Photo by Brian Hoffman
James River High School inducted four new members into the Sports Hall of Fame last weekend. The Class of ’25 includes Dakota Anderson, Class of 2016; Linsey Bailey Firebaugh, Class of 2018; Caleb Sink, Class of 2016; and Lauren Ogle Wickham, Class of 2017. The four River greats were inducted in a ceremony at the school, then recognized at halftime of Friday night’s football game.
Anderson was a multi-sport athlete for the Knights, playing football, basketball, and baseball and running track for two years.
In football, Dakota was a four-year letterman and collected many awards, including first team all-district utility player offense, first-team all-district linebacker, second team all-district wide receiver and punter, first team all-conference defensive back, second team all-conference utility player, first team all-region defensive back and first team all-state defensive back. He was named to the All-Timesland team on defense and he was selected for the 2016 Virginia all state game.
In basketball, Dakota was a three-year letterman where he was selected first team all-district, second-team all-district and first team all-conference. He played in the 2016 Senior all-star game.
Anderson was also a four-year letterman in baseball with many accomplishments. He was first team all-district at short stop and pitcher as well as first team all-conference at utility and second team all-conference as a pitcher. He was first team all-region at utility and second team all-region and competed in the 2016 baseball all-star game.
In track, Dakota was a two-year letterman where he placed in the district in the high jump, long jump, triple jump, 200m, and 400m. He also placed in the region for track in long jump and high jump.
Dakota graduated with a 3.8 GPA, earned the Scarlet Knight Award and VHSL Academic Excellence award. He continued his academic career at The Apprentice School Newport News where he graduated with an associate of science in welding technology.
Firebaugh played four years of varsity volleyball at James River where she was a four-year starter and six rotation player. Linsey’s accolades in volleyball include first team all-conference 2014-2016, first team all-district 2014-2017, second team all-region 2014, first team all-region 2015-2017, second team all-state 2015, first team all-state 2016 and 2017, district player of the year in 2017, conference player of the year in 2016, region player of the year in 2017 and co-state player of the year in 2017.
Linsey was named The Roanoke Times Grand Home Furnishings athlete of the week, first team All-Timesland in 2017 and competed in the VHSL 2017 all-star game. She led the Knights to the state final four in 2017 and is in the VHSL record book for most kills in a season with 629 in 2017, most spikes in a season with 1,463 in 2017, most spikes in a career with 3,878, most aces in a career with 290, most spikes in a match with 88, most kills in a career with 1,533 and kills in a match with 36.
After high school, Linsey went to continue her athletic and academic career at Roanoke College. She was a four-year starter and six rotation player for the Maroons, starting in every match all four years totaling 93 matches. Her accolades from Roanoke include ODAC Rookie of the Year 2018, ODAC first team all-conference 2018-2021, ODAC second team 2021, VASID Rookie of the Year 2018 and VASID first team 2018-2021.
Linsey was the first Maroon in program history to receive AVCA All-American honors. She was also an AVCA All-South Region player along with multiple ODAC player of the week honors. She led the team in kills and points all four years, led the ODAC conference in kills and points 2018-2021, and in the 2021 season she finished top five in kills and points in the conference. Linsey finished her career at Roanoke with 1,368 kills, 1,052 digs and 1,528 points.
Linsey graduated with a degree in elementary education and is currently teaching business and economics at James River as well as serving as the Knights’ head varsity volleyball coach. She married Ryan Firebaugh in 2021. Ryan is the athletic director at James River High School.
Caleb Sink played football for four years, soccer for one year, wrestled for three years and also ran track for one year.
In football, Caleb was second team all-district on defense and offense in the 2013 season, first team all-district defense and offense in the 2014 season, first team all-region for defense and Defensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Caleb won the Wendy’s Heisman Award in 2016 when James River hosted its first playoff game. He finished his career in football with 324 tackles on defense and holds the record for most tackles in a career at James River.
Sink’s wrestling accolades include three-time district champion, two-time region champion and state placer.
In track, he placed second in the 300 hurdles, third at regions and fifth at states in the 2013 season.
His soccer accolades include finishing first in district, first in region and fourth in states in the 2014 season.
Caleb graduated with a 3.6 GPA and started working at Altec Industries when he graduated and then went into the family business. He works with his two brothers, Brian and Chad, to own and operate Sink Septic Services.
Lauren Ogle Wickham was a three-sport athlete while at James River. Lauren completed two years of varsity sideline cheer, two years JV sideline cheer, three years competition cheer, three years indoor track, and four years of outdoor track. In 2017 she received the Scarlet Knight Award.
In track, Lauren was 300m hurdles state champion 2016 and 2017, 500m state champ in 2017, 4x200m relay state champion in 2017 and 4x400m relay state champion in 2015. She is the 2A state record holder for 300m hurdles while earning all-state outdoor track honors in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
In indoor trackj Lauren was all-state in 2016 and 2017, first team All-Timesland in the 300m hurdles in 2016 and 2017, and nominated for the B’nai B’rith student athlete award. She was invited to the Dogwood track classic and placed third in the 300m hurdles.
Lauren attended Jefferson College of Health Sciences where she graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
