<span>              <span style="">VIRGINIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2010</span>                

Portsmouth, VA—The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame is proud to announce the members of the Class of 2010, as chosen by vote of the statewide Honors Court committee.

The new class features:
• Herman Moore, University of Virginia All-American football player and 1st round draft choice for the Detroit Lions in 1991;
• Whitney Hedgepeth, All-American swimmer at University of Texas and Olympic Gold medalist;
• Alonzo Mourning, Georgetown University All-American, NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist in 2000;
• Jim Dombrowski, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and 11 year career in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints;
• Dave Robbins, the winningest college basketball coach in Virginia history from Virginia Union University with an overall record of 693-175;
• Larry Peccatiello, William and Mary Hall of Fame football inductee and 40 year professional coaching career in the NFL;
• Helmut Werner, All-American soccer player at Lynchburg College and 43 year coaching career at Randolph Macon College;
• Jim Ducibella, Virginia Press Association Award recipient and over 20 years of coverage of professional football and golf.
"The Class of 2010 brings eight of the most impressive résumés we have ever seen," says Hall of Fame President Eddie Webb. "These individuals exemplify the Commonwealth's diversity in sports from swimming to football, as well as decades of achievement."

The 39th annual induction ceremony will take place on April 24, 2010, at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel & Waterfront Conference Center, as the crowning event of Hall of Fame Weekend. Tickets go on sale January 15, 2010. For more information, call (757) 393-8031.

A closer look at the Class of 2010:

Herman Moore, born in Danville, VA, attended the University of Virginia where he was a 2 time All-American. In 1991, he was the 1st round draft choice of the Detroit Lions. He went on to play for the Lions through the 2001 season and finished his career with the New York Giants. Through his professional career, he was selected to four Pro-Bowls, from 1994-1997. In 1995, he set a NFL record with 123 single season receptions. In 1998, Moore received the inaugural All-Iron Award for his performance in the Thanksgiving Day game. He finished in the top 10 four times in the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His 12 year career included 670 receptions; 9,174 yards and 62 touchdowns.

Whitney Hedgepeth, born and raised in Colonial Heights, VA, was an All-American swimmer at the University of Texas. She is a 27 time All-American and 3 time NCAA Champion. Hedgepeth is a seven time USA Swimming National Champion in seven different events. She held the American record in the 200 yard backstroke for 11 years. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, she was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Swim Team where she competed in the 200 individual medley. In the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, she received a Gold medal in the 4 X 100 meter medley. She also took home a Silver medal in both the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke.

Alonzo Mourning, born in Chesapeake, VA, attended Georgetown University where he led the nation in blocked shots his freshman year and was an All-American his last year there. He was selected second overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Mourning was named to the league's all-rookie team in 1993 after averaging 21 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.37 blocks. He became the Hornets' all-time career leader in blocked-shots. After three seasons with the Hornets, Mourning was traded to the Miami Heat where he played for the next seven seasons. He averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award twice and was named into the All-NBA First Team in 1999 and All-NBA Second Team in 2000. After brief stints with the New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors, Mourning returned to the Heat in 2005 and claimed the NBA Championship in the 2006 NBA Finals. During the 2007-08 season, he became the Heat's all-time scoring leader. Mourning is a seven time NBA All-Star and also won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games.

Jim Dombrowski, born in Williamsville, New York, is known as one of the finest student-athletes in the history of the University of Virginia where he graduated in 1986. Dombrowski was the recipient of the NCAA Today's Top Six Award for his combined athletic ability, academic achievement, leadership characteristics and campus involvement. He was a unanimous First Team All-American pick in 1984 and was two-time First Team All-ACC selection. He also is the three time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC's best offensive lineman. The New Orleans Saints chose Dombrowski sixth overall in the 1986 NFL Draft. He spent 11 seasons with the Saints and was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in 2003. His jersey #73 is retired at the University of Virginia and in 2008; Dombrowski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dave Robbins, native of North Carolina and a graduate of Catawba College, is the winningest College Basketball Coach in Virginia history. For over a quarter of a century, Robbins was the head coach at Virginia Union University where he holds three NCAA titles, seven NCAA regional championships, seven trips to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, 12 CIAA championships and a winning percentage of .785. He has a winning record of 639-175. Robbins is only the second coach ever to win NCAA Tournament titles in three different decades. During his tenure at VUU, Robbins has helped mold the college careers of NBA players Ben Wallace, Charles Oakley, Terry Davis and Jamie Waller.

Larry Peccatiello, a 1957 graduate of William and Mary, was named All-American his senior year. He was inducted into the William and Mary Hall of Fame in 1974. After a two year stint in the Army, Peccatiello returned to Williamsburg in 1961 where he began his coaching career that spanned over six decades. The first part of his career, he enjoyed much success with the Houston Oilers and the Seattle Seahawks. In 1981, Peccatiello joined the defensive coaching staff of the Washington Redskins where he remained through 1993 claiming three Super Bowls (1983, 1988, 1992) under head coach Joe Gibbs. He coached for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994-1996 and finished his coaching career with the Detroit Lions before retiring in 2001.

Helmut Werner, born in Ukraine, Russia, graduated from Lynchburg College in 1961. During his collegiate soccer career, he was named All-State and Regional All-American from 1957-60 and All-American in 1960. He also led the U.S. in goals and assists in 1959. Werner was in the first class to be inducted into his alma mater's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1978. Werner took over the men's soccer head coaching position in 1962 and remained there through 2004. During his impressive 43 seasons at RMC, Werner's teams had 34 winning campaigns, including ten in a row from 1991-2000. Werner ranks in the top twenty in the nation among all men's soccer coaches. In 2001, he was inducted into the Virginia-D.C. Soccer Hall of Fame.

Jim Ducibella, born in Washington, D.C., graduated from Xavier University in 1974. He completed his masters in Print Journalism, graduating from Marquette University in 1976. Ducibella joined the Virginia-Pilot staff in 1981 where he covered Old Dominion men's and women's basketball from 1981-83, Virginia football and basketball from 1984-85, state golf and the Washington Redskins for over 20 years. Ducibella was awarded with the Virginia Pilot's Slover Award for Sports Writing in 1984. He was also the recipient of the Virginia Sportswriter of the Year for 1985 and 1989 as given by the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters. He was part of a team of writers who won first place for Sports Writing in the Virginia Press Association contest in 1995; and second place in 1989. Ducibella also hosted a daily sports talk show on WGH 1310 and authored "Par Excellence", a look at the history of golf in Virginia.

About the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Since 1972, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame & Museum has been proud to honor Virginia's contributions to the world of sports. We are the Commonwealth's official hall of fame, and one of only 16 throughout the nation. Our mission is to honor athletic excellence and serve as a nonprofit educational resource centered on health, math, science and character development programs, while inspiring visitors through sports history and interactive entertainment. For more information, go to www.vshfm.com.