Bishop Alum Carl Payne Tabbed for USA South Hall of Fame

Bishop Alum Carl Payne Tabbed for USA South Hall of Fame

Fayetteville, N.C. - The USA South Athletic Conference is pleased to announce its 2017 Hall of Fame Class, which includes three former student-athletes and one current coach. Among those selected is Bishop alum Carl Payne, one of the most decorated student-athletes in N.C. Wesleyan history!

Carl Payne was a two-time All-American while starring on the N.C. Wesleyan baseball team from 1983 to 1985. As a pitcher, he was named First Team All-Conference three times, All-Region three times and was a part of three consecutive Conference titles. Additionally, he was a member of the 1983 NCAA Division III South Region All-Tournament Team and was named the N.C. Wesleyan Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year in 1984.

At the end of his career as a Battling Bishop, Payne held the program records for career wins (29), complete games (21), innings pitched (305.0), and strikeouts (239), as well as career ERA. All of those statistics remain ranked in the top-five in program history, but his win total of 29 still stands as the school record. Payne's #14 jersey is one of only five to be retired from the sport of baseball at NCWC.

Following his days in Rocky Mount, Payne was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 1985. Finally, Payne was inducted into the N.C. Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and was a member of the USA South's 50th Anniversary Baseball team in 2014.

Averett University and Christopher Newport University are also represented in this year's class. AU golfer Janne Mommo and current vollleyball coach Danny Miller were selected, along with CNU women's basketball standout Chelsea Schweers. The inductees will be officially honored and recognized during a ceremony on the campus of Averett University on Monday, June 12, 2017.

To read more about the USA South Hall of Fame and its 2017 class, please visit www.usasouth.net.