Wheaton High School Inducts Seven Into Their Hall of Fame

This year Wheaton High School formed their first Hall of Fame Committee to honor past athletes at Wheaton High School.  The committee is Chaired by Eric Zolkiewicz, teacher and Assistant Football Coach at Wheaton HS.  On Saturday, May 12 Wheaton High School held a dinner to induct their inaugural class into the school’s Hall of Fame.  Approximately 80 people were in attendance at the Wheaton American Legion to support their former classmates, friends or family members.  The event was emceed by Wheaton High School Athletic Director, Dr Maura Ryan.  The class of 2012 induction included:

Class 1972, Bill Cregar (Baseball, Football, Basketball) - Bill earned 8 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball while at Wheaton.  He earned “All County” in football and baseball, as well as “All Suburban” and “All State” in football.  He earned a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina where he was a two time Academic All American and graduated Cum Laude.  He is currently a dentist in New Jersey.

Class 1974, Jim Peterson (Cross Country, Track) – Jim was an outstanding cross country and track athlete.  He was the two time County champion in the mile and half mile in outdoor track, and still holds the record for fastest mile run in indoor track in the state of Maryland.  Jim went on to Georgetown University where he earned All American honors in the mile run, won the Rev Edmund Bunn and John M Gallagher Memorial Awards for outstanding cross country and track competitor.  He is also a member of the Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame.  Jim is the founder of Trips Inc. Special Adventures, which organizes trips for people with special needs.

Class 1976, Sherri Bleichner (Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball) – Sherri earned nine varsity letters in Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball at Wheaton High School.  She was elected both a five time captain and MVP of her teams, which included five undefeated seasons, seven division championships, and 29 consecutive victories over county opponents in basketball.  She was All County and All Met selection in basketball, and compiled a 30-3 pitching record to go with a .725 career batting average in softball.  She was the first female athlete in the state of Maryland to earn a full athletic scholarship to college.  At Ohio State she pitched a school record consecutive no hitters and was a scholar athlete for three years.  She is currently a senior financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial serving over 500 clients.

Class 1981, Tony Edwards (Football, Basketball, Baseball) – Tony earned eight varsity letters as a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams at Wheaton.  He received All County and All League honors in all three sports, including honorable mention All Met in baseball.  Tony earned a football scholarship to the University of Maryland, where he was a three year starter at left tackle, helping the team to three ACC Championships and played in four bowl games.  He continues to coach high school football, where he has won four tstate championships and is considered one of the best offensive line coaches in Maryland.  Tony currently owns his own drywall & paint company.

Class, 1998 Leslie Walker (Basketball) – Leslie was a four year varsity starter in basketball at Wheaton High School.  She led the team to consecutive state championships, including 50 consecutive victories.  She was twice selected as a first team All Met basketball player and was the All Met Player of the Year in 1998.  She earned a scholarship to Georgetown University where she was four year starter and then continued her career professionally in the European Basketball League.  She is currently a Policy Advisor for the Department of State.

1964-77 Pat Barry (Coach, Administrator) – Pat Barry coached a total of 21 teams at Wheaton High School.  During that time, her teams never had a losing season.  Her basketball team won 49 consecutive games including two trips to the state tournament.  Pat served a director of Montgomery County Athletics for 20 years, was the President of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletics Association, as well as the director of the MPSSAA girls basketball, field hockey, and softball tournaments.  She has received the Joy Effort Award from the National Association for Sport & Physical Education Teachers, and is a member of the Maryland Athletic Directors and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.  She has been instrumental in promoting gender equity at both the county and state level.

1966-07 Dave Moquin (Coach) – Dave served as varsity wrestling coach and jv football coach for 40 years at Wheaton.  He has been a member of the Maryland wrestling tournament committee since 2000.  He won Montgomery Journal Newspaper Coach of the Year twice and was inducted into the MPSSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.  In 2005 he was awarded the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Service award.  Dave participated twice as a Scorer and Timer at NCAA Wrestling Championships at the University of Maryland.  Dave now retired but is coaching JV Wrestling at Stephen Decatur High School in Ocean City.

Unfortunately two of the inductees where unable to attend, Leslie Walker and Jim Peterson.  Many longtime friends, families and colleagues were there to share stories and memories of their days at the school.  Among them was Irene Mallery, former Wheaton Athletic Director who retired in 2006 after 36 years at the school.  Since then she has begun the Irene Mallery Fund to help pay for deserving student athletes at Wheaton High School attend camps, clinics and participate in private leagues outside the high school season.   Anyone interested in contributing can call the school at 301-929-2080.