Congratulations to the 2026 John Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.
*Joe Darmafall
*Robert Eaton
*Jamie Hall
*Kylie Howard
*Mike Knox
*Jim Meeker
*Evan “Dedsi” Saunders
*Kevin Schwing
*The Storm Sisters – Cassie, Barb, & Patti
Joe Darmafall
Joe Darmafall was a four-year letter winner in golf at John Marshall and a key member of one of the most successful teams in school history. He helped lead the Monarchs to the 2004 OVAC Championship and back-to-back West Virginia Triple-A State Championships in 2003 and 2004. Individually, Joe captured medalist honors at the 2004 Triple-A State Championship and the 2004 Spring Hills Invitational. He was also named to the 2004 Triple-A All-State Team and the OVAC All-Conference Team.
Following high school, Joe continued his golf career on scholarship at West Virginia Wesleyan College before earning a business degree from West Liberty University. He remains grateful for the coaches, teammates, family members, and supporters who helped make those championship years possible and is honored to be recognized as a member of the John Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame.
Robert R. Eaton
Bob Eaton is a 1973 graduate of John Marshall High School, where he distinguished himself as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. During his senior year, he was selected to the OVAC All-Star Football Team, named Basketball Player of the Year, and honored as Mr. Monarch. Bob continued his athletic career at Potomac State College, competing in both football and basketball. In 1975, he received the Dana “Horse” Lough Award as the school’s outstanding athlete, set a tournament record with 46 points in a basketball game, and was selected to play in the JC Coastal Conference North-South Game. He later played two seasons of football at Glenville State College, earning his bachelor’s degree in education in 1977. Bob was inducted into the Potomac State Hall of Fame in 2004 and later earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from the University of Dayton.
Bob went on to build an accomplished career in education and coaching spanning nearly four decades. After beginning at Oak Glen High School, he moved to St. John Central, where he served as head basketball and football coach and led the football program to an OVAC championship in 1985. He later joined West Liberty State College, serving as defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and ultimately head football coach from 1990 through 2005. His 2000 team earned a share of the West Virginia Conference championship, and Bob was named Conference Coach of the Year. Later in his career, he established the girls basketball program at Spring Mills High School and was named the Martinsburg Journal Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 2015. After a career dedicated to teaching, coaching, and developing student-athletes, Bob retired in 2016.
Jamie Hall
Dr. James “Jamie” Hall is a 1996 graduate of John Marshall High School, where he competed in soccer, tennis, and swimming. Hall excelled in the pool, going undefeated in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events during his junior and senior seasons and winning state championships in both events while earning First Team All-State honors. As a senior, he also helped lead the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams to state titles as the JMHS boys swimming team captured the first state championship in program history. Hall finished his high school career with six state championships and five school records, marks he is proud to have seen broken by a new generation of Monarch swimmers.
Following graduation, Hall attended Bethany College, where he was a member of both the swimming and tennis teams, before continuing his education at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Today, he is a dentist in Huntington, West Virginia, and the owner of Hall Family Dentistry. Hall and his wife, Jill, have been married for 25 years and have three children: Ava, Kate, and Lucas.
Kylie Howard
Kylie Howard is a former John Marshall softball and basketball standout who established herself as one of the school’s most accomplished female athletes. She was a member of John Marshall’s 2012 West Virginia Triple-A State Championship softball team and, that same year, was named the ESPN Gatorade Softball Player of the Year for West Virginia and the OVAC Class Five-A Softball Player of the Year. Kylie was a four-time First Team All-State and four-time First Team All-OVAC selection in softball. She finished her basketball career with 1,303 points and was honored as Ms. Monarch in 2013.
Following high school, Kylie continued her softball career at Marshall University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Today, she resides in St. Clairsville, Ohio, with her two daughters. She works part-time as a Registration Specialist with WVU Medicine, enjoys golfing with her fiancé, Zach, and considers her greatest and most important role to be that of a mother.
