DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University proudly inducted four new members into its Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday morning during Homecoming Weekend festivities. The 2017 class of four former student-athletes included volleyball's Courtney (Carrington) Wells '04/'07M, baseball's Eddie Guessford '04, cross country's Beth (Schledorn) Hicks '99 and basketball's Michelle Warner '99.

All four were inducted during Averett's Distinguished Alumni Awards & Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony at the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center Saturday morning, and they were also honored during halftime of the Homecoming football game. Click here to watch the archived broadcast of the inductions.

Wells, Guessford, Hicks and Warner joined an elite membership of 30 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors who have been inducted into the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame since 2000.


Courtney Carrington Wells '04, 07M
Carrington was a key member of the Averett women's volleyball team from 2000-2003. The 2003 USA South Conference Player of the Year and Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) State Player of the Year played multiple positions during her four seasons with the Cougars. She earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore in 2001, then was named to the First Team in 2002 and 2003. She also earned VaSID All-State First Team honors in 2003 and Second team accolades in 2002. Wells finished her career with 991 kills (2.37 per set), 1,186 digs (2.84 per set), 769 assists and 185 service aces over 417 career sets. Twice, she helped Averett win the USA South Conference and earn NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2000 team that notched the program's first NCAA postseason win. Additionally, Wells was named to the USA South All-Tournament Team as a senior. Following graduation, she returned to the program as an assistant coach while earning her master's degree from Averett. For more on Wells, read this feature story.

Eddie Guessford '04
Guessford was a crucial piece of Averett's 2003 USA South Conference Tournament championship team, helping the program win its first title in its history and make the NCAA Regional. The two-year outfielder was named to the 2003 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Division III All-America Second team while batting a team-high .462 with six home runs, 16 doubles and 53 runs batted in that season. He also earned 2003 USA South All-Conference First Team and VaSID All-State First Team honors while making the USA South All-Tournament Team. Guessford collected USA South First Team recognition again in 2004 and was named to the VaSID All-State Honorable Mention Team his senior season. For more on Guessford, read this feature story.

Beth Schledorn Hicks '99
The most decorated member of the Averett women's cross country program, Hicks was named the USA South Conference's Runner of the Year in 1997 and 1998, earning First Team All-Conference accolades in each of her two seasons with the program. Her efforts helped elevate her team to the 1997 USA South championship, a first for the program, Hicks was the top Averett finisher at the 1998 NCAA South Regional, crossing the line 22nd overall. A year earlier, she placed 41st overall at the 1997 NCAA South Regional while having the fastest time by a Cougar runner. For more on Hicks, read this feature story.

Michelle Warner '99
Warner currently sits atop the Averett women's basketball program's all-time scoring list with 1,442 points in 98 career games. The four-year standout also holds the program records for most points in a single game (39), points in a season (486) most career field goals (568) and career blocks (91). In addition to being the top scorer, she ranks in the top 10 in rebounding (709). She earned USA South All-Conference First Team honors in 1996-97 and 1998-99, and made the 1995 USA South All-Tournament Team. Warner also played softball at Averett. For more on Warner, read this feature story.

All four of this year's inductees also were named to the USA South's 50th Anniversary Team for their respective sports during the 2013-14 academic year.

Read about all the members of the Averett Athletics Hall of Fame here.