The 2024 Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Please note venue change to the Dining Hall & Performance Center.
The Maclay Athletics Hall of Fame was formally established in 2014 to honor the rich history and traditions of the Marauder Athletic program. It serves as a means of recognizing, preserving and honoring the athletes, coaches, teams and individuals who have made significant contributions to the school’s athletic programs. The Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of these individuals and teams who are worthy of recognition and serve as examples for others to emulate.
The inductees are honored each year at an all-school assembly on the Friday of Homecoming & Alumni Reunion Weekend. They are also recognized prior to the Homecoming football game that evening and at a special luncheon ceremony on Saturday of homecoming weekend.
Nominations for the Class of 2025 will be accepted through April 15, 2025
2024
- Jennifer Engelbrecht Barbarino
- Tom Carlson
- Callie Corbin Langford Reese
- 2005 Girls Cross Country Team
Jennifer Engelbrecht Barbarino
Upon graduation, Jenny swam for Florida State University as a scholarship athlete where she received the Most Improved Athlete Award 1995-1996, was a Top 16 Finalist ACC Swimmer in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, and was named NCAA top 30 team in the country every year, and ACC top 4 team every year.
After college Jenny married Russ Barbarino and had three sons, Kyle, Bryce, and Ryan. She continued to spend most of her days in the pool. She would come back to Maclay for the Denny Bunn Classic, and she had a wonderful career teaching children to swim as well as adults of all ages. She was always happiest in the water. In 2020 Jenny was diagnosed with sarcoma and after a courageous battle, two open heart surgeries, and aggressive chemotherapy treatments, Jenny passed away in May of 2022.
Tom Carlson
Carlson had two 30-win seasons and received Coach of the Year honors in 1979 and 1986, but it was his huge impact on his students and players that really made his legacy. Many players came to Maclay specifically to play basketball for him because of his reputation for being a great coach and person who cared about his players, many of whom he maintains a close relationship with today.
In addition to coaching basketball, Carlson also coached the golf team and taught driver’s ed. After his 11 years at Maclay, he went on to coach at Florida State University for the men’s basketball program. During his time with FSU, he helped lead the team to five NCAA appearances, three NIT Tournaments, an Elite 8, Sweet 16 Finals, and 32 NCAA tournaments. Coach Carlson also worked for the Seminole Boosters and as vice president raised over 60 million dollars for the University. He has recently retired after 39 years with FSU and spends as much time as possible on the golf course.
Callie Corbin Langford Reese
Callie Corbin Langford Reese was a six-year varsity soccer starter as a goalkeeper for the Marauders where she enjoyed a standout career. In 2010, she led the girls’ soccer team to the Final Four after a decade of being absent from the prestigious championship. During her time on the Maclay Varsity soccer team, Callie Corbin held the school record for season shutouts (14), had 116 career starts, was a two-time All-Big Bend selection in 2009 and 2010, was team MVP and All-Big Bend Player of the Year in 2010, and was named to the 2A All-State 2010. In addition, Callie Corbin was named a Wendy’s Heisman Nominee in 2010, and was selected to participate at the Senior All-Star Showcase where she was named Most Valuable Player.
After graduation, Callie Corbin signed with the University of Georgia as a scholar athlete. While at UGA, Callie Corbin was named SEC Scholar Athlete three years in a row. Coach Paul Dickson says, “Callie Corbin elevated us to where we were consistently competing with the big, local schools. As a captain, she nurtured young players and made sure they felt a part of the team. She was a tremendous leader and representative for Maclay on and off the field.” Callie Corbin got her master’s in counseling from the University of Maryland in 2016 and is now living with her husband Andrew Reese in Wichita Falls Texas with their 5-year-old dog Murray.
2005 Girls Cross Country Team
2023
Daniel Bowen
Daniel Bowen helped lead the boys’ soccer team to great heights during his extraordinary high school career. Besides being one of the best offensive forces the program has ever seen during his four years playing soccer, Bowen also competed on the track and field teams two seasons, as well as weightlifting, diving, and basketball team for a season. As a track athlete, Bowen’s 4x400m relay team won the state title his senior year helping the Marauders to a team State Championship in 2002 and a diver,, he was the District Champion his junior season.
A four-time starter on the varsity soccer squad, Bowen led the team in scoring in both his junior and senior years with a combined 78 goals. His career total includes 86 goals, including a record 52 in his final year at Maclay. He is also tied for the record for most goals scored in a game (7), alongside Molly Jones. In his senior year, he was named MVP of the North vs South All-Star Game, where he scored three goals, his accolades did not end there. He was also named an All-Big Bend player and to the All-State team. While Bowen was at Maclay, the soccer team made four successive Regional appearances, including State runner-up in 2002.
