ATHLETIC
HALL OF FAME
Class of 2020
R.C. Lee
1971
At ORHS – A 2-year letterman in track and football. In football, he was a star at the Defensive End position, leading Oak Ridge to its best season, 6-1-2, in school history in 1969, and was the team’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman on the 1970 first ever Metro and District Championship Team. As a junior, he earned Lineman of the Week honors, along with being named All-Metro Conference as a junior and senior while earning All-Region Honorable Mention his senior year. Post HS – Went on to UCF and enjoyed a career in television as a photo journalist. Won awards for Best Sports Feature from the Greater Orlando Press Club, as well as featured in People Magazine with Ellen McFarland for investigative journalism.
Ed Finella
1975
At ORHS - Lettered in 2 sports – Football and Baseball. Earned All-Metro, All County and All State honors his senior year as a 2-year starting linebacker on the 1974 undefeated Metro Conference, District and Region Championship team. A team captain, Ed was also selected the Pioneer recipient of the 1974-75 Burger King Hustler Award. He was the 1974 Orlando Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year with Ara Parseghian presenting the award at the annual awards banquet. Post HS – As a 3-year letterman at Eastern Kentucky University, he earned All-Conference Honors and Player of the Year recognition at 2 positions-Linebacker and Defensive Lineman. Ed was the starting linebacker on the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Team that went on to win the D1-AA National Football Championship in 1979. He played the last game of his high school career, a loss in the FHSAA Region Championship game and his last collegiate game, winning the D1-AA National Championship, in the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium.
Cyril Wyatt
1977
At ORHS – A 2 sport athlete, he earned 6 varsity letters in both football an and track and is arguably the most decorated athlete in the Oak Ridge history in any sport. In Football, he earned All-Metro honors at the running back position, as he led the Metro in rushing as a junior. Won OR Offensive Back Award and was a member of 2 Metro Championship teams. During his career, Oak Ridge never lost a game when Cyril was the starting tailback. In Track, he earned multiple Major event championships – 4 Metro, 4 District, 4 Region and 3 State – and becoming a 2 time All-American. Earned All-Southern honors and became the world age group (15yrs old) record holder in the 100 meters as a junior (10.3). Member of the USA Junior National Team, he holds the school records in the 100, and 220-yard dashes; as well as a member of 3 school record setting relay teams (440, 880, Sprint Medley) – in which the 880 Relay is the fastest in Florida history. As a senior in 1977, he finished ranked #1 in the nation in 3 events -100,220 and 440y Relay. He finished his career as leader in All-Time Career Points, Most Points in a Season, and the winningest track athlete ever, with 15 major meet championships. A 2-time Ray Judy Outstanding Performer award winner, and the Central Florida Boys Track Athlete of the Year. Post HS – Accepted a Track Scholarship to Florida State University.
Shirley Burton
1980
At ORHS – A 3-sport athlete at ORHS, earning varsity letters in Volleyball, Softball and Track. In Volleyball she earned All-Metro honors for the Pioneers, while also running track and field. While only playing softball for ORHS for one season, she decided to forgo her senior season to play semi-pro softball for the Orlando Rebels alongside OR Hall of Famer Lindi James (2013). While playing for the Rebels, she was part of the National Championship team in 1982. Post HS – She went on to earn a scholarship in Softball to the University of South Carolina again alongside Lindi James. A 2-time Regional All-American with the Gamecocks, she helped lead them to the College World Series in 1983. She ranks #9 in Triples and #13 in Stolen Bases All-Time at South Carolina – while also leading her team in at-bats, batting average, runs, hits, total bases, slugging percentage, RBI’s during her career.
Reggie Pressley
1981
At ORHS – A 3-year letterman in track and field, he considered one of the greatest track athletes in the school’s rich history in the sport. He racked up All-Metro, District, and Region honors during his career – succeeded by All-State honors twice and becoming a 2-time All-American in the process. A member of 2 Pioneer track teams that swept major championships, capped by back-to-back State Championships in 1980 and 1981. Arguably the most versatile sprinter in OR history, he ranks #2 all time in the 100-yard dash, #3 in the 220, #3 in the 330 and #4 in the 440. A member of some of the greatest all-time relay teams in history - 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and Mile Medley – winning 3 state relay titles in the process. As a junior he became the first & only athlete in the history of the Metro Conference to win titles in the 100, 200 & 400 in the same year. Won the State title in the 200 as Senior. He ranks #3 in Career Championship Points, and #4 in Career Individual Points. A Winner of the Hughley Leonard Coach’s Achievement award, and a 2-time winner of the Ray Judy Outstanding Performer award. He went on to have his jersey retired as a senior – one of only six Pioneers in history to do so. Post HS – Went on to run track at Seminole and Santa Fe Community Colleges, before moving on to complete in the club ranks.
*Vanessa Castellucci
1985
At ORHS – One of the best golfers in the school history, she began competing for the Pioneers as a sophomore. While OR did not have a Girl’s golf team at the time, she began to play on the Boys Golf Team and winning many games in the process. She earned All-County honors and was a winner of 2 district championships during her career, while winning a bid to the State tournament. As a sophomore she won the PING Girls Player of the Year, and the North-South Junior Championship at Pinehurst. She earned All-American honors from Golf Magazine, won the Orlando Amateur Athletic Association Female Golfer of the Year award, and the LPGA National Junior Championship - while in high school at Oak Ridge. She was named the ORHS Best Female Athlete as a junior, and the MVP of the OR Golf team as a senior. During her career on the Junior circuit, she racked up a total of 89 victories on her way to becoming one of the greatest female junior golfers in the history of Florida. Post HS – She earned a college scholarship to Florida State University before turning professional after her freshman year. She passed away in 2017.