Mike Knox
Mike Knox established himself as one of John Marshall’s outstanding wrestlers, becoming a three-time state place winner and two-time West Virginia State Wrestling Champion. At John Marshall, Mike competed under Hall of Fame coaches Ed Dugas and Ed West. Following high school, he continued his wrestling career at West Liberty under another Hall of Fame coach, Vince Monseau. During his collegiate career, Mike competed in numerous national tournaments while learning lessons in discipline, perseverance, dedication, and the importance of never giving up—lessons that continued to guide him throughout his life.
Beyond wrestling and his professional career, Mike considers his family his greatest accomplishment. Mike and his wife, Durietha, raised three children, Ellie, Joshua, and Emma, and are blessed with two grandchildren, Evie Faye and Baron Michael. Their family also includes Mike’s stepdaughter, Sabrina, and a son-in-law, Logan. Mike gives special credit to his parents, Sherman and Amarylliss, whose love and support never wavered. From his earliest days of Pee Wee wrestling in Cameron through his collegiate career at West Liberty, they never missed a match.
Jim Meeker
Jim Meeker, a 1972 graduate of John Marshall High School, was an accomplished multi-sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball, wrestling, and track. In football, Jim earned All-State and All-OVAC honors and was selected to represent West Virginia in the OVAC All-Star Football Game. On the wrestling mat, he captured Mountaineer, OVAC, and Regional championships, while in track he helped establish school records in the high jump and shuttle relay. Jim continued his football career at Salem College, earning All-Conference honors in 1974, WVIAC All-Conference recognition in 1974 and 1975, and Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1975. He was also a member of the Salem team that competed for the NAIA National Championship against Texas A&I.
In recognition of his outstanding collegiate career, Jim was inducted into the Salem University Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Jim and his wife, Jo Ann, reside in Glen Dale. Their son Lance, his wife Whitney, and their children Sienna, Wyatt, and Rhett live in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania. Their son Cory, his wife Brooke, and their children Gracelyn, Judson, and Laine reside in Greenville, South Carolina.
Evan “Dedsi” Saunders
Evan Maurice “Dedsi” Saunders left a historic legacy at John Marshall High School, becoming the school’s first and only African American Mr. Monarch in 1989. A three-year starter in both basketball and football, Dedsi became the first boys basketball player in school history to score 1,000 career points and continues to hold multiple school records in both sports. He earned All-Conference recognition during each of his three varsity basketball seasons, received Second Team All-Conference honors in football as a senior, and was selected to participate in the OVAC All-Star Game in both basketball and football.
Dedsi was named John Marshall Student-Athlete of the Month four times before earning a basketball scholarship to Potomac State College, where he was selected to the conference All-Freshman Team. After two seasons, he continued his career on scholarship at Glenville State University, earning Newcomer All-Conference honors and Sixth Man of the Year recognition during his senior season. After graduating with a degree in Criminal Justice, Dedsi was selected in the first round of a semi-professional basketball draft and played two seasons with the Frederick Flyers.
Today, Dedsi resides in Jacksonville, Florida, where he serves as Building Manager at Jacksonville International Airport. He and his wife, Stacey, share a blended family that includes his daughter, Jasmine, and stepchildren Mariyah, Janessa, and Rafael. He is also the proud grandfather of Jayden and Jullianna. Dedsi gives special thanks to his parents, Gene and Ellen Saunders; his brothers, Mike and Gene Junior; and his entire family and circle of friends for their unwavering love, guidance, encouragement, and support throughout his journey. He is grateful to God and to everyone who helped make this special honor possible.
Kevin Schwing
Kevin Schwing was a 1975 graduate of John Marshall High School and an outstanding student, leader, and athlete. He served as junior class president and student council president and was named John Marshall’s 1975 Student of the Year. A standout in track and cross country, Kevin set numerous school and Ohio Valley records, including a 4-minute, 22.8-second mile that remains a John Marshall record due to the later transition from yards to meters. He was a member of the school-record mile relay team, earned 1975 Trackman of the Year honors, and became the first John Marshall runner to earn All-State cross country recognition three consecutive years. His dedication to running was legendary, as Kevin would even run to school from Roberts Ridge.
