Latest Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Class Set for Enshrinement on Friday
2/6/2023 8:00:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Track and Field
The five-member class includes two legendary men’s soccer alums, a six-time All-American in track and field, a member of men’s tennis’ first-ever national title doubles pairing and a multiple record holder for football.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community are set to enshrine the latest class of inductees into the storied Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame on Friday evening.
"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 and their families back to Winston-Salem this weekend for a special induction ceremony and weekend."
This Hall of Fame induction class includes 2008 Butkus Award winner and former All-American Aaron Curry, 2007 NCAA National Championship winner and two-time All-American in Winston-Salem native Sam Cronin, 2008 ITA National Indoor Double Championship winner two-time ITA Doubles All-American Cory Parr, Academic All-American and two-time All-American William Hesmer and six-time All-American Nikeya Green.
During their Wake Forest careers, this incredible group of Demon Deacons featured 16 All-American selections, 15 All-ACC selections and two National Championships including the first team national championship for men's soccer and the first overall national title for men's tennis.
Additionally, Curry was the highest drafted defensive player in Wake Forest history, going No. 4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft while Cronin was selected No. 2 overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Hesmer was a second-round selection by the then-Kansas City Wizards in 2004 before helping lead the Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS Cup.
Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Aaron Curry
"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 and their families back to Winston-Salem this weekend for a special induction ceremony and weekend."
This Hall of Fame induction class includes 2008 Butkus Award winner and former All-American Aaron Curry, 2007 NCAA National Championship winner and two-time All-American in Winston-Salem native Sam Cronin, 2008 ITA National Indoor Double Championship winner two-time ITA Doubles All-American Cory Parr, Academic All-American and two-time All-American William Hesmer and six-time All-American Nikeya Green.
During their Wake Forest careers, this incredible group of Demon Deacons featured 16 All-American selections, 15 All-ACC selections and two National Championships including the first team national championship for men's soccer and the first overall national title for men's tennis.
Additionally, Curry was the highest drafted defensive player in Wake Forest history, going No. 4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft while Cronin was selected No. 2 overall in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Hesmer was a second-round selection by the then-Kansas City Wizards in 2004 before helping lead the Columbus Crew to the 2008 MLS Cup.
Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
Aaron Curry
- Butkus Award winner (2008)
- Lott IMPACT Trophy finalist (2008)
- Wake Forest Football Most Valuable Player (2008)
- First-Team All-American by ESPN, Pro Football Weekly and Sports Illustrated (2008)
- Second-Team Freshman All-American (2005)
- ACC All-Freshman Team (2005)
- 2006 ACC Champion
- Ranks No. 10 in program history in career tackles (332)
- Ranks tied for No. 9 in program history in career solo tackles (207)
- Ranks No. 4 in program history in career tackles for loss (45.5)
- Tied for the most career fumble recoveries in program history (7)
- His 226 interception return yards in 2007 are the most in a single season in program history
- Set Wake Forest records for most career interception return yards (278 yards)
- Led the Demon Deacons in tackles (105) during his senior season and led the Demon Deacons in solo tackles during the 2006 ACC Championship season
- Tied NCAA record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season by a linebacker (2007)
- Finished his Wake Forest career ranking 16th in ACC history in tackles (331)
- Started three-straight bowl games
- Highest Wake Forest defensive selection in the NFL Draft, being picked by the Seattle Seahawks No. 4 overall in 2009
- Two-time first-team All-American (2002, 2003)
- Academic All-American (2003)
- Two-time All-South Region selection (2002, 2003)
- Two-time first-team All-ACC selection (2002, 2003)
- Second-team All-ACC selection (2001)
- ACC All-Tournament Team (2000)
- Ranks third in program history in career goals against average (0.82)
- Also ranks No. 10 in ACC history in career goals against average
- Ranks fifth in program history in save percentage (.802)
- Ranks eighth in program history in career saves (201)
- His 0.65 goals against average in 2002 ranks fifth in a single-season in program history
- Also led the ACC in goals against average that season
- Selected in the second round of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Kansas City Wizards
- Made 134 career appearances as a professional spanning from the 2004-12 MLS seasons
- Won the 2008 MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew
- Six-time All-American (outdoor 800 meters in 2002, 2003, 2004; indoor 800 meters 2002)
- Earned All-America honors as a member of the fourth place Distance Medley Relay team at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championship
- ACC Champion in the 800 meters both indoors and outdoors in 2004
- Earned five All-ACC honors (2002 indoor, 2003 indoor, 2004 indoor, 2003 outdoor and 2004 outdoor)
- Placed second in the 800 meters at the 2001 USA Junior National Championships, earning junior All-America honors and a spot on the U.S. Junior National Team
- Holds the outdoor school record in the 800 meters at 2:04.46
- 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)
- ITA National Indoors Double Championship (2008)
- Two-time ITA Doubles All-American (2008-09)
- ITA Singles All-American (2009)
- Three-time All-ACC selection (2007-09)
- All-ACC Academic Team selection (2008)
- ACC Player of the Week (3/31/09)
- Two-time team leader in singles victories (2008-09)
- Ranks third in program history in career solo victories (114)
- Ranks second in program history in career doubles victories (108)
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