51����

Pulling from four decades, this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame class will be entirely worthy of the 100th playing of “The Game.”

51���� and Asheville School renew the Carolinas’ oldest high school football rivalry on Saturday, September 26, here in Arden. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. 

Rick Fayssoux ’67, a grandson of Athletic Department patriarch Richard “Fessor” Fayssoux ‘1916, has been chosen as an honorary captain for the Greenies. 

The hall of fame induction will take place at halftime for these seven individuals:

Coach Leigh Harris
Sports: Outdoor Program and Wrestling

Bio: Coached and taught Math at 51���� for 29 years before retiring from full-time teaching in 2019. Leigh still assists as a part-time coach with the Outdoor Program – its current design and scope can be attributed to him. Leigh has been involved in high school wrestling for 60 years and coached 51���� to its only state championship in the sport (1993-94 NCISAA dual team title). Also coached at Asheville High School, Cross Keys High School (Ga.), Pinecrest High School (Fla.), and Sylva-Webster High School. Leigh went on to become one of North Carolina’s most respected officials, receiving a Lifetime Service of Wrestling Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s North Carolina chapter in 2018. 

Gerry Barrett ’66
Sports: Basketball and Tennis.

Bio: Gerry was the leading scorer and leading rebounder for the 1965-66 basketball team that went 18-2, beat Asheville School three times (the first instance of that in program history) and had a 16-game winning streak at one point. He was named to the Asheville Citizen-Times All-Western North Carolina team. Undefeated in singles and doubles his senior year of tennis.

Gary Chambers ’67 
Sports: Football and Track. 

Bio: A member of the undefeated 1965 and 1966 football teams as a wingback. Also played soccer and was a former school record-holder in the 100-yard dash (10.0 seconds). Part of track teams that won 24 consecutive dual meets.

Dr. Jared O’Garro-Moore ’06
Sports: Football, Track, and Wrestling. 

Bio: A two-time state champion in the pole vault and track team MVP as a junior. Placed third in the state wrestling tournament as a junior and a senior, was a conference champion in that sport as a junior and team captain as a senior. Winner of the Senior Athletic Cup. Currently the Assistant Director of the Day Program at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology.

Marshall Plumlee ’11
Sport: Basketball. 

Bio: One of only two McDonald’s All-Americans in school history (the other is his older brother Mason '09) and Gatorade State Player of the Year as a senior. Part of four state-championship teams as a freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior. Averaged 11.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks his final season. School record-holder for career rebounds (850) and blocks (250). Scored 921 career points. Winner of the Senior Athletic Cup and signed with Duke University out of high school.

Jeff Krieger ’12
Sport: Golf. 

Bio: Won the NCISAA 3-A state tournament as a senior and led the Greenies to two team state championships (2010 and 2012). A two-time all-state and five-time all-conference player. Holds the school record for the lowest 36-hole score (139). Was the Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year as a senior and won the Buncombe County tournament as an eighth grader. Played college golf for Elon University.

John Fulkerson ’16
Sport: Basketball. 

Bio: Only attended 51���� for two years, and in that short time was a two-time team MVP and the 2016 Carolinas Athletic Association Player of the Year. He broke Marshall Plumlee’s school record for single-season blocks (113) that final season to go along with averages of 14.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks. Also holds single-game record for blocks (10). Finished with 222 career blocks (second-most for a Greenie), 787 points, and 687 rebounds. Chosen for the N.C. Private School All-Star Game. After graduation, he went on to become one of the University of Tennessee’s most beloved players. John briefly played professionally overseas.