Walt Whitman High School Athletic Hall of Fame 
The Walt Whitman High School Athletic Hall of Fame will recognize those individuals who through their accomplishments have demonstrated excellence on the playing field as well as the classroom and community. Eligibility is restricted to student athletes, coaches, administrators and community athletic supporters for Walt Whitman High School.
Nominations will be accepted during the spring each school year between April 1 and June 1. Selections will be made over the summer. Inductees will be honored at halftime during a fall football game.
A maximum of 5 inductees will be chosen each school year. With exceptions made the first year. Nominations passed over may be re-nominated the following school year.
The nomination process is detailed HERE
Our 2010 inductees:
Morgen Bernius Kerry Ward Gary Browne
Dr. Jerome Marco: former principal at Whitman
Dr. Marco spent 42 years as an educator in MCPS, with the majority of those years as Principal of Walt Whitman High School. Although Dr. Marco was a decisive leader, he was not afraid to allow coaches, athletic directors or community leaders to try something new or take a chance. How else would Whitman have been the first school with temporary and then permanent lights on its stadium field? Then when we renovated into the current building in 1991, we were allowed to push the envelope against the school system and become the first school to have lights on its non-stadium field hockey field. If you think there is very little space to film from the current Marco Stadium press box, imagine trying to use the space without windows and electricity in the two end rooms. Dr. Marco let coaches fundraise the money needed to add those changes and pressed the county to change the building plans.
Dr. Marco set the bar high for the rest of us when it came to his ethics and values. Although principals have to delegate responsibilities, when you went into talk with Dr. Marco about your team or an athlete, he always knew what was going on. He never had to say, “I’ll have to check with Joe or Don.” When a controversy arose, he listened to all sides and made a fair decision. You did not have to worry about speaking first or last in an investigation because he was above being swayed by the last word. He balanced the rigor of academics with the values of athletics. One time when being lobbied by a Coca Cola rep to add soda machines to make money for athletics, Dr. Marco put him in his place by saying, “I could make money selling cigarettes too.” He felt that soda at school addicted students to caffeine and interfered with their focus in the classroom. Dr. Marco pushed for “zero tolerance” for tobacco, alcohol and drugs at school and school functions. He would say, “If you cannot make it through a school event without using, you have a problem to address which is more important than participating in extra-curricular activities.”
Dr. Marco was supporter of gender equity in athletics. He saw the Gender Equity Task Force of the late 80’s as an opportunity for growth even though if forced us to take a hard look at ourselves as a school and a county. The long term results of this task force can be seen across the county with improved playing fields, equity in year books and school newspapers and in the design of new school facilities including the current Whitman building. The very successful current Whitman All-Sports Boosters is a direct result of Dr. Marco’s support and the confidence that the community had in him. It was a great challenge to go from a group of individual boosters group fund raising for their own kids to one big group fundraising for school wide goals and trusting that their children’s teams would receive the support they needed.
In addition to Dr. Marco’s leadership in athletics at Whitman, he had successful playing and coaching careers. Dr. Marco played football and basketball and ran track in high school. He was a renowned college basketball player and was nicknamed “send it home Jerome” for his prestigious outside shooting ability. Dr. Marco coached high school football in Pennsylvania before coming to Montgomery County, working on the same staff which produced NFL assistant and head coach Joe Walton. Upon arriving at Wheaton High School, Dr. Marco coached track and field along with sponsoring the SGA and running the school store.
Mike Jeffries Class of 1979
A native of Bethesda, Md., Mike Jeffries started three seasons as a forward for the Walt Whitman varsity soccer team. In 1979 he earned All-American honors in helping lead the Vikings to the state championship. He attended Duke University, starting every game over his four year college career and winning the Hermann Trophy as the nation’s top college player in 1983.
After graduating from Duke with a degree in electrical engineering and public policy, Jeffries played four years for the Minnesota Strikers and one season for the Dallas Sidekicks. He went on to earn his USSF “A” license and a master’s degree from Tulane University in finance.
Jeffries got into coaching when he founded the premier program called the Lafreniere Soccer Association in New Orleans. He has since worked in Major League Soccer as a head coach with the Dallas Burn and an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire. Jeffries worked as a scout for the U.S. National Team during the 2010 World Cup. He is currently the Director of player personnel for Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire.
