PEMBROKE – Willie Dye, a decorated wrestler in the late 70s and early 80s, and four-time all-conference softball honoree Cindy Allen Thorndyke, became the 70th and 71st members of the UNCP Athletic Hall of Fame on Wednesday morning. Both will be officially inducted into the distinguished listing of former athletes, coaches and administrators in a ceremony later this month.

“Willie Dye was a phenomenal wrestler for the Braves,” said UNCP head coach Dan Kenney. “He was an instrumental reason why UNC Pembroke dominated the Carolinas Conference during his tenure. I am excited to see Willie be selected to the UNCP Hall of Fame.

“Cindy Allen-Thorndyke was a pioneer for Braves Softball having played both slow pitch and being among the first to play fast pitch for UNCP. She excelled in both and, like Willie Dye, helped UNCP be the dominant team in the Carolinas Conference during her four year softball career.”

Dye, a two-time all-American (NAIA, NCAA) for the Braves in 1980, rattled off 126 wins during his four-year career in the Black and Gold – a number that still ranks second all-time. A three-time (1979-81) all-conference selection, Dye was a member of four Conference Carolinas and NAIA District 26 squads. A four-time all-district selection as well, Dye registered 35 or more wins during both his sophomore (37) and senior (35) seasons for an extremely dominant UNCP program.

Dye graduated from UNCP in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He and his wife, Marilyn, currently reside in Rock Hill, S.C., and are the parents of four children - Sabrina Chambers, Katrina Gore, Doreshea and Willie Jr.

Allen-Thorndyke was a dominant pitcher for UNCP during its last four years as a member of the NAIA, including the last two seasons of the slow pitch era for the Braves. A four-time all-conference and all-district selection, Thorndyke was twice selected as the Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, while also being decorated with all-conference tournament laurels in all four seasons in the Black and Gold. She still holds the school’s single season record for RBI (44, 1991), but also ranks among the top five in career victories (32), season winning percentage (.762, 1991) and career earned run average (0.28).

Allen-Thorndyke, who maintained a 3.3 cumulative grade point average during her academic career, received her bachelor’s degree in physical education from UNCP in 1992. Her and her husband, Sandy, currently reside in Lumberton and are the parents of three children – Christa, Seth and Colby. Sandy currently serves as the head baseball coach at Fairmont High School.

Dye and Allen-Thorndyke will make their return to Pembroke on February 26 when they will be honored at the 2010 Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. in the UC Annex. Their likeness and name will be permanently displayed on UNCP’s Wall of Honor as well. For ticket information to the banquet, please contact James Bass at (910) 521-6533.