Diamond stars, tennis standout to enter FMU Athletic Hall of Fame

FLORENCE , S.C.

- Francis Marion University athletic officials recently announced the Class of 2025 inductees for the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame: four-time softball All-American Kim Booker ('24), two-time tennis All-American Dilshod Sharifi ('10), and two-time All-Region baseball outfielder Buddy Sosnoskie ('14).

The induction ceremony will take place during Homecoming activities on Saturday, Feb.

22, in the Smith University Center gymnasium at approximately 3:30 p.m.

between the womens and men's games of the FMU and Emmanuel University basketball doubleheader.

The 2025 Francis Marion University Athletic Hall of Fame class inductees are, from left, Kim Booker, Dilshod Sharifi and Buddy Sosnoskie.

Booker, a native of Carlisle, S.C., Lettered four years (1984-87) on the volleyball court, but it was her four seasons (1986-89) on the softball diamond where she really excelled.

Now retired, she recently returned to campus to finish her degree in general studies.

During her playing career, she became only the third NAIA player to earn All-America honors four times, three times as a first-team (86, 87, 88) outfielder and one time as a second-team pick (89).

Her final year, she accomplished the feat despite having been moved to play shortstop as a left-hander because of injuries to other Patriots.

She was a four-time All-NAIA District Six Team selection, including being named the 1989 District Six Player of the Year when she led the nation with nine home runs.

Her career totals include 170 games played, a .416 batting average (school record until broken this past year), 215 runs scored (school record), 224 hits (4th on career list), 25 doubles, 15 triples (3rd on career list), 29 homers (school record), 137 RBIs (5th on career list), 131-of-143 SBs (both school records), and a .680 slugging percentage (third in program history).

She struck out only 20 times in 611 career plate appearances.

She also holds the FMU single-season slugging record (.835) and stolen base mark (46).

She helped Francis Marion to a four-year team record of 142-35, including three trips to the NAIA World Series and a national runner-up finish in 1987.

She batted .413 in 1986 as the Patriots went 40-11, won the District Six championship, and advanced to the World Series in San Antonio, Texas.

The following year, she hit .396 with 6 homers and 40 RBIs as Francis Marion posted a 42-4 mark; earned a No.3 national ranking, won the District Six title, and lost 1-0 in the national championship game (after which she was named to the All-Tournament Team).

As a junior, she batted .431 with seven homers and 35 RBIs as the Patriots went 33-8, won the district championship; and advanced to the 1988 World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla.

As a senior in 1989, she batted .437 with nine homers and 26 RBIs as the Patriot finished 27-12 and ranked 19th in final Top 20 poll.

During her volleyball career, she tallied 668 kills, 715 digs, and 123 service aces (13th on career list).

She twice earned All-District recognition and was selected to play in the 1987 NAIA District Six All-Star Match.

Sharifi, a native of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, played three seasons with the Patriot mens tennis squad from 2008 to 2010.

He earned B.A.

degree in international studies in 2010.

He went on to earn a Ph.D.

degree in world economics from Tajik National University and multiple advanced degrees, including a Masters degree in Public Governance of Economic Development from the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, and CAS in Public Governance from the Swiss School of Public Governance/ETH Zurich.

He is currently head of the International Economic Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan.

His leadership in projects aimed at enhancing Tajikistan's trade facilitation and sustainable economic development has been instrumental in the country's progress in international economic cooperation.

At Francis Marion, he was named an ITA All-American in both 2009 and 2010 for both singles and doubles, after also earning All-Peach Belt Conference honors both years.

In 2010, he also garnered the National ITA Player to Watch award, after spending part of that season ranked No.1 nationally in singles the only Patriot to ever accomplish that.

His career totals included a 54-4 singles mark (including 8-2 all-time against nationally ranked opponents) and a 47-17 doubles record.

He owns the top singles winning percentage in program history (.931), is fourth in doubles winning percentage (.734), tied for ninth in career singles wins, and 11th in career doubles wins.

He helped FMU to a 47-20 record over his three years with end-of-the-season national rankings (#7, #18, #15) each year and three trips to the NCAAs, including an appearance in the 2008 national quarterfinals (Elite Eight).

As a freshman, he was 22-1 at the No.3 singles spot and 17-6 in doubles, while registering a No.17 national ranking.

As a sophomore, he was 17-2 in singles at the No.2 position and ranked 18th in NCAA Division II and 18-3 at No.1 doubles with a No.7 national ranking.

In his final season, he was 15-1 at No.1 singles and ended the year ranked No.3 nationally and was 12-8 at No.1 doubles and ranked eighth in Division II.

