JACKSON, Tenn. - Union University has announced six new inductees to the Union Sports Hall of Fame. Ron Baker, Lynde Capogreco, Mario Cobo, David Gray, Karen McWherter, and Wilfredo 'Cano' Velez will each be inducted at the 2019 Union Sports Hall of Fame Banquet, held Friday, April 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the Carl Grant Events Center on campus.
To reserve tickets for the 2019 Union Sports Hall of Fame banquet, please visit
www.uuathletics.com/hofpay. For more information on the Union Sports Hall of Fame and to nominate deserving individuals and/or teams, visit
www.uuathletics.com/hof.
Below is a bio for each of the six inductees.
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Ron Baker, '66 (Cross Country, Track)
Dr. Ron Baker is a 1966 graduate of Union University where he played three varsity sports including cross country, track, and golf.
Baker was a Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) individual champion in track in the 880 in 1964 with a time of 1:58. It was a school, conference, and track record at the time. He was also fourth in the mile race at the VSAC Championships. He was a member of three VSAC Championship teams and one TIAC Championship team.
In cross country, Baker posted numerous top-10 finishes including leading Union to a win at Memphis State in 1962. He posted three top-3 finishes in the VSAC Championships including first in 1963 while setting a course record. Baker was second in the VSAC in 1964 and third in 1962. Baker also led Union to three runner-up finishes in the VSAC. He ran top-3 on the team in 1963 and top-5 in 1964. By the end of 1964, Baker had moved to the No. 1 spot on Union's team.
Since graduating from Union in 1966, Baker earned a Master of Divinity in 1971 from Southwestern Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in 1985 from Midwestern Seminary.
Baker stayed active in sports. He was president of two youth organizations in Fulton, Missouri including the Babe Ruth League and Kid's Wrestling Club. He participated in the Missouri Show-Me Games two years, finishing second and third in the 1500 meters in the two years. He also finished second in a local 5K race in his age group.
In addition to his success in sports, Baker has also been a church pastor since 1965. He is a member of the Trustee Board at the Missouri Baptist Children's Home and participated in "Bold Mission Taiwan" Revival Crusade in 1985.
The graduate of Poplar Bluff High School in Missouri, now resides in Fulton. He is married to Donna Clark Baker, also a Union graduate. Baker's two sons, Lance and Brandon, also attended Union.
Lynde Capogreco, '99 (Softball)
Lynde Capogreco was a four year starter for the Union softball team, graduating in 1999. She played as a freshman for the inaugural team in 1995 and her sophomore season for the late Dan Patterson. She then played her last two years for Union Sports Hall of Fame 2018 inductee, Coach Brian Dunn.
Capogreco led the NAIA in strikeouts per seven innings as a junior with 9.78 and senior with 12.0. She was top-2 in the NAIA with her .70 ERA as a junior and .87 ERA as a senior.
Because of her play on the field, Capogreco led Union to its first ever NAIA Top-10 national ranking and a first ever NCCAA National No. 1 ranking. Union also set a school record with 51 wins in a season, marking Union's first ever 50-win season.
Capogreco's record setting career numbers include 109 appearances, 675.2 career innings pitched, 72 wins, 33 losses, 1.34 ERA, 960 strikeouts and only 176 walks. She struck out over 250 batters in a year three times, including 360 strikeouts as a senior.
Capogreco set most every Union pitching record during her time as a Lady Bulldogs. She still holds records for strikeouts per seven innings at 12/game. She is ranked in Union history in several categories including most career wins (3rd at 72), career ERA (3rd at 1.34), most strikeouts in a game (2nd with 16), most strikeouts in a season (2nd with 360), strikeouts in a career (3rd with 960), and most innings pitched (4th at 675.2).
Postseason honors for Capogreco include NAIA All-American twice, NAIA Scholar Athlete three times, region pitcher of the year twice, conference pitcher of the year three times, and all-conference four times.
Lynde lives in Clarksville, Tennessee with her husband, John Cloar. She works as a medical physicist at TriStar Skyline hospital in Nashville.
Mario Cobo, '99 (Men's Tennis)
Mario Cobo played four years for the Union men's tennis team during the most successful era in program history from 1998-2001. He played two seasons of tennis as an undergraduate and then two seasons of tennis as a graduate student. Cobo earned a BS in Business Administration in 1999 from Union, then his MBA from Union in 2001.
Cobo posted a career singles record of 84-24 and a career doubles record of 68-21. He was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in both singles and doubles. Cobo was a four-time NAIA All-American.
In 1999, Cobo won the TranSouth Conference Tournament individual title after helping lead his team to the TranSouth Regular Season title. He also led his team to the TranSouth Regular Season title in 2000. Then in 2001, Cobo led Union to the TranSouth Regular Season, TranSouth Tournament, and NAIA Region XI titles, earning several individual titles along the way.
Cobo was a four-time member of the TranSouth first team All-Conference and all-region teams. He led Union to four straight NAIA National Tournaments, finishing the season ranked in the top-10 nationally three times.
After his playing career, he spent time as an assistant coach for the Union tennis program. He also worked as a tennis professional in several places before returning to Union in 2005 to work at the Jackson Country Club. He then accepted a job at Union as the Director of Residence Life. He was one of the first Union staff members to begin searching for students in the aftermath of the 2008 tornado.
Cobo has received numerous certifications from the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), holding its highest rating of a professional. He also holds other certificates and ratings from USPTA and PPR. In 2013, he finished 13th in the world in team competition representing Ecuador.
