Billy Baker
Lincoln County native Billy Baker became a Catawba County Sports Hall of Famer thanks to a distinguished career as wrestling coach at St. Stephens High School, where he became the first coach or athlete recognized by the CCSHOF for contributions to the sports of wrestling.
In three decades as a wrestling head coach, Baker has garnered accolades as a nine-time Conference Coach of the Year with over 700 wins; a State Dual Championship in 2018-19; 10 Conference Titles, and three State Dual Runnerup finishes.
During an illustrious career, Baker’s teams at Saint have dominated opponents having amassed wins in 84 percent of the matches participated in; including a winning percentage over 90% of the dual matches within conference play.
During his years at St. Stephens, Baker became of the best H.S. wrestling coaches in NC guiding numerous student-athletes to Conference, Regional, or State awards and honors.
In addition, he was inducted into the Lincoln County Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, has served as V.P. and President of the N.C. H.S. Wrestling Coaches Association, and has been a longtime Athletic Director at S.S.H.S.
Tiffany Chappell Freeman
Tiffany Chappell Freeman made her mark on the hardwoods throughout Catawba County as one of the most decorated women’s basketball players of her time, starring at Bandys High School as a multi-sport athlete for the Lady Trojans.
Tiffany Chappell Freeman was a four-year All-SD-7 Conference selection in the proud and storied Bandys High girls’ basketball history.
She was Conference Player of the Year leading the Lady Trojans to the 1994 2A State Championship. In addition, she was selected honorable mention All-American, was a two-time N.C. All-State selection amassing nearly 1900 career points and over 900 career rebounds in her prep career.
In addition, Chappell Freeman was a valuable member of the AAU National Championship Carolina Flight 18 & under Teams in 1993, and 1994.
She later starred at Appalachian State and had a stellar career for the Lady Mountaineers as a four-year starter and a nearly 1,000 point scorer. Chappell Freeman still ranks in ASU’s record books on the career three-point leader list.
James Andrew “Pud” Mosteller
Maiden native James Andrew “Pud” Mosteller grew up in Conover and was a four-sport standout at Newton-Conover High (1949-53), before he became an All-SEC lineman at the University of Georgia and longtime Southeastern Conference official.
Mosteller is remembered first as a 215-pound tackle and captain of the Red Devils and was the second player in school history to play in the Shrine Bowl All-Star game in 1952.
He later starred as a lineman for the Georgia Bulldogs from 1953-56 where he was an All-SEC and Honorable Mention All-American selection. He was drafted by the NFL’s New York Giants in 1957, but injuries curtailed his pro career that same season.
Mosteller was able to remain active in football, first by officiating high school football, where he then embarked on a distinguished 25-year career as a referee for the SEC.
Mosteller refereed 12 bowl games; and was the referee of the 1981 Iron Bowl between Alabama-Auburn, in which Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant set the record for wins by an NCAA Division I head coach.
Jo Anne McCaslin Potts
Catawba County native Jo Anne McCaslin Potts was a women’s basketball pioneer, who became a phenomenal prep basketball player at Maiden High School in the late 1950’s.
In an era when rules limited girls participation, length of their seasons with no state playoff games, Jo Anne McCaslin stood out. She is believed to be the first women’s basketball player in Catawba County history to score over 2000 points, finishing with 2,121 in just sixty-eight career games. Her 31.1 average points per game is one the highest of any H.S. basketball player in Catawba County sports history.
A four-year starter, and a three-time All-Conference selection, McCaslin helped lead Maiden High to the Southern District VII Conference Tournament Title in 1960. She also became an All-State selection, and was one of the most decorated scholastic players of her time.
McCaslin played professionally after high school and was selected a First Team All-World with teams from the United States, South America, and Europe.
She attended Old Dominion University and Appalachian State, and later became a business education teacher for 34 years in Gaston and Lincoln Counties. During her career she was also a cheerleading coach and mentor/leader of the Future Business Leaders of America organization.
Daniel Willis
Hickory native Daniel Willis is one of the most all-around, talented athletes that Hickory High School has produced in the last 50 years.
Willis was a multi-sport prep and collegiate athlete at a time when many contemporaries began to specialize.
Willis starred in football, basketball, and baseball for the Red Tornadoes from 1993-97. He was the star quarterback on the 3-A State Champion and 2019 CCSHOF ‘Team of Distinction’ Red Tornado squad that went 16-0.
He was a 1,000-point scorer and led the Red Tornadoes to back-to-back appearances in the State 3-A Basketball Finals (1996, 1997 ), while becoming a two-time All-Conference selection as a pitcher for the Tornado baseball squad.
Willis later became one of the greatest players in men’s basketball history at Lenoir-Rhyne University where he was a four-year letterman, three-time All-Conference selection, and a First-Team All-American ranking second in school history in total points scored with 1,980.
In his life’s work, Willis has been a collegiate coach with stops at Western Carolina, Tusculum, VMI, The Citadel and most recently taking over as Head Coach of his alma mater at Hickory High.
Team of Excellence – 1964 Ridgeview football team – the Untouchables
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