Morgen Bernius: class of 1992
Morgen Bernius earned 10 varsity letters in field hockey, basketball, and soccer at Whitman from 1988-1992. She was All County and All Met in field hockey her senior year. In basketball she was honorable mention All County her junior and senior years, and first team All League her senior year. Her soccer team won the County championship her junior year and she was first team All State. Senior year she was featured as one of the Washington Post Spotlight athletes and won All County and All Met honors. Morgen went on to play soccer at Brown University where her team won the Ivy League Championship twice, was ranked 12th in the country, and went to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament her junior year. She won Academic All Ivy and honorable mention All Ivy honors twice. She went on to earn her medical degree and is currently an Emergency Physician in Baltimore. She and husband Scott are the proud parents of 18-month-old daughter Sophia.
Kerry Ward: Coach
Kerry Ward was a teacher and coach for MCPS. Kerry started the girls cross country championships for girls while a coach at BCC under Dr. Marco. During his coaching career, Kerry delivered a paper at the US Track Coaches Association award convention on distance running and the HS revolution. He was also awarded the rotary club teacher of the year. While at BCC, Kerry won 8 track and cross country state championships. Kerry came to Whitman in 1984 and led the Vikings to 6 boys and girls state titles. Kerry won the girls basketball state championship in 1995. Coach Ward was twice named All-Met Coach of the year as well as the Potomac almanac teacher of the year. Kerry coached 5 current Hall of Fame members; Craig Lake, Lindsay Seawright, Courtney Gaine, Pascal Doebear and current inductee Morgen Bernius. Film director Gus van Sant offered that “films are 90% casting.” I worked hard at recruiting a good cast and I was very fortunate. To all those team members who made it so worthwhile, thanks guys. Particular appreciation goes out to those whose help and friendship has been so important to me. To Bill, Bob, Carolyn, Charlie, Craig, Dave and Joe; if your aim is to run fast, go alone. If you’re running far, go together.
Gary Browne
To those who saw him play, from 1966 to 1968, our next inductee is considered the greatest basketball player in the history of Walt Whitman High School.
The numbers scarcely do justice to the impact he had and his legacy of achievements, but here are just a few: a 3-year varsity starter back in the day when there were no freshman at the school and the 3-point shot did not exist, this 6-foot-5 forward averaged over 25 points a game for his career and a remarkable 33 in his senior year—more than a point a minute! 42 years later, the career marks he set have never been broken. He holds the school record for most points scored in a career (1564), most points in a season (727), most points averaged in a season (33), and most rebounds in a career, (682).
He led the entire county in scoring and won ALL-MET first team honors at the end of both the 1967 and 1968 seasons. In that auspicious 1967-8 campaign, this left-handed legend boosted the Vikings to an 18-4 record, a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, and within one win of the school’s first state championship—establishing a semi-finals record of 45 points that stands to this day. He also holds the State tournament record for most field goals in a game (19) and most points scored in the tournament final four (76).
And no one who was around Whitman in February 1968 will ever forget the historic 62 point explosion he hung on the home court of one of our biggest rivals in basketball back then…and football tonight…the Trojans of Gaithersburg High!
He was named an honorable-mention ALL AMERICAN following his junior season and an ALL AMERICAN in his senior season. He was recruited by over 150 colleges and universities and chose the University of West Virginia Mountaineers. His freshman team was nationally ranked but unfortunately he was critically injured in an automobile accident when his stopped vehicle was struck from behind by a drunk driver. The injuries ended his career as a basketball player. After numerous surgeries and years of physical therapy, he began a career in law enforcement in the state of Kansas. A decorated officer for nearly 30 years, he ended his career as the Chief of Police.
Now, 42 years later, he has flown in with his wife Cindy from Ottawa, Kansas, to be with us tonight. Many of those teammates and classmates he so impressed with his skill, as well as his modesty and decency, have also come from across the country to relish this recognition and join him on the field and in the stands tonight.
Our final inductee proudly states that it was always his coaches, teammates, family and fans that lead to any personal successes he had under the Dome at Whitman.
Please join them in paying tribute to the Noblest Viking of them all, the King of his Court, that Superb Southpaw Sharpshooter … Number 54: GARY BROWNE
Our 2009 Inductees:
Hugh Hammet was one of Whitman’s most successful coaches. He was also a dedicated teacher and humanitarian. While at Whitman, he coached both boys and girls tennis and the girls basketball team. During his 26 years of coaching, he produced 27 Montgomery county winners. Many of his players went on to play in college. Hugh was a leader in his church and community. Hugh Hammet passed away in 2004.
