NC Wesleyan inducts 2006 Athletics Hall of Fame class

Rocky Mount, NC - Since 1999, North Carolina Wesleyan College has honored 30 former athletes, administrators, and coaches by enshrining them in its Hall of Fame.  These individuals have created a higher standard for Bishop athletics and were selected based on their outstanding accomplishments. This year’s class met these same standards and comprised the eighth group of honorees.  Inducted on Friday, October 13th were the 1989 National Championship baseball team, former soccer standout Julie Duerler, and head athletic trainer Carol Carson. 

The group of inductees, along with friends and family, packed Edge Gym for this year's ceremony.  All were treated to dinner followed by remarks by NCWC President Ian Newbould and Athletics Director John Thompson.  Hall of Fame member Lloyd Nelson also made a special ring presentation to previous inductees Jean Edge and Don Scalf (pictured right).

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE 2006 HALL OF FAME PHOTO GALLERY!

“The annual Hall of Fame ceremonies are tremendously exciting,” said Director of Athletics John Thompson.  “It is an honor to be around those who have made Wesleyan athletics successful and to see the connection between tradition, legacy, and the present.”

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The 1989 Battling Bishop baseball squad brought home the College’s first NCAA Division III National Championship when Wesleyan defeated California State-Stanislaus by an 8-7 score on June 4^th, 1989 at Muzzy Field in Bristol, CT.  The game, which lasted 13 innings, still ranks as the longest National Championship game in Division III history. 

Eric Jarman, a junior centerfielder from Greenville, NC, stroked an 0-1 delivery over the right-center field fence with one out in the top of the 13th for what proved to be the game-winning run.  Stanislaus managed to advance the tying runner to second in the bottom of the frame, but winning pitcher and Bethpage, NY native Mark Silletti forced a groundout and fly ball for the final two outs, igniting the victory celebration.

The ’89 Series saw 27 individual or team records broken and/or equaled.  The Bishops were involved in all but six of those performances and became only the second team in the 14-year history of the tournament to have to win five games to win the title.  Jarman, Silletti, James Anderson, Erik Dube, M.J. Weller, and Doug Flowers were named All-Tournament, while Anderson, a team captain, was the recipient of the Series’ John Farmer Most Valuable Player Award. 

Another notable roster member, Jim Pittman, was happy to bring the College’s first National Championship trophy back to his native Rocky Mount.  Pittman was named Most Valuable Player of the ’89 squad in just his freshman campaign.  Wesleyan finished the season with a 33-11-1 record and was ranked ninth in the final national poll.

The ‘89 roster includes five individuals that have previously been inducted into the NCWC Hall of Fame:  Head Coach Mike Fox (1999), Flowers (2001), Jarman (2001), Rusty Dail (2004), and Rich McNee (2005).  The entire 1989 North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishop roster follows:

Jeff Allen                            Don Dantzler                       Rodney Grainer                    Sonny Miranda
James Anderson                Ricky Drum                          Kevin Hall                             Jim Pittman
Kennedy Bland                   Erik Dube                             Tom Hankey                         Mark Silletti
Phil Bryant                           Pete Faight                          Paul Hill                                Axel Smith
Rich Chapparo                    Doug Flowers                      Eric Jarman                         M.J. Weller
Rusty Dail                            Kenny Flynn                        Rich McNee                         

Head Coach Mike Fox                                       
Assistant Coach Charlie Flowers                                    Assistant Coach Billy Godwin                           Athletic Trainer Carol Carson                                           Athletic Director Don Scalf 

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Wesleyan’s second 2006 inductee, Dr. Julie Duerler, made a name for herself with the women’s soccer program as one of the most decorated female athletes to sport a Bishop uniform.  A four-time All-Conference selection and three-time NSCAA All-American from 1990 to 1993, she led her squads to 42 wins, one Dixie Conference Championship, and three NCAA Tournament appearances during her career.  The Grove City, OH native was twice named North Carolina Wesleyan’s Female Athlete of the Year.

A three-year captain, Duerler was named the Bishops’ Most Valuable Player during a sophomore season that saw her become the first All-American in the program’s history.  She followed up the ’91 season with a career-high eight assists as a junior en route to Dixie Conference Player of the Year accolades, as well as first team All-South and first team All-American honors.  She again achieved first team All-South and first team All-American status as a senior in 1993.

Duerler was equally as impressive off the field.  She was named Wesleyan’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1992, 1993, and 1994, while earning honors as a three-time Adidas Scholar-Athlete from 1991 to 1993.  Duerler graduated in 1994 with a double-major in Biology and Chemistry and subsequently won a grant to study veterinary medicine at Ohio State University.

Julie Duerler epitomized what is expected of a Battling Bishop student-athlete both athletically and academically.  The Bishops applauded her achievements by retiring her #3 jersey at the conclusion of her career, the first such honor bestowed upon a member of the women’s soccer program.

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The Bishops’ final 2006 inductee, Carol Carson, is in her 20th year of service at the College having joined the North Carolina Wesleyan staff in 1987 as Head Athletic Trainer.  A native of Statesville, NC, she graduated from East Carolina University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in School and Community Health with an emphasis in sports medicine.

Carson went on to earn her Masters in Health and Physical Education the following year.  During that time, she earned status as a Certified Athletic Trainer by the National Athletic Trainers Association.  

During her 20-year tenure at Wesleyan, Carson has played a vital role in the Bishops’ athletic success.  She has been a part of numerous conference, tournament, and regional championships, as well as a women’s soccer Final Four appearance and two national championships, including that of the aforementioned 1989 baseball squad.  She has also previously served as the chair of the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now USA South) Athletic Trainers Committee and as academic advisor for the Bishop Department of Athletics.

In addition to her duties as head athletic trainer, Carson also serves as NCWC's Senior Woman Administrator and advisor to the Bishops’ Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Her active involvement in campus activities has earned her a Distinguished Staff Member Award, while her dedication and commitment to North Carolina Wesleyan has earned her the love and respect of Bishop student-athletes, coaches, faculty, and staff.

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The Department of Athletics extends sincere congratulations to each of the 2006 inductees, whose contributions to the overall mission of the College has been exhibited in their successes and accomplishments.  To these inductees, the Bishops offer thanks and admiration by bestowing this honor upon them!