Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame: 2021-22 Induction Class Announced

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community are proud to announce the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame 2021-22 induction class. The class also includes Barbara Trautwein, the recipient of the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Hall of Fame inductees includes four-time All-American and two-time ACC Champion in the heptathlon, Trina Brindel; two-sport letter winner in baseball and basketball, Alton "Tunney'' Brooks; three-time All-American and 11-year MLS professional, Sam Cronin; Arnold Palmer Award recipient and three-year NFL veteran, Mike Elkins; former All-American and ACC record holder for career interceptions, Alphonso Smith; and the class includes the first four-time All-ACC selection in Wake Forest women's soccer history, Emily Taggart.

The six new inductees bring the total number of members in the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame to 184 and this spring will mark the 48th Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame induction class.

Additionally, Barbara Trautwein will receive the Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award. Trautwein served in the Wake Forest music department from 1985-2005. Today, she is an advisor to the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black.

"These seven legendary Demon Deacons embody the Pro Humanitate spirit of Wake Forest University and Athletics is excited to celebrate their legacies here in Winston-Salem this spring," director of athletics John Currie said. "All seven individuals impacted Wake Forest in immeasurable ways with many competition accolades and accomplishments in their respective sports, and they are leaders within their local communities. I am amazed by the quality of candidates and the level of detail that goes into this highly competitive selection process led by our Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Peter Brubaker and our Hall of Fame Committee."

"We are excited to celebrate this year's diverse group and welcome them into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame," said Dr. Peter Brubaker, Wake Forest Faculty Athletics Representative and Chair of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee. "Each of these inductees has made a lasting impact on Wake Forest Athletics and our University community. I would like to thank our entire committee for their hard work during this process and we look forward to welcoming these individuals back to Winston-Salem for a special induction weekend this spring."

During their Wake Forest careers, this incredible group of Demon Deacons featured 13 All-America selections, 10 First Team All-ACC honorees, combined 18 years of professional experience, and multiple broken school records. It is safe to say this year's Hall of Fame Class is one of most decorated classes in the school's history.

2021-22 Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Trina Bindel

Held nine school records while competing for the Deacon women's track team in the mid-1990s.
Still holds school records in high jump and heptathlon.
Holds the school indoor and outdoor records in the high jump.
Ranked in the top three all-time at Wake Forest in the long jump, 100-meter hurdles and javelin.
Won All-American honors in 1993, 1995 and 1996 in the heptathlon, and was All-American in 1995 for the indoor high jump.
Named All-ACC four times.
Two-time ACC outdoor track heptathlon champion.

Alton "Tunney" Brooks

Baseball, 1949-52 (also a member of the basketball team).
Native of Wilson, NC (Coon High).
Wake Forest catcher.
Hit .243 for his career with 2 home runs and 43 RBIs.
Best offensive season was 1951 when he hit .333 (8-24).
Was slated to be Wake Forest's starting catcher in 1951 when the team represented the USA at the Pan American Games.
Broke his thumb in the opening game of the tournament and missed several weeks of the regular season.
Second-leading scorer on the 1951-52 basketball team at 11.6 points per game behind only Dickie Hemric.
Scored 789 points in his 3-year varsity career.
Wake Forest baseball and basketball captain in 1952.
Went on to a successful high school coaching career including stops at Edenton Holmes and Lumberton.
Coached football, basketball and baseball at Edenton Holmes from 1953-58.
Won football state championships in 1954, 1956, 1957.
Coached football, basketball and baseball at Lumberton High from 1960-1989.
Went 73-39 in football and won eight consecutive conference championships from 1962-69.
Won four conference championships in basketball and was twice named state coach of the year.
Also served as Athletics Director at Lumberton for 30 years where the football stadium bears his name.
Inducted into the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
Named to the North Carolina Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 2005.

