The Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame host 2024 Induction Ceremony and Banquet

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Five sports legends earned a spot in the Greater Wilmington Sports hall of Fame Sunday evening.

The 2024 Induction Ceremony and Banquet were held at the Wilmington Convention Center.

This year’s inductees are Connor Barth, Joe Browning, James Faison, Alley Hart, and Sherri Tynes, according to the GWSHOF website.

The committee annually chooses from a long list of athletes, coaches, and others who had a significant sports impact on the Wilmington Area.

We talked with Faison who said, “I just know that as I receive this honor I receive it in the name of other young people who could turn out the same way… if they have someone to show them love, support, and have strong family support and receive words of encouragement”.

Faison also lives by the motto “Preparation plus opportunity equals success..” He believes if you prepare yourself when opportunities come you’ll be ready for it and it will launch you into the success you’ve been working for.

This year’s event was packed and completely sold out.

The master of ceremonies was Sam Gore. Gore has been working as a television host for ESPN for the past 20 years. He is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Most of his time in North Carolina was spent as a news and sports anchor in Fayetteville and being the voice of the UNCW Seahawks. This was his first time attending the event hosted by GWSHOF. Gore believes local athletes are putting Wilmington on the map.

“Wilmington has a reputation all around the country of producing athletes at every level…elite athletes, I mean you don’t even have to go any further than Michael Jordan but all the way back to Althea Gibson and beyond. There is just something about Wilmington North Carolina that has produced people of integrity and character in the world of athletics, and at my job at ESPN I can go to any corner of the U.S. and tell them I’m from Wilmington, North Carolina and they know exactly where that is and who grew up and became famous by being in Wilmington.”

Many participated in a silent auction where sponsors donated items.

To learn more about the events like the one tonight you can visit the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame website.

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