Class of 2026 Inductees
Maureen Blandford
CHHS Swim Coach, 2011-2019
Coach Blandford’s swimming journey began at age five in a summer swim league, soon transitioning to year-round competition alongside her siblings. Over the next 16 years, she competed through high school and continued at Ohio University, where she earned recognition as an 11-time All-American and set school and Mid-American Conference records. In 1998, she was inducted into her college Hall of Fame, and in 2026, she was also honored with induction into the Bishop Hartley High School Hall of Fame.
Following her competitive career, Maureen began coaching a club swim team in Ohio, leading athletes to the YMCA National Championships in Florida within two years. Her passion for coaching led her to the University of Toledo, where, after just one month as an assistant, she was named interim head coach—the youngest head coach in Division I swimming at the time. In 1995, she guided her first athlete to the NCAA Championships. She later moved to North Carolina to serve as an assistant coach at NC State University, helping train swimmers who advanced to both NCAA Championships and the Olympics.
After taking time off to start a family, Coach Blandford returned to the pool to launch the summer league program at Riverwood Athletic Club, where she coached from 2002 to 2018. She also founded the Corinth Holders program in 2011. At Corinth Holders High School, her swimmers earned numerous MVP honors, captured three Individual state championships, and won 16 conference titles. She retired from coaching in 2019 to travel and support her son during his senior year of college competition.
Throughout her coaching career, Coach Blandford valued the relationships she built with athletes and families and cherishes those experiences deeply. Her Corinth Holders High School swimmers will always remember her signature encouragement before races: “Swim fast and have fun.”
Eddie Driver
CHHS First Pirate Club President
Eddie was raised in the crossroads community of Emit and has been a lifelong resident of Johnston County and the Corinth Holders community. He attended Corinth Holders Elementary (K-8) and then graduated from Smithfield Selma High School in 1983. Eddie came from a family and community who were involved in sports as participants and fans for many years. Some of his favorite times as a kid growing up listening to his mom and dad talking about following the original Corinth Holders High School in the state playoffs.
As a kid, he played football, basketball, and baseball in the local recreation leagues at Corinth Holders. During his middle school years, Eddie was on the first middle school football team at Corinth Holders, and he played basketball and baseball also for Coach Jimmy Carlyle. After completing his years at Corinth Holders, he attended Smithfield Selma High School and played JV baseball as a freshman for Coach Clint Joyner and lettered 3 years on the Varsity baseball team for Coach Dean Manges. As a senior, Eddie was an All Cap 8 All Conference player and voted as Most Valuable Player by his teammates. That summer (1983) Eddie played for Coach John Stott with the Johnston County Legion team. After graduating from high school, he attended and graduated from North Carolina State University (1987) with a degree in Business Management.
As a father, Eddie was active in his children’s school activities throughout their time in school. He was the PTA President for Corinth Holders Elementary for 4 years and was also President of the sports booster club at Corinth Elementary and helped start the Archer Lodge Middle School booster club. At Smithfield Selma, he was an active member in the Spartan Club. When the new Corinth Holders High School was reestablished in 2010, Eddie was instrumental in the establishment of the Athletic Booster Club and was elected as the inaugural President where he served for 3 years. Being part of the Pirate Club from the beginning was a time he takes pride in since Eddie always believed the kids deserved everything we could possibly give them to succeed. One of Eddie’s proudest moments came with the startup of the Pirate Club in how the club was formed from two feeder middle schools coming together to form a strong high school booster club. After Eddie’s tenure as President of the Booster Club came to an end, the booster club named an award in his honor, the Eddie Driver Pirate Award, that would be presented to a worthy volunteer who goes above and beyond their time contributing to Corinth Holders High School athletics. Eddie and Angie were given a lifetime season pass from the Booster Club for their dedication to the CHHS Pirate Club.
