WILSON, N.C. – Barton College has announced its Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023, which includes
Daniel Claytor,
L.J. Dunn,
Billy Godwin,
Melissa (Faulk) Gonzalez and
Jane (Lewis) Manson. The induction ceremony will take place on campus on Friday, October 20, at the Kennedy Family Theatre.
Claytor (Barton, 2013) was a member of the Bulldogs' men's golf team who earned NCAA Division II All-American honors three times (2011-13) by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and was named the 2011 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year. In addition, Claytor earned all-league first-team accolades three times (2011-13), won six collegiate tournaments, and competed in two NCAA D-II National Championships (2010 and 2012).
Dunn (Barton, 2011) was a member of the Bulldogs' 2006-07 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship Team and a two-time All-Conference Carolinas First-Team selection (2008-09 and 2010-11). Dunn is the program's all-time leader in rebounds (986) and ranks sixth in program history in total points (1,468) and blocked shots (66) in the NCAA D-II era. Dunn also played in 124 games – second all-time – and led Barton to the conference regular season and tournament championships and subsequent berths in the playoffs in 2006-07 and 2008-09. Dunn also guided Barton to a 93-32 record during his four seasons of competition and earned all-region accolades in 2008-09 and 2010-11.
Godwin (Atlantic Christian/Barton, 1986) is a long-time collegiate baseball coach who currently serves as mentor at UNC Greensboro. Godwin, who just finished his fourth season with the Spartans, had successful coaching stops at both East Carolina (2006-14) and Louisburg (2000-05). Two springs ago, Godwin led the Spartans to the 2022 Southern Conference Championship and a berth in the playoffs. Godwin has a 720-418 record including a 334-214 mark with the Pirates and a 266-85 ledger with the Hurricanes. At ECU, Godwin was named the 2009 Conference USA Coach of the Year and guided the Pirates to five NCAA Regional Appearances and a Super Regional (2009). Godwin, who was also an Amateur Area Scout for the New York Yankees, helped lead Atlantic Christian College to the league tournament championship in 1984 and served as team captain in 1986.
Gonzalez (Barton, 2006) was a three-time All-Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference honoree (2003-05) in women's tennis including first-team all-league accolades in 2005. During her three years with the Bulldogs, Gonzalez helped lead the squad to a 66-21 overall mark including a 27-3 record against league foes. In 2004, Barton won both the CVAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Gonzalez, a biology major, graduated in three-and-a-half years.
Manson (Barton, 2005) was one of the most decorated women's tennis players in Bulldogs' history. Manson was a four-time All-CVAC honoree (2002-05) and was named to the CVAC All-Time Women's Tennis Team. Manson won over 200 matches both as a singles and doubles competitor and led Barton to an 85-28 record (35-6 in conference play) and both the CVAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships in 2004. Manson also was a four-time ITA All-Academic Team honoree and won the Kiwanis Award in 2004-05, recognized as Barton's female athlete of the year.
