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Wingate, N.C.----Four new members will be added to a prestigious and impressive list during the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday morning, Oct. 20. In addition, the University will recognize the Ron Smarr-coached men’s tennis teams as Teams of Distinction during the event. The Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame is sponsored this year by OrthoCarolina.
 
The Wingate Sports Hall of Fame class of 2012 includes football student-athlete Kendall Chaffin (Mocksville, N.C., class of ’94), basketball point guard Lorinza “Junior” Harrington (Wagram, N.C., class of ’02), volleyball student-athlete Karyn Deese Hart (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., class of ’97) and baseball infielder Marc Tsitouris (Monroe, N.C., class of ’92). The quartet joins 77 other Bulldog luminaries in the University’s Sports Hall of Fame.
 
“We are happy to announce this slate of inductees,” Wingate Athletic Foundation and Bulldog Club director Bill Nash says. “This is a great class…the stories of single games, seasons and careers created by Kendall, Junior, Karyn and Marc are indeed Hall of Fame-worthy.”
 
Kendall Chaffin was named All-South Atlantic Conference on both sides of the ball. He made All-SAC as an offensive lineman in 1992. The league’s coaches voted him to the honor squad as a linebacker in 1993. Chaffin is the only player in league history to receive All-SAC honors on both offense and defense.
 
Wingate’s 1993 team MVP, Chaffin played in the Arena2 league with the Milwaukee Mustangs and the Miami Hooters. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 1995. Chaffin also played professional football overseas.
 
Lorinza “Junior” Harrington has 10 years of professional basketball experience. Harrington has played for three NBA teams. During his 2002-03 rookie season, he was the only Denver player to play in all 82 games.
 
As a senior All-American, Harrington averaged 14.8 points per game and 6.4 assists per game as Wingate compiled a 26-7 overall record. He led the SAC in assists and steals, charting in the NCAA top six in both categories. Wingate won 100 games in his career. During the summer of 2010, he was inducted into the SAC Hall of Fame.
 
Karyn Deese Hart was the first volleyball student-athlete in school history to earn All-SAC honors four of four years. She was the SAC Freshman of the Year in 1993, also a school-first. As a senior, Deese Hart led the Bulldogs to SAC regular season and Food Lion SAC tournament titles. Deese Hart is an extremely successful coach and teacher at Palm Beach Gardens High School.
 
Marc Tsitouris was a four-year starter for Wingate Sports Hall of Fame coach Dr. Ron Christopher. He is the first Wingate baseball senior college student-athlete to play for Team USA. Tsitouris was named All-Carolinas Conference and All-NAIA 26. He hit 53 career home runs. In 1988, he hit .355 with 20 home runs and 56 RBI as the Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA Area 7 championships.
 
The Wingate College tennis teams won two NJCAA national championships in four years until Ron Smarr’s direction. The Bulldogs raised the trophy in 1970 and 1971. In four seasons, Smarr’s teams compiled a 100-14 overall record. In 1969, Wingate finished third in the NJCAA national tournament.
 
“Coach Smarr and his men’s tennis teams achieved great things during his tenure,” Nash says. “We are very excited they are returning to campus for this event.”
 
The Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will begin on Saturday morning, Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the LaVerne Banquet Hall. Tickets for the induction ceremonies brunch are $25 per person and $15 for children 12 and under. For more information about the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame, contact committee chairman Bill Nash at 704-233-8121 or via E-mail at bilnash@wingate.edu.
 
           WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, ranked as the eighth “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 2,500 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 34 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education. With a 14-to-1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000’s with 50 selections during this millennium. Among North Carolina’s universities and colleges, Wingate’s 50 Academic All-America® honorees are first during this same time period. Wingate’s 59 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate Sports Hall of Fame Members (by induction year)
 
2011: Patrick Bartlett (men’s tennis/basketball), Cindy Irvin Behe (softball), Mark Caudle (men’s soccer), Mike Ragin (football), Dr. Jerry McGee (president)
 
2010: Cynthia Thomas Cooper (women’s basketball), John Ellis (men’s golf), Paul Talbot (men’s basketball), Allen Thomas (baseball)
 
2009: Jeremy Byers (baseball), Kirk Calvert (men’s soccer), Angela Curlew Lampley (softball), Andrea McCloud (men’s basketball)
 
2008: Audley Bell (men’s tennis), Bill Foster (basketball), Dr. Jerry Pierce (baseball), Dave Thomas (football)
 
2007: Jimmy Fortenberry (baseball), Jill Deardorff (tennis), Jerry Ratchford (football), Bill Walters (golf)
 
2006: Nolan “Obe” Leonard (baseball), Cindy Lowery James (basketball), Jeff Waisner (baseball)
 
2005: Tony Coble (baseball), James Gordon (football), Chip Lewis (golf)
 
2004: Chris Huntley (basketball), Danny Lampley (baseball), Kerrie Porter (softball)
 
2003: Sean Bakes (soccer), Harry Greene (baseball), Everette Pigg (basketball)
 
2002: Andrea Grissett (basketball), Ron Ladimir (soccer), Winston Parks (basketball), Charles Ray Williams (baseball/basketball)
 
2001: Vernon Buck (football), Darren Hayes (baseball)
 
1999: Johnny Jacumin (basketball coach), Alvin Morman (baseball)
 
1998: Ann Hancock (basketball), Wiley “Butch” Harris (baseball), Ron Smarr (tennis coach)
 
1997: Allen Johnson (baseball), Direne Thomas (basketball), Jimmy Sutton (football)
 
1996: Rick Motsinger (baseball), Jack Perry (baseball coach), Beverly Greenard Poston (basketball), Larry “Satch” Sedberry (baseball), Dr. Jerry Thomas (baseball/basketball)
 
1995: Julie Barbee (tennis), Cheryl “Sweet Pea” Barrineau (basketball), Darryl Barrino (baseball), Pam Elleby (basketball), Marshall Thaxton (basketball)
 
1994: Vann A. Chaney (lifetime coach), Steve Mastin (baseball), Jim Morris (baseball)
 
1993: Dianna Monroe (basketball), Jack Musten (baseball/basketball), Don Williams (football/baseball)
 
1990: Dr. Ron Christopher (baseball coach), H. Russell Turner (football)
 
1989: Michael “Mike” Martin (baseball), Robert “Bob” Nunnery (football)
 
1988: Bill Connell (AD/Coach), Herschel “Red” Edwards (multi-sport athlete), Thomas “Dude” Renfrow (football)
 
1987: Gary Laws (baseball), Danny Maples (golf), Danny Miller (basketball coach), Johnny Wike (football)
 
1986: Sonny Basinger (football), Darrell Floyd (basketball), Nield Gordon (basketball)
 
Wingate University Athletics
Teams of Distinction
 
2012
Ron Smarr-era tennis teams

2010
1994 men’s soccer team

2009
1995 baseball team
1994-95 and 1995-96 women’s tennis teams

2008
1995 volleyball team

2007
1987-88 women’s basketball team

2006
1965 and 1981 baseball teams

2005
1958 Pine Bowl team