Eddie has been a volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball official for recreation leagues for 35+ years. He hopes that over the many years of officiating a kid or parent may have seen how much he cares for the kids and hopes he has made a positive impression on a child. Eddie was a NCHSAA basketball official and is currently an NCHSAA official for volleyball and softball. He umpired the NCHSAA softball state championship game in 2016 and the volleyball state championship in 2021. Eddie has umpired many Tar Heel Leagues, Inc. state baseball championships over the years and is currently the Treasurer and Executive Board member for Tar Heel Leagues, Inc., after being the District 6 Director for many years. In 2014, he was inducted into the Tar Heel Leagues, Inc. Hall of Honor.
Eddie is married to Angie Parrish for 37 years. Together they have two wonderful daughters (Amber and Erica) and 3 grandsons. Eddie is retired from the Department of Health and Human Services for the Office of the Controller. He is a lifelong active member of Watkins Chapel Baptist Church and enjoys being outdoors, traveling with family, and playing golf.
Larry Williams, Jr
CHHS Class of 2018
From the fields of Corinth Holders High School to the world stage, Larry’s journey is a testament to relentless drive and versatile athleticism. A standout multi-sport athlete in high school, Larry excelled in football and wrestling, but it was on the rugby pitch where he truly made his mark—earning a selection to the U17 Eagle Impact Rugby Academy select side to compete in Ireland against two different academy teams.
His passion for service, sport, and academia led him to the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, where he was first a starting offensive lineman for the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS) football team. After graduating from USMAPS, Larry represented the United States as a member of the U19 All-American Rugby Team during a two-match series in Ontario, Canada. Larry was a four-year starter for Army West Point Men’s Rugby. A decorated collegiate athlete, Larry earned All-American and All-Conference honors and represented the United States on the U23 Junior National Team in Amsterdam. His junior year at the academy, not only did Larry help lead the West Point rugby team to a Division I National Championship, he also received the Rudy Scholz Award, which is regarded as the Heisman Trophy equivalent of collegiate rugby. His international career continued with the Atlantic Coast All-Stars in France, the USA All-Military Rugby team in England, and the USA Rugby South Panthers in Bermuda.
Today, Larry serves as a commissioned officer in the United States Army while pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology, continuing a legacy of excellence that began right here at Corinth Holders.
Glen Hinnant
CHHS Class of 1969
Glen Hinnant graduated from Corinth Holders High School in 1969 after a decorated athletic career. He played basketball for three years, leading the team in scoring and rebounding during the regular season of his senior season as they won the conference championship. Glen's accomplishments were even more special as a baseball player, playing varsity baseball for four years and helping to lead the teams to three straight conference championships in 1967, 1968, 1969 and three consecutive berths in the state playoffs. In 1967, the team had a special season, going undefeated and all the way to the eastern regional championship game, where they lost a close game to Robersonville by one run. During his career, Hinnant was named to the News and Observer’s All-East Baseball team 1967, 1968, 7, 1969. In his senior season, he batted .388 with five home runs. Glen was earlier inducted to the Johnston County Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his athletics, he was a three-year member of the Beta Club, serving as president his senior year, Served as president of his freshman class and vice president of his sophomore class. He spent three years on the High School Monogram Club, and during his junior and senior years, he drove a school bus and worked on the School Yearbook and School Newspaper.
After graduating from Corinth Holders, Hinnant played college baseball at East Carolina University and Methodist University, graduating from Methodist University with a degree in business administration. Following his college career, he worked for 41 years with First Citizens Bank, retiring in 2016. He is married to Patty Hinnant, and the couple have one daughter, Leslie Hepler. Leslie and her husband Ryan have a son, Colton, who Glen loves spending time with. Glen currently resides with his wife in the Corinth Holders community.
