NGU Athletic Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees
Posted on: February 4, 2021
Tigerville, SC (October 29, 2019) The North Greenville University (NGU) Department of Athletics is pleased to announce its latest inductees that will be part of the 2019 North Greenville University Athletic Hall of Fame (HOF) and Hall of Legends (HOL) Class. These selected individuals are to be inducted at a banquet on Friday, November 8, at 7 p.m. in Todd Dining Hall.
The inductees are also to be recognized during an on-field presentation at half-time of Saturday’s football game against Florida Tech at 1:30 p.m on Nov. 9. This 2019 distinguished group of alumni and donors are Zawaski Bateman (’69), Rachel Glazebrook (’14), Herbie Goodman (‘95), Sam and Angie Kelly, Freddie Martino (‘14), and Shawanda George Miller (‘99).
In addition to the recognition of the HOF and HOL inductees at the football game on Nov. 9, the university will celebrate the 25th anniversary of four-year sports. Since 1994, more than 6,000 student-athletes have participated in NGU sports. The university welcomes home all former student-athletes who played sports at NGU from the beginning of 1994 to recent graduates in 2019. If you and your family would like to be a part of the celebration, let us know by completing the online registration form.
Also, a specially designed North Greenville Mounties t-shirt is available for pre-order for this milestone celebration. To pre-order the limited edition shirt, visit Lemon Togs.
The deadline for pre-orders is Nov. 3, 2019.
NGU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019
Zawaski Bateman (’69) arrived on the North Greenville campus in 1967. As a young black man who was at the school to play basketball, God only knew the impact that he would have on others in the two years to follow and for the rest of his life.
He was the first black athlete to attend North Greenville. As a student he endured hatred remarks and actions directed at him. On the court he encountered the same treatment from some teammates as well as fans. However, he rose above and became an outstanding basketball player and was the team captain in 1968. His success resulted in Wofford College recruiting him to attend and become a member of their team. Bateman was also the first black athlete at Wofford and excelled on the basketball court. Both colleges had some black students at the time, but no athletes. He is known for being influential in knocking down color barriers on athletic teams in the upstate of South Carolina.
After college, he worked for an insurance company in New York. He continued to play basketball in the downtown athletic leagues and became known as “The Player” and considered turning pro as his basketball skills continued to improve. However, he became involved in the movement and his life was going in the wrong direction. His mother tried to talk to him and asked him “What about God?” He replied, “Forget God. We don’t need God. We have to do it ourselves.” Bateman says he almost died for the cause, but everything changed in 1974 when he became a Christ-follower. Since that day, his life changed and he began preaching the Gospel.
Bateman continues to preach the Gospel. God only knows the number of people that he has impacted and influenced by his willingness to endure hatred, knock down barriers, and share the love of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rachel Glazebrook (’14), a Travelers Rest native, began her collegiate softball career at Georgia Tech, but her transfer to North Greenville in 2011 began one of the most storied careers in NGU Athletics history. Rachael finished her time at North Greenville as the program’s leader in every major pitching category and was also one of the program’s most prolific and respected hitters.
In her three year career with the Crusaders, Rachael won 45-games, retiring a staggering 661-batters via strikeout. In her final season with the Crusaders, she posted 16-wins with a 1.94 earned run average with a career-high 253-strikeouts in 181.1 innings pitched. Rachel was also a terror for opposing pitchers on the mound, helping her cause as NGU’s biggest offensive threat. She had a career .338 batting average and notched 141-base hits along with 14-home runs and batted in 77 runs. In 2012 she set the record for a single-season batting average of .395.
Rachael finished her college career at NGU in 2014, leading the Crusaders to a 28-17 record and earning Conference Carolinas Player of the Year honors. She was a three-time First Team All-Conference player and was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Tournament team twice and the Academic All-Conference team. She was also a two-time National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Region and All-American performer.
NGU Head Softball Coach Sarah Hall states, “With all of her on the field accomplishments, Rachel was even more special away from the game of softball. She loved Jesus with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength. We all witnessed her spiritual growth during her time in Tigerville and I had the privilege of attending her baptism at the local church where she was actively involved. She was always smiling and brought joy to those she was around.”
She graduated from North Greenville in 2014 with an interdisciplinary studies degree and went on to receive her master’s degree from Shorter University. She served as an assistant softball coach at Shorter University, Gardner Webb University, and Union University.
Glazebrook passed away on October 24, 2018.
Herbie Goodman (’95) is originally from Washington, DC, but has lived in Florence, SC for most of his life. He began playing baseball at just five years old and quickly realized his love for the sport. In high school he was known for his athleticism as a multi-sport athlete playing baseball, basketball, and quarterback for the football team leading them to many wins. He came to North Greenville in 1993 on a football scholarship but began playing only baseball in 1994.
Goodman was a vital member of the North Greenville baseball team in 1994 and 1995 which were the final two years as a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association. North Greenville made a move to 4-year athletic membership in the NAIA in 1996. Herbie was an outstanding defensive player committing only five errors during his career. Offensively his speed on the base paths was undeniable as he stole nine of 12 bases during the 1994 season and was 13 of 13 stolen bases for the 1995 season. His overall hitting statistics for hits, RBI’s, and batting average kept him in the top four for all players during his career.
