Auburn High School has announced its 2026 Sports Hall of Fame with 13 new members. The list includes:
Doris Alderman
Class of 1958
Doris Alderman stands as one of the most prolific and dominant scorers in school history. She made an immediate impact as a freshman, exploding for 48 and 47 points in her first two games and topping 50 points twice that season.
Her offensive brilliance reached new heights during a historic sophomore campaign, pouring in 606 points across 16 games—a remarkable 37.9 points per game—to propel her team to a 14–2 record. That season was highlighted by an extraordinary 71-point game against Roanoke Catholic. Continuing her unprecedented scoring run, Alderman averaged nearly 50 points per game as a junior.
Keith Bennett
Class of 1988
Keith Bennett was a dominant force on the gridiron, serving as a four-year member of the Varsity Football Team. Bennett spearheaded Auburn’s historic 1986 campaign, leading the team to its best season in school history with an 8–3–1 record. During that remarkable junior year, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 17 touchdowns. A standout performer throughout his upperclassman years, he earned 1st Team All-MED honors as both a junior and a senior. Upon graduation, Bennett cemented his gridiron legacy by setting the school record with an astounding 3,108 career rushing yards.
Barry Johnson
Class of 1986
Barry Johnson was a versatile multi-sport star, excelling as a four-year baseball starter, three-year basketball starter, and valuable contributor as a tennis player. In basketball, he scored 1,024 career points and earned two All-MED honors. On the diamond, Johnson was a three-time All-MED selection and the 1986 MED Co-Player of the Year, capping his high school career with the Paul Lloyd Huff and Manuel Reynolds Awards.
He continued his standout athletic legacy at VMI, lettering four years in baseball and earning All-Southern Conference honors in 1990 after leading the team in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings, and complete games. Johnson also competed as a walk-on for VMI basketball.
Mike Tieleman
Class of 1985
Mike Tieleman established a legendary record on the tennis court, posting an astounding 61–4 career mark while anchoring his team to four consecutive undefeated district seasons. A dominant force, Tieleman claimed back-to-back Group A Singles State Championships in 1984 and 1985 following a third-place finish in 1983. He also captured the 1985 State Doubles Championship with Kenny Akers after finishing as runners-up in 1984.
A versatile multi-sport athlete, Tieleman lettered in basketball and ran cross-country while earning 1985 Prince High School Academic All-American honors. He went on to play men’s tennis for Virginia Tech before serving as an assistant coach.
Lowell Reed
Class of 1966
Lowell Reed stands as an iconic legend in Auburn basketball history, leaving a monumental mark during his career from 1963 to 1966. A two-time All-State selection, Reed earned Honorable Mention status in 1964 before securing First Team All-State honors in 1966.
He amassed 1,671 career points, making him just the 20th player in Virginia high school history to surpass 1,500 points at the time. His all-time school scoring record endured for an astounding 56 years. Honoring his legacy as one of the program’s greatest, Reed became the first Auburn athlete to have his jersey retired.
Chelsie Kenley
Class of 2009
Chelsie Kenley stands as one of the most decorated stars in school history, highlighted by her selection as the 2008–2009 VHSL Group A Female Athlete of the Year. Renowned as an exceptional leader and unselfish teammate, Kenley elevated every program she touched as Consider flagging for editor review; minimal fix: remove ‘and a leader’. She dominated as a First-Team All-State selection in volleyball, becoming Auburn’s first Division I signee at UNC Asheville and the only player to have her jersey retired. Also surpassing 1,000 points in basketball, Kenley’s fierce work ethic and peerless leadership left an enduring legacy.
Terry Millirons
Class of 1995
Terry Millirons defined Auburn basketball for decades, leaving an indelible mark as both a dominant player and a championship head coach. As a standout from 1992 to 1995, Millirons amassed 1,530 career points, earned two All-State selections, and became the second basketball player in school history to have his jersey retired. Decades later, his career field goal percentage (63.6%) and rebounding total (741) still stand as school records.
Transitioning to the sidelines from 2003 to 2024, Millirons guided both the girls’ and boys’ programs to unprecedented success, capturing six district titles, four regional crowns, and two state championships while earning VHSL State Coach of the Year honors.
Gene “Bull” Teel
Class of 1970
Gene “Bull” Teel embodies the heart and soul of Auburn Athletics, dedicating over five decades of extraordinary service and generosity to the school. A varsity basketball starter as a senior, Teel served as the basketball scorekeeper for 1,230 games over 50 years and worked 208 football games on the chain gang. Beyond his time, Teel selflessly funded a new hardwood gym floor in 1994 and routinely sponsored post-season team dinners. In recognition of his enduring loyalty and immense impact, Auburn’s high school gymnasium proudly bears the Teel family name.
Lee Teel
Class of 1966
Lee Teel’s selfless dedication behind the scenes profoundly shaped Auburn High School athletics. For over two decades, Lee meticulously maintained the football field—rising at daybreak every morning to water the turf, spread seed, and apply fertilizer. His tireless efforts paid off when Auburn’s field was voted the best in Timesland among 57 regional schools.
Beyond field maintenance, Teel spent more than 20 years organizing open gyms for alumni and community members. Driven by compassion, he quietly supported student-athletes by purchasing basketball shoes for those in need. Teel’s generosity and steadfast devotion exemplify true community spirit.
Jane Hylton Carper
Class of 1952
Jane Hylton Carper was a visionary pioneer of Auburn Athletics. As a student-athlete, she helped bring home Auburn’s first-ever championship trophy in basketball. Returning in 1957 for a storied 33-year career, she became a trailblazer for female sports, founding and coaching programs in volleyball, track and field, softball, gymnastics, and cross country, often without pay. A selfless leader who routinely drove athletes home and fought tirelessly for equal opportunities before and after Title IX, Carper guided teams to numerous district and regional championships, coached individual state champions, and was named 1977 Woman of the Year in Athletics by the Montgomery County News-Messenger.
Mark Carper
Class of 1976
Mark Carper set a benchmark for distance-running excellence at Auburn and beyond. Earning 15 varsity letters across five sports, Carper was an All-State selection in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track, establishing a school two-mile record that endured for over 40 years.
His running dominance continued at Virginia Tech, where he helped capture a Division I state title, and in the U.S. Army as a multi-time All-Army champion. Over 30 seasons as a coach, Carper guided teams to two VHSL Class 1 State Championships and mentored over 25 athletes to collegiate athletic scholarships.
Sam Lucas
Coach and Principal
Sam Lucas built an enduring legacy at Auburn High School as a championship basketball coach and dedicated principal. On the hardwood, Lucas directed a golden era of basketball, highlighted by a historic 1967 campaign where he guided Auburn to a perfect 21–0 record and captured the school’s very first State Championship.
Across four standout seasons from 1966 to 1969, his teams compiled an impressive 70–10 overall record. Lucas later served as Auburn’s principal from 1972 to 1977. Today, his lasting mark on the athletic program is honored through the school’s highest athletic award, which proudly bears his name.
Jim Gardner
Coach
Jim Gardner left an indelible mark on Auburn Athletics as a dedicated coach, mentor, and championship leader. Most notably, Gardner piloted the boys’ tennis program to peak historical success, guiding Auburn to back-to-back Group A Boys Tennis State Championships in 1973 and 1974. In addition to his historic achievements on the tennis court, Coach Gardner served as a devoted basketball coach, fostering competitiveness, character, and athletic excellence across multiple programs. His leadership helped elevate Auburn High School sports and establish a standard of success for future generations.
Courtesy of Auburn High School
