‘True pioneer’ wrestler, fun-loving runner enter HOF
A trailblazer and a man who kept his speech short and sweet were among the class of 2025 inductees into the Richmond Spartan Athletic Hall of Fame.
Shamaine Danner was the trailblazer. A 2006 graduate, Danner was inducted primarily for her achievements in wrestling. Per the program notes for the June 7 induction ceremony in the Richmond High School commons area, she’s considered “a true pioneer in Richmond High School wrestling” for shattering obstacles and becoming a standard-bearer.
Danner – who competed in softball, track and cross country, too – had a challenging wrestling career, acknowledged her brother Zack, who also introduced her. The challenges started when she decided to wrestle. He recalled receiving a phone call from their mother Susie about his sister’s announcement.
“I said, ‘Mom, girls don’t wrestle,’” Zack Danner said.
After talking for a while, Zack Danner made a deal with Susie Danner: If his sister was still standing after an hour of training with him, she…