Patriots Announce Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Williamsburg, KY – The University of the Cumberlands Athletic Department, in conjunction with the UC Alumni Association, has announced its five-member class that will be inducted into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2026.  Men’s basketball forward Chad Byron, men’s lacrosse midfielder Nick DiFranco, baseball pitcher Zach Hurley, men’s wrestler Tres Leon and women’s wrestler Jessica Medina are the five members that will represent the 2026 Hall of Fame Class that will be inducted on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Chad Byron was a pivotal part of the Patriots men’s basketball program during the early 2000’s. Byron was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection, while ranking top-ten in program history in multiple offensive categories.  Bryon was a four-year starter at Cumberlands from 2006-2010 where he scored 1589 points, to go along with 358 assists, 314 rebounds, and 86 steals.  In his time at UC, Byron helped guide the Patriots to four NAIA Tournament appearances and the 2009 Mid-South Conference Tournament title. Bryon ranks second in program history for three-pointers (250), sixth in career free throw percentage (82.9%) and field goals made (753), and ninth in career points 1589. 

Byron was a dynamic shooter for the Patriots that started his freshman year compiling a diverse stat line including 269 points, 51 three-pointers, 87 assists, 71 rebounds, and 11 steals.  Byron followed that up with a breakout sophomore campaign averaging 13.5 ppg, 458 points, 65 three-pointers, and 109 assists to garner MSC First Team All-Conference honors.  His efforts helped lead the Patriots to the NAIA National Tournament where they defeated Lewis-Clark State 75-62 to reach the round of 16.  In his junior campaign, Byron tallied 405 points, 11.9 ppg, to go along with 80 assists, 95 rebounds, and 25 steals, earning MSC First Team All-Conference honors.  He helped lead Cumberlands to a 27-7 record as the Patriots knocked off Georgetown to capture the 2009 MSC Tournament title.  UC followed that up by defeating Jarvis Christian to reach the NAIA Round of 16. Byron closed out his Patriot career with an incredible senior season, tallying 457 points, 14.3 ppg, to go along with 71 three-pointers, 82 assists, and 71 rebounds. He set the program’s single season free throw percentage record converting 88.4% from the charity stripe.  That year he led UC to a 21-11 record, earning NAIA All-American Honorable Mention as well as being a MSC First Team All-Conference selection.  In addition to his success on the court, Chad Byron was a two-time Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and was named the 2010 Mid-South Conference Male Champion of Character recipient. 

From being part of the inaugural men’s lacrosse team in 2016, Nick DiFranco etched his name into the record books as one of the most accomplished lacrosse players in the NAIA. DiFranco was a four-time AAC All-Conference selection, three-time first-team All-Conference selection, a three-time NAIA All-American, while capturing both AAC Player of the Year and AAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  He was the program’s single game, season, and career leader for both ground balls and caused turnovers.  DiFranco helped lead the Patriots to three NAIA Tournament appearances, reaching the national semifinals, and the 2019 AAC Regular Season Championship.

DiFranco was a defensive midfielder for the Patriots and made an immediate impact for Cumberlands. As a freshman, DiFranco tallied 32 caused turnovers and 70 ground balls while helping the Patriots post a 7-5 record as he was named an AAC Second Team All-Conference selection.  In 2017, DiFranco led UC and ranked fourth in the NAIA scooping 100 ground balls to go along with a team best 30 caused turnovers and seven points while helping the Patriots qualify for their first national tournament.  For his effort, DiFranco was named a NAIA Second Team All-American becoming the first in program history.  DiFranco had a breakout season in 2018, when he tallied 44 caused turnovers and 119 ground balls, helping the Patriots to a 13-5 record.  His effort led to DiFranco being named the AAC Player of the Year and a NAIA First Team All-American, while he also set the single season record for ground balls and his 43 caused turnovers rank second in program history.  DiFranco capped off his career notching a NAIA-best 45 caused turnovers and scooping 109 ground balls en route to being named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.  He was also part of UC team that captured their lone AAC title and was named to the NAIA All-Tournament Team twice.

Zach Hurley was a dominant pitcher and graduated Cumberlands as one of the most decorated pitchers in program history.  Hurley was the 2019 MSC Pitcher of the Year, a 2019 NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, and a two-time MSC First All-Conference selection, while setting numerous records throughout his career with the Patriots.  He was the ace of a staff that captured a pair of MSC regular season titles, the 2017 MSC Tournament title, and made three NAIA Tournament appearances.  Hurley also holds the program record for innings pitched (217), second in career strikeouts (283), and is tied with three others for first in career wins (28).

