Washington County Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2018

The six members of the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame who were inducted in the hall's 32nd class in 2018:

Joe Dietrich

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Dietrich, also known as 'Coach D,' has been making an impact on high school athletes since 1974. While attending Salisbury State College, he competed in football, wrestling and lacrosse. After graduating, he became an assistant wrestling coach at Smithsburg High School, before taking the helm in 1979.

“During his 40-year tenure at Smithsburg, the Leopards have won 327 dual meets, and since 1980, he has qualified a wrestler for the state tournament each season. At the time of induction, he had coached 136 region placewinners, 47 state placewinners, nine state champions and 81 county champions. Eleven wrestlers have graduated with 100 or more victories. In 2006, Joe was inducted into the Maryland State Wrestling Hall of Fame, and in 2011, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for lifetime service to wrestling. Joe has also officiated for the Washington County Wrestling Association and has held the rank of RJ1 as a USWA and AAU official. He was a co-founder of the Washington County Wrestling Club, where he was involved for 15 years. He also led the 1993 Cadet National Team that had Maryland's first individual champions in Freestyle and Greco.

“For the past 30 years, Joe has been the District 1 representative to the Maryland State Committee, where he was a driving force in establishing wrestle-backs and adding fifth- and sixth-place winners at the state tournament. “In 1990, he created Smithsburg's lacrosse program. Over 27 years, he compiled a 238-138 record. From 1995-99, the Leopards lost just seven games. Overall, the lacrosse team has won 13 Washington County titles, four MVAL titles, two WMLC banners and one 1A West title.

“After 44 years coaching three sports — lacrosse (27), wrestling (39-plus) and football (25) — covering 91 seasons, think about how many student-athletes have been influenced by 'Coach D.'”

Helen (Jessie) Mency

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Helen (Jessie) Mency graduated from North Hagerstown High School, where she participated in basketball and track and field. She was a member of the 1985 state championship and 1986 state runner-up basketball teams. During her high school career, she scored over 1,000 points, averaging 17.8 per game. She was a co-Washington County player of the year in 1986 and an honorable mention selection for the USA TODAY All-High School Girls Basketball Team. As a track and field athlete, she was a 100- and 200-meter state champion in 1984 and 1986. She made the all-county team all four years, winning three 100-meter county titles, four 200-meter county titles and one 400-meter county title. She won 29 major championships across basketball and track and field.

“Helen went on to Providence College on a full basketball scholarship. She became an integral part of the school's effort to build a solid women's program. She led the team in steals in three of her four years as a Friar, holding a single-game record of nine steals for 24 years. On offense, she scored 1,224 career points — tied for 18th in program history at the time of induction. She earned three All-Big East Tournament team honors. In 1989-90, she was a key player on the Big East championship team which advanced to the Sweet 16. After graduation, Helen remained at Providence as an assistant coach from 1991-93. She then returned to Washington County and continued coaching at Smithsburg High School and North Hagerstown, and was at South Hagerstown High School at the time of induction.”

Rachel (Bachtell) Miller

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: Miller guided the Smithsburg High School volleyball team to nine state championships in an 11-season span from 2009-19, setting the state record for volleyball coaching titles. It came on the heels of helping the Leopards claim the Maryland Class 1A title in 1998 as a senior outside hitter. She compiled a 259-75 record, a .775 winning percentage, during her 19-year coaching tenure.

She spearheaded the first Block Out Breast Cancer game in the county in 2004, and the Leopards volleyball community has gone on to raise more than $20,000 for breast cancer awareness.

Miller, a 1999 Smithsburg graduate, also was a standout in basketball and softball in high school. She went on to play at Hagerstown Community College, where she was a two-time all-conference selection in volleyball and a Maryland JUCO champ in tennis. At Salisbury University, she was a two-time all-conference volleyball honoree.

Jeff Scuffins

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “Jeff was a standout runner for North Hagerstown High School. He continued his career at Hagerstown Junior College. While there in 1981-82, he was an NJCAA national champion in the 3-mile run. In 1988, Jeff qualified for the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in the 10K. Also that year, he was a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier. In 1987, Scuffins won the Marine Corps Marathon in a course record of 2:14:01.”

Lisa Shives

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “At the time of her induction, Lisa had been a teacher in Washington County for 41 years, the athletic director at Clear Spring High School for 27 years and a head coach for 31 years.

“She was the head coach of the Clear Spring volleyball program for nine years, with her team reaching the Class 1A state final in 1992 and winning the state title with undefeated seasons in 1993 and 1994 — their undefeated streak ending in 1995 at 41 matches.

“Lisa also was the head tennis coach for 22 years. The girls team had undefeated seasons in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014, and the boys team was undefeated in 2012. While Clear Spring was in the MVAL, the girls won championships each year from 2008-13, and the boys won titles in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. Lisa was named Maryland District 1 Athletic Director of the Year in 2000, 2007 and 2018. While in the AD role, she introduced Character Counts and Pursuing Victory with Honor awards to Clear Spring High.”

John Weimer

According to the Washington County Sports Hall of Fame: “John Weimer has been officiating sports in Washington County for his entire adult life. He has been a basketball official for 48 years, from middle school to NCAA Division I. John has been in the top 10 of officials for WCBOA for the past 25 years. In his career, he has officiated 10 state girls basketball finals and five boys state finals. He has officiated college basketball games for 15 years, including Division I ACC, Big East, Big South, Colonial, American East and Northeast conference games. He worked one NJCAA championship at HJC.

“John has also been active as a softball umpire in Washington County for 17 years, working four Maryland high school state finals. He has 10 years' experience as a women's college umpire, including West Virginia, Northeast, Big South and Old Dominion conferences. He also has worked Maryland JUCO games.

“In addition, John has officiated soccer for 30 years — working six Maryland girls state finals and six Maryland boys state finals — and for 15 years for Mount St. Mary's men's and women's teams. He has officiated for 10 years at Division II and Division III levels, including one national championship at Essex Community College.

“John also began the varsity girls soccer program at Williamsport High School in 1995. His teams won two county championships and three regional titles, and reached three Maryland state finals. John was selected as Washington County soccer coach of the year in 2000.”