KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

It was a night of celebration and sportsmanship at D.W. Wilson Community Center last Saturday as friends, family and teammates gathered on the court to honor the Tullahoma Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

This year’s inductees were community volunteer and coach J. Patrick “Pat” Welsh, broadcaster C. Scott Shasteen, track and field state champions Edward Johnson and Jeremy Winters, the 1991 Men’s 400 Meter Relay Team, featuring Johnson, Winters, Gary Campbell and Matthew Work and the 1998 Women’s Golf Team, featuring Mary Elizabeth Brice and Kristin Lynch Nichols.

Up first was Master of Ceremonies Lane Curlee who told attendees that not was he the 1964 youth ping pong champion, and brought the t-shirt to prove it, but he also served as manager of the Tullahoma High School baseball team for two years under then coach Jerry Mathis. He said while he did not play on a sports team as a child, as an adult he recognized the value of sports and the critical important lessons it taught.

“The critical importance of teamwork, perseverance, grit, leaving everything you get on the field, the court or track,” Curlee said. “That’s what sport is all about and that is what it teaches.”

Curlee then introduced Mayor Ray Knowis, who welcomed everyone, from local residents to out of town guests, to the fifth annual event and praised the Tullahoma Parks and Recreation Department for transforming the gymnasium at D.W. Wilson into a banquet hall in two days’ time, as well as the Tullahoma Sports Council for working with the parks and rec department to make the evening possible.

“The honorees is what is all about so be prepared to have a wonderful evening welcoming the honorees tonight and making Tullahoma a sports-minded community.”

Parks and Rec Director J.P. Kraft spoke next, and informed attendees that next year will be D.W. Wilson’s 50^th anniversary, as well as being a part of some of the biggest renovations at D.W. Wilson including the $4 million reimagination of the pools in 2015, which led to the creation of Splash Island. He also talked about the department’s partnership with the Tullahoma Sports Council, which led to both co-hosting events including the Johnny Bench meet and greet, the Wildcats and Friends baseball clinic and establishing a league scholarship which allows anyone an opportunity to play sports in Tullahoma. He also shared some current projects including new batting cages at the Johnson Lane Softball Complex and two new foal polls for the recently converted 50-70 field at Waggoner Park, which will allow intermediate little league and give the department the opportunity to host more travel tournaments for baseball and softball.

“Parks and Recreation and the Tullahoma Sports Council are always working to identify projects in our parks that will continue to add the sporting community’s longstanding excellence both on and off the field,” Kraft said. 

Honorary Awards

Curlee introduced this year’s recipients of the Honorary Award, Brindley Duncan and Lily Storey. Both Brindley and Lily were honored for their accomplishments as State Champions in the 800-meter run. Brindley captured two state titles as an East Middle School student, setting the TMSAA state record of record time of 2:26.67 in 2022. This past year, Brindley broke her previous record, winning the race in 2:24.31. Prior to breaking her record again, Brindley became a state champion after winning the 1,600 race with a time of 5:31.08.

Brindley said she was honored to accept the award and thanked her coach Chris Clemens, teammate Lily and her parents for their support.

“I would also like to thank God for giving me the ability to do what I can do today because I wouldn’t be able to do it without His gift that he has given me and I am very grateful for it,” she said. “I thank you all for letting me be here today to receive this gift.”

Next up was Lily, who Curlee noted that she traveled from Louisville, Ky., to be in attendance as she currently attends and running track at the University of Louisville. Representing the THS Class of 2023, Lily retained the State Title with a record time of 2:20.62. Also, while teaming with her teammates Liliann Villimar, Sarah Eakin and Eleanor Fults in the 4×400, they earned state medals after they combined to take fifth place after finishing at 4:17.15.

Lily also thanked Coach Clemens and Brindley for pushing her, as well as thanking her mom for her support.

“Thank you for always believing in me and for making the best human I can always be,” Lily said. “I’m looking forward to representing Tullahoma during my college career at the University of Louisville. Thank you guys.” 

J. Patrick “Pat” Welsh

The first member of the Class of ’24 to be inducted was J. Patrick “Pat” Welsh, where he was recognized for his contributions as a volunteer and involvement with the Tullahoma Youth Wrestling Club. Alongside wrestling, Welsh has been involved with the Tullahoma Little League, Frank Mullins Youth Football League and the Tullahoma Church League Basketball League. Welsh served as a Tullahoma City Alderman, Tullahoma City School Board Member, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Tullahoma Rotary Club. In 2017, he was inducted in the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and was named the Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. In 2019, he was named the Tullahoma News Citizen of the Year and was inducted in the Inaugural AAU Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022.

Welsh acknowledged his family, friends and his wife Beth for they had been serving as an example of grace in his life, which he grace was being “love that was undeserved.” Welsh then told a story of running into fellow Tullahoma Sports Hall of Famer and current Tullahoma City Schools Athletic Director Coach John Olive when Welsh was inducted into the Tennessee chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Welsh said Olive congratulated him and told him, “That’s really a longevity award, isn’t it?”

