(NASHVILLE) The ballroom was packed Saturday night (7/22/2023) at the Omni Nashville Downtown where the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2023. Among a line-up of Volunteer State super-stars, the Blue Raiders were definitely in the spotlight.

Middle Tennessee State University’s Womens Basketball brought home one of the top honors as the Female Amateur Team of the Year. A special thank you to Coach Rick Insell and everyone associated with these athletes. Congratulations Lady Raiders!

In addition,  Blue Raider alumni Stephen B. Smith, who was a three-sport letterman from Battle Ground Academy before pitching for the MTSU baseball team, was on the prestigious inductee list. Smih is a lifelong horseman winning 10 world championships, served as a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals, an original partner and on the board of the Nashville Sounds, plus—Steve led the effort to construct the first lighted college baseball stadium in Tennessee--the current 3,000 seat stadium and new baseball clubhouse at MTSU which is named in his honor. Stephen B. Smith is also the current chairman of MTSU’s Board of Trustees.  

Congratulations to all of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023: Eric Berry, Keith Bulluck, Mike Fisher, Tim Harris, John Henderson, Tianna Madison, the late Carl R. Moore, Teresa Lawrence Phillips, Zach Randolph, Loren Roberts, Les Robinson and Stephen B. Smith.

Additional honorees and award winners included:

• Tennesseans of the Year, Presented by the Tennessee Lottery- Coach Josh Heupel, Danny White, and Chancellor Donde Plowman
• David Williams Significant Historical Achievement Award, Presented by Alexander Thompson Arnold PLLC- Oak Ridge Football 1958 National Champions
• Pat Summitt Lifetime Achievement Award, Presented by Curb Records- Jerry “The King” Lawler
• Professional Male Athlete of the Year, presented by Tennessee Athletics- Hany Mukhtar
• Female Amateur Athlete of the Year, Presented by TSSAA- Mya Jones
• Male Amateur Athlete of the Year, Presented by TSSAA- Hendon Hooker
• Pro Sports Team of the Year – Memphis Grizzlies
• Male Amateur Team of the Year- Tennessee Baseball
• Female Amateur Team of the Year, Presented by Bristol Motor Speedway- MTSU Women’s Basketball