After graduating from Maclay, Bowen played D-1 soccer at St. Bonaventure University in New York for two years before returning to FSU. In 2019, he had the unique experience to switch sports and play professional football for the Tucson Sugarskulls of the Indoor Football League. Bowen now resides in Denver where he was named 2022 Rookie of the Year as a defenseman for the Denver Bulldogs of the United States Australian Football League, and competed in the USAFL Division 1 National Championship game against the Austin Crows.
Bowen has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics. After college, he was a key employee in a successful startup acquisition by Apple, was part of Apple’s 2015 launch of Apple Music, and most recently has worked for Lexis Nexis and Facebook.
Katy Gimbel
During her time at Maclay, Katy Gimbel made her mark in numerous sports with her outstanding athleticism. She earned eight varsity letters playing for the Marauder softball, golf, and basketball teams all while being active in Anchor Club and the National Honor Society.
In her senior year, she was named to the 2nd All-State team and the 1st All-Big Bend team for basketball. She recorded an incredible 3.7 assists per game and led the team in total points scored (481), scoring average (15.1), rebounds (7.4), and free-throw percentage (80%). At the time, she set the school and county record for three-pointers and was the second top 3-point shooter in the state. Gimbel also reached the 1,000-point milestone to cap off an impressive basketball career.
In addition to being a great basketball player, Gimbel also excelled on the golf course. She was named to the 1st All Big Bend team in her 9th, 11th, and 12th grade years. She also won the individual City Championship in her junior year and the individual district championship in her senior year.
After graduating from Maclay in 2001, Gimbel played basketball for Loyola University for a year before transferring back to FSU. As a Seminole she helped lead her Delta Zeta sorority to the IM championship in 2004.
Precious Hall
Very few people have dominated the sport of basketball the way Precious Hall has. When Hall was at Maclay, she quickly became an offensive dynamo, scoring 1,000 points in under two years. From 2010- 2012 alone, she scored over 1,400 points and recorded 225 total steals, 493 total rebounds, and 36 total blocks. She also served as team captain and was named Most Valuable Player and Maclay School Team Outstanding Athlete. In 2011, she was named Big Bend Player of the Year, and to the 1st All Big Bend team in 2012. According to her coach, Rapheal Harris, “Precious Hall was a phenomenal basketball player. A great competitor and student-athlete. One of the top student-athletes in this area.” Hall’s tremendous basketball career did not end there. She played D-1 at James Madison University, becoming one of the most decorated players in program history. In her senior year, Hall set the single season record for points with 841. She is also second all-time in career scoring, with an astounding 2,347 points. In 2017, Hall won both the CAA and ECAC Player of the Year awards. Hall also played professional basketball in Sweden, Spain, and Ecuador. Overall, Hall has a long list of achievements throughout her incredible career as a basketball star.
Hall is currently a 3rd grade math and science teacher and enjoys coaching girls’ basketball. Regarding her Hall of Fame induction, Hall said, “It’s an absolute honor to have my name next to some of the best athletes that this school has seen.”
Ross McMillan
When Ross McMillan was at Maclay, he exemplified what it means to not only be a great athlete, but a great leader as well. McMillan attended Maclay for six years, playing basketball and running on the track & field and cross-country teams. As a senior, McMillan served as captain and helped lead the Marauder track & field team to the State title in 2003. His coach, Gary Droze said, “(Winning State) could never have happened without Ross setting a tone of relentless determination.” In 2002, McMillan won the State Champion in the 4x400m and was runner-up in the 800m and his senior year, he was the 1600m State Champion, 4x400m State Champion and 800m runner-up. McMillan still owns three school records that have not been broken in 20 years.
Besides the amazing impact Ross made on the track, he was equally as successful in his student life. He was elected President of the Student Government his senior year and was named the Most Outstanding Freshman in 2000, the Most Outstanding Sophomore in 2001, and the Most Outstanding Senior in 2003.
McMillan would continue his running career at Morehouse College, where he still holds the school record for the 4x400m event and is second All-Time for the 800m. McMillan was named All Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Performer multiple times and graduated Summa Cum Laude in Biology. After his time at Morehouse, McMillan went on to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine where he graduated from the Medical Scientist Training program with an MD and PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (cancer research). He also completed his Residency and Chief Residency in internal medicine and is currently completing training as a Chief Fellow in Gastroenterology at the University of Chicago. In 2021, he was featured in a podcast along with a fellow physician to talk about their work with the Community Champions program, which connects medical residents to South Side neighborhoods of Chicago, where they provide care and service and learn more about community health needs.
