MUHLENBERG COUNTY ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025 ANNOUNCED

GREENVILLE – Nine former high school athletes and coaches, and three distinguished teams make up the Class of 2025 set to be inducted this fall into the Muhlenberg County Athletic Hall of Fame. This is the 10th class of the Hall of Fame, which was established in 2016. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 15, beginning at 12 noon at the Second Baptist Church Multi-Ministry Center in Greenville. Tickets will be available to the public at $25 each beginning Oct. 24. The Class of 2025 banner will be raised in the MCHS Gymnasium between games on opening night of the 2025 Farmers Bank & Trust Tip-Off Classic in early December (date TBA). “We are thrilled to honor this wonderful group of individuals and teams that have distinguished themselves in Muhlenberg County’s rich sports history,” said Hall of Fame board member Dean Rowe. “The Class of 2025 is amazing, and we look forward to honoring their accomplishments this November.”

The Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:

INDIVIDUAL INDUCTEES –

• Ronnie Cartwright – A powerful presence in the lane for the Bremen Eagles, Cartwright scored 2,136 pts in his four years of varsity play, including a 25.6 ppg average as a senior in 1973. He scored his career-high of 47 points against Graham in his final season. Cartwright was a 3-time All-District honoree and twice earned Evansville Courier All-West Kentucky and All-State Honorable Mention distinction. He helped lead the Eagles to the 10th District title in 1973 and earned All-RegionTournament honors as Bremen reached the semifinals. Cartwright went on to play collegiately at Campbellsville.

• Todd Franklin – One of the most accomplished coaches in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) history, Franklin has built a stunning 747-184 career record over his 29 years as a head coach. This fall, he begins his 16th season leading the Vincennes University men’s basketball program. Franklin led VU to the 2019 NJCAA Division I National Championship. Franklin was named NJCAA Coach of the Tournament, Spalding NJCAA Coach of the Year, and NABC NJCAA Coach of the Year. In addition, he is a 2018 inductee to the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. A 1985 graduate of Central City High School, Franklin was an outstanding guard, scoring 1,299 points in his career and earning Coal Conference Player of the Year honors.

• Wayne Jernigan – A 1966 graduate of Greenville High School, Wayne Jernigan scored 1,565 points during his three-year varsity career. He averaged double-digit scoring throughout, including a 20.6 ppg average as a senior. Jernigan was a 2-time All-District, All-Region, and All-State Honorable Mention selection. In addition, he was named Evansville Courier All-West Kentucky in 1966. He was part of the Blackhawks’ outstanding 1964 squad that went 31-3.

• McKenzie Johnson – A career .453 hitter with 28 home runs and 133 RBIs for the Lady Mustangs, Johnson was a 2015 Wendy's High School Heisman pick as one of the greatest softball players in Muhlenberg County history. She was a second-team All-State selection as a senior and a three-time All-Region at shortstop. She was a member of the KY East/West All-Star Team and was the All-Area Player of the Year in her senior campaign, in addition to earning All-District Team and Academic honors. The superstar played collegiately for the Division I Evansville Purple Aces where she lettered in each of her four

seasons.

• Rickey Minton – A great two-sport standout in basketball and baseball at Hughes Kirk, the late Rickey Minton scored 2,047 points as a four-year starter for the Tigers. He averaged 21.5 ppg in his senior season of 1975-76. The versatile forward also amassed over 800 rebounds and 600 assists in his career. Minton was a 3-time All-Region, All-District, and All-State Honorable Mention pick. He made the All-3rd Region Tournament Team in 1974 and was named Muhlenberg County Player of the Year in 1975. On the diamond, Minton was 4-time All-District choice and helped the Tigers to the 1973 10th District title. On the mound, his fastball was in the low 90s paired with a knee-buckling curve ball. Minton tallied a batting average of .380 for his career, breaking .400 as a senior. He played collegiately at Oakland City College.

