During the UT Martin versus Tennessee State University (TSU) football game Saturday evening, there was an honorary service conducted for former student athletes who had attended and represented UT Martin.
The service welcomed five former college athletes into the UT Martin Hall of Fame. The service included the athletes walking the football field during a break between the second quarter of the game and being given an honorary mention of their sport and impact on campus and beyond; a special award was handed to the person or someone closely related to the athlete.
The first athlete to walk the field was former UT Martin golfer Brendon Caballero. Hailing from Brentwood, Tennessee, he was on UT Martin’s golf team from 2011 to 2015. Caballero led the Skyhawks in scoring all four years of his career and was the first student from UT Martin to win an Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) individual championship. He was a three-time all-OVC selection who finished in the top 10 in half of his 46 career college tournaments.
Next was three-time all-OVC athlete for the Skyhawks softball team Carly Gonzales from Anaheim, California. Gonzales was a part of the softball team from 2014 to 2017 and ranks in the top five athletes in eight separate categories, including batting average, hits, runs, doubles and walks. Gonzales, who was a left-handed hitting outfielder, still holds seven single-season and game records, including three home runs in a single game in 2015.
The third inductee was Memphis native and UT Martin baseball record holder Wes Patterson. The first baseman is the program’s all-time leader with 38 career home runs and 171 RBI’s. Patterson also ranks in the top 5 in doubles and runs scores, walks and hits. His 64 RBI’s in 2021 remain a UT Martin single-season record, which sealed his legacy and four year career at UT Martin.
UT Martin’s fourth hall of famer was the late Oscar Bunch from Vossburg, Mississippi. Bunch was a 2-year standout tight end for the university football team in the early 90’s. Bunch earned an All-American honors award in 1991, leading the then UT Martin Pacers in catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He finished his career with 69 catches for 1,260 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bunch passed away in 2021 at the age of 52, and his family was welcomed onto the field to represent him and receive his Hall of Fame award on his behalf.
The final former athlete to be inducted into the UT Martin Hall of Fame was dominant offensive lineman Alex Atkins. He played for UT Martin’s football team from 2003 to 2006. Alex Atkins was an All-American and two-time OVC selection, finishing his career by leading the team to a 9-3 record and the program’s first-ever OVC championship and FCS playoff berth in 2006. After graduating, the Chicago native was named to the inaugural United States National Team. Atkins helped Team USA win the World Cup of American football. He currently serves as the offensive coordinator for Florida State University.
After each inductee was welcomed into the UT Martin Hall of Fame, the game resumed as usual with a special celebration made to the new members who have forever left their marks on UT Martin athletics.