1986 Girls Softball Team
Roster: Reyn Anderson, Suzi Brown-Vazquez, Sarah Nan Cherry Haney, Tracy Fellenz Kammler, Lesley Langston Proctor, Cameron Lewis Barton, Loraine McDaniel Zaidan, Rhea McGinnis, Amanda Mellon, Debbie Miles, Dr. Mary N. Mitchell (Molly), Katherine Moore Reed, Deanie Poitevent Richardson, Laura Ramay Garrett, Mary Shovlain, Margaret Smith Lamb, Tracey Taylor Goddard, Mary Alice Wadsworth Lee and Jeanne Wilcox Ware. Coaches: Head Coach Kim Googe Boatright, and Assistant Coach Mark Wheeler
Under the leadership of first-year All Big-Bend Coach of the Year Kim Googe, the 1986 softball team exemplified what it means to be a Maclay Marauder through their hard work, perseverance, and determination. After losing the season opener 0-5 to Rickards, the team rebounded and steamrolled the
competition, finishing the regular season with only one other loss. In the State semifinal matchup against powerhouse Fort Lauderdale Westminster, Maclay dominated the entire game in a 17-1 rout. The Marauder then set their sights on the final obstacle: Lake Butler County Union. The team was hungry to win the State Championship, having lost in the Final Four the year prior. The game was deadlocked until the sixth inning when the Marauders erupted with five runs and then held on late to win the game and the Championship with a 9-7 victory.
The team had numerous multi-sport athletes, including four-sport stars Loraine McDaniel, Margaret Smith, and Cameron Lewis who were all named All-State in softball.. These three, plus teammate Deanie Poitevent, actually defeated Pensacola Catholic in tennis to qualify for the state tennis championship in the Tennis State Meet before driving across town to suit up for the softball game. This band of 19 girls were a tight-knit group who displayed resilience, determination and a ton of athleticism, and were prime examples of what it means to be Marauders.
2022
Kara Newell Mathias
Kara Newell Mathias competed on eight state championship teams (four in cross country and four in track and field) and was a varsity member for both cross country and track for six years. Individually, she won two State Championships, one in the 1600m and one in the 3200m. At the same meet, Mathias recorded the fastest 3200m of any classification, making her the overall fastest at the state championships. In addition to her track success, Mathias was honored with six All Big Bend First Team honors for cross country. From 1997-2002, she was the only scoring member of all eight state championship teams across both cross country and track and field. She competed in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Cross Country Championship where she finished second overall and led the North team to a victory. Mathias also captained the 2001 state champion cross country team as well as the 2000 state runner-up.
Coach Neil Sheppard
It’s safe to say that any team coached by Neil Sheppard, no matter what sport, excelled. From the soccer field to the fairway, Sheppard could find the best in his athletes, which resulted in numerous state championship births and countless district and regional championships. During Sheppard’s tenure, the girls’ soccer team won eight district championships in a row. In addition to the team’s district dominance, Sheppard coached the team to three regional championships – including a set of back-to-back wins in 1997-98 and 1998-1999 seasons. In both seasons, the team also reached the Final Four, and in the 1997-1998 season, they brought home the state championship. In addition to the team’s success, Sheppard was recognized as Big Bend Coach of the Year three times. He was named 3A State of Florida Coach of the Year once, and the NCSAA Umbro Girls High School Soccer Rankings placed Maclay as the 10th best team in America. Yet, Sheppard’s success didn’t end on the soccer field; he also excelled as the varsity boys’ golf coach. Under his direction, boys’ golf won four District Championships as well as a City Championship. His teams won two Regional Championships and traveled to the state finals four times (two times for the team and two times for individuals), including a state runner-up in Hudson Swafford, who played collegiate golf at the University of Georgia and has been a member of the PGA Tour since 2014. Sheppard also won All Big Bend Coach of the Year in 2003.