Brent Walston
CHHS Athletic Director, 2010-2017
Brent Walston is a Hunt High School graduate Class of 1987; UNC Chapel Hill, Class of 1991; Taught and coached 12 years at Hunt High School; Taught, coached, and was Athletic Director at North Johnston High School from 2003 - 2010; Opened new Corinth Holders High School as Athletic Director; Athletic Director from 2010 - 2017; Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach from 2010 - 2016; Overall record at Corinth 111 wins, 36 losses, 9 ties; 26 year career record as Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach 420 - 139 - 31; Conference Championships 2012, 2014, 2016; Qualified for State Playoffs every year; 8 - 7 record in State Playoffs; 2A Eastern Semi-finalist 2012; 2014 team was 19-0 in regular season; Coached 5 East-West All Stars; In 2013 co-coached Clash of the Carolinas NC Boys Team with Corinth Holders player, Melecio Rubio-Villagran, on the team; Corinth Holders Pirate Club Eddie Driver President's Award recipient 2013; Fall of 2015, 400th Career Win; National Federation of High Schools National Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, 2015
Paul "Buster" Sanderford
CHHS Class of 1968
Buster Sanderford is a 1968 graduate of Corinth Holders High School. He played varsity baseball and basketball all four years. In baseball he was known for his catching prowess and was thought of as a coach on the field, as well as being a solid hitter. Buster was a very integral part of teams that won consecutive conference baseball championships in his junior and senior years (1967-1968). The 1967 team didn’t lose a game until the.Eastern Regional Championship, a one run loss to eventual state champion Robersonville. In 1968 Buster was named to the News and Observer’s All-East baseball team and batted .347. In basketball, he was a solid scorer as well as a leader on the court from his guard position. Outside of athletics, Buster was in the Beta Club, a Junior Marshall, Junior Class President, member of the student council, Monogram Club and the school newspaper staff.
Following graduation, he enrolled at Louisburg Junior college. He was the starting catcher in baseball for both years. After completing his two years at Louisburg, Buster attended and graduated from Methodist University, where he played baseball and was the starting catcher there both years. He was also first team all conference in both of those years. After graduation, he spent two years as a student recruiter and assistant baseball coach for Methodist. At the end of those two years, Buster was hired as the assistant baseball coach at Louisburg Junior College. Shortly after arriving back at Louisburg , the school was in need of a head coach for the women’s basketball team. He agreed to coach for one year. Well, one year led to five years and the rest is history. He ended up leading the program to their first National Championship in 1981.Buster’s success attracted the attention of several four year universities and in 1982 he agreed to become the head coach at Western Kentucky University. He coached at Western from 1982-1997, compiling a .753 winning percentage, appearing in 12 NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours, advancing to the national championship game in 1992 and was a three time Sun Belt Conference coach of the year. While there the average game attendance increased from several hundred to over 3,000.
In 1997 he was hired by the University of Nebraska and coached there until 2002, with three consecutive NCAA tournament bids. He retired after the 2002 season for health reasons, with a career coaching record of 616 wins and 208 losses.
After retirement, Buster moved back to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he worked for Western Kentucky University for several years, including serving as assistant coach for the men’s basketball team for three years. Buster and his wife Yvette still live in Bowling Green and have a son and two granddaughters.
Buster was previously inducted into the following:
-Methodist University Hall of Fame 1998
-National Junior College Hall of Fame 2000
-Western Ky Hall of Fame 2008
-Louisburg College Hall of Fame 2010
-The State of Kentucky Hall of Fame 2015
-Women’s National Basketball Hall of Fame 2022
Jacob Monk
CHHS Class of 2019
Jacob Monk graduated from Corinth Holders High School in 2019. During his time at Corinth Holders, he lettered for three years under coaches Bubba Williams and Adam Khavari and was a consensus three-star prospect by ESPN.com, 247Sports, and Rivals. He was rated by ESPN as the No. 6 center in the country in 2018.
At CHHS, Jacob served as a three-time team captain. As a junior, he recorded 25 pancake blocks, along with 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks. He added 88 pancake blocks during his senior season. He was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Bowl, and he also participated in The Opening (Nike) in Frisco, Texas. Jacob was a three-time all-conference selection and a two-time team MVP. He was named to the USA Today American Family Insurance All-USA North Carolina Team and also lettered in track and field under coach Peter Clark. A highly touted recruit, Jacob committed to Duke University during his sophomore year of high school.
While at Duke, Jacob lettered for five seasons, served as a two-time team captain, and earned All-ACC honors three times. He was also the recipient of the team’s K.D. Kennedy Iron Devil Award and Steve Brooks Captain Award, and he was named ACC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week. Over his collegiate career, he played in 59 games with 58 starts, appearing at all three positions along the offensive line. In 2019, Jacob became the first true freshman since 2007 to start a season opener on the offensive line. He helped lead Duke to consecutive bowl appearances in 2022 (Military Bowl) and 2023 (Birmingham Bowl).