Welsh said he didn’t think about it much, given how Olive said it, but a few weeks later he thought differently about it.

“I think the HVC (head varsity coach) dissed me,” Welsh said, which was met with laughter from attendees.

Welsh said he found a picture of the 1994 youth wrestlers, which had only 18 wrestlers, and praised them for not only winning their respective championships, but for their academic achievements in becoming doctors, Ph.D.’s and other various degrees. He then acknowledged another member of the team who served in the Iraq War, where he directed every ordnance during the Second Battle of Fallujah, and asked him to stand up and be recognized by attendees.

“If one group could produce all of those subsequent achievements, think with 31 years of longevity may have produced well after their wrestling careers, the HVC didn’t diss me,” Welsh said. “He only acknowledged and complimented the many years of, hopefully, positive influences coaches, on every level, have on their athletes.”

Welsh then thanked Olive, the Tullahoma Sports Council and everyone in attendance for the honor. 

C. Scott Shasteen

Next for the Class of ’24 was C. Scott Shasteen, who was recognized for his involvement in Tullahoma Sports and accomplishments as a broadcaster. Shasteen has been known as the voice of the Wildcats and Lady Cats since 1984, currently serves as the Director of Communications and Media Relations and Sports Information Director at Motlow State Community College and has broadcast hundreds of Motlow State Basketball games as well as serving as Motlow Athletic Director for two years. He currently works with the LightTube Sports Network, hosts a weekly YouTube sports show “Gold Ball Sports” and has developed a Spotify podcast, the Shasteen Show. He has also served as the Sports Editor for the Tullahoma News, as a Tullahoma City Alderman and was Mayor Pro-Tem in 2007.

During his induction, Curlee played Shasteen’s call he made when the 2021 THS Football team became the TSSAA Class 4A State champions against Elizabethton. Curlee also said that Shasteen is the first broadcaster to be inducted into the Tullahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

After joking that his job of emcee may have been taken, Shasteen is was an honor to be the first media member to be inducted into the Tullahoma Sports Hall of Fame, an honor to serve as emcee for the previous events and being a part of the Class of ’24. He thanked his wife, Jamie, and his daughters, Alivia and Jackie, for always being supportive of his career.

“This whole 40 years of doing this, it’s been about because I love it, and I love Tullahoma, I love sports and I love the Wildcats,” Shasteen said. “It just feels natural.”

He thanked his past broadcast analysists over the years for bringing their perspectives, as well as crediting them for being the main voices on the broadcasts while he served as the middle man. He also thanked every radio station who hired him to be a broadcaster and the sponsors for broadcasts for giving him an opportunity. He also thanked LightTube for staying with him and his broadcast partner Kim Kelly during the state championship year, citing the tenacity of Tullahoma Utilities Authority President Brian Skelton for being able to broadcast the championship game. Shasteen said being able to broadcast and call the game that Saturday was one of the pinnacles of this career, with the other being there that night being induct.

“I thought it wouldn’t get better than this…until tonight. Thank you,” Shasteen said. 

Edward Johnson

The next inductee Edward Johnson was not able to attend the event, but asked to send his congratulations to his fellow team members of the 1991 state champion Men’s 400-meter Relay Team Jeremy Winters, Gary Campbell and Matthew Work. Johnson was honored for his accomplishments in track and field at Tullahoma High School as State Champion in 1991 for the 100 Meter Run with a time of 10.79 and as a member of the State Champion 400 Meter Relay Team with a time of 42.68. In a letter read by Curlee, Johnson also thanked his coach Clester Winningham, a member of the Sports Hall of Fame Class of ’23, who “really put the work ethic into us,” and praised him for being a great coach. 

Jeremy Winters

Following Johnson was Jeremy Winters, who was honor his accomplishments in track and field at Tullahoma High School as State Champion in 1991 for the 400-meter Run with a time of 49.15 and as a member of the State Champion 400-meter Relay Team with a time of 42.68. During his high school career, Jeremy was also a member of the 1990 State Champion Baseball Team and, in 1991, was selected to the All Mid-State Football Team for special teams. During his college career, Jeremy was 1992 MVP for the David Lipscomb University Track Team, 1997 All American and two time All American at Harding University in 1997. Post college he competed as a paratriathlete, ranking in the top 10 in the world from 2013-2015 and was the United States National Champion in 2012. Jeremy is currently a Professor of Mathematics with the Department of Elementary and Special Education at Middle Tennessee State University.

Winters recalled in 2013 when he was about to go to world championships in London for the paratriathlon, a colleague sent him the verse Isaiah 42:16 which Winters recited “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known.” He said for those who know him, blindness describes him well figuratively and literally, but thanked his family and friends who have helped lead him, including his wife and children who he called his biggest fans.

“I know (God) has been leading me in lots of ways over the years, and He has provided me with many people to help me with that guidance,” Winters said.