• J.R. Reynolds – A multi-year All-District, All-Region, and All-State Honorable Mention performer at Muhlenberg North, J.R. Reynolds helped lead the Stars to 3rd Region titles in 1998 and 1999. He signed with Southeast Illinois College where he was a 2-time All-Conference and All-Region selection, and a member of the SIC Hall of Fame. He played for two years at Division I Eastern Illinois where he was a two-year starter and All-OVC pick, serving as team captain as a senior. Reynolds is currently the Men’s Associate Head Coach at Southeast Missouri (SEMO) University, having previously coached at Miami (Ohio), Eastern Illinois, Purdue, and SIC.

• Gina Shemwell – A prolific talent at guard for Central City in the mid-1980s, Shemwell carved up opposing defenses whilepouring in a record 2,401 points for the Lady Tide. She was a 4-time All-Conference pick, and a 3-time All District and All-Region selection. In her final two seasons, Shemwell earned All-West Kentucky and All-State Honorable Mention distinction. She averaged double-digits in each of her four seasons was a career-average of 22 ppg.

• Tommy Stovall – The 1964 Muhlenberg County Player of the Year, Stovall averaged 23 ppg as a senior and scored 1,222points in his prep career at Graham. He was a 2-time All-District selection, plus earned Messenger-Inquirer All-Region and Evansville-Courier All-West Kentucky honors in his final season. On the baseball diamond, Stovall was an outstanding pitcher and 1st baseman, earning All-County honors twice and helping the Nighthawks to a regional tournament appearance.

• Dale Todd – The winningest boys' head coach in Muhlenberg Central history, Todd lifted the Spartans to its greatest heights during his tenure. He fashioned a 235-167 mark over his 13 years tenure with 3 District titles and 4 trips to the 3rd Region Tournament, including a Championship Game appearance in the program's final year of 1990. He led his squad to the 1985 All-A Classic State Championship and coached the Spartans baseball team to its first and only 3rd Region title. As a star guard at Drakesboro, Todd scored 1,655 points in his career and was a four-year starter at point guard for NE Alabama State Junior College, Kentucky Wesleyan and Montevallo (AL) – leading the team in assists each season.

TEAM INDUCTEES –

• 1953-54 Central City Golden Tide (Boys Basketball) – Led by seniors Bobby Don Millard, Larry Ray, D.D. Withrow, and Hub Hope, and sophomore Corky Withrow, the Golden Tide carried a perfect 35-0 record into the state tournament. Since then, only four teams have managed to enter the Sweet Sixteen undefeated. They beat Graham 76-62 in the District

championship and dispatched Butler County 79-63 to claim the regional title for coach Delmas Gish. Central City faced Inez in the opening round of the state tournament but shot a frigid 26 percent to fall 72-57. Inez would go on to win the state

championship.

• 1977-78 Drakesboro Cardinals (Boys Basketball) – Considered the greatest team in Drakesboro history, these Cardinals carried a perfect 27-0 record into the 3rd Region Championship game in an epic matchup with the undefeated Apollo Eagles. Drakesboro was coached by the great Robie Harper and featured Eddie Rhodes and Barton Johnson, while the No. 1 ranked Eagles were coached by Wayne Chapman and featured all-staters Jeff Jones and Steve Barker. Apollo won by a deceptive final score of 78-54 in front of a capacity crowd at the Sportscenter but both teams remain highly regarded in 3rd Region lore.

• 1995 Muhlenberg South Suns (Power Lifting) – In only their third year of competing, the Suns won the Class 2A State Championship and finished fourth overall at the 17th annual Kentucky High School Powerlifting Meet held at Central Hardin High School. Team members were Chris Hope, Corky Bard, Senaca Shelton, Fred Hines, Brad Thompson, Myron Bard, Ray Adams, Steve Adams, Jason Whitworth, Clay Watkins, Josh Staples, Chris Tardio, Seth Mefford, Chip Steward, Stuart Rice, John Reid, and Gordon Cisney. The team was coached by Dan Gooch. Myron Bard was also the individual champion in the 185-lb. weight division and Ray Adams was second in the 155-lb. division.