Baseball 5/19/2026 3:46:00 PM

Cumberland University Announces 2026 Sports Hall of Fame Class

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University Athletics announces the 2026 class of the Cumberland University Sports Hall of Fame, honoring a distinguished group of former student-athletes and one championship team for their outstanding achievements and lasting impact on Phoenix athletics.

The 2026 Hall of Fame class includes Sam Lind (baseball), Nathan Jernigan (football), Jessica Roper (softball), Nate Croley (wrestling), Kyle Delaune (wrestling) and the 2010 Cumberland Baseball National Championship team.

"I am incredibly excited about the 2026 Cumberland University Sports Hall of Fame class and the opportunity to celebrate these outstanding individuals and the historic 2010 Baseball National Championship team on October 2," said Vice President of Athletics Ron Pavan. "This class represents the very best of Cumberland Athletics and serves as a testament to what dedication, perseverance, grit, and exceptional talent can accomplish."

Sam Lind - Baseball - 2014

Sam Lind established himself as one of the premier players in Cumberland Baseball history, helping guide the team to the 2014 NAIA National Championship. A cornerstone of the 2014 squad, Lind delivered one of the most dominant offensive seasons in the country, earning Avista-NAIA World Series MVP honors after leading Cumberland to the national title. His performance throughout the season earned him NAIA First Team All-American recognition and First Team All-Mid-South Conference honors while becoming one of the most feared hitters in the NAIA.

During his standout 2014 campaign, Lind led the nation in hits (109), at-bats (270), total bases (180), and RBIs (91), while ranking third nationally in home runs with 16. His offensive production powered one of the nation's top lineups and helped the Phoenix capture the ultimate prize in Lewiston. Lind also earned three Mid-South Conference Player of the Week honors and a TSWA Player of the Week nod during the season.

Lind's impact at Cumberland extended beyond just one season. A First Team Capital One Academic All-American in 2014, he excelled both on the field and in the classroom. Earlier in his career, he earned Rawlings Gold Glove Team honors in 2012 while also being named TranSouth All-Conference Second Team. Over the course of his career at CU, Lind compiled a .377 batting average with 28 home runs, 140 RBIs, and 110 runs scored. He went on to play professional baseball for two seasons in the Frontier League.

Nathan Jernigan - Football - 2016

Nathan Jernigan developed into one of the most dominant defensive players in Cumberland Football history during a standout four-year career, anchoring the Phoenix defense from the moment he stepped on campus. Jernigan made an immediate impact as the Mid-South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2013 before developing into a two-time Mid-South Conference West Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. A three-time First Team All-Mid-South Conference West Division selection, Jernigan established himself as one of the premier defenders in the NAIA, earning AFCA-NAIA Second Team All-American honors following his senior campaign in 2016.

Jernigan led the Phoenix defense in tackles in three consecutive seasons while finishing his career with 374 total tackles across 44 games played, ranking among the top tacklers in program history. He posted back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons in 2015 and 2016, tallying 104 tackles as a junior before recording a career-high 105 stops in his senior season. Jernigan also proved disruptive in the backfield, totaling 12 sacks and 36 tackles for loss during his career while adding four interceptions and 14 pass breakups.

As a senior in 2016, Jernigan capped off his career with one of the best defensive seasons in the Mid-South Conference, recording 105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks en route to conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and All-America recognition. He also earned Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice and Tennessee Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week recognition on two occasions.

Off the field, Jernigan matched his athletic success with excellence in the classroom. He earned First Team Academic All-American honors in 2015 while being named both an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and MSC Scholar-Athlete multiple times throughout his career. In 2016, Jernigan was recognized with the prestigious Cumberland University Lindsey Donnell Award.

Jessica Roper - Softball - 2015

Jessica Roper helped lead the Phoenix to success throughout her career while becoming one of the most dangerous bats in the Mid-South Conference. A standout catcher and middle-of-the-order presence, Roper earned NAIA All-American honors in 2014 after a dominant junior campaign that saw her named Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. She previously earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2013 and helped guide the Phoenix to a national tournament appearance.

Roper's breakout season in 2014 ranks among the best individual offensive campaigns in program history. She hit a career-best .438 at the plate while totaling 74 hits, 12 doubles, six home runs, and 47 RBIs across 57 games. She received Mid-South Conference Player of the Week honors and Tennessee Sports Writers Association Softball Player of the Week recognition, helping establish Cumberland as one of the top programs in the conference.

Roper made an immediate impact as a sophomore transfer in 2013, blasting 11 home runs and driving in 34 runs while hitting .354 to earn All-Conference recognition. She finished her career with a .383 batting average, 141 hits, 20 doubles, 18 home runs, and 93 RBIs in 131 career games. In addition to her accomplishments on the field, Roper excelled in the classroom as a multiple-time Mid-South Conference Scholar-Athlete, exemplifying the balance of academic and athletic excellence throughout her time at Cumberland. Roper was named the 2024 Wilson County Teacher of the Year teaching third graders at Southside School.

Nate Croley - Wrestling - 2017

Nate Croley left a lasting legacy on Cumberland Wrestling both as one of the program's top competitors and as a coach who continues to elevate the Phoenix on the national stage. One of the most accomplished wrestlers in program history, Croley finished his career with 92 victories while earning NAIA All-American honors twice at the 157-pound weight class. A two-time Second Team All-Mid-South Conference selection and three-time MSC All-Academic honoree.

