The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Department and the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs announced the inductees to the Class of 2020 UTC Athletics Hall of Fame today. Four new members were chosen, along with the four special award winners.
The 2020 Class includes conference champions, All-Americans, NCAA record holders and all-time greats at UTC. Men's basketball standout Derrick Kirce (1990-91) leads an outstanding group that includes volleyball's Lara Newberry (2005-08), football's Ronnie Powe (1976-79) and wrestling's Cary Waller (1979-83).
The Hall of Fame Award Winners are Movita Steiner (Gordon Davenport Award), Henry Dickerson (Joe Morrison Award), Lakelyn Bouldin (Scrappy Moore Award) and Dr.
Debbie Ingram (Harold Wilkes Award).
The inductees and award winners will be honored at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Feb. 29, in the University Center's Tennessee Room. The banquet is open to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are required.
The cost is $50.00 per person, which includes dinner. Submit payments and RSVP's to the UTC Office of Alumni Affairs at (423) 425-4785. For more information, email Jayne-Holder@utc.edu.
Former Southern Conference Women's Golfer of the Year Emma de Groot will also be among those honored at this year's banquet. She was inducted as part of the 2019 class, but travel from her native of Australia made it difficult for her to attend last year's ceremonies.
The UTC Athletics Hall of Fame was established to formally recognize outstanding contributions to the heritage and tradition of the University's intercollegiate athletics program. A total of 224 individuals have been inducted into the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame during special ceremonies held each year.
Below is a brief biography on each member of the 2020 class. Be sure to check back with GoMocs.com over the next few weeks for a more in-depth look at each inductee, as well as photos from their days at Chattanooga.
Derrick Kirce – Men's Basketball – 1990-91
Kirce was a two-time All-Southern Conference performer for the Mocs from 1990-91. His 1,113 career points are the second-most scored in a two-year period at UTC. He is the fastest in school history to 1,000 points, hitting that mark in just 45 games. His career 19.5 ppg average is the highest in school history and his 20.2 ppg in 1989-90 is the second-highest single-season average at Chattanooga.
Lara Newberry - Volleyball - 2005-08
The NCAA career digs record holder and two-time National Libero of the Year, Lara Newberry is arguably the greatest defensive specialist to don a Mocs uniform. During her four-year career, she collected 3,176 digs, and led the NCAA with a single-season record 942 in 2007. A three-time All-SoCon selection, Newberry twice led the nation in digs per set. She was recognized as the 2005 SoCon Freshman of the Year, and owns the UTC single-match digs record with 51 against Wofford in 2008.
Ronnie Powe – Football – 1976-79
Powe was an All-American defensive tackle for the Mocs from 1976-79. He led the team in tackles as a freshman in 1976, earning honorable mention All-American honors from the Associated Press. He was was second on the team in tackles as a sophomore in 1977. During his career, he was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week and also made the All-SoCon team. The Mocs posted a 25-6-2 mark in his four years and won or shared three Southern Conference titles.
Cary Waller – Wrestling - 1979-83
Waller was a three-time Southern Conference Champion for the Mocs. He won league titles in 1979 (142), 1981 (150) and 1983 (150). He qualified for the NCAAs each of those years, helping the Mocs to a school-record 14th place finish in 1983.
Special Award Winners
The A.C. "Scrappy" Moore Award is presented annually to a current UTC student-athlete who best personifies the athletic department's mission of equipping for success, in the classroom, in competition and in the community. Lakelyn Bouldin, a senior member of the Mocs women's basketball program, is this year's recipient. Bouldin is a four-year letter winner and Academic All-SoCon honoree with a 3.46 GPA as a Biology major. She is one of the top three-point shooters in school history and a two-time member of the All-SoCon team.
The Gordon Davenport Award is given annually by the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame to the individual who has shown outstanding commitment to the Chattanooga Mocs athletics program. Ms. Movita Steiner has a particular passion for supporting women's basketball, with an endowed scholarship that was established in memory of her late husband Jack Steiner. As owner of Ruby Falls, Ms. Steiner supports UTC student-athletes through the Mocs Club and other athletic department initiatives.
The Joe Morrison Award is given annually by the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame to a former student-athlete or coach for notable accomplishments and life experiences. Former men's basketball coach Henry Dickerson retired following a long career in college basketball that included head coaching stints with the Mocs and North Carolina Central University.
The Harold Wilkes Award was established to recognize a volunteer, coach, staff member or University administrator who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in furthering the Vision of Chattanooga Athletics – to achieve excellence. Dr. Debbie Ingram is retiring from UTC after 30+ years of service to the University, including the last eight years as the Mocs Faculty Athletics Representative.