Southwest Tennessee Community College Inducts Five Individuals into Saluqi Athletic Hall of Fame
The Southwest Tennessee Community College Department of Athletics is thrilled to announce the induction of five individuals into its prestigious Saluqi Athletic Hall of Fame. This year's honorees will make up the fourth class of inductees since the Hall of Fame's establishment in 2002.
The formal induction ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1, at the Verties Sails Gymnasium on the Union Avenue Campus. The inductees will also be introduced to the public at the Homecoming basketball games on Nov. 2, featuring matchups between Southwest Tennessee Community College and LeMoyne-Owen College, JV.
The 2024 Saluqi Athletic Hall of Fame Class includes three former student-athletes and two coaches, recognizing their outstanding contributions and achievements in Saluqi athletics.
“The Saluqi Athletic Hall of Fame allows us to celebrate the remarkable individuals who have left a lasting legacy on our athletics program and the college community," said Southwest Tennessee Community College Athletic Director Jarrett Stephens. “This year’s class represents the dedication, excellence, and spirit that defines Saluqi athletics. We’re honored to welcome them into this prestigious group.”
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Ceremony are now available for purchase. Individual tickets are priced at $50, while tables seating up to eight guests can be reserved for $400. Tickets can be purchased online at the following link: Ticket Purchase. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, Oct. 25.
For additional information or inquiries about tickets and tables, please contact Braylin Laster, Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Resource Development, at 901-333-4283 or by email at bwlaster@southwest.tn.edu.
Southwest Athletic Hall of Fame Honorees
Andrea Martre - Honored for Player and Coach, Basketball
Andrea Martre, a standout women's basketball player in the 1980s at Shelby State (now Southwest Tennessee Community College). As a player, she helped lead the Lady Saluqis to a 27-5 record and a national tournament appearance in 1986-87, and her record of 184 career steals still stands. After Shelby State, Martre transferred to Edinboro University, where she was a standout guard and set a school and state record with 238 assists in a single season (1990). In recognition of her contributions, she was named to Edinboro’s All-Time Women’s Basketball Team in June 2007.
As a coach at Southwest, Martre has continued her legacy of excellence, compiling a 408-307 record. Her leadership transformed the Lady Saluqis into one of the most hard-working and tenacious teams, not just in Tennessee, but nationally. Under her guidance, the team achieved a remarkable 25-1 record and a No. 4 national ranking in 2007-08, after going 26-2 with a No. 13 ranking in 2006-07. In 2000-01, Coach Martre led the Lady Saluqis to a 22-9 record and a trip to the NJCAA Tournament, marking the team's first national tournament appearance since 1990.
Throughout her career, Martre has been named TCCAA Coach of the Year three times and Region VII Coach of the Year once. She has coached six NJCAA All-Americans, seven NJCAA Academic All-Americans, and 44 All-TCCAA players. Additionally, 34 of her players have earned All-West Division honors. Over 85 percent of her players have earned degrees from Southwest or transferred to four-year institutions, exemplifying her dedication to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.
A native of Memphis and a 1985 graduate of Fairley High School, where she was team MVP and all-district, Martre is known for her intricate system of play and her commitment to her players' success. She remains deeply connected to her former players, serving as a bridge between generations. Many of her former players credit her as the glue that keeps them connected to each other and to the College. Her leadership and support have played a vital role in preserving the camaraderie and loyalty within the Southwest Tennessee Community College basketball community.
Brian Bramlett - Honored for Player, Baseball
Brian Bramlett is undoubtedly one of the top pitchers in the history of Saluqi baseball. During his standout career, he won 17 games, including 11 victories as a sophomore, both of which rank in the top three on the Saluqi' single-season and career charts. In 1992, Bramlett earned numerous accolades, including TCCAA West Division Player of the Year, First Team All-TCCAA, Team Most Valuable Player, and a nomination for NJCAA All-American. He made history by throwing no-hitters against Volunteer State and Aquinas during his sophomore season, leading the Saluqi to the Western Division championship under Hall of Fame Coach John Jarnagin. He is also among the Saluqi all-time leaders in single-season complete games and career innings pitched.
After his successful Saluqi career, Bramlett went on to play at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. As a junior at Union in 1993, he won 10 games and was named the team's Most Valuable Pitcher. He graduated from Union in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education and began a long and impactful career in coaching and teaching at Stewart County High School in Dover, Tennessee. Over the past 28 years, Bramlett has continued to shape young athletes' lives, and in 2018, he served as the pitching coach for the Stewart County baseball team that made its first-ever appearance in the state tournament.