Hurley came to Cumberlands in 2015 and pitched 35 innings his freshman year tallying a 2-3 record. Hurley followed that up with a breakout season in 2017, posting a 9-2 record, with 70.2 innings pitched, with 73 strikeouts and opponents hitting .262 against him.  He took the ball in the MSC Tournament championship game, a tossed 7.2 innings with 13 strikeouts to help Cumberlands capture the tournament title.  In the NAIA Opening Round, Hurley helped UC fend off elimination pitching 4.0 innings and getting the win against (RV) St. Thomas.  In 2018, Hurley was the ace of the pitching staff and dominated opponents compile a perfect 9-0 record while pitching 83.1 innings with 98 strikeouts, which ranks ninth in program history.  He tossed five complete games, which was seventh in program history, to go along with four shutouts.  Hurley led UC in every statistical category, was a MSC First Team All-Conference selection, and helped Cumberlands capture the MSC regular season title.  During his senior campaign, Hurley posted an 8-3 record with 81.2 innings pitched with 84 strikeouts, and five complete games.  Hurley guided Cumberlands to their second straight conference title and third consecutive NAIA Tournament appearance where hit pitched a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts as the Patriots defeated Mobile 10-1.  Hurley was named the MSC Pitcher of the Year and a NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. He went on to sign a pro contract with the Lexington Legends.

Tres Leon is one of the most accomplished men’s wrestlers to come through the Patriots program.  Leon was a four-time NAIA All-American, becoming just the seventh Patriot wrestler to accomplish that feat.  Leon wrestled across two different weight classes posting top-four national finishes, including capturing the 149 lbs. NAIA National Championship in 2020.  In addition to his success at a national level, Leon was a four-time MSC Conference Champion (one of just three UC wrestlers), three-time MSC Wrestler of the Year, and was the 2017 MSC Freshman of the Year.  Leon finished his career with a 107-11 record, including 44 falls, which ranks third in program history. 

Leon began his Patriot career with a 23-3 record highlighted by eight falls.  He won both the Patriot Open and the Dan Gable Open and helped UC capture their first MSC regular-season title in program history. Leon captured the conference title at the 141 lbs. class, was named MSC Freshman of the Year and placed fourth at the NAIA National Championship.  During his sophomore campaign, Leon moved to 149 lbs. class and recorded a 23-2 mark going a perfect 17-0 during the regular season.  He helped UC capture the MSC regular season title and was named the MSC Wrestler of the Year.  Leon closed out the year as the national runner-up.  In his junior year, Leon posted a 28-3 record with 12 falls and eight techs. He repeated as the MSC Wrestler of the Year and finished third at nationals.   Leon capped off a stellar career with a 33-3 record with 17 falls, which ranks second in program history.  He captured his fourth conference title and was named MSC Wrestler of the Year for a program-best third time while helping UC win the MSC Tournament.  He capped off his remarkable career by going 5-0 and capturing the 149 lbs. NAIA national title.

Jessica Medina is one of the most accomplished women’s wrestlers to come through the Patriots program.  Medina was a four-time WCWA All-American was the third Patriot wrestler to capture a WCWA National Championship.  Over her time at Cumberlands, Medina posted five tournament wins and 17 top-five finishes. 

Medina came to UC in 2004 and made an immediate impact.  Medina opened her career with a fifth-place finish at the McMaster Invitational and a fourth place finish at the Sunkist International Open.  She closed out her freshman campaign with an eighth-place finish at WCWA Nationals garnering All-American honors.  During her sophomore season, Medina opened by winning the McMaster Invitational, before finishing runner-up at the Western Open.   She followed that up by placing first at the Individual College Nationals in the 51kg division.  Media close out her sophomore campaign finishing sixth at the WCWA National Championships.  During her junior campaign, Medina notched runner-up finishes at the Individual College Nationals as well as the NYAC Holiday Open and a third place finish at the McMaster Open.  She closed out her junior year with a fifth place finish at the WCWA National Championships earning All-American honors.  Medina saved the best for last winning the Individual National Championships as well as the ASICS US National Championships in 2008.  After graduation, Medina went on to be a Junior World Team Member, a World Team Member, and an Olympic Training Center athlete and coach.