Lee Williams
Throughout his high school career, Lee Williams dominated on the Marauder football field and track team. As a multi-sport athlete, he set ten school records, all of which are still in the record books today. Williams garnered much recognition for his athletic prowess and was named Maclay track and field MVP and All-Big-Bend 1st Team member three times. At the FHSAA state championships his sophomore year, Williams accumulated a school-record 34 points, singlehandedly outscoring all but seven competing schools. He followed that performance up at the next year's state meet, where he earned 31 points and helped Maclay finish as state runner-up. He medaled a total of 14 times over his four years, placing him as the second most decorated member in the history of the Maclay boys' track and field program. However, Williams's achievements extended far beyond the track. His talents extended to the gridiron where he helped put a young Marauder football program on the map. During his football career, Williams set records for most yards in one season (2,184), most yards in a career (2,606), most rushing touchdowns in a season (28), most rushing touchdowns in a career (32), and most yards per carry in a season (13.7). In 2011, Williams helped the Marauders win the inaugural North Florida Football Conference title. Williams graduated from Maclay in 2012 as one of the most successful athletes in Maclay history. His athletic and academic accomplishments earned him a dual-sport scholarship to attend Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
1973 Boys Basketball Team
In Maclay’s very short history at the time, the boys’ varsity squad became the first athletic team in school history to finish a season undefeated. Furthermore, the team won the inaugural Meridian Road Challenge (I.e. Maclay versus North Florida Christian). This set the stage for a major rivalry in the years to come. Ric Stoutamire led the team in scoring and was named All Big Bend. In addition to a perfect season, three players went on to play for the first Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team in Tallahassee. Those players were Ric Stoutamire, Allen Long, and Mark Cartee. Members of the team include: Coach Jack Kelley, Ric Stoutamire, Tom Cassedy, Charles Belvin, Byron Underwood, Holt Graves, Mike Lea, Allen Long, Mark Cartee, Jeff Fields, and Richard Dozier. Stephen Berry was team manager.
2019
Matthew Barr
Matthew Barr was an unquestionable leader of the 1990 baseball team. Batting .571 average with 43 RBI’s, Barr earned 2nd Team All-State in his junior year and 1st Team All-State in his senior year. He set school records in batting average, home runs, and RBI’s. Barr continued his baseball career at Georgia Tech, where he graduated with a BS in Management in 1994 and he earned his JD from Florida State in 1997. While at Georgia Tech, he was a part of the 1994 College World Series runner-up team, and he earned the student-athlete award for the team from 1992-1994. Additionally, he earned ACC Academic Honor Roll. Matt currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children.
Sean Culliton
Sean Culliton was a member of the Maclay Varsity Swim Team and obtained many recognitions and awards during his Marauder swim career. A well-known swimmer in the Tallahassee area, Culliton was District Champion 1982 in the 50 free and 100 fly, and City Champion in the 50 free that same year. His success led him to be named All-Big Bend in 1982 and 1983. He went on to place at the State Championship in the 50 free and 100 fly in 1983 and was a member of the State Champion 400 free relay team in 1983. After his senior season, Culliton was named an All-American as well as Maclay’s Most Valuable Player and Team Captain. After graduating from Maclay, Sean Culliton attended the University of Florida (‘88) and Florida State University College of Law (‘93).
Haley Kole
Haley Kole led the Marauder volleyball team to four straight Final Four appearances in the state tournament, was named MVP for the squad, and was twice named the Most Outstanding Maclay Female Athlete in a team sport. She was a three-time All-Big Bend Volleyball Player of the Year on top of being an All-Big Bend first-team member for all four years of high school. She earned Prep Volleyball High School All-American Highest Honorable Mention, 2012 Under Armour High School All-American Honorable Mention (top 100 in the country), two-time Florida Gatorade Player of the Year finalist, and MVP of the 2012 Florida Coaches Association All-Star Game. Haley earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Virginia where she was a four-year starter and was voted team captain twice. She also etched her name into the Cavalier record book for career kills. Haley is now completing her third year of law school at Florida State University.
Jenni Williamson
Jenni Williamson was an outstanding multi-sport varsity athlete for Maclay and continued her accomplishments at the collegiate level. Though she earned eight varsity letters in soccer, softball, and volleyball, it was volleyball that was her passion. Jenni was an elite setter and high scorer for the Marauders all four years of her high school career and helped lead Maclay to four Final Four appearances. A two-time Big Bend Player of the Year and All-Big Bend First Team selection, “the quarterback” captained the team to a State Championship title in 1996, was named Dairy Farmers Player of the Year, FACA Player of the Year, and MVP of the volleyball team her senior year. Jenni went on to play at the University of Montevallo and Jacksonville State University where she graduated in 2000.
Boys Cross-Country State Championship Squad
Since the inception of the Florida High School Athletic Association in 1947, only one school has won five consecutive state championships in Cross-Country – the Maclay Marauders. From 1998-2002, these teams set the bar for all other programs in the state, averaging a 65-point victory over the five-year span. Peaking in 2002, the Marauders beat the top programs from every classification, affixing themselves at the top of the heap in the state of Florida by winning the state championship by 107 points, the largest margin of victory ever.