In 2024, Jacob was invited to the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where he recorded a 1.66-second 10-yard split—tied for the fastest by an offensive lineman at the time. He earned a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.76, ranking among the top performers historically.Jacob was selected with the 163rd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He is entering his third year in the NFL and has appeared in 17 regular-season games as an offensive lineman, playing both center and guard.
Jacob is the son of Stanley and Chareen Monk and married Maya Johnson in 2026.
Connor Blandford
CHHS Class of 2016
Connor began swimming at age 6, inspired by his parents, both former Division I swimmers at Ohio University. He swam for the Riverwood Rays summer league, coached by his mother, while developing the work ethic that shaped both his academics and athletics. At age 10, he began his competitive swimming career with the Marlins of Raleigh under coach John Fischetti. Fischetti coached him to a successful age group career, including a state championship at age 12 in the 100 Breaststroke, a national top 10 in the 100 Backstroke at age 14 along with a Southern Zone select camp selection. He also made the NC Zone team 3 times at ages 12, 14 and 15, placing 3rd in the 100 Backstroke at the 2014 Southern Zone Championships.
At Corinth Holders, Connor competed for the Pirates will continuing to swim year round with the Marlins and Rays. As a Pirate, he primarily competed in the 100 Backstroke, 100 Breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley (IM). He is a three time Conference MVP (2014-2016). Connor was the Regional champion in the 100 Backstroke and 200 IM in 2015, and the 100 Breaststroke and 200 IM in 2016. He was the NCHSAA Division 3 State Champion in the 200 IM in both his junior and senior years, also winning the 100 Breaststroke his senior year. His winning time in the 200IM at the State Championship was a state record.
Connor was recruited by multiple Division 1 schools, ultimately committing to the University of Kentucky as a walk-on. He made the conference team as a freshman and scored at the 2017 SEC Championships in the 200 IM and 400 IM, earning him an athletic scholarship for the next year. He scored in those 2 events each year, with his highest finish being 11th in the 200 IM in 2020.. His senior year, he qualified for the Division I NCAA Championships by swimming the 19th fastest time in the country in the 400 IM at a “Last Chance” meet a week after the SEC Championships. Connor also competed at the 2018 and 2019 Summer Nationals and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials in the 400 IM. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Championships and delayed the Olympic Trials, cutting short his opportunity to finish his career at the sport’s highest level.
Lydia Davis
CHHS Class of 2016
Lydia Davis is a three-time All-Around State Champion in gymnastics and the first state champion in Corinth Holders High School history. During her high school career, she won All-Around state titles as a freshman in 2013, a junior in 2015, and a senior in 2016. She also claimed seven individual event state titles, including a perfect 10.0 on floor exercise her junior year.
After a nearly career-ending spinal injury and major surgery at the start of her sophomore season, Lydia returned to win back-to-back All-Around State Championships her junior and senior years, solidifying one of the most accomplished careers in CHHS athletics. She was named CHHS Female Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Outside of representing Corinth Holders High School, Lydia was also a multiple-time state and regional champion with her club gymnastics team and earned a spot on the Level 9 Eastern National Championship team in 2013.
In addition to her athletic success, Lydia served as Student Body President, was a member of the National Honor Society, and earned Honor Roll recognition every semester.
Following high school, she became the first gymnast from Johnston County to compete at the collegiate level, joining the gymnastics team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she lettered as a freshman and was named to the Academic All-EAGL Team.
Lydia continues to live locally and remains actively involved in the community.
Frequently asked questions
Who can be inducted?
Athletes, coaches, teams, community members, and supporters who’ve impacted Pirate athletics.
Where to submit nominations?
Use the nomination form on this page to send us your candidate or email us at chhspirateboosterclub@gmail.com
How are inductees selected?
A committee reviews nominations based on achievements, leadership, and service.
What info is needed for nominations?
Provide photos, graduation or service years, sports involved, notable accomplishments, and a brief bio highlighting contributions.
