AACo. Sports Hall of Fame inducts four new members

by Aaron Gray
agray@digitalsports.com

(Click on "videos" icon above to see interviews and speeches)

The Anne Arundel County (Md.) Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet is always a festive affair that usually attracts county residents that have made a difference in their field. Call them local celebrities if you will.

At the 18th annual event at Micheal's 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie last night, the long line of fans looking for autographs and pictures following the ceremony was a testament to Travis Pastrana's international and iconic celebrity.

Close to 500 people came out to see the 25-year-old Pastrana, who has won five Freestyle Moto gold medals at the X Games, headline an induction class that also included collegiate football and baseball standout Chuck Hebron, professional boxer Chuck Sturm and longtime Southern High School girls basketball coach Linda Kilpatrick.

Audrey Hall, who has been a member and faithful volunteer of the Brooklyn Park Youth Athletic Association for 35 years, was honored with the County Executive Award, which recognizes individuals for longtime, exemplary services to Anne Arundel County athletics.

Just about everyone under the age of 30 in attendance already knew of the high-flying, death-defying lifestyle that has made Pastrana, a Davidsonville resident, famous. For those who did not know of him, they were quickly sold on Pastrana when he showed a video before his speech that depicted his eventful career to date.

On Aug. 4, 2006, Pastrana made history when he became the first motorcycle jumper to land a double back flip in competition at the X Games.

"The double back flip is probably what I'm best known for but it's still just a trick and it shows the progression of the sport because in five years, you're going to see 14-year-olds doing it," said Pastrana, the nephew of Alan Pastrana, a 1995 Anne Arundel County inductee who played football at Maryland and in the NFL.

"It's just like anything. You have to keep pushing the envelope and that's what I've been able to make career out of."

Pastrana, who became a professional motorcross rider at the age of 15, recently turned his focus towards Rally Car Racing and has won three straight Rally America National Series championships.

Hebron, a three-sport athlete at Arundel High School and baseball-football standout at Salisbury University, tried out for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL and played briefly with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Known for his speed, the 5-foot-10, 150-pound leadoff hitter and second baseman, was a catalyst for the Wildcats' 1976 and 1977 state championship baseball teams. He also was a play maker for the Arundel football team that captured the 1975 state football title.

During his speech, Hebron reflected on his days of playing neighborhood pickup games in Hanover and stressed the importance to younger athletes of not limiting themselves to just one sport. Hebron went on to play both baseball and football at Salisbury and broke school records during his collegiate career.

"Family has always been a big thing for me," said Hebron, 49, who lives in Severn with his wife, Michelle, and son, Chuck Jr. "Every time I stole a base, made a basket or caught a pass, my family was always there to support me. I'm just thrilled and honored to have my family here tonight to support me once again."

Kilpatrick, the winningest high school girls basketball coach in the county, has coached five different sports during her still-thriving career at Southern, her alma mater. In 31 seasons at the helm of the girls basketball team, Kilpatrick has tallied 443 victories and brought five consecutive (1979-85) state championship titles to the Harwood school.

She has also directed the Bulldogs to 11 county and 13 regional championships and Southern's 13 appearances in the state tournament are a Maryland state record for girls basketball.

"After I graduated from the University of Maryland, it really wasn't a set plan to coach at Southern," said Kilpatrick, who also racked up 175 victories and three region-state titles in 18 years as the school's girls lacrosse coach.

"I heard they had an opening at Southern so I went for my interview. I guess it was just meant to be that I came back and was able to coach in my home town. And after 32 years, I still consider everyone in Hardwood to be my family."

Kilpatrick, 55, retired from teaching physical education in 2006, but she still lives in West River and has three children, Brian (one of her assistant coaches on the girls basketball team) 29, Christie, 22, and Joey, 8.

Sturm, nicknamed the "Pit Bull," had a successful professional boxing career that spanned 13 years. He compiled a 33-5-2 record with 11 knockouts as a welterweight and lightweight. As an amateur, he captured several South Atlantic Region Championships in multiple weight classes and put together a 68-9 record before turning pro at the age of 21.

Sturm's career hit its high note when he collided with Anthony Boyle in 1993 for a shot at the International Boxing Organization welterweight championship in Aspen, Colo. The bout ended in the only knockout loss in Sturm's career.

"You can't look back, you always have to look forward," Sturm said in his acceptance speech after thanking his family and past coaches who had aided his career.

Sturm, the first boxer ever to be inducted in to the Hall, also made a name for himself on the wrestling mat, where he won two state titles along with three region and county championships at the 125-pound division at Old Mill High School. He had a impressive 103-9-2 record with the Patriots.

Sturm, 43, lives in Denton with his wife, Tracey, and two daughters, Rachael, 12, and Christine, 10.

It was the largest crowd to attend the annual banquet since sportswriter Pat O'Malley, of DigitalSports and last night's Master of Ceremonies, and Bernie Walter, the president of the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame, were inducted in 2001. Both were on hand last night, along with sportswriter Bill Wagner, of The Capital-Gazette, to hand out awards, introduce the inductees and keep the crowd laughing.

Tim Koenig kicked off the night with a spectacular rendition of the National Anthem and Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold awarded Hall with the County Executive Award.

The Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1991 and to date, has 67 individuals representing 15 different sports and the fields of journalism, sports medicine and officiating. A second purpose of the organization is to raise money to support and promote athletics in the county. Money raised during the banquet and other events go into a standing fund with donations to be distributed to worthy athletic causes.

For more information on the organization or to nominate someone for induction into the Hall of Fame, please visit http://www.aacshalloffame.org/index.htm.