PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern Athletics Department is proud to announce the 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame Class, honoring an outstanding group of former student-athletes and a national championship team whose accomplishments helped shape the proud tradition of Martin Methodist and UT Southern athletics.
The 2026 Hall of Fame Class includes:
- James Justice (Men's Basketball) – Memphis, Tenn.
- 2016 Clay Target Team
- Travis Garcia (Baseball) – Nolensville, Tenn.
- Karen Hargrove (Softball) – Franklin, Tenn.
- Milene Cabral (Women's Soccer) – Porto Alegre, Brazil
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductees, UT Southern Athletics will honor the memory of former softball student-athlete Sydney Watson, whose legacy of service, courage, and sacrifice continues to inspire the Firehawk family.
The Athletic Hall of Fame represents the highest honor bestowed by UT Southern Athletics and recognizes former student-athletes, coaches, and teams whose accomplishments have elevated the University's tradition of excellence.
James Justice | Men's Basketball
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, James Justice earned his place among the program's all-time greats through his scoring ability, athleticism, and impact on the court.
Justice appeared in all 37 games during the 2010-11 season and averaged 15.0 points per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. He elevated his play even further as a senior in 2011-12, averaging 17.1 points per game and finishing the season with 582 points, 73 three-pointers, and a 78.7 percent mark from the free-throw line.
Justice was also a key contributor to the most successful season in program history. During the 2010-11 campaign, he helped lead the RedHawks to a program-record 34-3 overall record and the deepest postseason run ever by Martin Methodist men's basketball, advancing to the NAIA National Championship semifinals. The historic season established the RedHawks as one of the premier programs in the NAIA and remains one of the benchmark achievements in school history.
Over the course of his career, Justice established himself as one of the most prolific players in school history, totaling 1,138 career points, which currently ranks fourth all-time in Martin Methodist/UT Southern history. He also ranks second all-time in career assists with 343 and among the program leaders in steals.
Among his many accomplishments:
- 2011 NAIA First Team All-American
- 2012 NAIA First Team All-American
- 2011 First Team All-TranSouth Athletic Conference
- 2012 First Team All-TranSouth Athletic Conference
- Fourth all-time in career scoring with 1,138 points
- Second all-time in career assists with 343
- Helped lead the 2010-11 team to a 34-3 record and the NAIA National Championship semifinals
- 2012 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships Dark Horse Dunker
Known for his highlight-reel plays, Justice gained national recognition in 2012 when he was selected as the Dark Horse Dunker in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. After advancing through four rounds of nationwide fan voting against NCAA competition, Justice earned the opportunity to compete on ESPN in New Orleans.
A dynamic scorer, fan favorite, and one of the most recognizable athletes of the Martin Methodist era, Justice's contributions on and off the court make him a deserving member of the 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
2016 Clay Target Team
The 2016 Martin Methodist Clay Target Team secured its place among the greatest teams in university history after producing one of the most successful seasons ever by a RedHawk program.
In only the third year of the program's existence, the RedHawks captured the program's first national championship at the ACUI Collegiate Clay Target Championships in San Antonio, Texas, winning the American Skeet National Championship. The team also finished as national runner-up in International Skeet and earned a bronze medal in American Trap.
The historic week featured numerous individual honors. Samantha Smith, Hannah Houston, and Aaron Wilson earned gold medals, while Sydney Carson and Coleman Etekozi captured silver medals and Caleb Lindsey earned bronze. Houston later won a second national championship in Women's International Skeet, while Wilson added a silver medal in American Skeet.
The RedHawks connected on 2,177 targets across six team competitions and finished third in the Division II composite standings during their first season competing at that level. Sophomore Colin King earned the prestigious Championship Sportsman Award, capping one of the finest seasons in Martin Methodist athletics history.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Chad Whittenburg, the team established Martin Methodist as a national contender and achieved one of the most significant milestones in school history.
2016 Clay Target Team Roster
- Sydney Carson
- Mikayla Dickson
- Travis Dickson
- Tyler Drake
- Coleman Etekozi
- Hannah Houston
- Corey Hutto
- Geoffrey Jackson
- Colin King
- CJ Ledford
- Caleb Lindsey
- Justin Osborne
- Billy Dale Polly III
- Phillip Poston
- Trey Seay
- Samantha Smith
- Jared Williams
- Aaron Wilson
Chad Whittenburg – Head Coach
Travis Garcia | Baseball
A standout from Nolensville, Tennessee, Travis Garcia built a legacy defined by excellence both at the plate and on the mound.
During his RedHawk career, Garcia emerged as one of the premier two-way players in program history and helped elevate Martin Methodist baseball to new heights. As a hitter, Garcia compiled a .364 career batting average, recording 106 hits, 56 runs scored, 17 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs, and 71 RBIs in 94 career games. He also posted an outstanding .417 on-base percentage and .588 slugging percentage.
Garcia was equally valuable on the mound, where he finished with a 17-6 career record, 16 complete games, four shutouts, and 158 strikeouts. His versatility, consistency, and leadership made him one of the most impactful players to ever wear a Martin Methodist uniform.
Garcia's outstanding 2011 season earned him recognition as the TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a First Team All-TranSouth Athletic Conference selection. His dominance as both a hitter and pitcher made him one of the most complete players in the conference and one of the premier players in program history.
Following his junior season, Garcia's success earned national recognition when he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 36th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft, becoming just the fourth player drafted in school history and the second during the four-year era of Martin Methodist baseball. He later appeared professionally with both the Arizona Cubs and Boise Hawks organizations.
