JACKSON, Tenn. – Union University Athletics has announced five new members to be inducted into the Union Sports Hall of Fame. The 2025 Union Sports Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Grant Events Center on Union’s campus. The five new members include Janey Berends (women’s cross country), Barry Bishop (baseball), Lavanda Ross (women’s basketball), Rick Rudesill (men’s basketball), and Jeff Wyatt (baseball).
To purchase tickets for the hall of fame banquet, visit uuathletics.com/hofpay. Tickets this year are $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at the provided link with a credit card, or by calling Teresa Thomas at 731-661-5325. Tickets can also be reserved by bringing a check or cash to the athletics office.
Below is a list of a few highlights for each inductee. More information will be posted closer to the banquet.
Janey Berends (women’s cross country, 2014-17)
Berends is the first women’s cross country runner in the Hall of Fame. She is a four-time All-GSC (3 first-team, one second-team), four-time all-region, and four-time GSC All-Academic. Berends helped the women’s cross country team win the first-ever GSC Championship after joining the league. She was also a recipient of the prestigious Fullbright Scholarship.
Barry Bishop (baseball, early 1980’s)
Bishop was a member of 1983 teams that finished third in NAIA World Series (that team is in the HOF). He has the tenth-highest BA in a season .412, is tied for first with three home runs in a game, fifth most home runs in a season, third most home runs in a career (36), most RBI in a season (82), third most RBI in a career (202).
Lavanda Ross (women’s basketball, 2008-12)
Ross was named NAIA National Player of the Year in 2012, was a three-time All-American, a three-time all-conference, the conference player of the year, freshman of the year, and newcomer of the year. Ross is eighth on Union’s all-time scoring list with 2,022 points.
Rick Rudesill (men’s basketball, 1985-89)
Rudesill scored 1,508 career points during his career at Union, which is currently 18th all-time. He played from 1985-89, and at the time set the record for most 3-pointers in a season (94), career three-pointers (220), and career three-point percentage (.414). He averaged 14.5 points per game in 88-89. His dad (Dan) is also a member of the Union Sports HOF in men’s basketball. Both are top 20 all-time scorers at Union.
Jeff Wyatt (baseball, early 2000’s)
Wyatt was named an NAIA All-American, all-region, region player of the year, two-time all-conference, and conference player of the year. He is third-best in Union’s all-time career batting average (.387), holds the record for most hits in a season (89), most hits in a career (316), third and fourth-best home runs in a season (17 and 15), second most home runs in a career (46), most doubles in a season (26), second most doubles in a career (68). third and fourth most RBI in a season (78 twice), and most RBI in a career (249)
