SCC Inducts Seven Into Athletics Hall of Fame
A women's tennis duo from the Spartans era of sports at Sandhills Community College and several NJCAA All-Americans from the Flyers era, are among the inductees into the sixth class of the Sandhills Community College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Those inducted last month following a luncheon at the Dempsey Student Center include Gail Heisel Deese, James Garner, Tiffany Hicks, Chris Horne, Markell Lotharp, Nick Thompson and Elaine Van Vliet.
Following opening remarks by Athletic Director Mike Apple, Associate Athletic Director Ryan Riggan made the introductions.
Gail Heisel Deese was presented by Aaron Landry, the father of a son and two daughters she coached in tennis at Pinecrest High School.
Deese and fellow-inductee Elaine Van Vliet were standouts in tennis and basketball as members of Spartans teams coached by 2013 Hall of Fame inductee Ruth Bondurant in the mid-1970's.
Both played high school tennis at Pinecrest and they competed as partners in doubles there as well as for the Spartans. A guard in basketball, Deese was noted for her accurate outside shooting and earned postseason recognition as a member of the Spartans.
"Gail and Elaine were quite a duo," Bondurant said. "If they had a three-point line back then, Gail would have been an All-American."
Deese has coached the girls' tennis team at Pinecrest since 2007. The Patriots won the conference title each year with a conference record of 147-0 over that period. She has coached the boy's team since 2005, compiling a conference mark of 166-4 with 12 conference titles.
Employed by the Moore County Schools under its program for Exceptional Children, she is also involved with her church in its Food Bank Ministry and foreign missions to Guatemala where it started a church.
"Gail Deese brings a quiet strength to the court and the classroom," Landry said. "I believe in angels and she's an angel."
Deese talked about coming to Sandhills as a young girl not knowing what to do. She said that she appreciated what her coach instilled in her.
"I had a great coach in Ruth Bondurant and had a good time too," she said. "Everyone in this room has something in common. We all have a story."
The generosity of James "Jimmie" Garner has had a large impact on Sandhills Community College athletics as well as its academic programs and the community at large.
The lifetime resident of Robbins, who passed away last October at the age of 90, was presented by Associate Athletic Director and Volleyball Coach Alicia Riggan. He was a major benefactor in the expansion of Heins Gymnasium. The college's Westmoore Center in Robbins is named The James H. Garner Center for Community Education. He also served on the Board of Trustees at Sandhills.
"James Garner was one of the nicest people I've had the privilege to be around," Riggan said. "He and his wife loved Sandhills Community College."
Garner joined First Bank in Robbins in 1969. He was named CEO in 1995 and retired in 2006. Under his leadership, the bank grew from 32 branches to 67. He received numerous awards in recognition of his community service and humanitarian contributions through his involvement in business, church and civic organizations.
He was preceded in death by his wife Dot who he was married to for 69 years. His daughters Joan Powers and Sandy Hussey, representing his large extended family, accepted the hall of fame plaque on his behalf.
According to Matthew Powers, his grandfather had a very positive influence on the entire family.
"He was a friend and champion to all he met," Powers said. "He saw something positive in everybody.
If he were here today, he would have encouraged everybody to do their best in every situation, understand your passion and follow that."
Tiffany Hicks was the 2015 Region 10 Player of the Year for a Lady Flyers volleyball team that finished the season with a record of 24-10. She was also a recipient of the 2016 Louis M. Brown, Sr. Award for Excellence in Athletics presented annually to the outstanding student/athlete at Sandhills.
The 6-foot-1 right-side and middle blocker, was introduced by her sister Crystal Leenheer, who is currently the head basketball coach at North Moore High School.
"Tiffany put in the extra work to make sure she was in the game all the time," Leenheer said.
The Union Pines High School grad utilized the hitting, passing, defensive and serving skills to play all around the court. In her final match for Coach Riggan's Flyers, she recorded 22 kills, 19 digs and 10 assists in a five-set loss to Walters State.
A left-handed swinger, she led the Flyers with 318 kills, 67 blocks and a kill percentage of .349 as a sophomore. She was also credited with 185 digs.
"Tiffany was a leader on the court and off the court," Flyers' Coach Alicia Riggan said. "She served as our captain and she did work-study for me for two years. Tiffany was a type of player that Always gave you 110 per cent whether it was a practice, game, or working in the office, incredible work ethic."
Hicks earned all-conference honors in both volleyball and basketball at Union Pines and was a member of National Honor Society. She received an Associates in Arts Degree at Sandhills and an Associates Degree in Dental Assisting at Central Carolina Community College. She is currently employed as a dental hygienist at CarolinasDentist.
"It's a great privilege to be surrounded by such great people," she told the audience.
She thanked the Riggan family and her parents for paving the way to success and demonstrating that hard work pays off.
Chris Horne was introduced by his older brother, Wes Horne. They grew up in Waynesboro playing golf together. He recalled that they played 54 holes on some days and described Chris as a great putter.
Horne began college at NC State. He was 24-years old and caddying at the Pinehurst Resort, when he became aware of the new golf program at Sandhills.
"Chris quietly and humbly had a great two years at Sandhills," Wes Horne said.
Horne earned All-American honors in both 2009 and 2010 as a member of the first two men's golf teams in the Flyers era of athletics at Sandhills.
