Brett Riley, Muhammad Arif Wali and Caprina Pipion-Williams, each of whom has dedicated significant efforts to better sports experiences for people around them, will receive an “Unsung Sports Heroes Awards” at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at the event in which the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame will induct its new Class of 2025 members.
The Sports Hall of Fame has partnered with the Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee to recognize individuals and organizations as “unsung heroes” who have made a meaningful impact in expanding athletic opportunities for County residents.
At the event at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Downtown Silver Spring, the Hall of Fame will add to its 29 previous honorees by inducting legendary lacrosse player and executive Paul Rabil, U.S. national soccer team player Oguchi Onyewu, Olympic triple jump gold medal winner Thea Lafond, football player Bob Windsor, hockey player Haley Skarupa, and posthumously, football coach Al Thomas.
The Sports Advisory Committee is committed to encouraging greater sports participation within the community. On May 4, the committee will present its first-ever unsung hero awards. Nominations were solicited from community members.
Nominees can be individuals or groups involved in coaching, officiating, team management, field maintenance, player transportation, training, equipment donations or any other efforts that promote equitable sports participation in the community.
The award also seeks to honor those who help increase access or improve sports programming for under-resourced, underserved or underrepresented communities.
This year’s honorees strongly represent these values.
Riley has significantly enhanced sports participation for students with special needs. A special education paraeducator at Gaithersburg High School, she started a bocce team and a pickleball team for students with disabilities at Gaithersburg and she will soon coach a softball team. Brett’s inclusive approach allows students of all abilities to compete and enjoy sports together. She organizes end-of-season parties with medals and creates cheering boards for games. Brett, who is pursuing a MAT master’s degree in special education at Towson University, works with students in the Learning for Independence program.
Arif Wali established the International Sports Organization that aims to empower youth through sports and education. The program has grown to support more than 200 kids, providing them with transportation, cleats and shirts. He leads a sports program focusing on cricket, soccer and basketball, provides students support with their academics, helps them apply for college and connects them with volunteer and employment opportunities. His efforts have led to 91 percent of ISO students maintaining honor roll status in school. This year, 30 of his students and volunteers have earned full scholarships to college. Arif is a sophomore at the University of Maryland. He has secured multiple contracts and played a key role in organizing national cricket tournaments. Most of the students he works with are refugees who have recently arrived and live in the White Oak and Briggs Chaney area.
Caprina Pipion-Williams coaches the Germantown-based Plum Gar Warriors girls basketball team. She is deeply committed to serving and strengthening her community through public service and youth sports mentorship. Her passion for coaching began in college at CSU Stanislaus, where she competed in track and field and basketball. Coming from a family deeply rooted in basketball—filled with both coaches and players—Caprina saw coaching as a natural way to give back and inspire young athletes. As someone who grew up participating in girls’ sports without ever having a female coach, she is determined to be the mentor who shaped teams with empathy, enthusiasm and genuine care. For the past three years, she has volunteered as a head basketball coach and mentor for girls in grades 3-6. For Caprina, there is nothing more rewarding than stewarding passion and witnessing young athletes grow into confident, empowered individuals.