November 1, 2008

MARS HILL, N.C. – On Saturday, November 1, four members were inducted into the Mars Hill Athletics Hall of Fame. The inductees included Ed Hoffmeyer, Derek Thomas, Randy Whitson and Jennifer Wiggins. Listed below is what is printed on their plaques that will hang on the Wall of Fame located in the lower level of Chambers Gymnasium.

Pictured left to right: Ed Hoffmeyer, Derek Thomas, Jennifer Wiggins & Randy Whitson

Ed Hoffmeyer - Inducted 2008
Hoffmeyer was the Athletic Director at Mars Hill from 1990-98 … He directed MHC through the final stages of transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II … He increased sports sponsorship at MHC from eight to 13 … Hoffmeyer worked on major facility improvements including Stanford Arena, Hart Tennis Center and the acquisition of Ponder Fields … He coached the MHC golf team for three years leading the Lions to a No. 10 Regional ranking in 1998 … Named SAC Golf Coach of the Year in 1998 … Served as Athletic Director at Tusculum College for 10 years (1998-2007) … Directed Tusculum’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II … Oversaw the most successful period in Tusculum athletic history … Recognized along with his wife Linda as Sports Benefactor of the Year in 2007 … Inducted in SAC Hall of Fame in 2008 as an Administrator at both Mars Hill and Tusculum Colleges … Three-year letter winner in track and field at MHC where he participated in five events per meet … Held school records in four events upon graduation … Participated in basketball one year.

Derek Thomas – Inducted 2008
Thomas a four-year letterman and three-year starter in men’s basketball … Two-time All-District 6 Team … Two-time All-Carolina Conference Selection … 1976 MHC Team MVP … 1976 MHC Outstanding Male Athlete … Upon graduation held the school record for steals and assists … 1975-76 Team Captain … Played in the NAIA vs. NCAA All-Star Game … While at MHC Thomas also was a three-year letter winner in track & field … Selected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities … Graduated with a degree in History in 1976 … Completed Master’s Degree in Social Studies from Nova University in 1987 … After graduating from MHC Thomas was a coach and a teacher for 29 years where he accumulated 415 wins, won 30 different championships … Four-time coach of the year.

Randy Whitson – Inducted 2008
Whitson was a four-time, first team All-SAC selection (1986, 1987, 1988, & 1989) in football … All-District 26 second team pick in 1986 … Second team All-American in 1988 and in 1989 … Currently holds the school record for the best career punting average (41.4) and longest scoring pass (99 yards vs. Wingate in 1987) … Upon graduation held the best single game punting average of 51.5 yards per punt … Upon graduation began a career in law enforcement with the Buncombe County Sherriff’s Office … At induction Whitson was currently a Patrol Lieutenant for David Squad and Team Leader for the Sheriff’s SWAT Team … Whitson was selected as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2004.

Jennifer Wiggins – Inducted 2008
Wiggins was a member and captain of the cross country and track & field teams from 1995-99 … 1999 NCAA Woman of the Year for North Carolina … Awarded the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship in 1999 … SAC President’s Award in 1999 … Member of SAC Cross Country Championship Team (1997 & 1998) … Four-time, first team All-SAC (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) … First Team All-Region in 1996 … Three-time Academic All-American … SAC Scholar Athlete for Cross Country in 1998 … Four-time member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998) … Chair of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) in 1998 & 1999 … NCAA Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (1998 & 1999) … President of SGA … Vice President of Delta Zeta National Sorority … FCA Officer … Member, National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD) … 2006 SAC Hall of Fame Inductee … Sports Management Graduate Student of the Year (2001) … Alpha Chi Honor Society … Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority Scholarship … Received Grayson Scholarship at MHC.

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