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Rike gets Hall of Fame nod
When Robinson girls soccer coach Jim Rike received a letter from the Virginia High School Coaches Association two weeks ago, he didn't give it a second thought. Busy drawing up game plans for his Rams' postseason run, Rike left the envelope sitting on his kitchen table for a couple of days. It was not until his wife, Debbie, opened the letter that Rike found out what information it contained.
"She said, 'You need to come read this,'" Rike said of his wife's reaction upon reading the letter.
The VHSCA was writing to inform Rike that he had been selected as one of 11 inductees to the 19th class of the Virginia High School Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held Monday, Oct. 27 in Charlottesville.
"I was stunned," Rike said. "It's a really great honor. It was a bit of a pleasant surprise. I guess it goes to show they appreciate the work you've done and the years you've been in the coaching business. It's their way of saying, 'Job well done.'"
Robinson Director of Student Activities Mike McGurk, who wrote the letter nominating Rike for the Hall, said it couldn't come to a better coach.
"It's a great honor for Jim," McGurk said. "He's put his heart and soul into girls soccer in the Northern Virginia area. The continuity and success he's brought to our program is amazing. He's been a pillar for our soccer program and it's no surprise we've had great success over the years."
In 32 years of coaching high school soccer – the last 25 at Robinson – Rike has amassed a record of 439-103-40. He has won four Virginia AAA state championships, nine region titles and 10 district titles. He has been selected VHSCA Coach of the Year on three occasions and was named the National High School Athletic Coaches Association's Coach of the Year in 2005.
Rike's first state championship came in 1984 when his team was captained by Megan McCarthy, who will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. McCarthy was a two-time high school All-American, was named Virginia High School Player of the Year in 1984 and was named the NCAA National Collegiate Player of the Year as a senior at William and Mary in 1987. She went on to win the Women's World Cup Championship as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team in 1991.
"She's been like my benchmark that I compare all my kids to," Rike said of McCarthy, who is currently an assistant girls soccer coach at Centreville High School. "She was an incredible player, a great person. After her, every great player I've had, I've compared them to her. I've had some that come pretty close, but it's hard to top a two-time high school All-American."
Rike and McCarthy will join former Robinson wrestling coach John Epperly, who was inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in 1992.
Also entering the Hall in 2008 is former West Potomac Director of Student Activities Jeff Dietze. Dietze retired in February after 33 years as DSA for the Wolverines.
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