Bill Dargert was a great high school and college player, who after serving his country in the United States Navy, came to MCPS and began to teach and coach at Westland Middle School. Bill came to Whitman when it opened and coached basketball and cross country. Two of Bill’s basketball teams reached to State finals at Cole Field House. Bill became the second Athletic Director at Whitman. He had the longest tenure of any AD in school history. Bill was a leader in athletics far beyond the impact he had at Whitman. Bill helped found the Maryland State Wrestling Tournament in the mid sixties and Whitman hosted the first State Tournament. Bill was an advocate for athletics and Athletic Directors. Bill is a founding member of the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association.
LeeAnn Chang graduated from Whitman in 2003 where she swam for 4 years, receiving all-county and all-met honors. She then attended Harvard University where she continued to compete, making NCAA B cuts and receiving their “outstanding freshman” and “unsung heroine” awards. She graduated in 2007 with a bachelors degree in biology and health policy. Since then, LeeAnn has traveled to Taiwan for swimming competitions and recently started working at INOVA hospital. She is currently still swimming and will apply to medical school in the near future. She would like to thank her family and friends, Ms. Hudock and Coach Schaefer for their support.
Andy Corno graduated from Whitman in 2001. He played 2 sports at Whitman. He was a 3 year letter winner on the football team and was voted all-county his senior year. Andy was a 4 year letterman in lacrosse. While at Whitman he was named 1st team all-county, 1st team all-met, played in the Maryland All-Star game and was named the player of the year for Montgomery county. Andy played lacrosse at Georgetown University where he garnered All-American status 3 times as a midfielder. Andy is top 5 All Time career leader in face-off percentage and ground balls. He was named the 2003 and 2004 face-off man of the year. He was All-League from 2003-2005 and was named a senior captain at Georgetown. Mr. Corno played several years in Major League Lacrosse. He was drafted 6th overall in 2005. He was named a 2006 All-Star and in 2007 helped the Philadelphia Barrage win the MLL championship. Andy would like to thank WWLAX for assisting him in starting a scholarship program for the Whitman Boys lacrosse team. This program rewards players for academic achievements and leadership skills on and off the field. Andy would also like to thank his high school football coaches Dean Swink, Andy Wetzel and Jim Kuhn, his lacrosse coach Kevin Pope, his collegiate coach Dave Urick, his sister Cate, brother Danny, and most importantly his mom and dad Vicki and Bob who kept him out of trouble and were his biggest supporters. Andy resides in Glover Park, Northwest DC and currently works in office leasing and real estate brokerage for Cresa Partners.
Sam DeBone coached boys and girls soccer at Whitman for 26 years. He coached boys soccer from 1969 to 1994. His teams played in 6 state finals and won 4 times. He coached 10 All-Americans and had 3 teams with national rankings. Sam was named county and state coach of the year 3 times. He was named all south coach of the year one time. His overall record for boys soccer was 231-94-22. Sam coached girls soccer from 1981 to 1998. His teams played in 8 county finals, winning one. He was named coach of the year 1 time and had an overall record of 167-72-21. He continues to coach at UMBC as an assistant mens soccer coach for the last 14 years. One of DeBone’s chief areas is goalkeeping, and he has helped mold some of the best goalkeepers in school history. He is joined tonight by his wife Sharon.
Anthony Dilweg set school records for football by passing for 2293 yards and throwing 24 touchdowns gaining All-American honorable mention by the USA Today and being named D.C. Touchdown Club’s high school player of the year as well as first team All-Met. His run and shoot style garnered his being recruited by Pitt, Maryland, North Carolina and Duke. Choosing duke, Anthony saw action mainly as a punter until his senior year when Coach Steve Spurrier gave him starting honors at quarterback. Anthony led Duke to a 7-3-1 season and set single-season school records with 24 touchdowns and 3824 yards including nine 300 yard passing games. He was named 1988 ACC player of the year. His performance earned him trips to the Hula bowl, the Japan Bowl and the Senior bowl. At the Hula Bowl, Dilweg earned offensive MVP honors competing with the likes Troy Aikman and Rodney Pete. Anthony was drafted in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Green Bay packers. In his first start versus the Rams he was voted player of the week for the victory. After 4 years in the NFL, playing for the Packers and the Los Angeles Raiders, Anthony’s career ended with a knee injury. Today, Anthony lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife Jamie and children Peyton, Erin and JP. At age 44 Anthony is the CEO of the Dilweg Companies, a $250 million investment firm that owns and operates 3.8 million square feet of commercial real estate in North and South Carolina and Virginia.