He was a seventh-round draft pick in 1995 by the Cincinnati Reds and played two years with the organization. Herbie then went on to play two more years of professional baseball in Independent leagues for the Kalamazoo Kodiaks in 1997 and the Somerset Patriots in 1998. His experiences throughout these years are ones that he will always be grateful. He will always appreciate the opportunity he had playing professional sports.
Goodman has since dedicated his time to his church, family, and coaching recreational soccer and group fitness training. He continues in his love for sports and enjoys spending weekends with his family watching sporting events and cheering others on to victory. He is most passionate about his service to his local church, Gospel Temple Worship Center, where he serves as an elder. He is involved in many areas of his church including the men’s ministry and marriage ministries. By being active in his church and community, Herbie believes that service to others is one of the greatest displays of leadership and truly believes that trusting God to direct his paths are keys to his success.
Sam and Angie Kelly, HOL honorees, have been loyal and faithful supporters of NGU Athletics for the past decade. They have a heart and passion for student-athletes that change the lives of many because of their support which has a direct impact on them spiritually, academically, and physically.
The university opened the Angie & Sam Kelly Strength and Conditioning Center in 2015. This facility was made possible by Angie and Sam, the SAM Group team, and its customers. The 5,000 square foot facility features customized premium Sorinex strength and weightlifting equipment as well as multiple tools to improve speed, agility, and explosiveness. The facility also has a cryogenic therapy chamber given by the Kelly’s in 2017. Every student-athlete has the opportunity to use this facility which allows them to develop their physical attributes and thus help them to perform at the highest level.
The Kelly’s have made it financially possible for many student-athletes to attend and complete their education at NGU. Scholarships provided by Sam and Angie through the Crusader Club are awarded to deserving students who show academic progress and dedication to their team.
As philanthropists, Sam and Angie’s foundation, Sam Giving, continues to provide financial assistant to NGU as well as other organizations and institutions.
Freddie Martino (’14), a four-sport star athlete and salutatorian from North High School, signed with NGU in 2010. He excelled as a Crusader in the classroom, on the football field, and as a track athlete. His impact was undeniable, setting not only North Greenville records, but also national records.
The name “Freddie Martino” is etched in the NGU record books more than any other player in school history as the owner of nine-records including a single game, single season, and career numbers. Included in these records are most receptions in a single game and single-season as well as single-season receiving yards with 1,680. In all, Freddie finished his career with 296 receptions for 3,766 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Most impressive is Freddie’s NCAA Division II record for 146 receptions in a single season in 2013. He also received the 2013 NCAA Division II Statistical Champion for receiving with 152.7 yards per game and the NCAA Division II Statistical Champion for receptions with 13.3 catches per game.
Perhaps more impressive was his iron-man-like dedication. In four years the wide receiver started in all 48-games without a missed game. During his career, Freddie earned All American honors by Dak-Tronics and single-season honors by Don Hansen. He was instrumental in North Greenville’s 2010 NCCAA Victory Bowl Championship and the football program’s first bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2011 in which the Crusaders advanced to the quarterfinals.
He also played a major role in North Greenville’s track & field program which started in 2010. Freddie earned an NCCAA National Championship in the men’s long jump in 2011 and earned NCCAA All American honors in the 4 x 4 relay, the long jump and was named the NCCAA Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. During 2013, his efforts earned him the title of Conference Carolinas Male Athlete of the Year for track & field as he earned a pair of Conference Carolinas individual titles in the 100 and 200 meter runs.
Freddie Martino signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons where he spent one season, making his NFL debut in October of 2014. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in his second year, where he caught Tim Tebow’s last touchdown pass in a pre-season game. The following three years, Freddie played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, catching his first career touchdown in a regular-season game against the Chicago Bears. He continued his professional career with the Arizona Hot Shots of the American Football League and in October of 2019 signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL.
Shawanda George Miller (’99), a native of Lancaster, began her career at North Greenville during the years of the athletic program’s transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. As a dual-sport athlete, Shawanda is among the elite few to have had outstanding careers in volleyball and softball.
As a member of the volleyball and softball teams from 1995-1999, she was named captain during her junior and senior seasons and received the Best Defensive Award for volleyball and Most Consistent Player Award for softball during her junior season. She was named to the Mid-South All-Conference volleyball team in 1998, the Mid-South All-Conference softball team in 1998 and 1999. As a center fielder on the softball team she maintained an outstanding fielding percentage during her career as well as being a leader in several offensive categories, including batting average and stolen bases. The 1999 softball team finished second in the Mid-South Conference and received a bid to the NAIA Region XI playoffs.
Miller’s work ethic and her ability to lead her teammates paved the path for them to be successful on the field and court. She had a special gift to encourage her teammates, which built them up and inspired everyone to put forth their best effort. She will always be remembered for her big infectious smile and the impact that she has on everyone that she meets.
She graduated from North Greenville in 1999 with a business administration degree and received her Master of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College in 2010 and has earned a national credential as a global career development facilitator. As an educator and coach in the Lancaster school district, she has received a coach of the year honor and had numerous players receive honors.
Miller is a member of the United House of Prayer for all People and holds vital positions within the church.
The cost to attend the banquet is $15 per person. To reserve your place, please contact Dana Roark at 864.977.7151 or email dana.roark@ngu.edu.
