There are champions on the court… and then there are champions behind the scenes.
On May 15, the spotlight turned to the unsung heroes of Timber Ridge School’s athletic program, the “Titans” behind Timber Ridge’s Titans, the recipients of our 2025 Ring of Honor ceremony awards! Every year, we recognize students, alumni, current and former staff, coaches, athletic directors, community members, supporters, and more for their personal successes and their contributions to the athletic program at TRS. It truly takes a village to make this project work, from athletic coaches to financial donors to classroom teachers to tech support to the people who do the thankless yet crucial administrative and mentorship work behind the scenes.
But why is the athletic program so important here at Timber Ridge School, a residential treatment facility in Frederick County, Virginia, known for its groundbreaking support for young men facing emotional, behavioral, and other challenges?
Athletics as a Path to Growth
Since its inception in 1973, our sports program has been a cornerstone of campus life. If you are familiar with the mission of our school, you may know how important it is for the boys who attend to have a physical outlet. Student athletes who have participated in our exceptional athletics have learned discipline, camaraderie, and confidence. After all, mental health and physical health are often two sides of the same coin, and the field is often a place where an adolescent can channel emotions into a productive, team-building activity.
Ceremony Highlights
At this year’s Ring of Honor ceremony, current Timber Ridge students opened with the pledge of allegiance, then CEO Derek J. Unger welcomed our crowd. A special moment was held for Roy Henries, a former student who returned his hard-earned Ron McDole Football Award to the school as a tribute to the impact that Timber Ridge School made on his life. You can read more about that moment here.
Each nominee’s accomplishments were highlighted before they received a medal, thanked the audience, and spoke about their time at the Timber Ridge School and what it meant to them. All of the honorees spotlighted below were formally recognized at the event. We want to take this opportunity to thank them publicly for their support!
2025 Ring of Honor Inductees
Matt Markwood, 2025 Supporter Award
Matt, our Computer Network Administrator and Photographer at Timber Ridge, was recognized in the Supporter category! Matt has taken thousands of pictures of events, people, and good memories on campus at TRS, including the live action footage and team and individual portraits used in official communiques. He maintains a photo library extending back decades, a truly historical catalog of Timber Ridge School over the years. As a volunteer supporter of the athletics program, he is also making a difference outside his official job duties. Thank you Matt for all your incredible work and support!
Mike Blair, 2025 Staff/Coach Award
Mike Blair worked at TRS for 12 years and he continues his work as a special education teacher for Loudoun County. Mike is celebrated for bringing wrestling to Timber Ridge school. Mike, a wrestler in school himself, believed the sport would enhance what we do at TRS, build character and resilience in our young men. Under Mike’s coaching a wrestling team was formed in 1992 and continues today.
Donald Finley, Sr., 2025 Staff/Coach Award
Don was recognized in the Staff/Coach category for his 23 years with Timber Ridge while the program was being established. He has consistently served students while wearing a number of different hats: basketball and softball coach, mentor, disciplinarian, trusted staff member, and more. Donald was known around campus as a role model and a readily available mentor for other staff members. Don’s true gift was giving young men hope that they could have a future by working hard, believing in themselves, and trusting adults. We’re so thankful for all your efforts to make TRS a better place, Don!
Matt Pedrotty, 2025 Student Alumni Award
Matt, a 2004 graduate of the Timber Ridge School, was recognized in the Student Alumni category! While at TRS, Matt was a standout student athlete, and he continues his community impact to this day via entrepreneurship and supporting mental health initiatives. Being a proud father of three, Matt has made it his mission to uplift youth by mentoring inner city teens, fostering children, and running counseling and boating companies in Richmond.
“I was on a bad road when I came in. And I knew that having a support system of not just family but a support system of community, individuals, teachers, counselors, I knew that that’s what helped me get over the hump. Now, fast forward to today, I own one of the largest mental health facilities in our city.” – Matt Pedrotty
Lori McCarty, 2025 Supporter Award
Lori, who served as the dietary supervisor at Timber Ridge for nearly 23 years, was recognized in the Supporter category! During her time at TRS, Lori fed our athletes before and after sporting events, helping provide them with the proper nutrition for both physical and mental performance. Lori made it a point to cater to students’ individual needs whenever possible. Our athletics programs are successful in large part due to dietary staff like Lori! Thank you Lori for prioritizing the health of our students and their wellbeing in the classroom and on the field!
Ricketts Family, 2025 Supporter Award
Members of the Ricketts family were recognized in the Supporter category! Mr. Charles Ricketts and the Ricketts Construction Company built most of the buildings which can be seen on our campus today. The architecture, which emulates a log cabin style, is consistently praised for its cozy atmosphere and functionality. The company graded and leveled the school’s sports fields and tennis courts as part of our Athletic Improvement Project. Since Charles passed in 2002, his family have continued to support TRS: his son Jeff started an annual memorial golf tournament in his father’s honor to benefit the school, and the Ricketts family gathers each August for the TRS Benefit Golf Tournament.
“My father actually only had a fourth grade education. He started out young, taking care of his family, and education meant so much to him, and that’s one reason why he spent a lot of time here and donated a lot to Timber Ridge.” – Jeffrey Ricketts, son of Charles Ricketts, 2025 Ring of Honor Ceremony
Thank you to the Ricketts family for being longstanding friends and supporters of the school, and for continuing to raise money and awareness for our mission!
Susan Rankin, 2025 Staff/Coach Award
Susan, whose entire career at Timber Ridge has been marked by strong support of our athletics program, was recognized in the Staff/Coach category! Since 2002, Susan has served the school in many different roles, from attending events and running concessions to coaching and supervising our student athletes to much more. Around campus, Susan is known as someone who was never too busy or short on time to help out. Thanks so much Susan, for continuing to motivate our students and dropping whatever you are doing to be available!
Tracey Walker, 2025 Staff/Coach Award
Tracey was recognized in the Staff/Coach category as well! Tracey began at Timber Ridge as an assistant football coach but quickly moved into the head coach position. Tracey oversaw some of the Titans’ most successful seasons to date, including an undefeated season! Tracey spent 18 years at TRS as a mentor, teacher, disciplinarian, role model, coach, and more.
“A lot of the students that we had at the time had never been on a team before, so just getting that influence in their lives and being a part of something a little bit bigger than what they were used to is always a good thing for them. We had a handful of students go on to play college ball, and the odds of them going on to play college ball is… very, very unlikely for a student to do that.” – Tracey Walker
Thank you Tracey for all you’ve done to make Timber Ridge a better and healthier place, both on and off the football field.
Dean Lowe, 2025 Student Alumni Award
Dean Lowe spent three impactful years at Timber Ridge, where he gained independence, lifelong skills, and even graduated a year early. Reflecting on his time there, he shared, “It really leaned me the right way… taught me how to live on your own without relying on somebody.” Now living in Berkeley Springs, WV with his wife and son, Dean says Timber Ridge gave him the confidence and tools to build a strong, successful future.
Thank You
Timber Ridge School’s athletic program would not be what it is today without the men and women who, over the past 52 years, have shaped it, and we would be remiss not to thank them for their time, sweat, toil, and love for these young players. Thank you for all the ways you’ve touched the lives of our students over the years, and for your continued support of our mission.