Lisa Johnson Ard inducted into the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame
Lisa Johnson Ard, Connie Ballard, the late Buddy Hodge, Garon Jackson, Stacy Martin, Brooks Shumake and Travis Yates have been selected for induction into the Sumter Sports Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Sumter at 630 South Sumter Street.
Ard was a standout athlete at both Hudgens Academy and Coker University before becoming a standout high school coach in both basketball and softball. Ard was the girls basketball head coach at Crestwood from 1998-2006 and led the Lady Wildcats to the state playoffs each year, winning four region titles. She has led East Clarendon High School to two 1A softball state titles – 2013 and ’17.
Ballard was a standout amateur golfer, winning two South Carolina Women’s Open Golf Chamionships. The first came in a match play format in 1986 while the other came the following year in stroke play.
Hodge was a 1943 graduate of Edmunds High School where he lettered in both basketball and football. He went to Wheaton University for a year where he was a member of an undefeated football. After serving in the Navy in World War II, Hodge went to Newberry College and lettered in four sports. He went on to become a high school coach and athletic director and later was both a basketball and football official.
Jackson was an all-state distance runner for the Sumter High School track and field team and then went on to a tremendous career at Voorhees College. Jackson won state championships in both the 800- and 1,600-meter runs in 1995. He went to Voorhees and is the only undefeated track and field athlete in Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history.
Martin was the varsity head coach for both the boys and girls track and field teams at Wilson Hall for 13 years. She won 12 SCISA 3A state titles during that time, six with the boys and six with the girls. She was also named SCISA Coach of the Year 10 times.
Shumake has won three state championships as the baseball head coach at Sumter High School. He’s won eight region titles and seven district titles while sporting a 358-168 record in his 18 years at SHS.
Yates was a standout football player at Hillcrest High and went on to play at Wofford College. He was an honorable mention All-American at Wofford.