2018
Bruce Irvin
Over Coach Bruce Irvin’s 38 years at Maclay, a sports empire was built. During his tenure, Maclay had 34 State Championships, 20 State Championship Runners-Up, and countless city, district, and regional titles. In addition, Maclay won the Fred E. Rozelle Sportsmanship Scholarship Award four times and was named Athletic Program of the Year ten times. After retiring in 2012, Irvin was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Hall of Fame and named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s Athletic Director of the Year in 2013.
Stefanie Kurgatt
While at Maclay, Stefanie Kurgatt went undefeated for five straight years in the State Track Championships in her specialty, the 800 meters. In the entire history of FHSAA, only one other track athlete has won more consecutive titles. With seven total individual track state titles, Kurgatt holds the most titles of any Maclay athlete, male or female. In addition to her 800m titles, she also had track state titles in the 1600m, 4x400m, and twice in the 4x800m. She was also the Cross-Country State Runner-Up. Not surprisingly, Kurgatt also broke four school records by running a 2:10 in the 800m, 4:49 in the 1600m, 10:33 in the 3200m, and 17:47 in the 5k, all of which still stand today. She also had the sixth fastest mile time in all of Florida. After graduating from Maclay, Kurgatt attended Georgetown University on a full scholarship where she graduated from Georgetown with a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management/Policy and a minor in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
Blake Miles
Blake Miles was an all-star basketball standout for the Maclay Marauders from 1983-1987. He was a four-year varsity starter where he recorded over 25 career triple-doubles. A three-time MVP, Miles helped lead his team to four straight winning seasons including three district finals and an appearance in the 1986 regional finals where the Marauders lost to the eventual state champions Grand Ridge. He was named All-State and All-Big Bend, recorded 13 triple-doubles, and was ranked in the top 100 juniors in the country by Hoop Scoop Magazine. Miles was also selected to the Governor’s Cup and King of the Bluegrass All-Tournament Teams named a McDonalds All-American Honorable Mention, listed among the top 45 small forwards in the country by Cage Newsletter, and played on Team Florida.
Danny Pellegrino
Danny Pellegrino had a stellar athletic career in both the high school and collegiate levels. During his freshman year at Maclay, he was a four-sport athlete participating in track, cross country, swimming, and crew. However, he spent the rest of his high school years focusing on track where he went on to set numerous school records that remain unbroken today, including the pole vault. Besides excelling in the pole vault,Pellegrino also participated in the 110 m hurdles, long jump, 4x400m, and 300m hurdles. As a senior, he set the Florida High School State Record for the pole vault and was State Champion in multiple other events from 2000 to 2002. Named Junior All-American in the pole vault (6th in the country), Pellegrino helped lead his team to State Championships in 2000 and 2002 where he scored in multiple events. At the collegiate level, Pellegrino earned a track scholarship at Georgetown University where he was the Bulldog’s top pole vaulter at the 2003 Big East Conference Championships and is still listed as Georgetown’s #3 all-time indoor pole vaulter and in the top 10 in the outdoor pole vault record.
2005 Boys’ Basketball Team
The Marauders went on to win 21 games in a row and finished undefeated during the regular season. The excitement continued with first district title since 1979 and only the second district title in Maclay basketball history. After soaking up the District win, the team hosted and won the first regional home game in the school’s basketball program history. The Marauders were headed to the State playoffs. The “Dream Year” continued with a first-round victory over Palmer Trinity but they would be stopped just short of the ultimate prize when they met the Apache team of Arlington Country Day. Arlington, a team with six Division 1 signees, ended the Marauder’s season by defeating Maclay 55-33 in the State Championship final. The 2005 Boys’ Basketball Team wasn’t just a great team. They were a team that changed the culture of sports at Maclay. Team Members: Todd Behrman, Kirby Bissell, Michael Burchfield, Brennon Clayton, Casey Clayton, Kevin Davey, Josh Hoffman, Kyle Jones, Chad Lancaster, Chase Lancaster, Pat Mullane, Andrew Rutledge, David Stewart, Drew Teaf, Christopher Thompson. Coaches: Mike McGrotha (Head Coach), Barry Golden (Assistant), Bob Boyd (Assistant) Statistician: Whitney Smith
2017
Lori Bowen
Lori Bowen was an amazing multi-sport athlete for Maclay School before graduating in 2005. As an 8th grader, she set a scoring record for goals in a single season on the varsity soccer team and was also a varsity diver for the Marauders that same year. In high school, Lori joined the weightlifting and then the track and field team where she truly excelled. Over her career, she claimed 25 individual track and field championships and 15 runner-up titles. Her events included the triple jump, 200 meter, 4x400 meter relay, and pole vault. Lori’s accolades include being a three-time state pole vault champion and breaking the county and city pole vault records which earned her All-American honors her last two seasons at Maclay. She went on to have an accomplished athletic and academic career at the University of Florida where she graduated with a degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology.
