The Piedmont College P-Club inducted three new members to the Sports Hall of Fame at a luncheon held Feb. 11 in Demorest. This year's class includes baseball players Marvin Hudson of Washington, Evan Nissley of Jefferson, and basketball standout Nikki Sosebee Wood of Hoschton.
Originally from Marietta, Hudson was a catcher for the Lions from 1983–86 under coaches Clarence Duncan and David McGinn. He also played basketball under coach O’Neal Cave. Since 1999, he has worked as a Major League Baseball umpire and last year was part of the umpire crew for the 2016 World Series. He was also recognized for his work in 2007 co-founding “Blues for Kids,” which is now part of the “Umps Care” organization, which works with at-risk youths and children coping with serious illnesses.
Hudson thanked the P-Club and noted that not only did he get his start in officiating while at Piedmont, he also met his wife of 34 years, Sherry (Smith), while they were freshmen. “This is a great honor and I appreciate it,” he said.
Nissley graduated from Piedmont in 2008 as a four-year starter under coach Jim Peeples, with an impressive row of numbers. He ranks fourth in hits for the Lions since they joined the NCAA in 2004. He is number three in runs scored and in stolen bases, and his bat and outfield play earned him the Conference Tournament MVP award in 2008, when the Lions beat Lagrange College for the title. He currently works as a senior loan officer with PrimeLending of Watkinsville.
Nissley thanked his parents, brothers, and his wife Tiffany (Holcomb), whom he also met at Piedmont. “This recognition goes deeper than just a personal accomplishment,” he said. “It’s confirmation that the people who shaped my life from an early age knew what they were doing.” Participating in team sports teaches cooperation and competitiveness, he said, “And it teaches you that you can achieve something that you didn’t think was possible on your own.”
Wood is also a member of the Class of 2008 and earned a master’s degree in education from Piedmont in 2010. She now teaches mathematics and coaches ninth grade girls basketball at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton. As a standout athlete at Jackson County High School, she competed in softball, basketball and track, earning 10 letters. At Piedmont, Wood scored more than 1,000 points during her four years on the basketball court, playing for coaches Charles Cooper and Jamie Purdy. She was named a first-team All-Conference player during each of her four years at Piedmont, and she was named multiple times as the team’s Best Offensive Player and Best Rebounder. Wood was named the 2005 Conference Freshman of the Year in 2004 and the 2008 Conference Player of the Year as a senior.
“I want to thank my parents,” Wood said. “I think my mom missed one game in four years and my dad only one or two. And I want to thank my husband, Eddie, for helping me continue my dream of coaching.”
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