Wesleyan Christian Academy Announces 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame Class
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Wesleyan Christian Academy will honor nine inductees in its 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame class, recognizing achievements in coaching, school athletics, collegiate competition and professional sports. This year’s honorees are Mary Kay Bell, Kayla Brewer Moore, Brian Gottwalt, Gary Hall, Laura Hester Lynde, Brett Kerry, Madison Overbey, Darryl Roberts and Gabie Dinsbeer Switzer. The induction ceremony will take place January 15, 2027, at halftime of the boys varsity basketball game against High Point Christian in Wesleyan’s high school gym.
Mary Kay Bell, who coached from 2001–2015, helped build Wesleyan’s swimming program from 22 athletes to more than 70, emphasizing team unity and the contribution of every swimmer. Under her leadership, the girls’ team earned a state championship and multiple conference titles. In her reflection, Bell described a program that welcomed different ability levels and brought swimmers, families and friends together around shared goals.
Kayla Brewer Moore ’17 played varsity softball from seventh through twelfth grade, helping Wesleyan win state championships in 2014 and 2016 before continuing her career at Western Carolina University. Her accomplishments included 29 home runs and 21 consecutive shutout innings during her senior-year playoffs. “I’m grateful for the role Wesleyan played in shaping who I am,” Moore wrote in her response.
Brian Gottwalt ’12 competed in cross country and track and field, earning two Wesleyan cross country MVP awards and serving as a senior team captain. His 16:05 5K and 10:01 two-mile performances were school records at the time. He continued both sports at UNC Wilmington, where he earned a cross country Coach’s Award. Gottwalt credited his coaches, teammates, parents and God for the opportunities behind his athletic success.
Gary Hall ’75 excelled in soccer, basketball and baseball, earning team MVP honors in soccer and basketball and Male Trojan of the Year recognition for 1974–75. He continued his soccer career at Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, and went on to collegiate coaching and athletics administration. His career included service as Barton’s head men’s soccer coach and director of athletics, along with induction into the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame and Barton’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Laura Hester Lynde ’87 competed in volleyball, basketball and softball from 1984 through 1987, serving as a team captain and earning MVP, Coaches Award and all-conference recognition. Most of her honors came in basketball, her favorite sport. Lynde recalled the teammates she was blessed to play alongside and credited Coach Cook in volleyball and basketball and Coach Smith in softball with bringing out her best.
Brett Kerry ’18 helped lead Wesleyan baseball to three state championships, earning all-state and all-conference recognition before continuing at the University of South Carolina and in the Los Angeles Angels organization. His nomination highlighted his contributions as a pitcher, hitter and fielder, as well as his humility and accountability as a teammate. Kerry was a central contributor to one of Wesleyan’s most successful baseball eras.
Madison Overbey ’08 competed on Wesleyan’s boys’ junior varsity and varsity golf teams from sixth through twelfth grade before joining Auburn University’s women’s golf program. At Auburn, Overbey was part of SEC championship teams in 2009, 2010 and 2012. A career in athletics administration and fundraising followed, including work with Wake Forest Athletics and TEALL Sports and Entertainment, extending a commitment to creating opportunities for student-athletes.
Darryl Roberts ’01 followed his Wesleyan soccer career with Division I competition at Liberty University and professional play in the Netherlands, Turkey, the United States, Thailand and the Philippines. He also represented Trinidad and Tobago’s senior national team, recording 29 international appearances. In his response, Roberts emphasized carrying the godly values and principles he learned at Wesleyan and Liberty throughout his playing career.
Gabie Dinsbeer Switzer ’14 combined elite cheerleading with demanding academic work, earning four world championships in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2015. She went on to varsity cheerleading at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from its Kenan-Flagler Business School in three years. “WCA played such an important role in shaping the athlete, student, teammate, and person I became,” Switzer wrote.