Brian Cashin
Brian Cashin had a stand-out high school career for the Marauder basketball team where he was a five-year varsity letter-winner. He held the record for the most consecutive games started, was an all-time leading scorer, and led Tallahassee all-time scorers with over 2,200 career points. A three-time All-Big Bend selection, Brian led his 1997 squad to the Final Four, Maclay’s first trip back to the state championship since 1978. A three-time MVP, Brian was also named All-State, selected to Team Florida, and represented the state at the Adidas All-American game. After graduating in 1997 from Maclay, Brian went on to play for DePaul University where his team made several NCAA appearances.
Mark Gargiulo
Mark Gargiulo was selected as the Hall of Fame coach for 2017 for his remarkable career at the helm of the Maclay swim program. Mark joined Maclay in 1980 as a history teacher and swim coach. For the next 16 years, he led Maclay to 12 city championships, 17 district titles, and 14 top 10 finishes at the state championship. After stepping away from coaching in 1997, he took over the program again in 2003 after the passing of Denny Bunn, then Maclay’s head swim coach and friend. Overall, Mark coached 21 All-Americans and 10 All-American relay teams during his tenure. He was also named the area’s Coach of the Year an impressive 15 times. In 2016, Mark retired after 35 years at Maclay.
Jason Goltz
Swimmer, Jason Goltz was the first 7th-grade district champion at Maclay after winning the 200 individual medley in 1990. He went on to repeat the title for the next five years in a row. A six-time All-Big Bend selection and three-time Swimmer of the Year for the Marauders, Jason’s presence in the pool helped strengthen the successful reputation of the Maclay swim program. His records in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke as well as his team records in both the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay all still stand today. Jason was also as impressive in the classroom being named one of the prestigious National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists. Once graduating Maclay in 1996, Jason attended LSU where he swam for the Tigers and competed for the US Swim team. Jason now lives in Bradenton with his wife and daughter and is an orthodontist.
1986 Boys and Girls Swim Team
The 1986 Boys and Girls Swim Team will be inducted for their monumental year in Maclay Swimming history. Under the direction of Coach Mark Gargiulo, the team dominated the area pools defeating Leon, Lincoln, Rickards, and Godby, to win the city and district championships. The boys’ team finished the season 6-1 losing only to the national runner-up and swim powerhouse Bolles. The team finished third at state and broke a 10-year-old record in the 400 free relay. They were also ranked as high as 6th in the nation by the Swim World Magazine. The girls’ team finished the season 7-0 and 3rd in the state championship. The National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association ranked the Marauders the 3rd best team in the nation. The 1986 squad had 12 members who were named All-American and one swimmer named honorable mention All-American placing Maclay on the map as an elite program in the of Florida and one of the most decorated Maclay athletic teams in history.
2016
Tim Ashcroft
Coach Ashcroft built a reputable Marauder program that reached great heights. In his first season, Maclay made it to the state tournament for the first time and later repeated in an amazing three-year run in 1991, 1992, and 1993 taking state titles in 1991 and again in '93. During his tenure, Ashcroft was named the Florida High School Activities Coach of the Year and twice named Coach of the Year by the Tallahassee Democrat. Coach Ashcroft produced many players who continued their baseball careers at the college and professional levels.
Billy McHugh
McHugh Billy McHugh was the first back-to-back Most Outstanding Male Athlete for Maclay School. He won eight varsity MVP awards and served as a captain for nine teams while earning 18 varsity letters in soccer, baseball, basketball, tennis, and cross country/ track. McHugh was a five-time All-State player in basketball (1979), soccer (1978,1979), and cross country (1978,1979).
Nick Meros
Nick Nick Meros was a three-sport athlete from 1999-2005. He earned 13 Varsity letters during his career: 7 in Tennis, 4 in Soccer, and 2 in Baseball. Meros set multiple school and city records during his Maclay career. He holds the Maclay record for career singles and doubles wins. He is the first and only player to be named All-Big Bend Player of the Year, as voted by the Region’s coaches, four times. He is Tallahassee’s first and only individual State Champion. Meros played on the 2001 Men’s Soccer State Finalist team and was a starting defenseman for the 2004 State Champions. The Upper School Faculty voted him Maclay’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete in 2005.
