VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WFXR/VSHOF) — The eight members of the 2023 Class of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Distinguished Virginian Award recipient were formally inducted on April 22 during a special ceremony.

Four athletes with local ties were inducted :

DeAngelo Hall, out of Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, VA became a 1st
team All-American at defensive back for Virginia Tech Football in the early
2000s. Drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 8th overall pick in the 1st round of
the 2004 NFL Draft, Hall would go on to play 14 NFL seasons with Atlanta, the
Oakland Raiders, and the Washington Commanders franchises. A three-time Pro
Bowl selection, Hall would record 43 interceptions, forced 11 fumbles, and score
10 defensive touchdowns throughout his career. He has previously been
inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame and has been recognized as
one of the Commander’s 90 Greatest Players of All-Time.

Shawn Moore, a Martinsville, VA native attended Martinsville High School
before committing to play football collegiately for the University of Virginia.
During his three seasons under center for the Cavaliers, Moore would rewrite the
offensive record books. Moore finished his career in 1990 holding 41 school,
ACC, and NCAA individual records. His 83 total touchdowns still stand as a
school record to this day. The 1990 ACC Player of the Year, led the Cavaliers
program to its first-ever national No. 1 ranking and finished fourth in the
Heisman voting in 1990. Moore’s career statistics include 6,629 passing yards and
55 touchdowns, and 1,268 rushing yards to go along with 28 touchdowns.

Bob Rotanz, came to Roanoke College in the mid 70’s and immediately enhanced
the Maroon’s rich lacrosse tradition. A three-time All-American during his time at
Roanoke, Rotanz is one of just two players in school history to earn National
Player of the Year honors, doing so in 1978. In the same year, Rotanz also took
home National Defensive Player of the Year and helped lead Roanoke College to
the NCAA Championship, by scoring the winning goal in the title game. Rotanz
is also a 2022 recipient of the Roanoke College medal, the highest honor awarded
by the institution.

Joe Montgomery, Distinguished Virginian Award from Brookville High School in Lynchburg, VA, was a standout center for William & Mary football in the 1970s. The 1973 All-American and 1985 William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame inductee has experienced success both on and off the field. His commitment to his alma mater and greater community has seen him appointed to the William & Mary Board of Visitors, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Virginia Retirement System Board of Trustees among others. In 2017 Montgomery was honored by the Rimington Trophy as the Gerald R. Ford Legends Award recipient. The award is presented to a former collegiate or professional center that, in addition to a standout football career, has also made significant contributions to the football and/or business communities, or through philanthropic endeavors. The award is presented to an individual who, by personal example, exemplifies the best ideals and purposes of sport exhibiting superior leadership qualities in education, athletics, business, and in the community.

Other inductees included:

Jimmye Laycock, originally from Hamilton, VA in Loudoun County, attended
Loudoun Valley High School earned 12 varsity letters, before heading to the
William & Mary where he would quarterback the Tribe football team in the late
1960’s. Following a decade as an assistant coach, Laycock returned to
Williamsburg in 1980, and would lead the football program for the next 39
seasons, amassing 249 wins, 7 conference championships, and 10 NCAA FCS
playoff appearances. Laycock has previously been inducted into the Hampton
Roads Sports Hall of Fame.

Francena McCorory, out of Hampton, VA, and Bethel High School, starred on the
indoor and outdoor tracks, where she set numerous VHSL indoor and outdoor
track and field records. Running for her hometown Hampton University Pirates,
McCorory would win three NCAA Championships in the 400-meter dash, and be
named a four-time NCAA All-American. Following college her success
continued on the international level where she would represent her country in
the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, bringing home gold both years
as a member of the 4×400 meter relay teams.

Jerry Ratcliffe has been a media fixture covering sports in Central Virginia, with
a focus on UVA athletics. Over four decades at the Daily Progress, Ratcliffe was
selected as Virginia Sportswriter of the Year four times and received numerous
other recognitions from the Associated Press Sports Editors Association, the
Virginia Press Association, the Football Writers of America, and the United
States Basketball Writers of America. Ratcliffe has also been recognized for his
golf coverage with the prestigious Earle Hellen Sports Media Award by the
Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America. Since 2018, he has managed and
provided content on UVA Athletics through his website, JerryRatcliffe.com

Sheila Trice-Myers, from Louisa County High School in Mineral, VA would
rewrite the Christopher Newport University and NCAA record books. During
her four years on the Peninsula, Trice would become one of the most decorated
athletes in NCAA Track and Field history, finishing her career with 32 All-American honors and 15 national championships. Her first national title came in 1987 as part of CNU’s winning 4×100m relay team. From that point on Trice would set the track on fire, winning four more national titles in 1988, six in 1989, and four in 1990. She remains the NCAA Division III record holder in the 55-
meter indoor hurdles.

Ryan Zimmerman, from Virginia Beach, found success at all levels of baseball.
The University of Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame inductee ranks in the top 10 in
multiple offensive categories in Cavaliers history. A 2005 All-ACC and All-American selection, Zimmerman became the first draft pick in Washington Nationals history when the franchise selected him 4th overall in the 2005 MLB entry draft. Over the next 16 seasons, Zimmerman would compile a career that would see him retire as the franchise leader in hits (1,846), home runs (284), RBI (1,061), and games played (1,799). Nicknamed “Mr. National”, the two time
National League All-Star, would help lead the Nationals to their first World Series title in 2019, and his no. 11 jersey has been retired by the club.