Wingate, N.C.----Five new members will be added to the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. The Alumni & Sports Hall of Fame Awards Dinner will begin with a 5:45 p.m. check-in and reception, with the dinner and induction ceremonies starting at 6:30 p.m. inside the LaVerne Banquet Hall. The five new members of the Hall of Fame are women's soccer's Kelly Adams (2012), baseball's Ron Grout (1978), volleyball's Liz Willis (2012), football's Nelson Woods (2011) and head men's and women's swim coach Kirk Sanocki. In addition, softball's Hallie Pettigrew, who was a part of the 2021 Hall of Fame class, will be inducted at this year's ceremony. The six inductees will also be honored at halftime of the homecoming football game on Oct. 14, with kickoff set for 3 p.m.

"Once again, the Sports Hall of Fame Committee has had the enjoyable and challenging task of identifying a class of former Wingate University student-athlete alumni, coaches, administrators or contributors to be recognized at the annual induction ceremony," Assistant Athletic Director/Athletic Foundation & Bulldog Club Bill Nash says. "The difficulty of the task is to limit the list to the number we are granted. There is a very rich and accomplished history of Wingate Bulldog Athletics from our JUCO, NAIA and NCAA eras. This is the group selected by committee vote after research and discussions. We are extremely happy to submit these five individuals which includes three NCAA student-athletes, a JUCO standout student-athlete and a coach with an incredible run establishing Wingate Swimming into a perennial national power."

Kelly Adams
Women's Soccer (Class of 2012)

Adams had a legendary career for the Bulldogs, piling up a conference-record 48 assists in her four years at Wingate. She netted 25 goals for the 'Dogs, giving her 98 career points. Adams ended her career in impressive fashion, collecting four goals and a SAC-record 17 assists, which led the nation in 2011. Her huge season led the Bulldogs to their first-ever SAC Tournament championship.

"It is truly an honor to be inducted into Wingate University's Sports Hall of Fame and to be surrounded by so many talented athletes," Adams says. "In any team sport, success is reliant on group effort. This individual recognition is reflective of all my coaches and teammates. Because of them, I want to offer a tremendous appreciation for this award. And last but certainly not least, my parents. They sacrificed so much to get me to where I am today and I will forever be grateful for them."

The 2011 season saw Adams become just the second player in Wingate women's soccer history to earn NCAA Division II All-American honors, and the first since the 2003 season, picking up second team accolades from Daktronics. Thanks to her efforts, the Bulldogs earned their first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Adams was a three-time All-SAC and All-Region selection during her career, which started with seven goals and 13 assists during her freshman season. She had nine assists in each of her next two seasons with the Bulldogs, before her historic senior season.  

Ron Grout
Baseball (Class of 1978)

Grout was named to the NJCAA All-American baseball team following his sophomore season for head coach and fellow WU Hall of Fame member Steve Poston. Grout hit .485 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI his second Wingate season. He was named the Eastern District MVP and Big Stick Award winner his sophomore year, helping the Bulldogs compile a 31-11 overall record in 1978.

"I had a fantastic experience during my time at Wingate," Grout says. "The University was wonderful and exactly what I needed at that point in my life. Coach Poston did a great job with the baseball team. We were very competitive and I made several lifelong friends from that team. Great memories!"

Grout was named All-District and All-Conference two years each for the Bulldogs. He was drafted by the L.A. Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1977 MLB January draft prior to his freshman season. Following his sophomore campaign, Grout was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 1978 MLB June draft.

Grout played five years in the minor leagues (1978-82), logging three years with the Twins and two years with the Braves. He combined for 44 home runs and 187 RBI his final two seasons for the Double AA Savannah Braves in 1981 and 1982. Following his professional baseball career, Grout was an executive with RJ Reynolds.

Hallie Pettigrew
Softball (Class of 2010)

Pettigrew put her name all over the Wingate record book in her four-year career, which culminated by her being named the 2009 SAC Player of the Year and SAC Scholar-Athlete. The four-time All-SAC selection earned All-Region honors twice, while also earning Academic All-District accolades on two occasions.

"I'm very honored to be selected for the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame," Pettigrew says. "It certainly would not have happened without my family, teammates, coaches and athletic training staff. I consider it a great privilege to be named alongside the incredible Bulldog athletes."

Pettigrew is Wingate's all-time leader with 258 career hits, 154 runs scored, 58 sacrifice bunts and 674 at-bats, ranking fourth in program history with a .383 batting average and 68 stolen bases. Pettigrew ranks sixth in SAC history in career hits. She started her career by hitting .409 and earning SAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2006, helping the Bulldogs win the SAC Tournament title. Pettigrew hit .406 in her senior season, leading Wingate to the regular season SAC championship and an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Kirk Sanocki
Men's & Women's Swimming Coach (Class of 22 years)

Kirk Sanocki has logged 22 seasons as the head swimming coach at Wingate with 22 campaigns guiding the women's team and 18 mentoring the men's squad. Twice the NCAA Division II national Coach of the Year (women in 2016, men in 2012), Sanocki has coached Wingate student-athletes to 600 All-American swims. The Bulldogs have 45 NCAA national championship swims during his tenure (31 for the women, 14 with the men).

