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The Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2026 class as part of a banquet Saturday, July 18 at the city’s municipal complex at 400 E. Central Ave.
Among this year’s honorees are former athletic standouts Brent Grice, Jared “Boo” Hogan, Erika Hullander, Gary Neely and Joe Pacheco, as well as the 2002 East Gaston High wrestling team. The event will also recognize Tareyton “Zip” Stowe with the Community Service Award for his athletic contributions on the court — as a standout basketball player at East Gaston High, followed by a stint at Western Carolina — along with his support of recreation departments in Mount Holly and surrounding communities.
IMAGES FROM GASTON SPORTS HOF BANQUET: Legends honored at 2026 Gaston Sports Hall of Fame. Our top photos
2026 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES: See 2026 high school football schedules for Gastonia, Shelby schools
Doors open at 5 p.m., with the banquet getting underway an hour later. Tickets are $25 and available at David’s Detailing, online at fametothename.org or by contacting a Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame committee member.
Here’s more on this year’s hall of fame inductees.
Though small in numbers — consisting of 11 wrestlers in 13 weight classes — the Warriors claimed the 2002 NCHSAA 3A state championship. East Gaston had three individual grapplers claim state titles, with one more scoring runner-up honors. Five Warrior wrestlers finished among the state’s top 100 for career victories.
A standout baseball and basketball player at East Gaston High, Grice parlayed his work on the diamond into a college baseball scholarship at Belmont Abbey. While at the school, he was a four-year starter, a three-time captain and team MVP, in addition to twice being named an all-conference performer. He was also a standout tennis player as a youth.
Nearly 22 years after his tragic death, Hogan’s legacy continues to live on among those in Mount Holly. A 2003 East Gaston High graduate, he won NCHSAA 3A state wrestling championships in 2002 and 2003, part of a career in which he won 150 matches.
Hogan was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, but had returned to serve as an assistant wrestling coach at Stanley Middle before a car accident ended his life at 19. In the years since, East Gaston High has awarded the Jared Hogan Memorial Scholarship in his honor.
A four-sport standout at East Gaston, Hullander specialized in girls basketball, golf, tennis and soccer. A state title contender in girls golf and tennis, Hullander wound up playing women’s soccer and women’s tennis at Belmont Abbey.
Neely was a three-sport star at old Mount Holly High, scoring a total of 10 varsity letters in football, baseball and basketball. The first 1,000-point scorer in Mount Holly High history, Neely contributed to three championship teams already part of the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame.
Pacheco wrestled at 189 pounds as part of East Gaston High’s 2002 NCHSAA 3A state title-winning team. He finished with a career record of 189-34, with 134 pins and two individual state titles. Pacheco also competed professionally in mixed martial arts, earning a 7-2 career record. He’s also served as a wrestling coach at various levels for almost two decades.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 5 individuals, team set for induction into Mount Holly Sports HOF
Continue reading...
Among this year’s honorees are former athletic standouts Brent Grice, Jared “Boo” Hogan, Erika Hullander, Gary Neely and Joe Pacheco, as well as the 2002 East Gaston High wrestling team. The event will also recognize Tareyton “Zip” Stowe with the Community Service Award for his athletic contributions on the court — as a standout basketball player at East Gaston High, followed by a stint at Western Carolina — along with his support of recreation departments in Mount Holly and surrounding communities.
IMAGES FROM GASTON SPORTS HOF BANQUET: Legends honored at 2026 Gaston Sports Hall of Fame. Our top photos
2026 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES: See 2026 high school football schedules for Gastonia, Shelby schools
Doors open at 5 p.m., with the banquet getting underway an hour later. Tickets are $25 and available at David’s Detailing, online at fametothename.org or by contacting a Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame committee member.
Here’s more on this year’s hall of fame inductees.
2002 East Gaston wrestling team
Though small in numbers — consisting of 11 wrestlers in 13 weight classes — the Warriors claimed the 2002 NCHSAA 3A state championship. East Gaston had three individual grapplers claim state titles, with one more scoring runner-up honors. Five Warrior wrestlers finished among the state’s top 100 for career victories.
You must be registered for see images attach
Brent Grice
A standout baseball and basketball player at East Gaston High, Grice parlayed his work on the diamond into a college baseball scholarship at Belmont Abbey. While at the school, he was a four-year starter, a three-time captain and team MVP, in addition to twice being named an all-conference performer. He was also a standout tennis player as a youth.
You must be registered for see images attach
Jared “Boo” Hogan
Nearly 22 years after his tragic death, Hogan’s legacy continues to live on among those in Mount Holly. A 2003 East Gaston High graduate, he won NCHSAA 3A state wrestling championships in 2002 and 2003, part of a career in which he won 150 matches.
Hogan was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, but had returned to serve as an assistant wrestling coach at Stanley Middle before a car accident ended his life at 19. In the years since, East Gaston High has awarded the Jared Hogan Memorial Scholarship in his honor.
Erika Hullander
A four-sport standout at East Gaston, Hullander specialized in girls basketball, golf, tennis and soccer. A state title contender in girls golf and tennis, Hullander wound up playing women’s soccer and women’s tennis at Belmont Abbey.
You must be registered for see images attach
Gary Neely
Neely was a three-sport star at old Mount Holly High, scoring a total of 10 varsity letters in football, baseball and basketball. The first 1,000-point scorer in Mount Holly High history, Neely contributed to three championship teams already part of the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame.
You must be registered for see images attach
Joe Pacheco
Pacheco wrestled at 189 pounds as part of East Gaston High’s 2002 NCHSAA 3A state title-winning team. He finished with a career record of 189-34, with 134 pins and two individual state titles. Pacheco also competed professionally in mixed martial arts, earning a 7-2 career record. He’s also served as a wrestling coach at various levels for almost two decades.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 5 individuals, team set for induction into Mount Holly Sports HOF
Continue reading...