He won the 2010 ITA Southeast Region doubles title and advanced to the championship match of the ITA Small College National Championships in Mobile, Ala.

He was twice named to the Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll and once to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

Sosnoskie, a native of Statesville, N.C., played two seasons (2011-12) after transferring from Virginia Tech.

He earned a B.B.A.

degree in marketing in 2014.

After his time at FMU, he went on to play three years of professional baseball in the American Association and Frontier independent leagues, batting .268 in 196 career games.

Now a residence of State College, Penn., he is employed by Peraton as Manager of Program Finance and Director of Earned Value Management Systems Space & Intelligence.

In addition to receiving All-Region accolades twice, he was also named to the All-Conference team both years, including being tabbed as the Peach Belt Conference Co-Player of the Year in 2011.

He was also chosen a Regional Gold Glove Award winner in 2011.

Over his two-year career, he appeared in 115 games and batted .394 with 93 runs scored, 35 doubles, 12 triples, three homers, 101 RBIs, and a .458 on-base percentage.

He hit safely in 73 of his last 87 games as a Patriot and reached base in 107 of 115 games.

He helped the Patriots to a 2-year mark of 81-34 with two trips to the NCAA regional title game.

As a junior, he led FMU with a .396 average and recorded 42 runs, 10 doubles, nine triples, a homer, 45 RBIs, and a 21-game hitting streak as the Patriots went 41-16 and earned a national Top-10 ranking.

As a senior, he ranked second nationally in hits (92) and doubles (25) - both totals were team records and led Francis Marion with a .391 average, 51 runs scored, and 56 RBIs.

FMU posted a 40-18 record and a No.7 national ranking.

During the season the Patriots beat ninth-ranked South Carolina 5-4 in the inaugural game at Sparrow Stadium.

For his work in the classroom, he was named an Academic All-American in 2012 as well as earning Academic All-Conference recognition.

He was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma national college athlete honor society, earned a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award in 2012, and was placed on the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll both years and on the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll twice.

The three will join 58 current members in the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame: Chiffonia Precious Adderson (womens basketball), Cindy Alford Vestal (softball), Jeannette Alston (womens basketball, volleyball), Kristi Anderson (womens softball), Mark Bedenbaugh (cross country, track and field), Gary Bennett (golf), Kirk Bevington (mens soccer), Daryl Blume (mens basketball), Marcel Boggs (mens basketball), Jennifer Brabson Cleek (womens basketball), Michael Colaiacovo (cross country, track and field), Maria Costas (womens basketball, tennis, volleyball), Tom C.

Davidson (coach and administrator), Daphne Donnelly (womens basketball, softball), Matt Dura (golf), Carlton Farr (mens basketball), LaRue Fields (womens basketball, volleyball), Alvaro Figuerola (mens soccer), Allen Floyd (mens basketball), Jennifer Grande Parker (volleyball, womens basketball), Gerald Griffin (baseball coach and athletic director), Dr.

Rufus R.

Hackney Jr.

(administrator and golf coach), Jeremy Halpin (baseball), Sylvia Rhyne Hatchell (womens basketball coach), Lewis Hill (mens basketball coach), Mary Hirst (womens tennis), Wayne Huggins (baseball), Mary Jackson (womens basketball, volleyball), Erin Jones (baseball), Scotty Keefe (baseball), Barrett Kleinknecht (baseball), Anthony Chico Lombardo (baseball), Sam Lundkvist (mens tennis), Annamaria Karai Meadows (womens tennis), Pearl Moore (womens basketball), Robert Moore (mens basketball), Laurie Niego Mancari (softball), Krissy Burt OKelley (womens volleyball), Crystal Poskey Ashley (womens volleyball), Mitch Powell (track and field, cross country), Tommy Randall (golf), Paul Reardon (cross country, track and field), Katie Roberts Chapman (womens soccer), Angela Salem (womens soccer), Josef Schroeder (mens soccer), Kim Slawson Hawkins (womens basketball player and coach), David Stafford (track and field, cross country), Garth Thomson (mens tennis player and coach), Spyder Webb (trainer), Randy White (track and field, cross country), Dr.

Thomas M.

Whiteley (track and field/cross country coach), Lee Whitwell (womens tennis), Kerri Williams (womens soccer), Bob Wilson (mens basketball player and coach), Mike Wilson (baseball), Michaela Wolf Lawson (softball), Rendy Yates (softball player and coach), and Tracey Tillman Young (womens basketball).

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