Among his accomplishments:
- 2011 TranSouth Athletic Conference Player of the Year
- 2011 First Team All-TranSouth Athletic Conference
- Chicago Cubs 36th Round MLB Draft Selection
- .364 career batting average
- 106 career hits
- 71 career RBIs
- 13 career home runs
- 17-6 career pitching record
- 158 career strikeouts
Garcia's accomplishments on the field and his place in program history make him a deserving member of the 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
Karen Hargrove | Softball
A native of Franklin, Tennessee, Karen Hargrove left an unforgettable impact on the RedHawk program through her consistent offensive production and power at the plate.
Over two standout seasons from 2005-06, Hargrove compiled a remarkable .387 career batting average, collecting 127 hits, 92 runs scored, 29 doubles, four triples, 24 home runs, and 116 RBIs across 102 career games. She also posted an impressive .435 on-base percentage and .720 slugging percentage, establishing herself as one of the most feared hitters in program history.
Hargrove delivered one of the greatest offensive seasons ever by a RedHawk in 2005, batting .364 with 15 home runs and 67 RBIs, before following that performance with an even stronger .418 batting average in 2006. Her ability to hit for both average and power helped define an era of Martin Methodist softball and set a standard for future generations.
Her exceptional production was recognized nationally as she earned NAIA Second Team All-America honors, becoming one of the most decorated softball players in program history.
A game-changing presence in the lineup and one of the premier players to ever represent the program, Hargrove's legacy continues to be felt throughout Firehawk softball, making her a deserving member of the 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
Milene Cabral | Women's Soccer
Hailing from Porto Alegre, Brazil, Milene Cabral left an indelible mark on Martin Methodist women's soccer and concluded her career as the all-time leading goal scorer in program history.
A four-year standout from 2015-18, Cabral established herself as one of the most dynamic and prolific offensive players ever to wear the RedHawk uniform. Over 78 career matches, she amassed 130 goals and 39 assists, totaling 299 career points while helping lead the program to sustained success on the conference and national levels.
Cabral made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2015, recording 16 goals and 11 assists before increasing her production to 21 goals in 2016. Her junior season in 2017 stands among the greatest individual campaigns in program and NAIA history, as she scored 53 goals and totaled 117 points. During that season, Cabral set the NAIA single-season record for goals scored with 53, a performance that currently ranks fourth in NAIA history. She closed her remarkable career in 2018 with 40 goals and nine assists, further cementing her place atop the program record book.
Her individual success coincided with one of the most successful four-year stretches in program history. During Cabral's career, the RedHawks compiled a combined record of 69-10-7, including marks of 15-5 in 2015, 14-3-3 in 2016, 21-1-2 in 2017, and 19-1-2 in 2018.
The RedHawks reached the NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals in 2015 and 2017, while also advancing to the NAIA National Championship Second Round in 2016 and 2018. Cabral played a pivotal role in establishing Martin Methodist as one of the NAIA's premier women's soccer programs and helped lead the RedHawks to national prominence throughout her career.
Among her many accomplishments:
- Martin Methodist all-time leading goal scorer with 130 career goals
- 39 career assists
- 299 career points
- 290 shots on goal
- 28 game-winning goals
- 15-time SSAC Offensive Player of the Week
- 2018 SSAC Offensive Player of the Year
- 2017 SSAC Player of the Year
- 2017 SSAC Offensive Player of the Year
- 2015, 2017, and 2018 SSAC Golden Boot Award winner
- Four-time First Team All-SSAC selection (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- 2015 SSAC All-Freshman Team
- 2017 and 2018 SSAC Tournament MVP
- 2017 and 2018 SSAC All-Tournament Team
- 2016 NAIA Second Team All-America selection
- 2017 NAIA First Team All-America selection
- 2018 NAIA First Team All-America selection
- Four NAIA National Championship appearances
- Two NAIA National Championship Quarterfinal appearances
- Part of teams that compiled a 69-10-7 record
Known for her elite finishing ability, consistency, and knack for delivering in the biggest moments, Cabral's record-setting career, national accolades, championship performances, and lasting impact on Firehawk soccer make her a deserving member of the 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
Special Recognition: Sydney Watson
The University of Tennessee Southern Athletics Department will also honor the memory of former softball student-athlete Sydney Watson, whose life exemplified selflessness, service, and courage.
Watson, a native of Corner, Alabama, was a member of the Martin Methodist softball program from 2017-19 and pitched for the RedHawks during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. During her collegiate career, she appeared in 18 games, logging more than 35 innings in the circle while earning her first collegiate victory as a sophomore.
Following graduation, Watson dedicated her life to public service as a firefighter and was most recently assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack Crew.
It is with deep sadness that UT Southern remembers Watson as one of three firefighters who lost their lives while responding to wildfires in Colorado.
A quiet, composed leader, Sydney's life will be remembered by the meaningful mark she left on our program and in our hearts. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Sydney's family, friends, former teammates, coaches, and loved ones during this difficult time and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
We will remember Sydney with gratitude, honor her sacrifice, and never forget the example of courage she leaves behind so that others may live.
This year's Hall of Fame celebration will include a special moment of remembrance recognizing Watson's contributions to UT Southern Athletics and her heroic service to others.
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The 2026 UT Southern Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place as part of the university's Homecoming festivities.
The award dinner will be held Friday, Oct. 23, at the Pulaski Mule Co. Event Center (114 E. Jefferson St.). A reception will be held from 5-6 p.m., with dinner and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony beginning at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10 per person, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting UT Southern Alumni Programs.
The registration deadline for the event is Sept. 30. Additional information and registration details are available through the UT Southern Alumni Office at https://alumni.utsouthern.edu/events/.
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