Sam Cronin

Led the Demon Deacons to three-straight College Cup appearances, including their first national title in 2007.
As a senior, finished in the top-three for the MAC Hermann Trophy for the National Player of the Year.
Senior CLASS Award winner, 2008.
Holds Wake Forest record for games played and games started (98).
First team All-ACC (2007, 2008).
NSCAA All-American (2008).
NSCAA second team All-American (2007).
Soccer America First Team MVP (2007).
All-South Region (2006-2008).
ACC All-Tournament team (2006, 2007).
ACC All-Academic team (2006).
All-ACC Freshman team (2005).
Finished his Wake Forest career with 17 goals, 19 assists, 53 points and four game-winning goals.
Ranks 19th in school history in points, 22nd in goals and 19th in assists.
School record 98 games started.
Selected second overall by Toronto F.C. in the 2008 MLS Draft.
In 2009, he was called up to the United States National Team and he earned two caps in the Gold Cup against Haiti and Mexico.
In 2010, signed with the San Jose Earthquakes, where he played until 2015 when he joined the Colorado Rapids.
2012 San Jose Earthquakes team MVP.
11-year MLS pro.
2015 MLS All-Star (Colorado Rapids).

Mike Elkins

At the conclusion of his career in 1988, Elkins ranked first in Wake Forest history in total offense (7,170 yards) and passing
yards (7,304), and second in pass completions (609) and touchdown passes (43).
Elkins' 19 wins as a starting quarterback ranks second in program history to just Riley Skinner (25).
Earned Second Team All-ACC honors in 1988 as he threw for 2,205 yards, 14 touchdowns and completed 58.9 percent of his
passes.
Following his senior season, Elkins was named the Arnold Palmer Award recipient.
Still remains ranked in the top 10 of 17 offensive categories in Wake Forest history.
The second quarterback taken (behind Troy Aikman) in the 1989 NFL Draft (32nd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Played three years in the NFL for the Chiefs, Browns and Oilers.

Alphonso Smith

First team All-ACC 2007 and 2008.
First team All-America in 2008 by Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Walter Camp, CBS Sports.
Second team All-America in 2008 by The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Phil Steele and Rivals.
In 2007, second team All-America by Walter Camp; Third team All-America by Associated Press and honorable mention All-America by Sports Illustrated.
Holds the ACC record for career interceptions (21).
Finalist for Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's top defensive player in 2008.
Second in school history with 61 passes defended in a career.
First team Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com, ESPN.com, and Scout.com (2005).
Second team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News and Rivals.com; Selected to The Sporting News ACC All-Freshman Team (2005).
Led the nation and the ACC with a school-record eight interceptions in 2007 and seven in 2008.
Smith's 100-yard interception return against Maryland (2007) sparked the Deacons to rally from a 24-3 deficit and post a 31-24 win in overtime over the Terps; It was the longest return in school history.
Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2009 (Round 2, Pick No. 37).
NFL career history – Denver Broncos (2009), Detroit Lions (2010-2012) – Eight interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, 88 tackles, two fumble recoveries/forced, 19 pass deflections.

Emily Taggart

Four-year letterwinner from 1998-2001.
Native of Pleasanton, CA.
Member of the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team.
Finished her career ranked second in career points with 76 (currently sixth).
Finished her career with a school record 29 goals (currently 4th).
Continues to hold the school record for most shots in a career with 268.
Owns the school record by scoring two goals just 31 seconds apart vs Duke in 1998.
Holds the school record with three 3-goal games in her career (also had two 2-goal games).
Led the team in points, goals and assists in 2000.
Named ACC Rookie of the Year in 1998.
First team All-ACC in 1999 and 2000.
Second team All-ACC in 1998 and 2001.
Named to ACC All-Tournament team in 2001.
Was Wake Forest's only women's soccer player to earn All-ACC each of four years until Katie Stengel tied the record in 2014.
Named a Freshman All-American.
A four-time All-Southeast Region selection.

Barbara Trautwein

After nearly 40 years of service to Wake Forest University, Trautwein will be honored as the 2021 Gene Hooks Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Trautwein moved to Winston-Salem with her husband, George, in 1981 and landed a job in Wake Forest's music department. After latching onto ACC basketball early in her time in the Triad, Trautwein is credited with starting the women's basketball pep band 36 years ago.
Originally hired to help teach music students, Trautwein saw her responsibilities continue to grow during her time at Wake Forest.
In 1987 she was named the assistant director of athletic bands, which she held until 2005.
During her time as director, Trautwein made a huge impact on the program. She devised the current arrangement of the Wake Forest fight song, "O, Here's to Wake Forest", followed by the Alma Mater, "Dear Old Wake Forest."
Some of her most memorable moments working with the band came on road trips to the NCAA Tournament with the women's basketball program in 1988 and to the Orange Bowl in 2006.

Wake Forest Athletics

Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame: 2021-22 Induction Class Announced

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