Cobo is married to Rebecca Smith, a 2001 graduate of Union. They have five children. He is currently working in Florida as the Director of Racquet Sports at Mariner Sands Country Club. He is also an avid runner, inspired by his college coach, Gary Johnson. Cobo became a Christian during his first year at Union.
Dave Gray, '68 (Men's Basketball)
Dave Gray attended Union from 1964-68 and played in every basketball game of his career with the Bulldogs. In addition to his basketball career, he also played golf and ran track while at Union.
In 1967, Gray set two shooting records at Union. His .660 field goal percentage record stood for 27 years and was the third best percentage in the nation that season. He also shot a school record .868 from the free throw line, which was eighth best in the nation that season. He currently ranks second in Union history in FG%, fourth in FT%,
Gray was a member and co-captain of the 1967-68 Union Sports Hall of Fame team that was inducted in 2007.
In 1967-68 season, Gray averaged 12 points per game in helping lead his team to a runner-up finish in the NCAA D2 South Region Tournament, being edged by eventual Division II national champion, Kentucky Wesleyan.
Gray played for Union Sports Hall of Fame 2018 inductee, Coach Bill Henry. Several of his teammates from that season have also been inducted. In a Jackson Sun article following the 1967-68 regular season, Coach Henry tagged Gray with the name 'Dependable Dave' because as Coach Henry was quoted as saying, "that is just what he has been for the past four years. He always does a real fine job for us."
After graduating Union with a BS degree in Secondary Education, Gray taught physical education/health at Norris City-Omaha-Enfield High School in Norris City, Illinois for 33 years. He also coached basketball, track, and cross country in addition to holding the position of athletic director during his career. In the last 10 years of career, he held the position of NCOE Dean of Students.
In 2001, Gray was selected to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. He won more than 400 games including a third place finish in the 1990 Illinois State Tournament.
Gray was married to his high school sweetheart, Joyce, in 1966 while at Union. They have two children, Melissa and Clay, and six grandchildren. His son Clay is a member of Union's 1,000 point club in men's basketball. Since retiring, Gray, enjoys traveling, golf, and fishing.
Karen McWherter, '81 (Women's Tennis)
Karen McWherter played four years on the women's tennis team at Union. This includes the program's inaugural season of 1977-78. As a senior in 1980-81, McWherter received the program's first full scholarship in tennis.
McWherter was the first Union women's tennis participant in the Volunteer State Athletic Conference (VSAC) Tournament. She also helped lead her team to the VSAC Western Division title in 1981, qualifying Union for the first NAIA National Tournament. McWherter led Union women's tennis to an 11th place finish of 24 teams in the national tournament.
McWherter earned the team MVP Award in each of the first three seasons it was awarded (1979, '80, and '81).
In the VSAC Tournament, McWherter advanced to the finals three years, earning selections to the All-VSAC team in 1979, '80, and '81.
McWherter posted a career singles record of 51-17 and a career doubles record of 49-16.
Since graduating in 1981, McWherter has been working at Union University in the Institutional Technology (IT) Department. In 1998-99, she was selected as the Union Staff Member of the Year.
McWherter has remained active in the sport she loves. She has won many local competitive tennis tournaments. In 1984, McWherter won the Roberts/Muse Cup, which is the Jackson City Tournament Championship.
McWherter continues to play tennis in the United State Tennis Association (USTA) Leagues where her teams have won several state championships.
While at Union, McWherter played three years for Coach Bill Truex and one year for Union Sports Hall of Fame, 2016 inductee, Coach Peggy Birmingham.
Wilfredo 'Cano' Velez, '88 (Baseball)
Wilfredo 'Cano' Velez played two years of baseball at Union, including 1987 and 1988. He was named at NAIA All-American in both seasons.
Over his two years at Union, he set a record for 14 consecutive victories, a record that still stands today. In 1988, he posted a record of 10-1. He currently ranks third in Union history with a .909 season winning percentage.
While at Union, Velez was a two time all-conference pitcher. He played for Coach Bill Green posting a record of 26-17 overall (12-4 TCAC) in 1987 and a record of 44-14 overall (25-6 TCAC) in 1988. Velez led Union to Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference (TCAC) titles in both 1987 and 1988.
Currently, his 1988 team is one of only seven Union teams to reach 40 wins in a season. The 44 wins in 1988 is tied for second most all-time.
While in college, Velez played in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1987. He posted a 3-0 record with a 0.86 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 20 innings. He tied Chris Carpenter and Joe Slusarski for the tournament lead in wins, was third in ERA behind Jim Abbott and Jose Ortiz, and led the tournament in strikeouts.
Velez moved on after college to play in numerous international events. In 1988, he was 1-0 for his Puerto Rico team in the Baseball World Cup. He posted a 2.81 ERA and led his team with 16 strikeouts. That same year, he led Puerto Rico to a third place (Bronze) finish in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea.
In the 1991 Pan American Games in Cuba, he defeated Team USA 7-1, leading Puerto Rico to a Silver Medal, finishing behind powerhouse Cuba. He was 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA, record 15 strikeouts in 13 innings.
Velez is a member of the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame, the Immortals of Baseball Hall of Fame, the Caguas Sports Hall of Fame, and the Yobucoa Sports Hall of Fame.
Velez is married to Delia Enid Diaz and lives in Caguas, Puerto Rico. They have two children, Vivian and Bryan.
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