The Lakeside High School Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate its seventh annual class of inductees on Saturday, March 22. Representing a cross-section of sports, and highpoints from Lakeside’s remarkable 60-plus year history of athletic achievements, the Class of 2025 inductees will be welcomed into the Hall of Fame with a red-carpet ceremony that will present them with a Hall of Fame jacket, medallion and plaque. Additionally, each of the 32 new inductees will be added to the Hall of Fame wall that includes all of the previous classes of inductees as well as plaques that showcase the sponsors and supporters that have stepped up to keep the hall growing since its launch in 2019.
Last year saw the undefeated 1972 Class 3A state championship Lakeside football team become the first-ever team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Honoring their historic season was a smashing success and this year Lakeside’s 1974 State Championship Soccer Team will get the spotlight with a new category that will enshrine Lakeside’s State Championship Gymnasts that produced nine-straight state titles from 1970-79.
John Kicklighter, a former principal of Lakeside-DeKalb from 1971-83, was inducted as a supporter for his key role in establishing the Vikings’ proud culture of athletic and academic excellence in the inaugural Class of 2019. The John Kicklighter Service Award was created after he entered the hall to be given to a person that was instrumental to Lakeside’s success off the field and this year’s recipients are Fred Manget (1969) and Chip Tarkenton (1978). In addition to the John Kicklighter Service Award, there is the Beth Cooley Cheerleading Award that is given each year to a cheerleader. The late Beth Cooley-Jordan—who passed away in 2017 after a long battle with brain cancer—was the recipient of the inaugural Cheerleading Award. This year, Class of 1981 Lakeside grad Melisa Holmes is the recipient.
Former Lakeside Track and Field coach Jerry McDaniel will enter the Hall of Fame as a coach, while Steve Daniel (1969) and Leigh Weathers Wilson (1989) come in as former track standouts. 1990 grad Kenny Allen captained his football, basketball and soccer teams during his Lakeside career and is joining the Hall as an athlete. Dan Duffy—who was also a three-sport athlete is entering as a wrestler for his impressive 66-8 career record and DeKalb County championships. Tennis standout Jody Andrade—who led the Vikings to a 1984 state title and Deena Burns Hollingsworth—a basketball standout and part of Lakeside’s first graduating class are each getting in. Amy Finkelstein Snider (1991), Gary McCrary (1973) and Tom Cronin (1970) join the hall this year as former soccer standouts at Lakeside.
Two golfers with Ben Raney (1976) and Lou West (1978) are represented in the Class of 2025. Three gymnasts—all from the 1970’s are included in this year’s class. This group features Gay Brown (1975), Debbie Brown Rupp (1973) and Amy Ginn Eubanks (1975). Lakeside’s baseball talent is well-represented this year with four inductees. This includes Brian Hannon (1976), Scott Maughon (1977), Bill Newsome (1983) and Bruno Williams (1987). Football will have the most inductees this year with eight new hall of famers—including Donnie Carroll (1973), Dave Davis (1978), Harry Michaels (1973), Bob Necessary (1971), Steve Necessary (1974), Boris Oden (1992), David Phenix (1981) and Jeff Wilson (1976).
To purchase tickets to this year’s Induction Ceremony, or to view each previous class of the Lakeside High School Sports Hall of Fame, please head to the Hall of Fame website!
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