New inductees WHS Athletic Hall of Fame

WILLIAMSON — The Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors have announced their inductees for the Class of 2025.

The 2025 class, which will be the 28th group enshrined among other Wolfpack greats, will see five new members inducted.

The five members of the WHS Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 are as follows:

Cantees

STEVE CANTEES: Cantees was a 1977 graduate of WHS where he played varsity baseball for three years and varsity basketball for two. Cantees also played for the American Legion Post 49 baseball team from 1975-1977 and later continued his baseball career at Pikeville College in the 1980 and 1981 seasons. Cantees, who was also known by his nickname Seetnac, returned to Williamson High School as the head baseball coach from 1984 to 1986 and later served as the head football coach from 1987-1989. He also served as the head coach on the Post 49 baseball team for three years leading them to a third-place finish at the state tournament in 1987 and coached the Williamson Jr. High football team. Cantees later moved to Florida and most recently received the 2016 HT Preps Sarasota Sportsman of the Year Award and was named the Sarasota County Boys and Girls Club Leader of the Year in 2022. 

Howard

JOE HOWARD: Howard was a 1976 graduate of the Wolfpack where he was a three-year starter on the boys basketball team under legendary coach George Ritchie. He won the free-throw award as a senior. Howard also was a standout on the WHS baseball team, being named First Team All-Area and All-State Honorable Mention in 1976. 

Ledger

GREG LEDGER: Ledger was a three-sport athlete for the Wolfpack who graduated in 2001. He played basketball, baseball, and football all four years of his high school career, helping lead the Wolfpack to their final state title in basketball in 2001. Ledger was named Special Honorable Mention on the Class A All-State Basketball Team as a senior and served as a captain on the 2001 squad. Ledger was also a captain on the 2000 football team helping the team to a 9-3 record and a quarterfinal finish. Ledger also landed an Honorable Mention nod on the All-State baseball team his senior year. Ledger got a degree in Sports Marketing and Management from Marshall University. He worked with the West Virginia Power from 2006 to 2008 before taking a job with the Pittsburgh Penguins where he has worked since 2008. 

Nortz

MARISSA GRACE NORTZ: Nortz, who went by her maiden named Grace during her high school days, graduated from WHS in 2008. Grace was a four-year starter on the girls basketball and softball teams, while also playing volleyball her junior and senior years. She was named a First Team All-Area selection and Honorable Mention on the Class A All-State team for basketball, while also garnering an All-Area nod in softball. Grace was the valedictorian for the Class of 2008.

Duffield

CATHY WHITEHEAD DUFFIELD: Whitehead Duffield graduated from Williamson High in 1986. She excelled in multiple sports during her time at WHS, including helping lead the girls basketball team to the state tournament as a senior. She also played on the inaugural softball team in school history and was the 1986 Prom Queen.

The 2025 class will be officially inducted at the annual induction ceremony and banquet which will be held on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 3 p.m. inside the Williamson Community Center in West Williamson. Doors will open for the event at 2 p.m.

A meet-and-greet with finger foods and refreshments will also be held on Friday, Aug. 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. also inside of the community center.

Aside from inducting the 28th HOF Class, the Board of Directors will also be recognizing the 1995 Williamson High School cheerleading squad, which claimed the first state championship in Mingo County history, during the ceremony on Saturday.

Additionally, the HOF will also be honoring worthy individuals with its newest HOF honor, “The Friend of the Pack” Award during the Induction Weekend.

This is a new award created in 2022 for the Athletic Hall of Fame Board to bestow and will be awarded at the discretion of the Hall’s Board of Directors to those individuals the board believes to have made exceptional contributions to the success of Williamson High School’s Athletics Program during the school’s 101-year history.

The 2025 “Friend of the Pack” honorees will be announced in the coming weeks

Tickets for the induction weekend will be $40 per person and $25 for children 12 and under. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by contacting Athletic Hall of Fame Board Treasurer Cecilia Lynn Hatfield Barker at 606-625-0085 or ccbarker@k12.wv.us or by contacting Board President Harold Hickok at 423-316-0355.

For more information on the Williamson Athletic Hall of Fame and its 28th Annual Hall of Fame Weekend, you may contact the Hall through its Facebook page at Williamson High School Athletic Hall of Fame.