The North Carolina High School Athletics Association is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013, and as a part of that celebration are releasing a number of “100 to remember” lists that honor great contributors to North Carolina High School Athletics.
So far, they have released their lists of 100 great administrators, coaches, and female athletes (male athletes are to be done in mid-September) and swimming is well-represented on the lists.
Below, we’ve posted the official bios of all swimming honorees, but you can see the full lists and celebration on this page.
(Those entries designated with an asterisk* are most recognized for participation in another sport).
Coaches
Jim Maxwell, Durham-Jordan High School
A native of Hampton, VA, who attended Randolph-Macon College and then the Duke University School of Law…achieved acclaim as one of the premier swimming coaches in North Carolina history…volunteer head coach at Durham Jordan throughout his 29-year career coaching both the men’s and women’s teams…his teams achieved five state championships…directed regional swimming and diving championship for 19 years and the North Carolina state meet for 15 years…inductee into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
Vicki Peoples, Enloe High School
Standout high school athlete in Iowa, but achieved coaching success in North Carolina…served as both he men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Raleigh Enloe from 1982 to 2007…her teams won a combined 10 NCHSAA state championships…Enloe also achieved 18 regional titles and 27 conference crowns under her guidance…20-year stint as the director of the Eastern Regionals for swimming and diving…member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
Bob Sawyer, Grimsley High School (Greensboro Senior High)
Amazing career as an athlete, teacher, coach and athletic director, all with Greensboro Senior High (now Grimsley High)…began coaching at Grimsley in 1961 and achieved 16 consecutive conference championships and an unprecedented 15 straight NCHSAA state titles in swimming during a 30 year tenure…also coached track, cross country and junior varsity football during his career…Grimsley also earned numerous state championships during Sawyer’s time as athletic director…inductee into the East Carolina University and NCHSAA Halls of Fame.
Kathy Stefnanou, Millbrook High School*
One of the most successful volleyball coaches in North Carolina history…began at Millbrook High in 1970 and spent her entire career there…successfully built Millbrook into a state volleyball powerhouse and achieved a career coaching mark of 657-153 with four state 4-A crowns…also coached basketball, track, swimming, softball and cheerleading…served a full four-year term on the NCHSAA Board of Directors and is a member of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
Female Athletes
Jessica Botzum, Cardinal Gibbons
Phenomenal swimmer who excelled at the high school and collegiate levels…the Wayne, NJ native has been most successful in breaststroke and individual medley competitions…during high school career finished 10th at the 2004 US Olympic Trials in the 200 breaststroke and fourth at the US summer nationals in the 2004 breaststroke…also the YMCA summer national meet record holder in the 200 breaststroke…multiple All-American honors at Virginia Tech and back-to-back ACC Swimmer of the Year winner (2007, ’08)…the first male or female Hokie swimmer to earn ACC Swimmer of the Year honors.
Lauren Perdue, Greenville-Rose High School
Great swimmer and National Honor Society member at Rose High in Greenville, who swam for University of Virginia from 2009 to ’12…won four individual NCHSAA state championships, including winning 50 freestyle three times…captured a whopping 19 ACC championships and was ACC Swimmer of the Year in both 2010 and ’11 as well as a three-time ACC Swimmer of the Championships (MVP at league championship meet)…all-American times in college 16 different occasions…earned a spot on 2012 USA Olympic team and earned a gold medal in the four by 200 relay.
Jessie Sims, West Henderson High School*
Winner of Pat Best Memorial Award as NCHSAA Female Athlete of Year for 2004-05 academic year…star at West Henderson in volleyball, swimming and track…was MVP of NCHSAA state 2-A volleyball championship for team that went 36-0…key performer in swimming for team which finished second in state meet…won state championship in outdoor track in hurdles…went on to attend the Naval Academy and set career record for digs during her time there with 1,424 as four-year player…also earned academic award there, making Academy’s Commandant List.
Samantha George, Millbrook High School*
One of top distance runners that North Carolina has produced…won six different NCHSAA state championships during stellar Millbrook career, including three in indoor track and three in outdoor track…2011 NCHSAA 4-A champion in cross country…also competed on swim team in high school…was 2012 Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of Year in cross country as a standout runner for N.C. State…has run for Team USA in NACAC Cross-Country Championships.