10th Hall of Fame class at UMO set for induction

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 20, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

A budding baseball star from a rural community known as the "Hollerin' Capital of the World," Chad Holland thought he belonged in the big city of Chapel Hill.

But the Spivey's Corner native remembered a conversation he had with University of Mount Olive head baseball coach Carl Lancaster.

"He said, 'Chad, if things don't work out like you think they're going to, I'm always here'," Lancaster said. "Sure enough I ended up where I needed to be. I needed that smaller school. I was one of the first guys to leave D-I to go to D-II.

"We gelled with his leadership and just took off."

Indeed.

Holland etched his name in numerous categories that remain in the UMO record books today. His main accomplishment was leading the Trojans, which had transitioned from NAIA to NCAA D-II status just three years earlier, to the NCAA South Atlantic Regional.

UMO finished runner-up.

Holland considers himself just one of many building blocks that has helped transform the Trojan baseball program into a perennial powerhouse. He, along with former teammate Garrett German, are two of the inductees slated for enshrinement in the University of Mount Olive Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The duo is part of the 10th class that includes cross country standout Elizabeth Schultz and two community supporters -- A.N. Martin and Buddy and Judson Pope -- who have selflessly devoted their time to helping the best kept secret in eastern North Carolina explode over the past decade.

The ceremony is 3 p.m. inside the Murphy Center.

"We are thrilled to be honoring another outstanding Hall of Fame class," said Jeff Eisen, UMO vice president for athletics. "Garrett and Chad are two of the top baseball players to ever play at Mount Olive, while Elizabeth is arguably the best women's distance runner in school history.

"While they aren't coaches or athletes, the Popes and Martins have made a significant impact on the athletics program through their time and energy, as well as scholarship endowments of financial support.

"We look forward to recognizing this group of honorees for their contributions to the University of Mount Olive athletics."

Holland tore a bicep tendon during his freshman season, sustained a tendon injury in his shoulder and continued to play. Lancaster moved him to the infield during his junior campaign, but Holland returned to the mound and helped UMO make its postseason run during his senior season.

During Holland's four years in a uniform, he recorded school records in complete games (15), career shutouts (six) and his 20 career wins are tied for sixth-highest in program history.

"The program kept building off of our success, so I'm pretty proud of that. I wouldn't trade it for nothing," Holland said. "It was a great four years ... made a lot of friends, made a lot of memories. I am truly honored to be recognized for my accomplishments."

German collected the 1999 Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) player-of-the-year award, and earned a spot on the all-South Atlantic Region team. A model of consistency at the plate, German's .386 career batting average is the ninth-highest in school history.

He played alongside Holland on the regional runner-up team that set a then-school record for regular-season wins (48). UMO's national championship team from 2008 set the new mark (56).

"It's an absolute honor and privilege to be part of the UMO Hall of Fame," German said. "My two years at UMO was awesome. To be a part of a top-notch baseball program and to be as successful as we were was great. My only regret was not to be at UMO all four years of my college career."

Schultz is a compelling story.

She didn't have resources like other athletes, but found a way to maximize her potential -- even when she red-shirted her freshman season. During that time thought how competitive could UMO be on the regional and national scene without a track?

Not to mention training with three different coaches.

"It think it gave me more drive and ambition to run the following year," Schultz said after sitting out as a freshman. "I never minded rising for those early-morning practices at 6 a.m. I really enjoyed and thrived in the small school atmosphere.

"I needed that."

Never did she imagine that she'd set a standard UMO athletes try to achieve today.

During her career, she trained under three different coaches.

Schultz emerged as the 2002 and 2003 CVAC cross country individual champion, and was named the CVAC runner-of-the-year each of those seasons. She claimed runner-up honors in the Southeast Regional in 2002 and 2003, and remains the lone female cross country runner to compete in two NCAA Division II national championship meets.

Now a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., Schultz competes in road races. She enjoys the mountain region and says she's a "better person because of UMO and I will be forever grateful."

"I feel very blessed and honored about being inducted into the Hall of Fame," she said.

The Martin family is well-known throughout the Mount Olive community. Tragedy struck in 1988 when Michael Martin tragically lost his life in the line of duty while chasing a speedster motorcyclist in his patrol car.

Though his death shocked those close to him, he remains a close-knit part of UMO. Each season, the Michael Martin Memorial golf tournament is held to help raise scholarship money for deserving students to attend the school. It also benefits the Trojan Club.

To date, the 28-year-old event has raised in excess of $600,000.

"It's an honor," said A.N. Martin, a 1958 graduate. "That college has come a long way since I attended. It's got an athletic program second to none. They run a clean program and you don't have any shenanigans going on with athletes here like you do at other schools. The AD has done a fine job and a lot of credit goes to him.

"I just hoped that I've helped the college in some way."

The Popes have as well.

The wellness center on campus is named in honor of Buddy, and his son, Justin. The facility provides a workout, exercise and activity center not only for athletes and faculty, but for the entire Mount Olive community.

The Popes established the Handy Mart/UMO Scholarship Fund nearly 30 years ago. The two-day golf tournament has raised almost $2 million since its inception.

"We're excited about being inducted into the Hall of Fame and humbled by it at the same time because we never had any intention of getting any recognition, we just wanted to give back to our community where we operate our stores," Judson Pope said.

Pope said that helping students from eastern North Carolina is paramount. Not only do those students get an education and can immediately step into the workforce, they can also change the dynamics of their respective family trees.

Numerous vendors, suppliers, business people and the folks behind the scene at Friendly Mart have put in countless hours to help the scholarship fund become a success -- and the springboard to helping not only the main university, but its satellite campuses as well.

Pope said that he and his father were just the figureheads of the fund-raising process. They feel lucky that people believed in them and the cause at UMO, and selflessly gave their time and donations.