BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Bridgewater College inducted new members into its Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 28 during the Doc Jopson Invitational Track and Field meet, honoring former men’s cross country athletes from 1969 to 1971 for their success and lasting impact on the program.
According to the school athletics website, from 1969 to 1971, Bridgewater College’s men’s cross country team dominated the Little Eight Conference, winning three consecutive championships under coach Dr. Harry “Doc” Jopson and during his absence in 1970, interim coaches Charlie and Vern Fairchilds.
Led by standout runners like Doug Coleman and Bob Anderson, the Eagles capped their run with a third straight title in 1971, a course record, and the program’s first-ever qualification for an NCAA national championship for any sport at Bridgewater College. The website stated that those achievements earned all three teams recognition as Hall of Fame Teams of Distinction.
Athletic Director Curt Kendall said recognizing honorees during competition connects past and present athletes while giving current competitors a chance to witness the program’s history firsthand.
“We typically recognize teams at the sport they were part of,” Kendall said. “This is the biggest event, so it gives them the recognition they deserve.”
In 1971, Doug Coleman set the course record in cross country and defended his individual title. Saturday, about 54 years later when he returned to the track, he had vivid memories from his time as a student-athlete.
“When I walk onto that track, I remember a lot of victories,” he said. “Being out there today gave me chills like goosebumps.”
A multi-event competitor, Coleman said his experience at Bridgewater extended beyond performance, shaping lasting relationships, discipline and personal growth.
“There was a bond that developed through sports,” he said. “Sports is a great equalizer, it brings a lot of people together.”
Kendall said the recognition of past teams serves as a benchmark for current student-athletes and reinforces the expectations within each program.
“They set the standard for what excellence was,” he said. “Now it’s the current athletes’ turn to raise the bar.”
Doug said balancing academics and athletics was one of the most challenging aspects of his college experience as a biology major, but it ultimately helped him grow.
“Academics were never sacrificed for sports,” he said. “You had to be able to do both.”
Kendall said the Hall of Fame selection process requires extensive research to ensure all deserving athletes and teams are included, often involving yearbooks, historical records and collaboration with former team members.
As the ceremony concluded and competition was still going, Coleman encouraged current athletes to take full advantage of their time competing.
“Cherish these moments,” Coleman said. “You’ll never regret doing it, and the memories will stay with you.”
The ceremony underscored Bridgewater’s tradition of excellence, linking past achievements with the goals of today’s athletes and reinforcing the legacy built by generations before them.
More information about Bridgewater’s Hall of Fame honorees can be found at this link.
