Athletics
Read about a few coaches and athletes in the Hall of Fame.
When American society was still segregated, scores of gifted African-American athletes
from Virginia received nurturing and interscholastic competition thanks to the
Virginia Interscholastic Association.
The VIA provided opportunities for African-American high schools to participate in a number of athletic competitions with other African-American high schools in the state of Virginia. Sports were an integral component of students’ lives in high school and an opportunity for students to build teamwork skills and showcase their athletic abilities. The VIA’s partnerships with Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton, and St. Paul’s College also expanded collegiate opportunities for athletes. The VIA produced some of the best athletes in the state that would go on to break records, win a number of championships and enter professional sports leagues. The VIA was preceded by the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic League (VIAL) with a focus on sports.
Sports: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Tennis, and Track and Field.
Oral History
Listen to oral history interviews conducted by Joshua Kondwani Wright, Associate Professor, Global Affairs, Trinity Washington University.
Video
Walt Green made the documentary below about the VIA as part of the 10-part film “Real Deal Track Journey Featuring Atlantic Coast” to recognize the VIA’s 15 years of exemplary service along with the integration of high school sports in Virginia. Green is an alumni of VSU (class of 1983) his father had been involved with V.I.A.L. (predecessor to the VIA) when he was a student at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk (class of 1951). The film was completed on March 29, 2020.