Molly Wynn
1991
At ORHS - A 3 sport star during her days for the Pioneers – excelling in Volleyball, Softball and Soccer earning a total of 11 varsity letters. In Volleyball, she was a member of 2 Metro Conference Championship teams, while setting the school record for highest serving percentage (99%). In softball, she earned All-Metro and All-County honors in the outfield as she helped ORHS win a State Championship in Softball – the first year of fastpitch. She finished the season with a batting average of .500, while scoring 47 runs, driving in 26 runs, and racking up 47 stolen bases. After having a remarkable season, she won the Orange Extra’s Player of the Year, along with the Golden Glove Award -as the best fastpitch Softball player in Orange County her senior season. She was also nominated by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando for the female Scholar athlete of the year for Orange County and received the US Army Reserve Award for Academic and Athletic Excellence. A member of the Nation Honor Society. Post HS – Received a 2-year Academic Scholarship to Valencia and went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida.
Elias Gonzalez
1996
At ORHS – a three-year letterman in both Track and Cross Country, he is considered one of the all-time best distance runners in school history earning All-Metro and All-State honors in both sports. An All-American track athlete in 1996, he won two Metro, two District and one Region individual event titles while a member of three Metro, three District and two Region Championship teams. He was also a point scorer on both the 1994 and 1995 State Championship runner-up teams. In his senior year, he was the recipient of the Ray Judy Outstanding Performer Award. In Cross Country, Elias was a two-time individual Metro Conference and District Champion. Is the school record holder in the 3-Mile, running a time of 15:00. As a senior he won the Region Championship, and went on to finish 2nd at the State Championship Meet- the top finish in school history. He was honored in both his junior and senior years as the Pioneers’ Outstanding Performer and in 1995 he was the Orange County Cross Country Athlete of the Year. He is the only Cross Country athlete in school history to have his jersey retired. Post HS – After earning Junior College Track & Field All American honors for 10,000 Meters at Florida Community College of Jacksonville, went into the Army. After serving his initial term, Elias moved on to the University of Tampa. He is one of the most decorated runners in school history earning distinction as the top male runner on the University of Tampa Men’s Silver Anniversary Cross Country Team. He remains the Spartans’ only men’s Cross Country All American, earning that honor in 2003. He is the school record holder at the three major race distances, 5K, 8K and 10K. In 2012, he was inducted into the University of Tampa Athletic Hall of Fame. Since his graduation from the University of Tampa in 2003, Elias has served as a U.S. Army Reserves Captain, logging multiple tours of duty in the Middle East.
Dick Damron
Coach
Spent a total of 18 years at ORHS. He began in 1974 as the JV basketball coach and served as the head varsity basketball coach from 1976-1981. His team won the 1976 West Orlando Christmas Classic Tournament and he was selected as the assistant coach for the Florida North/South All-Star game in 1977. Coach Damron led ORHS to its first Metro Conference Basketball Championship in school history in 1981 and went on to earn Metro Coach of the Year honors that season. He was selected as the head coach for the Orange County vs. Seminole County All-Star game, leading his team to victory. Many high school basketball observers credit Coach Damron for his innervations and introduction of an up-tempo style of play never seen before in the Metro Conference. Coach Damron went on to serve as Principal at Oak Ridge from 1991-2002. He was inducted into the Metro Conference Hall of Fame in 1993.
Stephanie Lennon
Contributor
An Oak Ridge High School living legend with regards to her affiliation with Pioneer athletics, Stephanie Lennon has been the Head Athletic Trainer and health/physical education teacher at Oak Ridge High School for the past 31 years; and in that span, Oak Ridge has won 6 State Championships across 3 sports. During her career in high school athletics, she has won the Florida High School Athletic Trainer of the Year twice (’93, ’99), District High School AT of the Year (’01) and is a FL State and District Hall of Fame Member. Stephanie is also an adjunct instructor for the Athletic Training Program at the University of Central Florida. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her Masters’ degree from Troy State University. Though the high school setting is where most of Stephanie’s employment history lies, she has experience in the collegiate, clinical and professional settings, as well. Stephanie began her volunteerism for the profession with the Board of Certification (BOC) as a Host Athletic Trainer, Test Materials Coordinator and Test Site Administrator. She was also part of the Certification Exam Writing Committee and became an Examiner Qualification Facilitator. Stephanie was appointed as the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association (SEATA) Representative to the NATA Secondary School Committee on which she served for six years. She was also a member of the NATA Inter-Association Task Force for Pre-Season Heat Acclimatization Guidelines for Secondary School Athletics. Stephanie was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Board of Athletic Training in 2000 and served as the co-chair from 2004 until her election as ATAF President in 2006. Stephanie began her involvement in ATAF as the Century Club Chair. She also served on the Governmental Affairs Committee in the early years when the association was pursuing licensure. Stephanie served as the High School Committee Chair for nine years and was a member of the Education Committee. She served as the ATAF President from 2006-2012. Stephanie was an Executive Board Member for SEATA and was assigned to several SEATA committees during her tenure. She currently serves on the SEATA Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award Committee and is the SEATA representative to the NATA’s Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award Committee. In addition, Stephanie has been a preceptor for student athletic trainers with Valdosta State University and the University of Central Florida. She served on the Concussion Task Force for the state of Florida which was instrumental in drafting concussion legislation for high school and adolescent athletics. Stephanie accomplished the distinction of National Board Teaching Certification in 2003. Stephanie has received several awards throughout her career including the NATA Service Award and Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, ATAF High School Athletic Trainer of the Year Award, ATAF Athletic Trainer Award, and is an ATAF Hall of Fame Inductee. She is also a University of Florida College of Health and Human Performance Hall of Fame Member. She was inducted into the SEATA Hall of Fame in 2015.
* Deceased