Pinecrest Academy Announces Athletics Hall of Fame Inaugural Class

Pinecrest Academy President, Fr. David Steffy, and Athletic Director, Chris Kane, have announced the inaugural class of the Pinecrest Academy Athletics Hall of Fame. The new Hall of Fame program recognizes and celebrates the history of Pinecrest Academy athletics.

“I think Pinecrest’s inaugural Hall of Fame class represents what we wanted to accomplish in the first year,” said Athletic Director Chris Kane. “The inductees include some of the school’s finest athletes from the earliest days of Pinecrest Athletics, and recognizes those who were instrumental in getting our programs off the ground,” he continued. “I could not have hoped for a more deserving group of athletes for our first Hall of Fame class.”

It is with great pleasure that Pinecrest Academy announces the following inductees into the 2017 Hall of Fame Class:

Leanne Cassandra '07: Cassandra was a three-sport star for the Pinecrest Paladins and a captain of the Varsity Volleyball, Basketball and Soccer teams. She was a two-time All Region and All State selection for Volleyball and Soccer, and was a three-time All Region and two-time All State selection for Basketball. She helped lead all three Paladin programs to the GISA State Playoffs in her senior season and won region championships in volleyball and soccer.

Christi Cassandra '08: Cassandra, younger sister of Leanne Cassandra, was a standout basketball, soccer and volleyball player for the Pinecrest Paladins. She was a three-time All Region selection for volleyball and soccer and a two-time selection for basketball. She also received All State honors for all three sports. Cassandra helped lead the Paladin soccer program to two GISA Final Fours and still holds the Lady Paladin Basketball program record for rebounds in a career.

Michael Metz '08: Metz cemented his Pinecrest basketball legacy in 2007 when he hit “The Shot” against Holy Spirit Preparatory School at the buzzer, which started an intense rivalry between the two schools. Metz was a three-sport star athlete at Pinecrest, a three-time All Region selection for football, and a four-time All State selection for basketball. He was also instrumental in helping to get the Paladin baseball program established.

Coach Charles Wiggins: Coach Wiggins was Pinecrest Academy’s first High School Athletic Director, and was also the first Varsity Head Football and Baseball Coach. He helped the Paladins build a powerhouse in GISA from 2004 through 2010. During that time, Pinecrest won four State Championships and sixteen Region Championships. As the Head Football Coach, Wiggins led the Paladins to Region Championships in 2007 and 2009, and was also selected as the Region Coach of the Year. While leading the football and baseball programs, 53 Paladin student-athletes garnered All Region Honors. Wiggins also led the Paladin charge into GHSA in the Fall of 2010, where Pinecrest currently competes.

The inaugural Hall of Fame class will be recognized on Friday, September 15, 2017 at halftime of the Pinecrest Varsity Football game vs. The Walker School. The honorees will then be formally inducted on Saturday evening, September 16, 2017, at the very first Hall of Fame Banquet to be held at Pinecrest Academy in the Upper School Gymnasium.

The Banquet begins at 6pm, and tickets for the event are $25. Tickets may be purchased here. Pinecrest Athletic Club (PAC) Members receive two free tickets to this event. Pinecrest Corporate Sponsors at the Squire Level and above also receive two free tickets.

Pinecrest Academy Hall of Fame Inductees were selected by a 12-person selection committee comprised of teachers, coaches, community members, and alumni. A two-part voting process was conducted last spring, with the committee selecting from more than thirty-five (35) Hall of Fame nominations. Eligible athletes must have graduated from Pinecrest Academy at least seven years prior to the year of nomination. Coaches who have not been in an active coaching position with Pinecrest Athletics for three years prior to the year of nomination are eligible. See all Hall of Fame nomination criteria here: Pinecrest Athletics Hall of Fame Requirements 2017.

About Pinecrest Academy

Pinecrest Academy is a private, Pre-K3 through 12, college preparatory Catholic school, located in South Forsyth, a northern suburb of Atlanta, GA. We provide an atmosphere of academic rigor and critical thinking, while offering Christ-centered personalized attention to our students. The school offers a gender-specific environment on a co-ed campus. Pinecrest implements the philosophy of Integral Formation®, developing the human, intellectual, spiritual and apostolic dimensions of the whole child. Pinecrest is a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School, the only PreK-12 school in the State of Georgia to receive this award. Over fifty percent of our faculty hold advanced degrees, and we maintain a one hundred percent high school graduation rate. Our Lower School consists of class sizes of 20 or less, allowing for more teacher-child interaction. Middle School and High School students dedicate 20-30 hours per year to service projects, as part of our mission to develop Christian leaders who will transform society. Pinecrest is located at 955 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming, GA. To learn more, visit www.pinecrestacademy.org or call (770) 888-4477. Tours can be scheduled online.