Seth Roberts
In his two years at Maclay, Roberts helped lead the basketball team to win two District Championships and received Most Improved Player and Most Outstanding Male Athlete. On the football field, Seth helped put the newly created Maclay football program on the map. As a junior, he was ranked second in the state in total yards, was named 1st team Panhandle Football Conference, and FACA honorable mention. His senior year, Seth had nearly 1000 yards receiving and was named the Tallahassee Quarterback Club's Offensive Player of the Year. In 2014, Seth signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent, making him the first player in the history of the Maclay Football program to play for an NFL team.
1975-76 Girls Volleyball and Basketball Teams
Volleyball The 1975-1976 school year was monumental for female athletics in Florida and especially at Maclay School. In the fall of 1975, a first-year coach and a group of girls led the Maclay volleyball team to the school's first-ever state championship. This accomplishment was followed up that same school year with another state title in girls basketball in the inaugural state girls basketball tournament with the same coach and many of the same players as the volleyball champs. Players for 1975-1976 Girls Basketball Team: Margaret Black (Groves), Sherrie Cartee, Miranda Davis (Jarnot), Lacy Douglass, Pam Duys, B.K. Grant, Leslie Jane Grant (Lundberg), Talley Morgan, Bridget Palmer (Booth), Margie Perry, and Nancy Stone (Poznansky) Managers for 1975-1976 Girls Basketball Team: Leila McClure and Suzanne Rich (Miller) Players for 1975-1976 Girls Volleyball Team: Margaret Black (Groves), Wendy Byerly (Matthews), Sherrie Cartee, Miranda Davis (Jarnot), Lacy Douglass, Dodie Duys, Pam Duys, Leslie Jane Grant (Lundberg), Kathy Mackay, Beth Moor (Desloge), Nancy Stone (Poznansky), and Tenley Toole (Barnes) Manager for 1975-1976 Girl Volleyball Team: Talley Morgan
2015
Joy Kirkland Becker
Joy Kirkland Becker was a pioneer for girls’ athletics in the 1970s. She coached the Maclay volleyball and basketball teams to consecutive state championships in 1974-75, the first state titles for Maclay School. She also coached the Marauder basketball team to an additional title in 1978 before moving on to a long coaching and teacher career at Florida High, Leon, and Godby.
Sherrie Cartee
Sherrie Cartee was a multi-MVP and Most Outstanding Female Athlete at Maclay from 1976-1979. Her hard work and dedication helped lead the Maclay Marauders to the very first state championships and laid the groundwork for a successful future for the school’s athletic program. Cartee was the first athlete to receive a scholarship from an SEC school and one of two people to have been on a state championship team both as a player and a coach.
Alesha Irvin Neely
Alesha Irvin Neely earned 17 varsity letters while at Maclay. The multi-sport athlete was a member of the 1998 girls soccer state championship team but was a force on the cross-country and track teams as well. She ran on the first three Maclay girls' state championship cross-country teams in 1997, 1998, and 1999 as well as the 1998 and 1999 state track teams, scoring points in the open 400, 4x100, and 4x400. Irvin was a member of the 4x400 team that set a school record that held for 14 years, one of the longest-standing records at Maclay. She was the only athlete to compete on three state championship teams in one year.
Mark Whidby
Mark Whidby spent three years at Maclay School and made a huge impact on the swimming program in the mid-1980s. Whidby’s 500 yard freestyle time was an FHSAA Finals All-Time Top 50 performance until 2011, some 24 years after he graduated. As a senior, he was named to the high school All-American Team. When he graduated in 1987, Mark held five of the ten swim records at Maclay - three of those team records stand today. Whidby went on to swim for the University of Texas which won two national titles during his career there.
1998 Girls Soccer Team
1998 soccer team set its goal for the final four in during the 1998 season, but it was a team that couldn’t be stopped. A very physical squad, coached by Neil Sheppard, had both depth and talent. The team went 28-0-1 on the season conceding only 10 goals the entire year. The Marauders defeated American Heritage in an overtime win to take the state title. Players: Holly Palmer, Betsy Copeland, Katie Coburn, Jenny Meale, Molly Garvin, Brianne Jablon, Alesha Irvin, Sara Dunlap, Anna Daly, Marion Cagle, Lauren Sapolsky, Hester Cowles, Tracy Town, Ashley Waldoch, Laura Coburn, Corrine Mixon, Mellisa Montgomery, Alexis Newell and Meghan Edmond.
