Photos courtesy of Blacksburg High School
Blacksburg High School has announced four new members to the school’s sports hall of fame. They include:
Kris Kittle Barnes, Class of 1983:
Barnes was a four-year letterman in outdoor track and field, most valuable sprinter 1981,1982, 1983 and an outdoor track and field record holder for 30 years in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 1600m relay (State Champions, 1982, held for 29 years).
She was a member of the State AA Champions outdoor track and field team 1982, 1983; State AA runners up outdoor track and field team 1980, 1981; Region AA runners up outdoor track and field team 1980-1983; and District AA champions outdoor track and field team 1980-1983.
Barnes was also a two-year letterman indoor track and field 1981, 1982; indoor track and field record holder in long jump, 55m, 300m, 1600m relay; two-year letterman gymnastics 1979, 1980 (captain); and state AA runners up gymnastics team, 1979.
She was a scholarship athlete at Auburn University and an Auburn University cross country team member in 1985 and 1986; an Auburn University indoor and outdoor track and field team member in 1984 and 1985 (letterman). She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education in 1987from Auburn University.
After living in several states and in Germany, Barnes currently lives in Radford with husband, Bob (LTC U.S. Army, retired). They have two children, Brayden (25), and Abby (21).
Jennifer Kittle, Class of 1986:
Kittle was a four-year Varsity Letterman Track and Field; 1983, 1984, 1985 State AA Track and Field Champions (Outdoor); 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 AA District and Region Outdoor Champions; 1984, 1985, 1986 State AA 100m Hurdles Champion; and1985, 1986 State AA 300m Hurdles Champion. In 1985, she set the AA state record in the 100m and 300m hurdles; 1985, 1986- 100m and 300m Hurdles All-State Award; 1986 All American Relays 100m Hurdles Record Holder; 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 AA District and Region Indoor Champions; and Indoor Track and Field record holder in 55M Hurdles. Other awards include:1985/1986– Lions Club H.B. Dillon Sportsmanship Award; 1984– BHS Outstanding Jumper/Sprinter/Hurdler (Indoor); 1984– BHS Outstanding Field Event Performer/Hurdler (Outdoor); 1985– BHS Outstanding Field Performer (Indoor); 1985, 1986 Outstanding sprinter Indoor/Outdoor; 1986– BHS Most Valuable Sprinter (Outdoor); and 1986– BHS Athletic Dept’s Captain’s Award.
She was awarded a D1Scholarship to Auburn University and was a 1986, 1987, 1989 Auburn University Indoor/Outdoor T&F team member (Letterman). She earned a B.S. in Finance.
Kittle currently lives in Blacksburg and has two children: Conner Winn (24) and Campbell Winn (21).
Michael Mecham, Class of 2012:
Mecham had an 82-2-11 record while a member of BHS Soccer team and was a member of the 2009 and 2010 State, Region, District Champions; 2011 State Finalists, Region, and District Champions; and 2012 State Semifinalist, Region, and District Champions teams. He was named 2009 and 2010 second team all-district. In 2011 had seven goals, three assists, first team All-district, first team All-region, and honorable mention all-state. In 2012, he had 22 goals and four assists and was named Most Valuable Player, Team Captain, 1st team All-District, 1st team All-Region, 1st team All-State, State AA Player of the year, Roanoke Timesland Player of the year, National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) High School All-American, NSCAA Virginia Player of the Year in all classifications (private and public).
Mecham received a scholarship to and played four years at Division 1 University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He also received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He started in 71 games over four years; was Team Captain and second team All-CAA in 2015; 2016 season with professional side USL Wilmington Hammerheads; and 2018-2020 seasons with professional side USL League One South Georgia Tormenta.
He has served as an assistant coach at Greensboro College Men’s team, has spent eight years coaching top youth teams in North Carolina and has earned his C-License from the United States Soccer Federation.
Mecham, his wife Alex and their two dogs, Riley and Bex, currently reside in Durham, N.C. where he works as a chemist and a youth soccer coach.
Jay Purcell, Class of 1990:
Purcell was a three-year letterman in Boys’ Varsity basketball while playing point guard and was team Captain junior and senior year.
He received All-District Honors; sophomore, junior, and senior year; All Region Honors junior and senior year; was a member of the1988 and 1989 District Tournament Championship team; member of the 1989 regional championship team and was a career 1000-point scorer for Blacksburg High School.
Purcell earned the VHSL Academic Excellence Award in 1989 and 1990; earned a D-1 basketball scholarship to Virginia Tech; was a four-year starter while playing point guard at Virginia Tech in the Metro Conference, which was a basketball heavy conference; was named to the all-freshmen team for Metro Conference; team Captain in 1992, 1993 and 1994; Team MVP in 1993 and 1994; All Conference Team in 1994; All-Tournament Team in 1994; and was a career 1,000-point scorer for Virginia Tech.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing Education and currently resides in Charlotte, N.C. with his wife Carmen and their two children, Taylor (14) and Bryce (13).
The new HOF class will be recognized at halftime of this Friday’s Blacksburg football game against Floyd.
