HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Coker College will induct John Curnias, Teresa Martin and the 1994 women’s soccer team into the Coker College Athletics Hall of Fame in February.
In a unanimous decision by the Coker Hall of Fame selection committee, Curnias, a former Cobra pitcher, becomes the first individual Coker baseball player to be inducted into the hall of fame, while Martin, Coker’s first athletic All-American, becomes the fifth women’s basketball player to be inducted into the hall of fame. The 1994 women's soccer team becomes the fourth full team inducted into the hall of fame.
The induction will take place during Coker’s 2015 homecoming weekend. A ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 in the DeLoach Center, with the presentation given by vice president of athletics and facilities, Dr. Lynn Griffin and president, Dr. Robert Wyatt.
“We are proud to induct John, Teresa and the ’94 women’s soccer team into our hall of fame,” Griffin said. “All three are important pieces of Coker’s athletic history, and we look forward to everyone joining us for the induction ceremony.”
A 1996 graduate of Coker, Curnias was one of the founding members of the Cobra baseball team, pitching for the Cobras from 1993-96. One of the greatest left-handed pitchers to ever play for the Cobras, Curinas is ranked No. 1 in all-time wins at Coker with a career record of 28-4 on the mound. He also had 14 saves during his career.
During his time at Coker, Curnias led the Cobras to three conference championships, 1994, 1995 and 1996, the 1994 NAIA Mid-East Regional championship and an appearance at the 1994 NAIA World Series. Behind Curnias’ arm, the ’94 Cobras were ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation and they finished the year ranked No. 6 in the NAIA national poll.
A two-time all-conference selection, Curinas posted a record of 8-1 during his senior season and was ranked in the top 50 in the nation in earned run average with a 2.63 ERA in 89 innings pitched. Curnias was also part of one of the greatest accomplishments in baseball. Not only did John throw a perfect game, he did it on the same day that classmate Brian James threw a perfect game. The two threw back-to-back perfect games during a doubleheader against Warren Wilson College in 1993.
Curnias is a native of Irmo, S.C. He currently lives in Columbia, S.C. with his two daughters, Tia Corrine and Emerson Ann. He is the sales manager at Carolina Ceramics.
Teresa “Trigger” Martin, a 1986 graduate of Coker, helped put Coker athletics on the map as the first-ever athletic All-American in 1985 and 1986 as a member of the women’s basketball team. In just two years as a Cobra, Martin was a two-time All-American, all-district, all-region and NAIA District 6 All-Star selection.
She scored 892 points during her career at Coker, averaging 19 points per game. She scored in double figures in 43 of 47 games as a Cobra, including scoring 30-plus points in seven games and 20-plus points in 20 games. Martin’s career high of 39 points came on Feb. 11, 1985 against Columbia College. She also scored 10 points in the 1986 NAIA District 6 All-Star game.
Upon graduating from Coker, Martin played professionally in the Women’s National Basketball Association from 1986-1987. After retiring from basketball she began a career in pharmaceutical sales, where she was two-time Sales Person of the Year and was runner-up for the award a third year. After four years of pharmaceutical sales, she moved to the highly competitive world of medial device sales where she has spent the last 20-plus years. During that time she earned Ring and President Club status for achieving sales growth of $500,000 and $1 million.
Martin currently lives in Columbia, S.C. and is an advocate for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned South Carolina wildlife. She continues to fuel her competitive spirit by hiking, mountain biking and snow skiing.
Led by head coach Tim Griggs, the 1994 women’s soccer team compiled a 15-1-1 record. The Cobras finished No. 4 in the NAIA final rankings, and were ranked in the NAIA top 20 every week of the regular season. They won the Conference Carolinas regular-season championship for the second consecutive season, recording a 6-0 record in league play. During the season Coker had a 14-match winning streak, outscored opponents 61-12, posted 11 shutouts and won both the St. Andrews Presbyterian College Tournament and the Tennessee Wesleyan College Tournament.
“This is a great honor for the 1994 team,” Griggs said. “That squad was an outstanding set of student-athletes, and I’m very happy for them. They were a special group and are very deserving of this place in Coker history.”
Five Cobras were named all-conference players: Crystal McCamis, Jamie Condon, Liz Gray, Kristi McHale and Stephanie Sorrells. Gray, McCamis, Condon and McHale were NAIA Mid-South All-Region selections. In addition, McCamis was named an All-American and the conference player of the year. Griggs was the conference’s coach of the year.
In addition to coaching the women’s team, Griggs also coached the men’s soccer team and served as athletic director at Coker from 1994 to 2010. He coached the men from 1980-1994 and the women from 1988-1998. Griggs retired from the college in 2010.
The other full teams inducted into the Hall of Fame are the 1987-88 men’s basketball team, inducted in 2012; 1998 softball team (2011); and 1994 baseball team (2010).
The 1994 Women’s Soccer Team Roster
- Crystal McCamis
- Kristi McHale
- Stephanie Sorrells
- Danielle Doucette
- Kathy Henderson
- Danielle Nicosia
- Holly Griffenkranz
- Wendy Padillo
- Cary Davy
- Alison Wood
- Nicole Horton
- Robyn Dartnell
- Jamie Condon
- Christina Ivey
- Tara Trapinski
- Kim Haugland
- Kara Clyburn
- Kimmberly McCarthy
- Liz Gray
- Tim Griggs – Head Coach