2014
- Tucker Barr
- Kristen Gillespie
- Les Lundberg
- Bobby Miles
- Jamie Ostrov
- Kara Hutchinson Payne
- Rusty Robbins
- Hudson Swafford
- 1979 Boys Basketball State Champions
Tucker Barr
Tucker Barr was a six-time letter winner for the Maclay Marauder baseball team where he helped lead the squad to two state titles (’91 and ’93) and a state tournament appearance in ’92 during his prep career. The prep All-American was a pitcher, catcher, and third baseman. Following his outstanding success at Maclay, Tucker was drafted in the 3rd round of the MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics, but decided to accept a full scholarship to Georgia Tech where he played three seasons for the Yellow Jackets.
Kristen Gillespie
Kristen Gillespie scored over 2,500 points in her career at Maclay. She was named co-MVP of the FHSAA state tournament in 1993 where she helped lead the Marauders to a state championship title. During her senior season, Gillespie was named to both the WBCA and Nike High School All-American Teams. She also was named the 1994 Gatorade High School Player of the Year in the state of Florida. Upon graduation, she was chosen to the United States Olympic Festival South Team and participated in the 1995 US Olympic Festival. Kristen continued her career at North Carolina State University where she played for the legendary Kay Yow. Kristen is currently the head coach at Benedictine University in Illinois and is one of three athletes to have her jersey retired at Maclay School.
Les Lundberg
After a stand-out prep career that included being a nine-time letter winner in volleyball, basketball, and softball and Prep All-American, Les Grant Lundberg is a rare athlete/coach with a wide span of accolades. She was a member of the 1975-76 girls’ volleyball and basketball state championship teams as well as the 1978 basketball state title team. Les was named Coach of the Year for the Big Bend in 1993 and 1996. She was also named the 1A FHSAA Coach of the Year in 1993 and the 2A honoree in 1995. In her six years as a coach, Les led the Lady Marauder squads to two state championship titles and a total of four tournament appearances.
Bobby Miles
Bobby Miles played for the Maclay basketball program from 1976-1979. As a junior, he was named Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend and All-State his senior season as well as a McDonald’s All-American honorable mention. He led the Marauders to the district, regional, and state championship titles. Miles averaged over 20 points per game as a junior and a senior and is one of three players who has his jersey retired at Maclay. Known as the “gentle giant,” Miles accepted a basketball scholarship to the University of Georgia and later transferred back to FSU where he earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in accounting at FSU.
Jamie Ostrov
The Prep All-American captained the Marauders to two state team titles in 1998 and 1999 and earned the most career points at a state meet of any Maclay track and field athlete. She currently holds the Florida 2A high jump record and the Leon County high jump record. She was named the Big Bend Athlete of the Year and the FHSAA 2A Florida Athlete of the Year in 1998. A four-time state high-jump champion, All-American, and a member of two state championship teams for Coach Droze who ran track at Georgia Tech.
Kara Hutchinson Payne
Kara Hutchinson was a three-time Most Outstanding Female Athlete for Maclay School. She earned six varsity letters in track, five in basketball, three in softball and cross-country and one in volleyball. She was named Tallahassee Democrat’s Track Athlete of the year in 1985 while earning four state titles in the 100, 220 and 330 track events. On the hardcourt, Kara averaged double figures for four years and was named Basketball Player of the Year by the Democrat, as well as being named to the Class A All-State team. By the time her high school career came to a close in 1986, she had become Maclay’s all-time leading scorer with 1,346 points. Kara attended Florida State where she ran track and later transferred to Harding University in Arkansas where she played basketball and ran track.
Rusty Robbins
Rusty Robbins was the first Maclay athlete to be named as an individual All-American in swimming. He won four individual state championships and was part of three relay-team state championships, one of which broke a nine-year-old state record and was the third-fastest prep 400 free relay team in the nation. Rusty was a three-time Swimmer of the Year and seven-time All –American. As a senior, he was the fourth fastest in the 50 freestyle and the fifth-fastest in the 100 freestyle among national prep schools. Robbins went on to swim at Auburn University and later assisted Mark Gargiulo as an assistant for the Maclay swim team. During that time, the Marauders won both the boys' and girls' district titles. The 1991 boys team finished top ten at the state meet. Rusty still holds three records on the Marauder swim team record board from 1986.
Hudson Swafford
Hudson Swafford was a three-time Tallahassee Democrat Golfer of the Year and named to the first team EA Sports All-American in 2005. He was selected the Maclay boys golf team MVP four times while helping lead his Marauder team to the state tournament numerous times over his career. In 2004, Hudson fired a 70-64-68 to win the Future Masters 15-16-year-old division. Swafford went on to accept a golf scholarship at the University of Georgia where he was named SEC Freshman of the Year and was a three-time All-American. is now playing on the PGA Tour.