This Saturday evening, we were honored to induct four individuals and two teams into the Union County High School/United Community Bank Athletic Hall of Fame. The 2023 Hall of Fame Class consists of Caleb Ervin, Clarissa Houston, Duncan McCormick, Jarrad Rudd, 1976-77 boys’ basketball team, and the 1998 state championship boys’ track team.
Caleb Ervin
Caleb is a 2011 graduate of Union County High School. He wrestled for the Braves from 2008-2011 with a remarkable career record of 193 wins and only 5 losses. He led the Braves to four KHSAA regional titles and two KHSAA team state titles. Throughout his high school career Caleb dominated the competition, recording falls over 129 opponents. Caleb was a 2009 NHSCA National Champion, where he won the award for most falls in the least amount of time. He was a four-time KHSAA Region One champion and a three-time KHSAA state champion. In Caleb's senior season, he led the Braves to both KHSAA region and state titles.
He was voted the KHSAA State Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Caleb was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler in 5 of the 6 tournaments he competed in that season and was ranked in the top 6 best wrestlers in the country in his weight division. He was awarded the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, which is given by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame to only eight wrestlers in the country each year. Caleb was also selected to the Tom Leach All Resilient Team and was chosen by the Athletic Director’s Association as the Male Athlete of the Year for the Second Region. He was also awarded the Earle C. Clements Award for outstanding leadership in academic achievement and athletic excellence.
Coach Robert Ervin said that in his 21 years of coaching he had never coached a wrestler who competed as hard as Caleb. His goal was not just to win but to dominate his opponents as much as he possibly could.
Caleb went on to wrestle at the University of Illinois where he was awarded First Team Freshman All-American honors. He wrestled for the Illini for three seasons and was a two-time Big Ten Championship podium placer and a one-time NCAA national tournament qualifier before finally retiring with career-ending injuries.
“I am proud to be part of the stepping stones that paved the way for what is possible at Union County Wrestling,” he reflected. “I would like to thank all my teammates and coaches for pushing him and instilling the values of hard work, community, and continuous self-growth. The lessons taught by being part of Union County wrestling are lessons that I will carry on throughout my life. I will continue to be grateful for the incredible dynasty of wrestling created in this small rural community of Union County.”
Clarissa Houston
Clarissa is a 2007 graduate of Union County High School. When Clarissa first picked up a basketball, she immediately fell in love with the game. During her 4 years of varsity basketball as a Bravette, she managed to set the single game three-point record with eight. She also held the record for most three-point baskets in a season until that record was broken this past year. She continues to hold the record for most 3-point baskets in a career.
She's a member of the 1000-point club, she was named to the All-District and All-Region teams multiple times, and in 2007 was named Region 2 Co-Player of the Year. She was a member of the Kentucky Junior All-Stars and the West Kentucky All-Stars, as well as a Kentucky All-Star invitee. She also earned All-State Honorable Mention her senior season.
In her four years as a Bravette, the team won two district championships and qualified for the Regional Tournament three times. The Bravettes were the 2nd Region Runner-Up in 2006.
Clarissa went on to play basketball at Brescia University where she also excelled. She held the single-game 3-point record with 13, most three-point baskets in a career with 301, and was a KIAC All-Conference Player. She is also a member of the Brescia 1000-point club. After her playing career ended at Brescia, she was added to the coaching staff where she served a brief stint. Clarissa currently works at Riverview Coal.
Duncan McCormick
Duncan is a 2012 graduate of Union County High School and is arguably the best golfer to ever represent UCHS. His list of accomplishments while in high school and after high school are remarkable. Duncan was the Pepsi Tour Player of the Year at age 15. He was the youngest player ever to win the Breckinridge Country Club Championship at the age of 16. Duncan qualified for the KHSAA State Tournament his junior and senior years finishing 9th as a senior. In his senior season, he was a member of the All-State Team and runner-up for Mr. Golf. He also won six invitational championships during his magnificent senior campaign.
After high school, Duncan received a Division I scholarship to Murray State University where he played for four years. The Racers finished 2nd and 3rd in the OVC Tournament his junior and senior seasons respectively. Duncan graduated from Murray State University with a major in advertising and a minor in sociology. He turned Pro after graduation and moved to Florida and played on multiple tours around the world.
Duncan also played basketball for the Braves while in high school earning three varsity letters. He was named MVP of the team his senior year, leading the team in scoring at 15 points per game.
Duncan commented, “I would like to thank my parents, grandparents, and most of all Jeremy Curtis; this would not have been possible without his help.”
Jarrad Rudd
Jarrad is a 1985 graduate of Union County High School. Wrestling started for Jarrad at age 7 with a 25-member squad of elementary and junior high wrestlers going all the way to the Junior Olympics in March of 1975. They were the future of Loaders Rollers. In that Junior Olympics, they had nine first-place, four second-place, and one third-place finish.
Jarrad eventually joined the UCHS wrestling team, making the varsity roster all four years of high school from 1982 through 1985. He was coached by Mike “Loader” Thomas the first three years and by Tim Ervin in his senior season. Jarrad was a two-time KHSAA state champion - in 1984 at 132 pounds and then again in 1985 at 138 pounds. In his junior year, he was also a District champion, Regional champion, Cape Girardeau Tournament champion, Colonel Takedown champion, and was undefeated the whole year. In his senior year, he won the Best Record Award and the Most Outstanding Wrestler award. He was also the team captain.
Jarrad received a full wrestling scholarship to SIU in Illinois but ended up going to Nashville Auto Diesel college and graduating in 1987 with top honors. He currently lives in Waverly with his wife Kimberly and daughter Shelby. He reports he is very humbled to receive this award.
“Wow!” Jarrad asserted. “Thanks to all my teammates through the years and everyone who supported me. The heart of Union County wrestling runs deep. I am very honored to have my name added to the Hall of Fame. I would also like to thank Tim and Robert Ervin for continuing the legacy and building the wrestling program to what it is today! Without the Ervins the program would not be where it is today!”
1976-77 Boys’ Basketball Team
The 1976 Boys’ Basketball Team won the District Championship, Regional Championship, and qualified for the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen. The team finished as a state quarterfinalist. The 1976-77 Braves were also invited and participated in the prestigious Louisville Invitational Tournament more prominently know as the LIT.
Team members were Mark Curry, Geno Hayden, Jeff Quinn, Greg Duncan, Greg Adkins, Keith White, Joey Frasier, Doby Waggener, Ryan Day, Donnie Sheridan, Matt Pride, Mike Duncan, Bunky Lewis, Freddie Cowan, Buddy Frasier, John Pride and Benny Smith. The team was coached by Ernie Simpson and David Curtis.
1998 Boys Track Team
The 1998 Boys’ Track team won the school’s second of three consecutive state titles in 1998. Team members were Chris Chandler, Ashley Smith, Randy Daugherty, Dana Hall, Jamie Poole, Jason Houston, Jessie McGowan, Gary Baymon, Clint Sheffer, Dwayne Spaulding, Roshad Smith, Ken Henshaw, Pat Steelman, Ben Henshaw, Joe Askew, Sean Coffman, Jake Cleavenger, Derek Butts, Jonathan Brown, Skyler Smith, Nick Washum, Aaron Tucker, Jarred Collins, Evan Jackson, and Garrick Thompson. The team manager was Jessica Fowler, and the team was coached by Brad Tucker, Kathy Tucker, David Hart and the head coach was John Fellows.