"I would like to thank the Wingate SHOF committee for this honor," Sanocki says. "I've been very fortunate to convince a great deal of talented student-athlete swimmers and divers, along with many outstanding young coaches, to believe in our pursuit of excellence. The past two decades-plus have been very rewarding to me, getting to witness the outstanding accomplishments in and out of the pool. We have achieved a great deal together and I couldn't be more proud of the faith our teams and administration had in me to help our athletes achieve their goals. I will always cherish our time together and feel blessed to have watched swimmers from all over the globe come together to call Wingate home while pursuing their formal education. Your growth as men and women, then, now, and in the future will always be my greatest pleasure. I'm truly honored to be inducted into Wingate's Sports Hall of Fame as a reflection of our time together. WU What?" 

At the NCAA championship meet, the Wingate women have earned second-place once (2016) and third-place twice. The Bulldog men have finished fifth once and sixth five times. The Wingate women have 10 top-10 national finishes in the last 11 years, while the men have 12 top-10 national finishes over the last 15 seasons. Sanocki and the Bulldogs collected 11 Bluegrass Mountain Conference championships and the first two South Atlantic Conference crowns during the 2023 league meet. He swept the SAC Coach of the Year awards last season. Previously, Sanocki earned 12 BMC Coach of the Year honors.

Thirty-six WUSWIM student-athletes have earned Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA). Sanocki has given back to his sport by serving as the chair of the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Committee in 2023. He served as president of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) from 2014-16. Sanocki also served a term as president of the BMC.

Liz Willis
Volleyball (Class of 2012)

Willis is one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of South Atlantic Conference volleyball. She earned first team All-SAC and All-Region honors in each of her four seasons with the Bulldogs, leading Wingate to four regular season SAC titles and four SAC Tournament championships. Willis also helped lead the 'Dogs to the 2010 NCAA Region championship, the first in the history of Wingate or SAC volleyball.

"It is with profound gratitude that I accept this induction into Wingate's Hall of Fame," Willis says. "Reflecting on my time at Wingate, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of appreciation for the remarkable journey both on and off the court. Coach Collier's belief in my potential, recruiting me late in my senior year, led to an unexpected and immensely fulfilling college volleyball career. While the team victories and accolades brought lasting memories of joy, it is the character development and enduring friendships that truly define my experience at Wingate. Amidst the team's triumphs, I credit my personal growth to the guidance of Coach Collier, whose exceptional skills have been a constant source of inspiration. The deep camaraderie shared with my remarkable teammates, notably Maggie Malone, and the support of my family, and our loyal fans have played pivotal roles in my journey. The opportunity to participate in sports during my formative years is a privilege I have previously taken for granted, yet reflect on with gratitude. This honor encapsulates the compatibility of a wonderful team, without whom this experience would not have been possible. I am appreciative of the lifelong lessons and cherished memories that have shaped me. Thank you, Wingate, for an unforgettable journey."

Willis hauled in nearly every award possible in her final season in 2011, when she led the Bulldogs to the only undefeated regular season in program history. She was named the SAC Player of the Year and SAC Scholar-Athlete, guiding the 'Dogs to a 32-1 record and 18-0 SAC mark, leading the nation in winning percentage. She earned second team All-American honors from Daktronics and third team accolades from the AVCA. Willis was named a second team Academic All-America honoree and was the winner of the prestigious SAC President's Award, going to the top overall student-athlete in the entire conference.

Willis began her career by hauling in SAC and Region Freshman of the Year honors in 2008, handing out 9.80 assists per set. She followed with 9.96 assists per set as a sophomore, adding 2.50 digs per set as the Bulldogs went 36-2 overall and 16-0 in the SAC. Willis piled up 11.72 assists per set in her final season to go along with 2.77 digs per set and 57 kills as the 'Dogs dropped just 14 sets in 33 matches.

Nelson Woods
Football (Class of 2011)

Woods sits atop the Wingate record books in multiple categories, piling up 3,990 career rushing yards and 37 touchdowns during his illustrious career. He is the school's all-time leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, posting three of the top six rushing seasons in program history. Woods earned All-SAC honors three times in his career, picking up first team accolades on two occasions.

"I'm honored and blessed to be voted into the Wingate University Sports Hall of Fame," Woods says. "I thank God for allowing me the opportunity to be able to live out a goal that I set when I first arrived at the Wingate University campus in 2006. Thank you, Wingate Family, for allowing greatness."

Woods stepped on the field and made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs, piling up 1,174 rushing yards in his first season, scoring 11 touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry while going over 100 rushing yards in seven of 11 games. Woods was named the SAC Offensive Freshman of the Year for his efforts. He followed by going for 1,238 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, averaging 5.0 yards per carry with five more 100-yard games capped by a 205-yard effort in the finale against Mars Hill.

Woods capped his illustrious career in Wingate's historic 2010 season, rushing for 1,200 yards and 10 more touchdowns while going for 5.5 yards per carry as the 'Dogs went 9-3 overall, won their first-ever SAC title and made their first-ever trip to the NCAA D2 play-offs. He ran for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the final game of the year at Newberry as the Bulldogs clinched the outright SAC championship.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education; and the School of Sport Sciences. 
 
Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 15 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.

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