BC Athletics
John Karrs, Director of Athletic Communications
WILSON – Barton College has announced its 2020 induction class for its Athletic Hall of Fame, which includes Dr. Walter Anderson, Kadir Donmez, Estefania “Esty” Flores, John Hackney and Eric McInerny. The induction ceremony and banquet will take place on Friday, October 16, on campus at Hardy Alumni Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. The ceremony will also be streamed live with the induction part starting at approximately 6:45 p.m.
Dr. Anderson (posthumously) was a long-time history professor at the college and was a foreign student advisor. Anderson was instrumental in bringing international students – athletes and non-athletes – to Barton College (then Atlantic Christian College).
Tom Parham, former legendary Bulldogs’ men’s and women’s tennis coach, believes Anderson was instrumental in bringing the school possibly its first foreign-born scholarship athlete in Asad Niaz. From there, the pipeline opened for international athletes to come to the Wilson, N.C., school and over 50 foreign-born players dotted the Bulldogs’ rosters for the 2019-20 school year.
Donmez is a former Barton men’s soccer standout who played on four NAIA District 26 Championship teams (1980-83) and the 1981 Conference Carolinas Championship squad. As a junior, Donmez earned all-league and honorable mention NAIA All-District 26 accolades. Donmez led the Bulldogs to 43 wins over the four-year period and graduated from Atlantic Christian College in 1984 with a degree in chemistry and a minor in mathematics. Donmez was also a member of the Dean’s List and served many years as a faculty member of the University of Cincinnati.
Flores was a standout women’s basketball player for the Bulldogs for four years (2007-10) who led Barton to a combined 84-28 record including two Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championships (2008-09 and 2009-10) and a berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament in 2007.
Flores is a four-time All-Conference Carolinas honoree including a three-time first-team selection and was named the 2008-09 and 2009-10 league player of the year. In addition, Flores was a two-time All-Southeast Region selection and ranks first in steals (289), third in total points (1,769) and assists (388) and fourth in three-pointers made (159) on the school’s career lists.
Flores was drafted No. 1 overall in 2011 by the Carolina Gigantes of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenico (BSNF), a league in Puerto Rico. During her first year, Flores led the Gigantes to the championship and was named league MVP.
Hackney was a long-time Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach (1997-2013) and Sports Information Director (1996-2013) at Barton College. Hackney served as the women’s golf mentor for the program’s first two seasons (2011-12 and 2012-13) and was Head Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach for the Bulldogs (1997-99).
Hackney led the Bulldogs to 14 straight NCAA Division II postseason appearances (2000-13) including four trips to the national championship. Barton finished fifth in the finals in both 2003 and 2011. Hackney also coached 11 All-Americans and Academic All-Americans and three Conference Carolinas Men’s Golfers of the Year. In addition, Hackney was named league coach of the year five times and regional coach of the year on three occasions.
Hackney recently served as Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at California Baptist University (2014-17) and Wingate University (2017-20) and is a 1984 graduate of the University of North Carolina.
McInerny was one of the best players to don a Bulldogs’ baseball uniform in recent memory. A four-year starter, McInerny is the program’s all-time leader in doubles (67), total bases (492) and runs batted in (215) and ranks second all-time in runs scored (194) and total hits (281).
McInerny is a three-time All-Conference Carolinas honoree (2004-06) who led the Bulldogs to the 2016 Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship. McInerny also served as team captain and graduated from Barton in 2006 with a degree in fitness management.