Wheeler Athletic Hall of Fame to induct five new members

Wheeler High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame will welcome five new members this weekend.

Matt Haynes, Class of 1985, was a state champion in track and field and was a varsity wrestler and football player at Wheeler.

The inductees will be presented between varsity basketball games against Kennesaw Mountain Friday, around 7:20 p.m.

Induction will take place Saturday with photos at 9:15 a.m., breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and the ceremony at 10 a.m. in the Wheeler Cafe.

Tickets for the breakfast and ceremony will be $10 and can be purchased at the door. For questions, contact Brittny Jones at brittny.jones@cobbk12.org.

The 2024 inductees, with brief bios that can be found in full on the Hall of Fame’s Facebook page:

Ray Stang, Swimming, Class of 1968
There was no Wheeler Swim Team until he represented the school in the Georgia High School Swimming Championships. In the 1967 State Champion Meet, he finished 2nd in the 100-yard breaststroke. In the 1968 championship meet, Stang finished 1st in the 100-yard breaststroke, becoming Wheeler’s first state champion in any athletic competition. He also finished 3rd in the 100-yard freestyle. Ray’s achievements earned the Wheeler HS Swim Team a 7th place finish in the State for the 1967-68 school year, and Ray WAS the swim team, as he was the only swimmer.

Terry Poor, Football, Class of 1968
During his three years at Wheeler, Terry played in every football game as a starter on both offense and defense. His senior year, Terry was selected by his teammates as a permanent captain for the WHS Football Team.

After graduating college, Terry returned to Wheeler to teach and coach. As an assistant coach on Corky Kell’s football staff, he first coached junior varsity football for two undefeated seasons before being elevated to defensive coordinator for the varsity football team which was a perennial state playoff contender.

Matt Haynes, Track and Field, Class of 1985
After setting a new Wheeler freshman pole vaulting record, and winning the Cobb JV County Meet, with Steve Brown just one jump behind, the Wheeler pole vaulting “dynasty,” that started with Randy Eaton and David Swanson four years earlier was reborn. Over the next three years, Matt broke the rest of Randy Eaton’s Wheeler pole vaulting records, along with a few meet records.

He won State his junior year, and barely missed setting a new State record at 14’2. His senior year, he missed a jump at 14’2” hitting the bar on the way up and placed 2nd at State. Haynes also won the JV Cobb County wrestling title in the 167 lbs. weight class and lettered three times in football.

Jermareo Davidson, Basketball, Class of 2003
Jermareo played basketball at Wheeler for one season and broke the single season blocks record, as well as the record for rebounds. That year, Wheeler also won its 3rd State Championship. Jermareo was selected to play in the prestigious Michael Jordan High School All American game. He played collegiately at the University of Alabama and professionally in the NBA and overseas.

Dale Carey, Baseball, Class of 2010
Dale Carey was a member of the Wheeler baseball team for four years, and he also played football for the Wildcats for three years. During his senior year, he played centerfield and batted .398 with six home runs. He was recognized by the Atlanta Braves 400 Club as one the top players in Georgia.

In 2010, he was named Player of the Year, he was selected for two All Region Teams and All Cobb County Teams. He was also named to the Georgia Dugout Club All State Team. Carey played at the University of Miami and was in professional baseball for six years before coaching at the high school level.

 

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