William and Mary Alumni Magazine | Spring 2008, Vol. 73, No. 3
Photo courtesy of The Minnesota Vikings
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Darren Sharper '97
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Seven of the Tribe's brightest athletic stars will join the William and Mary Athletic Hall of Fame on April 19, capping tremendous careers in their respective sports. The Hall of Fame inducts standout players from many sports, including those who have gone on to success in pro sports as well as those who have career achievements off the playing field.
Current Alumni Association president Libba Galloway '79 counts herself as a member, thanks to her performance as captain of the Tribe varsity tennis team. Other past inductees include basketball star Jim Kaplan '57 (of Kaplan Arena fame) and track and field standout Agnes W. Paschall '31, wife of College president Davis Paschall '32, M.A. '37.
Alumni honorees are nominated for "outstanding contribution to the College as a superior competitor in intercollegiate athletics." Former coaches and administrators are also eligible by "compiling a distinguished record" or by making "a long-term exemplary contribution to the Athletic Program through strong leadership." In order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, a competitor must have graduated at least 10 years prior to induction, and a coach or administrator must be dissociated with William and Mary Athletics for at least five years.
In 2008, no member is better known than Darren Sharper '97, safety for the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings. Sharper is the all-time Tribe leader in interceptions and return yards as well as the NFL's leading active player in interceptions with 51. In February, Sharper flew to Hawaii for his fourth appearance in the NFL's Pro Bowl. While at the College, Sharper was twice named All-American and was named an All-Conference player three times. Sharper earned conference honors as the defensive player of the year in 1996 as the College galloped to a 10-3 record, going deep into the playoffs.
Natalie Neaton '95 joins the group as a four-time All-American in women's soccer. In 1995, she won National Player of the Year honors during her senior year. She still holds William and Mary records for career goals, goals in a season, goals in a single match and points in a season.
On the hardwood, Thomas Jasper '71 was a major force for the Tribe's basketball team. In only 54 career games, Jasper scored 982 points; his average of 18.2 points per game is fifth on the College's all-time list. He was named Co-Southern Conference Player of the Year while being named to the conference's first team.
The Tribe's all-time leading scorer, Waughn Hughes '97 finished his collegiate soccer career with three CAA championships and the winningest season in school history. After winning 20 games in 1996, Hughes was named the team's most valuable player and the CAA Player of the Year. That year, he notched 24 goals, which is only one less than the entire Tribe's scoring total in the 10-5-4 1989 season.
With four consecutive CAA conference championships under her belt, College volleyball star Jennifer Noble Smith '90 was a legend beneath the net. In 1989, she was named the conference's Player of the Year after leading the Tribe to two visits in a row to the National Invitational Volleyball Championships. Recently retired head coach Debbie Hill named her as one of the top-five players in her 30 years of coaching.
David Williams '92, an accomplished gymnast, was also named to the Hall of Fame. His achievements on the pommel horse are still tied for the highest score -- 9.85 -- on William and Mary's all-time list. He was also a member of two Tribe teams that earned USAG National Academic Team Championships in 1991 and 1992.
Joining Sharper is his classmate and former teammate, Josh Beyer '97, standout offensive lineman for a Tribe football team that won the 1996 Yankee Conference championship in his senior year. Beyer opened holes for three of the top-four running backs in Tribe history and was a two-time first-team all-conference player.
The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Williamsburg on April 19. For more information, please contact Lisa Garwood, director of athletics special events, at 757.221.1599 or e-mail llgarw@wm.edu.
