Transylvania University will honor its 2023 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees during a banquet Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Campus Center.
This year’s inductees include the 2011-13 men’s golf teams (both squads finished second in the nation), All-American swimmer Melinda (Clyde) Greenwood ’04 and coach Jack G. “Jay” Lucas Jr. ’83.
“These inductees exemplify how Pioneers of the past have not only helped us build the successful programs we have today, but have also made positive impacts in the community,” said Vice President of Athletics Holly Sheilley. “We’re grateful for their contributions to Transylvania Athletics and celebrate their amazing achievements.”
Sheilley and Assistant Athletics Director Kevin Calhoun will present the awards, and President Brien Lewis will kick off Saturday’s ceremony with a welcome message. The registration deadline has passed for the event.
2023 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees
2011-13 golf teams
The Transylvania men’s golf teams of 2011-12 and 2012-13 were back-to-back national powerhouses, establishing a tradition of success that continues today — this year’s team won its 15th conference title in 16 years.
The 2011-12 national runners-up notched their best showing in six previous tournament appearances. After the strong finish, coach Brian Lane was optimistic. “This performance is a great confidence-builder heading into next season,” he said at the time.
His team certainly played with confidence during 2012-13. The Pioneers had a two-stroke lead over Texas Tyler heading into the final round of the NCAA championship, but came up just shy of a national crown.
Members of these teams are still making an impact in the golf world. Justin Tereshko ’12, for example, is head coach of the Eastern Kentucky University men’s team — and he recently won the Kentucky Amateur Championship and qualified for the 123rd U.S. Amateur.
Individual golfers
Blake Atkinson ’13
Colin Bussell ’13
Hunter Cloud ’16
James Dawson ’12
Ben Fister ’15
Hunter Frazier ’13
Casey Gilligan ’16
Eli Glass ’12
Nicholas Hall ’13
Jacob Hamilton ’16
Clay Hinton ’14
Darrin Laswell ’16
Jantzen Latham ’14
Michael Martin ’15
Nicholas McCarthy ’16
Jeffrey Meade ’16
Stephen Montgomery ’13
Evan Shelley ’16
Logan Specht ’16
Justin Tereshko ’12
Harry Watts ’13
Melinda (Clyde) Greenwood ’04
One of the most celebrated swimmers in school history, Greenwood was named an All-American her junior and senior years and Pioneer Athlete of the Year in 2004. Her successes include setting school backstroke records and finishing national runner-up in the 200 backstroke at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship. During both years of competition, she finished in the NAIA tournament’s top five in the 100 and 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle.
Greenwood later earned a master’s degree in gifted and talented education and now oversees gifted programs for Cincinnati-area school districts.
Jack G. “Jay” Lucas Jr. ’83
Lucas, who was an assistant under legendary coach Don Lane at Transylvania, went on to lead Woodford County middle and high school girl’s basketball squads as well as the boys baseball team.
Now an assistant coach for the Midway University women’s basketball team, Lucas has amassed an impressive list of achievements over the past four decades. The 30th all-time winningest coach in Kentucky history, he led the Yellow Jackets high school squad to nine district championships and was named 2005 Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.
Lucas’ baseball teams earned a 410-282 record over 28 years, winning five district championships along the way. He was inducted into the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.