Verties Sails, Jr. - Honored for Coach, Basketball
Verties Sails, Jr., a Tennessee native born in Rosemark in 1942, is a legendary figure in basketball coaching with deep roots in Memphis. After graduating from Woodstock High School and LeMoyne-Owen College, he earned his master’s degree in education from Memphis State University in 1967. His coaching career began at Melrose High School in Memphis, where he compiled an impressive 132-35 record. In 1974, he led the Golden Wildcats to a historic Tennessee State Championship, finishing the season undefeated (35-0)—a feat that remains unmatched by any Memphis team. Sails was twice honored as High School Coach of the Year (1970 and 1974).
After serving as an assistant coach at Memphis State University for five years, Sails became the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Shelby State (now Southwest Tennessee Community College) in 1979. Over 26 remarkable seasons, he built a powerhouse program, amassing a 539-219 record with a .711 winning percentage. His teams won 18 West Division titles, 13 TJCCAA State Championships, seven Region VII Championships, and made multiple appearances in the National Tournament.
In addition to his coaching legacy, Coach Sails is a prominent figure in the Memphis community. He served on the Board of Directors for Dixie Homes Boys Club, Special Olympics, and the Memphis Park Board. He was actively involved with Leadership Memphis, the Heart Fund, and the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority. Notably, he was honored as one of President George Bush’s “Thousand Points of Light” for his community service. Sails also hosted a sports radio show from 1976 until 1997.
Coach Sails' numerous accolades include being named Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association’s Coach of the Year nine times and “Sportsman of the Year” by the Commercial Appeal in 1999. He was inducted into the TJCCAA Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2012, after 33 years of dedicated coaching at Southwest Tennessee Community College, Sails retired, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and community leadership.
Michael Wilson - Honored for Player, Basketball
Michael Wilson, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, had a remarkable career at Shelby State (now Southwest Tennessee Community College), where his athleticism and skill earned him recognition as:
- All-TCCAA (1992-93 season)
- All-Region (1992-93)
- 2nd all-time in highest field goal percentage (.705 on 256/363) during the 1991-92 season
Wilson led the Saluqis to a 22-8 record, securing both the West Division and TCCAA championships in the 1992-93 season. He continued his basketball journey at the University of Memphis, where he starred in the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Tournaments.
Known for his jaw-dropping 52-inch vertical leap, Wilson holds the world record for the highest dunk at 12 feet, a feat he achieved on April 1, 2000, during Final Four Weekend. This extraordinary achievement is immortalized in an exhibit at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
From 1996 to 2005, Wilson thrilled audiences as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, traveling to nearly 60 countries and wowing fans with his incredible dunks. He also became a two-time slam dunk champion at the NABC College All-Star Game.
Currently residing in Washington, D.C., with his wife and three children, Wilson works as a Recreation Specialist for the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation. In recognition of his outstanding career, he was honored as a "Legends" recipient at the FedEx Forum in Memphis on January 18, 2019, becoming just the 30th person to receive this distinction.
Myquita Mackey - Honored for Player, Basketball
Myquita Mackey, a standout athlete during her time at Shelby State (now Southwest Tennessee Community College), made a lasting impact on the basketball court. Known for her scoring prowess and rebounding ability, she earned numerous accolades, including:
- NJCAA First Team All-American (1998-99)
- NJCAA Second Team All-American (1997-98)
- TCCAA Player of the Year (1998-99)
- TCCAA West Division Player of the Year (1997-98, 1998-99)
- All-TCCAA (1997-98, 1998-99)
Mackey holds the school record for the highest scoring average in a career with 26.5 points per game and is the 4th all-time leading scorer with 1,087 points. Her exceptional 1998-99 season saw her ranked 2nd all-time in single-season field goals made (302), 3rd in scoring average (27.6 PPG), and 3rd in points (728). She also posted remarkable rebounding stats, ranking 4th and 5th in single season rebounding average for 1997-98 and 1998-99, respectively.
Beyond these accomplishments, Mackey's consistent shooting left her 2nd in career field goal percentage (.623) and 4th in career blocked shots (96). Her leadership helped guide the Lady Saluqis to a 20-8 record and the West Division championship in 1998-99.
After her incredible career at Southwest, Mackey continued her basketball journey at Mississippi State University.
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