Kevin earned a full track and field scholarship to West Virginia University, where he became a four-year letterman in track and cross country, helped establish a school record in the four-mile relay, and served as captain of the cross country team during his senior year. He graduated from the WVU School of Pharmacy in 1980 and built his career in the Hershey, Pennsylvania area, where he and his wife raised four children. Kevin remained active in running and volunteered with youth soccer and baseball.
Tragically, he passed away following an accident on October 12, 2007. His legacy and love of running continue through his family, including his oldest daughter, Bethany Schwing Chapman, who proudly accepts this honor on his behalf.
The Storm Sisters — Cassie, Barb, and Patti
Cassie, Barb, and Patti Storm are the daughters of the late John and Mary Ann Storm, whose devotion to the Monarchs began with the consolidation that created John Marshall High School. John served for many years as the original vice president of the John Marshall Boosters Club, and he and Mary Ann became fixtures at Monarch athletic events. Their daughters inherited that same passion. For decades, the Storm sisters have supported John Marshall teams at home and on the road, regardless of the distance, carrying forward a family tradition of Monarch pride that now spans three generations.
Cassie, the oldest of the three sisters, graduated from Union High School in 1967, prior to consolidation. She later graduated from West Liberty State College and taught for many years in Marshall County Schools. She and her husband, Rich Sherman, live in McMechen and have one son, Michael, and his wife, Jill. Barb, a 1971 John Marshall graduate, attended the B.M. Spurr School of Practical Nursing. She and her husband, Mike Davis—the designated chauffeur for countless away games—also reside in McMechen. They have two daughters, Amy Whipkey and Leigh Hinerman, and two grandchildren. Patti, the youngest sister, graduated from John Marshall in 1975. She and her husband, Harley Gatts, live on Fork Ridge and are the parents of Jennifer Kirk, Dan Gatts, and Tim Gatts, and the grandparents of nine. All six of the Storm sisters’ children graduated from John Marshall, where they participated in a variety of athletic and academic activities. Together, the Storm family represents generations of unwavering loyalty, service, and support for John Marshall High School and its student-athletes.
Previous inductees:
2021 Athletes
Ryan Muldrew, Wrestling, All-American
Cliff Ward, Wrestling, All-American
Amy Gamble, Basketball, All-American
Duane Miller, CC/Track, All-American
Coaches
Rudy Zatezalo, Golf
Alfonso“Poncho”Flores, Softball/Basketball
Stanley Blankenship, Basketball
William Hinegardner, Wrestling
Robert Montgomery, Baseball
Micheal Linsky, Football
Athletic Director/Administrators
Fred Tweedlie
Contributors/Boostes
Lexie and Bob Hanket
2022 Athletes
Greg Morris
Dustin Richey
Michael Myers
Theodore Zervos
Chris Ward
Alex Shook
Amy Blankenship Bailey
Kirk Monteleone
Coaches
Ed Dugas, Multi-Sport Coach
Athletic Director/Administrator
Chuck Duckworth
Contributors/Boostesr
Gilbert Family
2023 Athletes
Ed West, Athlete & Coach
Gordon Gordon
Daniel Lydick
Chris Jones
Dana Downs Shrontz
Jane Tennant Taylor
Rich Schoene
Lisa Grimes Johnston
Coaches
Mark Hinerman, Multi-Sport Coach
Athletic Directors/Administrators
Vince Paloetti
Contributors/Boosters
Gary and Ellen Bonar
2024 Athletes
Mike Tennant
Mike Mason
Alex Inclan
Scott Yanke
Scott Pettit
Kevin Snyder
Rodney Persinger Jr.
Coaches
Cindy Lawther, Soccer
2025 Athletes
Bryan Dick
Jen Gooch
Paula Sullivan
Bill Storm, Athlete & Coach
Contributors/Boosters
Les Criswell
Cathy Jones
#RollPride
(NOTE: This information originated from the John Marshall High School Facebook page.)