Pascal Dobert ran Cross Country and Track at Whitman where he won 4 state championships in three years. Pascal ran for the University of Wisconsin. As a Badger, he was a 6 time Big Ten Champion and a 6 time NCAA All-American. Pascal was the 1996 NCAA runner –up and an NCAA champion in 1997. As a professional runner, Pascal competed for Nike International and several US teams. He finished in 8th place in the 1998 World cup, 4th place in the 1998 Goodwill Games and has the 7th fastest American time in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Pascal was the 2000 Olympic Trials champion in steeplechase and ran in the 2000 Olympics for the USA. Pascal’s career Highlights include: 1998, 1999, 2000 U.S. champion; 2-time world team member; 7th at 1998 World Cup; 4th at 1998 Goodwill Games; 1997 NCAA Outdoor champion; 9th at 1996 Olympic Trials; two-time Olympian.
James Douglas graduated from Robert E. Peary High School in Aspen hill where he lettered in varsity tennis. Jim came to Whitman after one year of teaching at Northwood High School where he coached Majorettes and wrestling. Jim was the Varsity Pom sponsor at Whitman for 8 years and his squads were consistently among the best in the county. Jim coached wrestling at Whitman for 14 seasons winning four county championships and a regional championship. In 1986, Jim was the Washington Post All-Met coach of the year. While at Whitman, Jim also served as Athletic Director and was instrumental in founding the Viking Mat club and the Whitman All-sports boosters. Since leaving Whitman, Jim has taught at Sherwood High School and coached club field hockey and girls lacrosse. Jim is accompanied tonight by his wife of 25 years Tracey and their daughters Stephanie and Taylor.
Daniel Engelstad played basketball, football and baseball at Whitman. At Whitman he served as a captain on three varsity sports. As a baseball player he played centerfield and second base while hitting over .300 each season. In football, Dan held the all-time receiving record while at Whitman. He was 1st team All county and 2nd team all-state. As a basketball player, Dan started 3 years at point guard. Over his career he averaged 16 points per game and 9 assists per game. He was voted 1st team all-county and 1st team all-met as a senior. Dan led his team to a 19-5 record and received the Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete award. Dan played for four years with the St. Mary’s Seahawks, serving as team captain from 2004-2007, leaving as the school’s all-time assist leader with 419. He also tallied 819 points and 355 rebounds. Dan led the CAC in assists in the 2005-2006 season. Dan served as the summer coach for Whitman’s basketball team in 2005 and 2006. During that time, Whitman won the 4A state championship. Dan is currently an assistant coach at Mount Saint Mary’s University, a division one school. He was the youngest division one coach in the country. In his first year as a coach, they went to the NCAA tournament and played UNC in the first round. Dan spends his summers at Whitman where he and Coach Lun have been running youth basketball camps for 4 years.
Courtney Gaine graduated from Whitman in 1995 and played basketball, field hockey and soccer. As a soccer player her freshman and sophomore years, she was named all-county and honorable mention all-state. She played field hockey for 3 years and was all-county 2 times, second team all-state and 2nd team all-met. Courtney was a 4 year varsity player on the basketball team. She was named all-county 3 times, 1st team all-met 2 times, and 1st team all-state and USA Today’s honorable mention all-american. In 1995 her basketball team won the 4A state championship. Courtney continued her basketball career at the University of Connecticut. Her individual accolades at UConn include; 4 time All-Big East Academic All-Star team, Co-captain of the 1998-1999 team, and won the Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award. Her teams were ranked #1 in the nation at some point during each season. They were 4 time Big East Champions and went to the final four. Courtney recently returned to the DC area after finishing a PhD at UConn and living in North Carolina and Chicago. She is currently a science and policy consultant for the food and beverage industry.
Chris Gormley was a superior student athlete at Whitman from 1997-2001. He was a role model to his soccer teammates and school peers for both his admirable character and elite athletic ability. Chris was a confident competitor who often brought out the best in his teammates. Chris started as a freshman on the 1997 State championship team and was all-met and all-state honorable mention his junior year. In 2000, he was a NSCAA/Adiddas All-american and was named the NSCAA/Adiddas All-south, all-state and all-met player of the year. He was the Gatorade player of the year for the state of Maryland as well as the MVP of the Maryland all-star game. Chris was a senior captain of the 2000 undefeated state champion soccer team and tallied 9 goals and 16 assists. Chris continued his career at the University of Maryland and played for the Terrapins for two years. He started all but one game and his team went to the NCAA final four his sophomore year. Chris had an outstanding impact on the Whitman soccer program, contributing to the high program standards that remain today.
