Wilmington’s Derek Brunson to enter UNCP Athletics Hall of Fame

PEMBROKE, NC (UNCP RELEASE) — Five standout student-athletes will be officially inducted into the UNC Pembroke Athletics Hall of Fame as part of Homecoming Week in early October, athletics department officials announced Wednesday.

Wrestlers Derek Brunson and Chuck Jones will join baseball’s Kevin Dietrich, track & field’s Tony Reid and men’s basketball’s Frank Winfree in comprising UNCP’s 38th Hall of Fame induction class. All five will be inducted into the distinguished listing of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators at a special ceremony on October 21 at 6 p.m. in the University Center Annex. Attendees must RSVP or purchase tickets (while supplies last) for $35 by calling (910) 521-6252.

Members of the 2016 Athletics Hall of Fame Committee include athletics director Dick Christy, Tim Brayboy, Ronnie Chavis, Dee Hardy, Carol Higy and Diane Jones.

“The list of accomplishments for this year’s class is substantial,” Christy said. “One of the most rewarding parts of being involved in athletics is being able to say ‘thank you’ and recognize the contributions of those who have built Braves Athletics. I am deeply appreciative for the hard work of the committee in making these tough choices.”

Brunson was a three-time all-American for the Braves from 2002-07 while racking up 121 career victories, including 39 wins during his freshman campaign. The Wilmington native won three NCAA region titles and made four trips to the NCAA Division II National Championships as well. He is currently a mixed martial artist and competes in the middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Dietrich played in 172 games (172 starts) for UNCP from 2006-09 and registered a .361 career batting average (249-for-689) to go along with 82 extra-base hits (24 HR), 143 RBI and 171 runs scored. He earned a slew of postseason awards as a senior in 2009, including all-America honors from a pair of organizations, after hitting .418 with 39 extra-base hits (16 HR), 68 RBI and 59 runs scored. Dietrich, a product of Charlotte, tallied a .995 fielding percentage over his four-year career, and also swiped 55 bases (71 attempts).

Jones earned a pair of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) all-America honors, as well as NCAA all-America accolades in 1980-81, as a 118-pound wrestler for the Black & Gold. He earned NAIA All-District honors, as well as All-Carolinas Conference laurels, in each of his last two seasons, including his senior campaign in 1980-81 when he registered a then-school record 44 victories.

Reid was a five-time all-American for the Braves from 1978-82, earning the recognition in three events (long jump, 400-meter relay, 1600-meter relay) as a senior in 1981-82, while also collecting a pair of all-America laurels (long jump, mile relay) in 1978-79. A six-time All-Conference Carolinas selection, he also earned NAIA all-district accolades three times over his career in the Black & Gold. His 4×440-meter and mile relay teams broke school records during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons, respectively, that still stand today.

Winfree led the Braves to 19 victories during the 1958-59 and 1959-60 campaigns and averaged 22.5 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior (prior to the 3-point era in college basketball). Named most valuable player at the 1959 North & South Basketball Tournament, he was also a two-time selection to the all-tournament team at that event as well. He also ranked among the nation’s top 25 scorers at the NAIA level during his final collegiate season.