Winters said when he got the call about being the latest inductee, he said he was excited because he had so many great memories of being on the track, stating those will be times he won’t forget.

“I just appreciate this opportunity to come and see this,” Winters said. “I’m always proud of Tullahoma, so I always put (Tullahoma) out there. Thank you so much.” 

1991 Men’s 400-meter Relay Team

The rest of the 1991 Tullahoma High School Men’s 400-meter Relay Team was also honored and recognized for their accomplishment as State Champions with a record time of 42.68. The other team members, alongside fellow inductees Winters and Johnson, were Gary Campbell and Matthew Work. According to Curlee, that record has not been broken in 33 years.

Work, who ran the third leg of the rely team, said when he had the chance to reflect and looked around the room and seeing everyone, he said there were character traits that develop that can be taken both on the track and in life. He added he had the chance to experience life with everyone he saw everyone, recalling memories of being with his teammates, coaches and going on trips with other Christian athletes.      

“I would argue that there’s nothing that has been more influential in my spiritual walk as a believer of Jesus Christ than sports,” Work said.

He added that everyone in the room, whether it was parents, city officials and others who help pass the baton to one another and help influence children for their future. He finished his speech by thanking everyone honoring those who had the chance to be that influence, and for allowing him to be that influence as well.

Next to speak was Gary Campbell, who he and his family traveled from Atlanta, Ga., to be in attendance that night. Campbell acknowledged and thanked his family and friends who traveled with him to the honor. He also thanked coach Winningham, who he called a special coach. He also thanked coach Joe Winters, Jeremy Winters’s father, who also pushed he and his teammates to become the athletes they became.

Campbell also thanked the Tullahoma Sports Council acknowledging both him and his fellow inductees’ accomplishments.

“Being here with the community here, which I have developed so many close relationships,” Campbell said. “I do love Tullahoma. This is my home and I will always love it.” 

1998 Women’s Golf Team 

The final inductees to the Tullahoma Sports Hall of Fame Class of ’24 was the 1998 Tullahoma High School Women’s Golf Team, Mary Elizabeth Brice and Kristin Lynch Nichols. The 1998 THS Ladies Golf Team were recognized for their accomplishment as State Champions with a two-day total of 316. Brice, alongside her husband and daughter, currently reside in Atlanta, Ga.Brice went on to play golf at the University of Arkansas before graduating the University of Georgia. Nichols went on to play golf at Middle Tennessee State University as the first lady signee for the Women’s Golf Team. Nichols, and her family, live in Tullahoma and is heavily involved as a volunteer with Tullahoma City Schools and was voted 2022 Tullahoma City Schools Volunteer of the Year.

Brice first said God may given her the gift of golf but He did not give her the gift of public speaking, which was met with laughs. She said she felt blessed be there and thanked her family for their support, as well as her teammate Lynch and her family, her coach Dale Phelps and the rest of her family and friends.

“Golf wasn’t just support to our family,” Brice said. “It was a way of life that gave us happiness, joy, friends, hope, patience, and sometimes tears, concentration, laughter and something to do every day.”

She added she and her family never got bored because they had golf, and she learned many lessons from the sport like how control her emotions, celebrate the wins and learning from the losses. She said while golf is not a part of life anymore, the memories she made, the people she met and life lessons that taught her set the foundation for her life. Brice said she hopes her daughter finds her passion and give it her all so she too can always look back and be thankful for the memories and everyone who helped her along the way.

“To receive this award after moving away 24 years ago is not only an honor but it is a tribute to how supportive and special Tullahoma is,” Brice said. “You really can’t pick a better place to raise a family and I am thankful to have the opportunity to grow up here.”

For Nichols, she thanked everyone for the honor and said it was privilege to be at the event. Nichols said she thanked her parents for her success in golf as she could not have done it without them, stating that her father taught both her and her brother how to golf.

“It truly was a privilege to getting to play golf because I got to spend time every day with my dad at his job, and now as an adult I realized how much of a privilege that was,” Nichols said.

Speaking from her experiences now as a parent, Nichols thanked her mom for supporting both her and her, whether it was taking them to their tournaments to providing plenty of snacks and drinks as they made their way on the golf course, calling a “top notch caddie and chauffeur.”

“I truly appreciate this honor,” Nichols said. “I’m thankful to have grown up in Tullahoma. It is such a supportive community for youth sports and I am thankful that my children get to experience that.” 

One last recognition 

Just before the auction and closing remarks, Curlee presented one last special recognition to Tullahoma native and country music star Dustin Lynch, who was in attendance supporting his sister. For his generous support to the Tullahoma Sports Council with a $10,000 donation from his “Dustin Lynch and Friends” benefit show in 2022, Lynch was presented with a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Gentlemen Jack double mellowed whiskey. Lynch thanked the Tullahoma Sports Council for the gift and congratulated all the honorees. Closing out the evening was an auction for both an autographed picture of Dustin Lynch and a guitar signed by him, which was sold for $3,500 in support of the Tullahoma Sports Council.