A Classy Bunch
by George Diaz
Established in 1982, the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame honors local athletes and sports contributors who have built a significant legacy in the county. Inductees are recognized for their impact at the high-school, collegiate, or professional levels and are feted at the yearly Seminole County High School Night of Champions.
The Sports Hall of Fame covers six categories: male and female athletes (aged 35+), male and female sports contributors (such as coaches, media, or officials), legacy figures (active before 1999), and inclusion (individuals with special needs). The deserving men and women who were recently inducted as the Class of 2026 are:
Female Athlete: Jennifer Darty
Born and raised in Seminole County, Jennifer Darty is a graduate of Oviedo High School, where she was a star volleyball player. After graduating in 2006, she was a standout member of Mercer University’s women’s varsity volleyball team. Then, after transferring to the College of Charleston, she emerged as a key player in the Southern Conference Championships.
Jennifer is now making an impact back home as Oviedo High School’s athletic director and head coach of the girls’ volleyball team.
Under her leadership, the Lions have compiled a record of 296-131, including three state championships. She has been honored at the state, regional, and national levels for her coaching accomplishments, including being named Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association and Coach of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmers.
Jennifer also serves as club director of the Oviedo Volleyball Academy.
Female Contributor: Gillian Spiller-Rhein
Gillian Spiller-Rhein is a former two-time state champion and All-American swimmer at Lake Brantley High School. She began her swimming career as an eight-year-old with Patriot Aquatics and grew up to be a part of two state championship teams at Lake Brantley.
After graduating in 1990, she continued her swimming career at Brevard Community College. She later returned to Patriot Aquatics as an age group coach. Gillian currently coaches three groups at Patriot Aquatics as well as Masters Swimming for adults. She has become known for her meticulous technical work ethic and high energy, consistently creating excitement and fostering spirit among the teams.
Male Athlete: Charles Riggins
Charles Riggins played football for Seminole High School and continued his education and football career at Bethune-Cookman University, emerging as a standout defensive lineman from 1977 to 1980. He was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference defensive player of the week for two consecutive weeks and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1982 National Football League draft by the Green Bay Packers preseason practice squad.
Nicknamed “the Gentle Giant,” Charles was designated as a practice squad player with the Packers and the Washington Redskins in 1983. After playing for the Tampa Bay Bandits in 1984 and the Orlando Renegades in 1985 as a member of the United States Football League, he made his official NFL regular-season debut in 1987 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Charles passed away on September 14, 2024, at the age of 64.
Male Contributor: Jay Getty
Jay Getty began his sports career at the University of Central Florida as a cross-country runner. Following his time at UCF, he joined Seminole County Public Schools as an intern in 1991. He went on to coach track and field for 35 years at Oviedo and Hagerty high schools, developing soccer teams for 16 years and serving as an athletic director and assistant athletic director for 29 years.
First, Jay coached boys’ and girls’ cross-country and track-and-field teams at Oviedo High School for 14 years. He led the cross-country team to district and regional titles as well as numerous Top 10 finishes statewide. He also coached the girls’ soccer team for 12 years. Under his leadership, Oviedo won the Florida All Sports title twice.
In 2005, Jay joined Hagerty High School and became the athletic director in 2013. He coached boys’ and girls’ cross-country and track-and-field teams there for 21 years, earning several nominations as National Cross Country Coach of the Year.
His many honors include being inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. At the end of May, Jay said goodbye to Husky Nation, as he officially retired from Hagerty to start the next chapter of his life.
Inclusion Award: Callie Anderson
Callie Anderson has been a member of the Lake Mary High School girls’ golf team for the past four years, competing in varsity matches despite having Down syndrome. She has participated in state-level Special Olympics golf competitions, winning a regional tournament and an alternate state competition in 2019. She is currently training to compete in her first triathlon and was recently featured in an adidas marketing campaign for an adaptive athletic shoe designed for individuals with disabilities.
Callie was introduced to the game of golf by her parents, who are both involved in the sport. Her mother, Cheryl, is considered one of the best teaching pros in the country.
“She has ups and downs on the golf course like all of us,” says Cheryl. “And she doesn’t get bummed out about the downs. She’s always fun. She loves running down the fairway, and she just is very joyous on the golf course.”
Callie graduated in May and is eager to embark on new challenges.
Legacy Award: Carl Fabry
Carl Fabry was a basketball player at Oviedo High School, where he earned varsity letters for four consecutive years while also helping lead the team to the state tournament each year. During his junior year in 1957, he was voted Most Valuable Player, among other awards.
At six feet five inches, Carl was one of the region’s first players to average more than 25 points per game and shoot more than 80 percent from the free throw line. He was also selected by the Central Florida Coaches Association to play in the 10th Annual North-South All-Star Classic at the University of Florida.
After his high-school career, Carl played on the United States Army basketball team in Europe. He later attended Orlando Junior College, where he led the team to its first winning seasons during his freshman and sophomore years, averaging 20 points per game. Carl was also a key player for Orlando leagues and state Amateur Athletic Union teams and continued to play competitive basketball until he was 50.