The 2018 ABAC Athletics Hall of Fame inductees were, from left, Andy Vaughn, Chuck DeVane, Luis Paredes, Jorge Novoa, Teresa Cromer Walker, Jenni Collins Smith and the 1982 Stallions basketball team.

TIFTON — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Athletics Hall of Fame expanded Friday evening by six individuals and one team.

Ceremonies at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture enshrined Jenni Collins Smith, Teresa Cromer Walker, Chuck DeVane, Jorge Novoa, Luis Paredes and Andy Vaughn for individual achievements and the 1982 Stallions basketball team for winning the state championship.

Before the inductions began, 2017 Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Craig Sowell gave an invocation and ABAC President Dr. David Bridges delivered opening remarks. ABAC athletic director Alan Kramer and Director of Public Relations emeritus Mike Chason took turns introducing each new Hall of Fame member.

Walker was the first to be inducted. A two-time National Junior College Athletic Association All-American, Walker was additionally a member of two state championship teams with the Fillies. The 1995 squad won the NJCAA national title.

Walker thanked her mother during her speech.

“She’s the one who encouraged me,” said Walker. She also had plenty of praise for Vic and Ellen Vickers. “I appreciate all of his efforts,” she said of Vic Vickers.

DeVane came to ABAC after starring at Lowndes High as a quarterback and a baseball player. With the Stallions, he hit .428 and .409 in consecutive seasons and followed it with a .433 year at Valdosta State. DeVane brought that magic bat with him from his home in Arkansas and Chason encouraged current Stallions players to rub it and see if transferred any of its powers.

In his speech, DeVane said he was bitter when he first arrived at ABAC.

“Coach (Tom) Moody could have and should have cut me that fall,” he said. Instead, Moody inspired him to do more. Currently a minister, DeVane said, “None of that would have been possible if Coach Moody had written me off.”

“God bless you, Coach Moody.”

It was fitting that former tennis coach Kramer introduced Novoa, a staple of the tennis program for nearly 50 years. Since arriving to America and ABAC in 1970, Novoa has assisted the tennis teams and has been a major asset for the school’s success in the sport.

“This is a great honor,” said Novoa. He said being around tennis at ABAC had benefitted him greatly as well. “I want to thank the coaches who let me hang around the tennis courts.”

Smith averaged 19 points per game in both of her basketball seasons with the Fillies and had a game high of 44 points in a contest against Brewton-Parker. From Tifton, she went to Georgia Southwestern and became a state championship-winning basketball coach at Westwood school in Camilla.

Smith said she was thrilled to be “recognized for something you absolutely love to do.”

“Basketball has been a huge part of my life,” she said. Smith even met her husband, Tim, at Georgia Southwestern’s gym. She encouraged student and faculty support of athletics at ABAC, remembering that in her days with the Fillies, “Everybody hated to come to Gressette Gymnasium” because of the fans.

Kramer also inducted Paredes, another tennis player. Paredes lived in Tifton as a teen before returning to play for the Stallions. After his tennis days, he spent time as Director of Tourism in Panama and is CEO of AEH Group S.A./Aeroexpress.

Paredes credited his time at ABAC as building the foundation for his life. He described Tifton as “my other home.”

Describing tennis coach Norman “Red” Hill’s ability to get the most from his athletes, Paredes said Hill “could make a donkey win the Kentucky Derby with a 200-pound jockey.” He said he loved ABAC and Tifton because they are “a place of building bridges, not walls.”

Vaughn was twice named All-American as a golfer at ABAC and was tied for first in the 1982 national tournament with nine holes to play. He ultimately finished in the top 10. Vaughn continued his golf career at Troy State (Ala.) where he was sixth and third in national tournaments there.

“My life’s been blessed,” said Vaughn. He recognized all of his teammates and their nicknames and thanked his family for their support.

“Focus on the memories in your life,” Vaughn said, “the good memories.”

Chason had special memories of the 1982 Stallions basketball team. Clips were played from his radio call of the state championship as well as from the first round of the national tournament, where they were defeated by Miami-Dade (Fla.).

“What a game it was,” said Chason of the 1982 state title game, where they defeated Gainesville Junior College, 67-66. Team members in attendance joked with Chason that he did not have to play the tape from the national tournament.

When asked about all the games he had seen and the radio calls he had made over the years, Chason said he always responded that the state finals, “March 6, 1982, is my most lasting memory.”

Eugene London spoke for the team.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” he said. “(Head coach) Donnie Veal pulled us together. We became a family.” London said the common thread for the team “has been our faith in Jesus Christ.”

After the ceremony, the inductees went to the new “Glory Days” exhibit of ABAC sports memorabilia that has been set up at the Museum of Agriculture.