomore and was 30-2 as a junior when he won the Western 1-A/2-A Regionals and placed fourth in the state tournament.
Hartline had no trouble going from being a Golden Eagle to a Mustang for the 1988-89 season as he rolled to a 41-1 record. After receiving all-conference honors, he swept through the Western Regionals and the State 1-A/2-A Meet. He was named all-state by Mat News.
Hartline still lives in Jackson County and works for Western Builders.
Salem Woody Wood – Wood, who graduated from Smoky Mountain in 1998, is generally considered the best women’s soccer player ever produced in the county. She was a versatile athlete, who took part in diving, track, cross country, volleyball and basketball, but it was in soccer where she excelled.
A three-time all-conference soccer selection, Wood was twice named league player of the year. She was voted All-Western North Carolina as a senior.
Wood set nine school record, and six of those still stand. They include most goals (six) and points (12) in a game, most consecutive games with at least one goal (10) and at least one point (12), and assists in a career (38) and a season (12).
Wood played collegiately at Milligan and helped her team to three conference titles and a spot in the 2002 NAIA Tournament. A two-time all-conference selection, she led the team in points (24) in 2001. She ranks among the school’s top five in games played, games started, goals, assists and points.
Wood lives in Hickory and is a homemaker.
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