Croley's rise on the national level began during the 2015-16 season when he earned his first All-America honor after placing seventh at the NAIA National Championships in Topeka, Kan. Wrestling at two different weight classes throughout the year, he posted a 30-9 overall record, including a 25-6 mark at 157 pounds. He followed that performance with an even stronger senior season in 2016-17, repeating as an NAIA All-American while improving to a third-place national finish with a stellar 32-10 record.

A native of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Croley was also part of the historic 2016 Cumberland team that captured the Mid-South Conference Postseason Championship, the first conference postseason title in program history. Following graduation, where he earned his bachelor's degree in special education in 2017, Croley returned to Cumberland's wrestling room as an assistant coach in 2018 and spent six years helping shape the next generation of Cumberland wrestlers. During his coaching tenure, Croley helped mentor 16 NAIA All-Americans and three national finalists, and one NAIA National Champion.

Kyle Delaune - Wrestling - 2017

Kyle Delaune established himself as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Cumberland history, finishing his career with 103 victories, the second-most in program history, while helping elevate the Cumberland Wrestling program to new heights on the conference and national stage. Delaune was a fixture on the national stage throughout his career, qualifying for the NAIA National Championships in all four seasons. The New Orleans, La., native compiled a strong record at the national tournament, earning All-America honors as both a sophomore and senior with national finishes of fourth and sixth place at 184 pounds.

Delaune made an immediate impact in the Cumberland lineup, posting a 26-13 overall record as a freshman while earning Second Team All-Mid-South Conference honors. He elevated his performance as a sophomore, finishing 26-6 overall and putting together one of the strongest national tournament performances in program history. After dropping into the wrestleback bracket, Delaune rattled off five consecutive victories to advance to the third-place match, ultimately securing a fourth-place finish and his first All-America honor. He followed with a 25-win junior campaign before capping his career with another All-American finish as a senior, placing sixth nationally while earning Academic All-Mid-South Conference and CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.

Beyond his individual accomplishments, Delaune played a vital role in the continued rise of Cumberland Wrestling and was part of the historic 2016 Mid-South Conference Postseason Championship team, the first conference postseason title in program history. Following graduation with a degree in Business Management in 2017, Delaune remained with the program as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons, helping mentor multiple NAIA All-Americans and continuing to impact the success of Cumberland Wrestling beyond his competitive career.

2010 Baseball

The 2010 Cumberland Baseball team cemented its place as one of the greatest teams in program and NAIA history, delivering a dominant season that culminated in the program's NAIA National Championship. Guided by legendary head coach Woody Hunt, the Phoenix compiled an astounding 58-9 overall record while capturing the TranSouth Conference regular season and tournament championships before winning the NAIA Championship Opening Round Joliet Bracket and ultimately the Avista-NAIA World Series title. The championship run marked the most complete seasons ever by a Cumberland squad.

Cumberland's dominance was reflected in the numerous individual and team honors collected throughout the season. Woody Hunt was named Rawlings NAIA Coach of the Year and TranSouth Coach of the Year, while Matt Greener earned NAIA Player of the Year and TranSouth Player of the Year honors after putting together one of the most prolific offensive seasons in national history. Kris Miller was named Avista-NAIA World Series MVP, and Robert Post earned the prestigious Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Player Award as the Phoenix also claimed the Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Team Award and the NAIA Scholar Team Award.

The Phoenix roster featured star power from top to bottom, producing five NAIA All-Americans including First Team selections Matt Greener, Troy Frazier, Kris Miller, and Shawn Schaefer, along with Second Team honoree Aaron Wilkerson. Cumberland also placed seven members on the Avista-NAIA World Series All-Tournament Team with Greg Appleton, Sam Kikla, Matt Greener, David Fanshawe, Kris Miller, Troy Frazier, and Aaron Wilkerson all earning recognition for their performances during the national championship run.

Statistically, the 2010 team overwhelmed opponents in nearly every category. Greener led the NAIA in total hits (116), home runs (27), total bases (225), and total bases per game, while also driving in 101 runs. Miller matched Greener with 27 home runs, while Sam Kikla paced the nation with 94 runs scored. On the mound, Shawn Schaefer and Aaron Wilkerson each recorded 14 wins, with Wilkerson leading the nation in strikeouts with 125. The team's excellence was further highlighted by a collection of conference weekly honors, multiple scholar-athletes, and eight First Team All-TranSouth selections.

The team includes Jason Frost, Ryan Critchelow, Dave Weyer, T.J. Murphy, Kris Miller, Aaron Wilkerson, Greg Appleton, Adam Sprague, Eric Vetetoe, Brian Karahalios, Daniel Kern, Jesse Bowman, Shawn Schaefer, Max Kautz, Keith Kirby, Troy Frazier, Luke Whittaker, Matt Greener, Matt Vance, Derrick Harwood, David Fanshawe, Robert Post, Danny Gallinot, Ben Foster, Matt McFarland, Peter Taraskevich, Sam Kikla, Briggs Dixson, Daniel Harrison, Brett Schultz, Anthony Hopkins, Logan Neal, Christian Jennings, Adrian Mull, Paul Boals Jr., Brent Boyd, Matt Burke, Cody Cantrell, Kirk Cathey, Jesse Coe, Brandon Corley, Jordan Dennis, Justin Fann, Craig Gann, Jordon Gooch, Brandon Goodman, Nolan Gray, Josh Green, Terry Grimes, Brian Hoff, Chase Hudson, Ross Hudson, Jeremy Hunley, Justin Johnston, Cody Liddle, Evan Sharp, Ross Strong, and Jimmy Van Buren.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on October 2nd inside the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena, where these honorees will be officially recognized for their contributions to Cumberland University athletics. They will also be honored at the Cumberland Football game the next day as a part of the annual Homecoming Festivities.

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