VIN'S PEOPLE: Southeast High School to honor Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Vin Mannix
·2 min read
Vin Mannix
Vin Mannix

Major props to Southeast High’s Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 to be inducted Aug. 27 at the school.

What an outstanding group.202

“A class of elite pioneers, original Seminole legends,” said Athletic Director Kevin Lynum. “They set the standard for those to come.”

He meant people such as Lydia Copeland, the first Manatee County female to run boys track in 1975 when there were no girls track teams. An MVP in basketball, volleyball and softball and the first Southeast athlete to letter in four different sports, the retired Manatee County Sheriff’s deputy was recognized as one of Florida’s top female athletes.

And Tonja Brown McKinney, a state hurdles champion and NCAA champion hurdler and member of Florida State’s HOF. And Dwaine Copeland, an all-state running back, drafted out of Middle Tennessee State by the Dolphins in 1975.

Then there are the storied 15-0 Seminoles’ 1993 state football champs with Florida Hall of Fame coach Paul Maechtle and Peter Warrick, Rick Robich and present Noles’ head coach Brett Timmons.

And LeRon Williams, Florida’s 1994 Mr. Basketball at Southeast and forward for the Florida Gators. And John Harder, another Florida Hall of Famer with 827 wins and three state titles in 35 years as Southeast’s girls basketball coach.

Then there’s Jerry Mathis, a member of 1963’s graduating class who has converted over 350 game films to DVDs available to former Noles.

Get tickets at Eventbrite.com. For more details, contact lynumk@manateeschools.net. And Coach Maechtle says if any members of the Noles ’93 state champs need more information, call him at 941-920-0713.

• That’s 50 years of wedded bliss for Raynell and Ron Williams.

• Nancy Allen is 39. Again.

• So is Amanda Horne.

• Dave Marino, too.

• And Dan Schaffer.

• A bow to Matoaya Benshoff, the Food Service Director at the Manatee County Jail. Talk about an ironwoman act.

For two months last spring, Matoaya pulled triple duty as kitchen supervisor and unit manager besides her own job after a critical staffing shortage due to transfers, vacations, medical leave and vacancies. Some days ran from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. and she worked seven days straight several times.

Matoaya is Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Employee of the Month for May.

• And a salute to Lieutenant Aaron Bowen for 20 years with MCSO.

• Oh, no! Alma Marie Colvin hit the Big 4-0!

• And well done to Anna Barr Sosa, a support analyst in the quality assurance department at the Manatee County Tax Collector and its Employee of the Quarter.

Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944. Twitter: @vinmannix.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN MANNIX: Southeast High to celebrate 2022 Hall of Fame inductees