George Mason High School’s greatest athletic legends from years past are about to officially enter the annals of the school’s sports history. 
George Mason High School’s greatest athletic legends from years past are about to officially enter the annals of the school’s sports history.
The George Mason Athletic Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremonies over the weekend of Oct. 9 –10.
Inductees and honorees will be recognized at the Friday, Oct. 9, home football game against Freedom-South Riding High School.
Inductions will then be held on Saturday, Oct. 10 in the Mustang Gym at the Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. The school’s address is 7134 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church.
A pre-awards reception will begin that evening at 5:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony will commence at 7 p.m.
The inductees and honorees include:
– Steve Clinton (Class of 1980) is being inducted for his time on Mason’s basketball and baseball teams.
In basketball, he led the 1979-80 team to a district championship and was named the district’s most valuable player. In baseball, he started on the 1980 Group AA state championship baseball team and was named to the All-Region tournament team. Clinton played intercollegiate baseball at the College of William and Mary, lettering four years, and joins his sister Joan (1977) as the first brother-sister tandem to be inducted into the Hall.
– Kate Jackson (Class of 2000) for basketball.
She is the leading career scorer in George Mason basketball history (boys and girls). She was Group A co-state player of the year in girls’ basketball in 1998 when her team won the state championship and a two-time first team Group A All-State selection in girls’ basketball. Jackson played intercollegiate basketball at the College of Charleston. She joins her sister Sarah (1996) as the first sister combination to be inducted into the Hall.
– Ben Griffin (Class of 2002) for playing on the football, basketball, and soccer teams.
In football, he had over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season and was first team All-Region as a defensive back. In basketball, Ben was a starter on the 2000-01 state semi-finalist team and was selected second team All-District the following year. In soccer, he was Group A state player of the year and led his team to the state championship his senior year. Griffin played soccer inter collegiately at Southern Virginia University and Mars Hill College.
– The 1998 girls varsity basketball team, which won the Virginia state tournament. The girls were the first Mason team to win a state basketball championship, compiling a 25-1 record on the way to the Group A crown. Team members include Erin Ballard, Catherine Cooney, Liz Gannon, Karly Gould, Summer Harrington, Kate Jackson, Katie Kuhn, Kerry Kuhn, Lauren Lewis, Elisa Marks, Deidre Murphy, Emily Rudd, Erin Scrutchins, Lauren Szymanski, Robin Wilson, and Samantha Wippich as well as head coach Jim Spiridopoulos and assistant coaches Mike Malone, Bill Rohland and Byron Wood. The 1998 girls’ basketball team is the third team and the first girls’ team to be inducted into the Hall.
– Tim McCabe (Class of 1997) (soccer) – Special Achievement Award honoree for notable accomplishments in the face of adversity.
During his career, McCabe scored seven goals, was named to the second team All-District squad his senior year, and played on teams that compiled a gaudy combined 42-5-2 record while garnering metro area recognition for excellence. In 1997, he received the Allstate Foundation/Virginia High School Achievement Award in the Group A male athlete category. This award recognizes exceptional achievements in the classroom and in athletic and academic extra-curricular activities. McCabe’s accomplishments are particularly noteworthy because of the adversity he overcame in order to compete. He was born without arms.
– Kenneth “Powers” Shutts (Class of 1957), who was on the Mason track team, and Colleen Winzeler (Class of 2000), who was both the cross-country and track teams, were also elected to the Hall, but were unable to attend this year’s ceremonies.
Shutts and Winzeler deferred their inductions into the Hall of Fame until future ceremonies.
Shutts was a four-time state champion in track – twice in the 440-yard run (1956 and 1957). He also anchored both the state championship mile relay team (1956) and the state championship 880 yard relay team (1957). His 1956 440-yard run, 1956 mile relay and 1957 880-yard relay involved then state record times.
Winzeler was the 1999 Group A state champion in girls’ cross-country, the 800-meter run, and the 1,600-meter run. She is the only girl in Mason history to win an individual state championship in cross-country and still holds George Mason High School records in the 800-meter and the 1,600-meter runs. Colleen skipped her final year of high school eligibility to enter college and compete at Lewis-Clark State College. She held school records there for the 1,500-meter run and the 3,200-meter relay.