He finished in tie for 6th place individually at the 2009 Division III National Championship held in Chautauqua, NY. In 2010, he led his team to a third place finish while placing eighth, individually. He was also the Region 10 Player of the Year and in both years received the Louis M. Brown, Sr. Award for Excellence in Athletics presented annually to the outstanding student/athlete at Sandhills.
"We improved so much that second year," he said. "I think it was a turning point for the program when we beat Louisburg College in the regional. The amazing strides in sports at Sandhills are a credit to Coach Ulrich (Gus), Aaron Denton and Mike Apple.
"It makes so much sense to start college at a place like Sandhills. I'll be a Flyer for the rest of my life."
Horne thanked his parents for their support. He was a member of the golf and soccer teams at Anson County High School, and the Valedictorian of the Class of 2003. He is currently working for the third generation family owned and operated textile business, Hornwood Inc.
Basketball player Markell Lotharp was introduced by his Uncle George Singleton, Jr. The 6-foot-6 forward earned All-American honors in 2012 as a member of the first team in the Flyers era of athletics to win a national championship.
The championship came in thrilling fashion with the first two games not decided until the final buzzer sounded in Mike Apple's first season as the team's head coach. The product of Forest Hills High School in Marshville thanked his coach, his teammates and his family.
"We all have a coach that molds our experience on and off the court," he said. "You're my guy, Coach Apple. Thank you for the positive impact on my life.
"Lastly, I would not be here without the help of my teammates. I also want to thank my parents and Morgan (Ridge).
As a freshman at Sandhills, Lotharp helped Head Coach Aaron Denton's team compile a record of 24-7.As a sophomore, he led the title team in scoring (15.9 points per game) and in rebounds (6.7). The Flyers finished with a record of 30-6, including a 101-86 victory over Cedar Valley (TX) in the championship game.
Lotharp was honored that season by being selected to play in the NJCAA All-Star game held in Las Vegas. He was also the recipient of the 2012 Louis M. Brown, Sr. Award.
"Coming here and having that winning experience was a turning point in my life," he said.
After Sandhills, he was a member of the basketball team at Johnson C. Smith University for two years before earning a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management. He is currently employed by The Boys and Girls Club of Sandhills as Teen Services Director.
"My main thing in that position is to change the lives of the kids in the community," the father of a daughter, Nola, and son, Niles, said. "I want to see all of the kids that go to the Boys and Girls Club graduate."
A two-time All-American, Nick Thompson was introduced by his wife Megan who described him as passionate about everything he does.
The Pinecrest High School grad was the medalist as a member of the Sandhills Community College men's golf team coached by Ulrich that won the 2014 NJCAA Division III National Championship in Chautauqua, NY. He posted rounds of 73-73-69-70-285 to win the individual title by two strokes.
One of the things he remembers well from that experience is the feeling he had standing over the final putt.
"I had about a two-foot putt, but it felt like about 10-feet," he said. "My hands were just absolutely numb. I hammered it in the back of the hole and that was it, but it gave me an appreciation of the guys that play golf for a living and have those putts every day."
The Flyers won the team championship by 15 strokes over second place Cincinnati State Tech.
The son of golf professional Doug Thompson and Patty Thompson also earned All-American recognition with his tied for fourth place finish at the 2013 national tournament where the Flyers were the runner-up to Vincennes (IND). After his graduation from Sandhills, he was a member of the golf team at East Carolina for two years where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice.
Following his graduation from ECU, he was employed by the Moore County Sheriff's Office. Early last year he was promoted to a Federal Probation Officer in Rockingham.
"My experiences at Sandhills will have a lasting impact in my life," he said. "Thank you to my family and everyone here for supporting me."
Thompson was the 2012 conference player of the year while at Pinecrest and was a four-time all-conference selection.
When Elaine Lewis Van Vliet learned to play tennis on the public courts in Aberdeen it was the beginning of a lifetime journey in the sport that included junior tournaments, team tennis at Pinecrest High School, Sandhills Community College and Methodist University, and USTA tournament competition that continues to this day.
Beginning in 1974 under the tutelage of Coach Ruth Bondurant, Van Vliet compiled a two-year record of 15-4. She was named the Spartans' Most Valuable Player both as a freshman and a sophomore. In 1976 she graduated from Sandhills with an Associates in Arts Degree.
Following the induction, Van Vliet recalled one match in particular against Methodist University. She was down 5-2 in the second set, but came back and won the match. The Methodist coach was impressed and recruited her.
"For whatever I lacked in skills, I never gave up," she said.
Van Vliet became a member of the 1976-77 Methodist team that finished fifth in the nation in NCAA Division III. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree there and graduated with honors. She then received a Teaching Fellowship from East Carolina University, leading to a Master of Arts in Education Degree in 1979.
Employed in the medical field for much of her work career, tennis has continued to play an important in a life that includes her husband Alan Van Vliet and their two daughters. She is currently preparing for her first match of the USTA season in March.
Bondurant recalled the Spartans played against mostly four-year colleges. She described Van Vliet and teammate Deese as pioneers.
"I was shocked and honored when I received the call from Mike Apple," Van Vliet said. "Sandhills has a special place in my heart.
"It's been a wonderful ride. Tennis is a lifetime sport, and I'm truly grateful for still being able to play.
After all you don't stop playing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop playing."
by Charlie Bergmann
photo by Donna Ford