John Collins, Tommy Dean, AJ Merriweather, James Parker and Jennifer Moore-Wilkerson are the newest members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.
The five will become the 36th class inducted when ceremonies are held at 6:30 p.m., April 14, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
John Collins – 1975-1980 West Tennessee Invitational Champion
1978-1979 District Jr. Olympic Gold Medalist, Regional Jr. Olympic Gold Medalist
1979 Nashville’s Music City Invitational Champion, West Tennessee and Mid-South Novice Golden Gloves Champion
1980 West Tennessee and Mid-South Open Golden Gloves Champion, Most Outstanding Fighter of the Tournament
1983 West Tennessee Golden Gloves Champion, Mid-South Open Champion, ranked No. 8 in the United States at 125 pounds
Amateur record – 135-12
Individual record competitions – 5-1
Professional Record – 5-1
Tommy Dean – Southside volleyball coach, compiled a 664-220 career record, with 12 district championships, six region championships, nine appearances in the state tournament including the last five in a row.
TACA West Tennessee Coach of the Year four times.
46-11 school record for wins in 2008, and 12 years with 30 or more wins
AJ Merriweather – averaged 14 points, 10 rebounds per game as a senior at South Side High School.
He was an all-district and all-state selection and was named a finalist for Class 2A Mr. Basketball – first South Side finalist in school history.
A 2013 South Side graduate, he received a basketball scholarship to East Tennessee State University, where he was a four-year starter.
He was a member of the 1,000 point club, and led ETSU in rebounding as a sophomore with 184 and second in steals with 39.
AJ was also a four-year member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
He majored in Engineering Technology and is the owner/CEO of AJ Merriweather Construction LLC,
James Parker – member of the Jackson State Community College tennis team in 1969 & 1970.
Member of the Lambuth College tennis team in 1971 & 1972. Named to Who’s Who Among American College Athletes while at Lambuth.
Won the Jackson City Championship in tennis (Roberts Cup) five times in singles and four times in doubles.
Certified by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association as a Certified Professional Instructor.
Has coached tennis at the University School of Jackson and Trinity Christian Academy, helping both teams reach state high school tournaments.
Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, James was inducted into the Lambuth University Sports Hall of Fame in October 2006.
Jennifer Moore Wilkerson – lettered in softball four years at Jackson Central-Merry High School.
She earned all-conference and all-district each of her four years.
Signed with Indiana University after a two-year career at Volunteer State Community College, where she earned second team All-America honors. She ranked third in the nation in strikeouts and recorded a 23-7 record.
She was 27-6 her freshman year, and was named the TJCAA Pitcher of the Year.
For more information – tickets and reservations, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.