Ryan Kuehl was a 4 sport athlete at Whitman. He earned 10 overall varsity letters in football, basketball, baseball and track. As a football player, Ryan was all-met tight end as a junior and all-met linebacker as a senior. He was named to the Super Prep All-Mid East Region as a linebacker and tight end as well as being named a Prep Magazine All-american. Ryan continued his football career at the University of Virginia. He was a four year letterman and was named 2nd team All-ACC at defensive tackle. Ryan played 12 years in the NFL primarily as a long snapper. He played with the 49’ers, Redskins, Brown and finished his career with the Giants where he was part of the Super Bowl 42 Champions. Ryan was helping coach the Whitman football team when he was called up by the Redskins. Ryan is married to his wife Kimberly and has 3 children Tyler, Olivia and Cooper. He currently works as Director of Sports Marketing, Professional Sports with under Armour.
Craig Lake played basketball, ran track and cross country for the Vikings. As a basketball player, she was named all-county and all region for 4 years and was named an honorable mention all-met player her senior year. She was the #1 3 point shooter in the area all 4 years and 3rd in the nation in 3 point shots made her senior year. Craig began running her sophomore year. She was named all-county and all-region for 3 years. Craig was 1st team all-met in cross country and 2nd team all-met in track her senior year. She won the state championship in the 800 meter and the 4x800 meter relay. She finished 3rd in the 3200 meter and 3rd in the mile. Craig ran varsity cross country and track for Princeton University and was first team All-Ivy and first team All-East. Craig coached at Georgetown Visitation, George Washington University, Columbia University for 8 years where she was named Coach of the Year in the Northeast Region and led the team to 4 Ivy League Titles and 5 top 25 Nationals finishes .She also received her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology at Columbia, and is now the Director of men’s and women’s cross country/track & field at Brown University where she recently coached an Olympian in Beijing along with 5 NCAA Division I All-Americans.
Lindsay Seawright was a three sport athlete at Whitman and a star at each one. She was an accomplished soccer player and a star on the girls tennis team. Her real strength was in basketball. Lindsay led the team to some of its best records and although the team did not win the state championship during her tenure, she was all-met in both her junior and senior years. Lindsay also served as team captain her senior year. Lindsay attended Wake forest on a basketball scholarship. She was named captain of the team and was a defensive leader in the ACC as well as being an ACC Scholar athlete. She pursued a degree in medicine and now practices in North Carolina.
Stephanie Smith has been an avid athlete all of her life. She began her impressive athletic story in this community, where she grew up playing sports and learning the basics of what would become an outstanding career. She lettered eight times in varsity sports including 2 years of girls’ basketball, 2 years of softball, 3 years of girls’ volleyball, and 1 year of co-ed volleyball. Stephanie was a starter and key contributor to the 1998 undefeated (20-0) state volleyball championship team that finished number 2 in the Washington Post poll. The volleyball team had a 48-4 record and won 3 straight Division crowns (1998-2000) during her 3 years on the team. She was selected honorable mention all-county volleyball and received a full athletic scholarship for volleyball to the University of Maryland at College Park. Stephanie was selected to the senior softball all-star team. She was the leading scorer and rebounder on the basketball team during the 2000-2001 season, and the winner of the Chichester Award for basketball and the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award in 2001.After receiving a full athletic scholarship to the University of Maryland-College Park, Stephanie became one of the most prolific volleyball players in Maryland’s history. She ranks No. 2 all-time in solo blocks, block assists, total blocks, and hitting percentage. She posted a 91-42 record in her 4 years, winning 3 straight ACC championships and making 3 trips to the NCAA tournament (2003-2005). She was named to the 2005 ACC Preseason Team, was an All-ACC First Team selection, chosen to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region Team, and was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. She was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team. Stephanie graduated from the University of Maryland in 2006, earning a bachelor of science in elementary education. She went on to teach 1st grade in Raleigh, North Carolina for two years as well as coach volleyball at Triangle Volleyball Club. Stephanie currently resides in Austin, Texas where she is a master’s candidate in the School of Social Work at the University of Texas.