The Redhound Varsity Club is proud to announce the 2025 inductees into the Corbin High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class. This year’s inductees include:
Sarah Ashley is fondly remembered as one of the best all-around basketball players to ever suit up for the Lady Redhounds. Splitting a dual role as a guard/forward, Sarah helped guide the Lady Redhounds to back-to-back 13th Region titles and consecutive trips to the Sweet 16 at E.A. Diddle Arena. Following graduation, Sarah attended Transylvania University on a basketball scholarship, where she logged varsity minutes in all four years of attendance and was an Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society member.
Sarah was recognized as All 50th District Team member in 2013 and 2014, All 13th Region Team member in 2013 and 2014, and multiple time All SEKC member. She garnered HCAC Academic All-Conference all four years at Transylvania University, where the graduated with honors en route to medical school.
Derek Ryan Barton is one of the best three sport athletes in Corbin High School history, including starting at point guard on one of the best basketball teams ever assembled for the Redhounds. He also excelled on the baseball diamond at left field, and on the fairways for the Redhound golf program.
Barton’s dissection of opposing defenses and elite ballhandling earned him 1999 Cumberland Falls Invitational All-Tournament Team, as well as First Team All-Region Tournament in 2000. Behind his floor general leadership, the Redhounds amassed a 29-3 record, with a 50th District Championship win over Barbourville and a 13th Region Championship win over Bell County. For the teams’ success, the 2000 Redhounds punched their ticket to play at Rupp Arena in the KHSAA Sweet 16.
Amerah Dixon is heralded as a pioneer of Lady Redhounds Soccer that laid the foundation to the statewide success the program enjoys today. A 2013 graduate of Corbin High School, Amerah was one of the most prolific scorers in Redhound history from her forward position. For her skills and abilities, Amerah attended the University of the Cumberlands on a soccer scholarship.
Amerah was consistently one of the best scorers in the entire Commonwealth, finishing her career with 108 career goals. Her scoring acumen earned her All-District Honors in 2010, 2011, and 2012, First Team All-Region Honors in 2010, 2011, and 2012, Team MVP in 2012, All State in 2012, and finishing Top 5 in the state in goals scored.
Ray Martin is a beacon of Corbin High School whose coaching in basketball and track and field was recognized at the region and statewide level. Devoting his coaching career to both Corbin and Williamsburg High Schools, success followed Martin every step of his decorated career. Martin graduated from Corbin High School in 1970 and later attended Cumberland College. His success on the sidelines garnered him several honors, including induction into the 13th Region Basketball Hall of Fame, a four-time 13th Region Track and Field Coach of the Year, and two-time 13th Region Girls’ Basketball Hall of Fame.
Martin guided his girls basketball teams to three Region Championship appearances; twice in the 11th Region and once in the 13th.
Martin served two terms on the KABC Board of Directors on behalf of the 13th Region, and has served as a KHSAA Track and Field Official for 28 years. He has also volunteered his time coaching in the Special Olympics, as well as Upward Basketball.
Josh Smith was a three-year starter on both the hardwood and the baseball diamond. Finishing his career with a laundry list of accolades and team success, Smith’s performances earned him scholarships to play both baseball and basketball at the collegiate level at Georgetown and Union.
Smith’s performances earned him multiple All-SEKC honors, multiple All 50th District, 13th Region, and CFIT tournament teams. A member of the 1,000 point scoring club, Smith would be named MVP of the CFIT and the 13th Region championship game, as well as multiple time Kentucky National Guard Player of the Game during the Redhounds’ postseason run.
Trace Vorbeck is heralded as one of the best two-way baseball players in Corbin High School history. Vorbeck is remembered not only for a thunderous swing at the plate, but a powerful right arm from the pitcher’s mound. While not on the mound, Vorbeck filled various infield roles like third base and short stop. For his abilities, Vorbeck earned baseball scholarships to Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky.
Vorbeck’s success on the baseball diamond garnered him spots on the four-time All 50th District teams, four-time All 13th Region teams, a two-time East-West Kentucky All-Star and 2012 All-State honors. His .587 batting average and 112 strikeouts are still Corbin High School single season records. He also holds the program career homerun record with 28 out of the park hits. In his career, he garnered 28 homeruns, 123 RBIs, 152 hits, and 46 doubles.
Perhaps the most famous alumni in the history of Corbin High School, Dr. Travis Freeman is heralded for his unbelievable bravery, courage, and dedication to Redhound athletics. Losing his sight at young age, Freeman returned to the gridiron blind, becoming the first person in the history of the United States to do so. Following graduation from Corbin High School, Freeman attended the University of Kentucky where he served as an equipment manager for the football program.
Upon his return to the gridiron, Freeman lettered in varsity football all four years, earning All Mountain team his senior year, as well as All-State Honorable Mention. In 2014, Corbin High School retired his jersey. He has been named one of the 50 greatest sports figures of all time in the tri-county.
Freeman has sat through countless interviews with newspapers, television, radio, and magazines. His story has been aired worldwide on Dateline NBC, NBC Today Show, various Associated Press outlets, including the New York Times and USA Today. The feature film, 23 Blast, was filmed in Corbin depicting the life and journey of Freeman. The movie was shown in over 600 theaters nationwide and is still available today on DVD, Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Freeman penned his own autobiography of his journey in Lights Out: Living in a Sightless World. He was awarded the first ever Travis Freeman Achievement Award presented by the National High School Athletic Hall of Fame, as well as the Forcht Leadership Award. He serves as President and CEO of the Freeman Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting the truths lived by Freeman personally – Disability does not equal inability.
Freeman is presently vice president of the Redhound Varsity Club, Chaplain for the Corbin Football team, and serves on various ministries at Central Baptist Church.
The 2012 CHS boys soccer team was one of the best and most influential soccer teams to ever wear the Redhound uniform.
The team had a record of 15-8-1 and is the first Corbin soccer team to advance in KHSAA State Tournament play. They were were runner-up in the 49th District, losing to a very talented North Laurel team. They avenged that loss in the Region Championship game at North Laurel, though, and were crowned 13th Region Champions. In the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen, a level the program had seen twice before, Corbin matched up against 14th Region Champions and Section rivals, Perry Central. The Redhounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before winning the game 3-1 in what is still one of the highest attended home matches in Corbin soccer History. For the first time in school history, the soccer Hounds were headed to the Elite Eight.
The 2012 boys soccer team consisted of 17 seniors, seven juniors, 13 sophomores, 11 freshman and two eighth graders. The team had two members on the 2012 All-State Team with Andrew Webb earning Honorable Mention and Wayne Logan making the second team roster.
