PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the 2020 class for induction into the Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame.  The class will be inducted on Feb. 28, 2020 as part of the University's Homecoming week.
 
The class consists of four former student-athletes representing track and field, men's basketball and women's volleyball, one contributor with a golden voice and a team who set the standard in women's bowling.
 
Marvin Blye took to the hardwood for the Hawks from 1984-1988 as a member of the men's basketball team and earned numerous accolades for his time in Princess Anne.  He was an All-MEAC Rookie Team selection in 1985 and was named to the All-MEAC Team in both the 1986-87 and 1987-88 campaigns.  He joined the 1,000-point club in his junior year, finishing with 1,355 career points.  He also boasts over 500 career rebounds and just shy of 250 career steals.  He was known as an amazing free throw shooter, shooting better than 80% for his four years in the maroon and grey, leading the MEAC in that area in the 86-87 season.
 
Christina Estebane was a Hawk for two seasons, 2007 & 2008, after being named a junior college All-American.  She dominated the volleyball court for the Hawks and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.  She led the Hawks to undefeated conference play both seasons as the starting setter, posting a 20-0 MEAC mark and 49-13 overall.  Her 2008 squad didn't even lose a set to a MEAC team in the regular season.  She helped lead the Hawks to the No. 1 ranking in the nation in aces per set for the 2007 season.  She was a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection, the 2008 MEAC Player of the Year and the 2008 Female Athlete of the Year for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Estebane graduated in 2009 and took a role as an assistant coach for two seasons, imparting her knowledge to the next set of Hawk Volleyball players.
 
Merrecia James established numerous records, some that still stand today for the Hawk Track & Field and Cross Country Teams and is one of the most decorated female runners of all-time at Maryland Eastern Shore.  Arriving in Princess Anne in 2006, James ran the top time in the conference at the 2007 MEAC Indoor championships in the 800-meters, 3000 meters and the mile run.  In the 2007 outdoor championships she took first in the 5000 meters, 1,500 meters and 800 meter runs.  She qualified for the NCAA regionals in the 2008 season and shined there, taking fifth and qualifying to run in the NCAA National Championships that season in the 800-meters, finishing 27^th in the nation.  At the MEAC Championships that year, she again dominated taking first place in the mile, 3000 meters and 800 meters at the indoor championships and first in the 5000 meters and 1,500 meters at the outdoor championships. She was a vital part of the Hawk squad that won the 2008 cross country title and was the squad's highest finisher at the NCAA Regionals that season.  She still holds records as part of the school's indoor distance medley team and the school's outdoor 4 x 800 team.
 
Kimani Kirton will enter the Hawk Hall of Fame as an All-American thrower, who dominated the school, conference and nation during his time in the maroon and grey.  In the 2004-05 indoor and outdoor seasons, Kirton broke school records in the shot put and took the MEAC title at the indoor and outdoor championships.  He qualified that year for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals.  Returning a year later after an injury, Kirton qualified for the 2007 Indoor Track & Field Championships, finishing top 20 in the nation.  He threw just shy of 19 meters, ranking seventh in the nation and first in the conference.  He won the MEAC Indoor title again that season and set a new school record in the process.  He qualified for the 2007 Outdoor Regional Championship and advanced to the National Championships.  He was named a United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-American at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finishing eighth in the nation.
 
The final individual inductee is Patrick "Big Pat" Doughty.  Big Pat is an Eastern Shore legend, hailing from nearby Pocomoke City, Maryland, who is now an NBA legend. Doughty served as the "Voice of the Hawks" from 2000-2004, sitting behind the microphone as the public address announcer for men's and women's basketball.  He has emceed other sports as well, announcing everything from cross country to baseball to volleyball and has hosted athletic banquets and previous Hall of Fame ceremonies.  He left Princess Anne in 2004 to chase his dreams of announcing in the NBA and found his calling with the NBA's then Charlotte Bobcats who have since become the Charlotte Hornets.  Working for team owner Michael Jordan, Doughty has been behind the microphone for numerous other events, games and tournaments, including the Jordan Classic in Madison Square Garden.  His introductions of such NBA legends as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant have gone viral and his voice is easily distinguished from his peers.  He has called over 600 NBA games for 15 years, including the 2019 All-Start Game.  Doughty waives the Hawk banner high and lets everyone know he got his professional announcing start at Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
The 2003-2004 Women's Bowling team will be inducted as just the third team ever to go into the hall, following the 1974 Men's Basketball NIT Team, the first HBCU to play in an NIT and the 1963 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Team that won two National Championships.  The team bears the distinction of bowling in the first ever NCAA Women's Bowling Championship in 2004 in Houston, Texas.  At that event, the Hawks became the first ever team to bowl a perfect Baker game (where each bowler bowls two frames per game).  They would finish seventh in the nation that season and earn an additional birth to the United States Bowling Congress Collegiate Championships the same season.  The team, made up of future All-American MaryEtta Lewis, Sandra Maresca, Erin Fagan, Megan Raymond, Victoria Gay and Kristie Minnis, along with coaches, Sharon Brummell, Doug Dukes and Vince Brummell, laid the groundwork for the dominance of Hawk Bowling.  A program that would go on to win five National Championships. 
 
"This is a great and diverse class of Hawks," said Director of Athletics Keith Davidson.  "Every other year when we go through the nomination and selection process for our Hall of Fame I am reminded just how many special people have come through Princess Anne. They have accomplished so many things while sacrificing so much for the betterment of our department and University.  Honoring a few of them for induction into our Hall is just one way to show how much we appreciate what they have done."
 
The induction ceremony will take place in the ballroom of the Student Services Center at 6 p.m. on Feb. 28.  The class will be honored again on Saturday, Feb. 29 during half-time of the men's basketball game.
Tickets to the induction ceremony and banquet are on sale now on www.easternshoretickets.com and are just $60.  Current Hall of Famers or those interested in purchasing tables of eight, should call Associate Director of Athletics, G. Stan Bradley, at 410-651-6499 to receive discounted rates.  Tickets for the basketball games vs. Delaware State are also on sale now at easternshoretickets.com