Francis Marion University Athletics

Francis Marion University athletic officials recently announced the Class of 2025 inductees for the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame:  four-time softball All-American Kim Booker (’24), two-time tennis All-American Dilshod Sharifi (’10), and two-time All-Region baseball outfielder Buddy Sosnoskie (‘14).

The induction ceremony took place during Homecoming activities on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the Smith University Center gymnasium at approximately 3:30 p.m. between the women’s and men's games of the FMU and Emmanuel University basketball doubleheader.
 
Sharifi, a native of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, played three seasons with the Patriot men’s tennis squad from 2008 to 2010.  He earned B.A. degree in international studies in 2010.
He went on to earn a Ph.D. degree in world economics from Tajik National University and multiple advanced degrees, including a Master’s degree in Public Governance of Economic Development from the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, and CAS in Public Governance from the Swiss School of Public Governance/ETH Zurich.

He is currently head of the International Economic Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan.  His leadership in projects aimed at enhancing Tajikistan's trade facilitation and sustainable economic development has been instrumental in the country's progress in international economic cooperation.

At Francis Marion, he was named an ITA All-American in both 2009 and 2010 for both singles and doubles, after also earning All-Peach Belt Conference honors both years.  In 2010, he also garnered the National ITA Player to Watch award, after spending part of that season ranked No.1 nationally in singles – the only Patriot to ever accomplish that.

His career totals included a 54-4 singles mark (including 8-2 all-time against nationally ranked opponents) and a 47-17 doubles record.  He owns the top singles winning percentage in program history (.931), is fourth in doubles winning percentage (.734), tied for ninth in career singles wins, and 11th in career doubles wins.

He helped FMU to a 47-20 record over his three years with end-of-the-season national rankings (#7, #18, #15) each year and three trips to the NCAAs, including an appearance in the 2008 national quarterfinals (Elite Eight).

As a freshman, he was 22-1 at the No.3 singles spot and 17-6 in doubles, while registering a No.17 national ranking.   As a sophomore, he was 17-2 in singles at the No.2 position and ranked 18th in NCAA Division II and 18-3 at No.1 doubles with a No.7 national ranking.  In his final season, he was 15-1 at No.1 singles and ended the year ranked No.3 nationally and was 12-8 at No.1 doubles and ranked eighth in Division II.
 
He won the 2010 ITA Southeast Region doubles title and advanced to the championship match of the ITA Small College National Championships in Mobile, Ala.  He was twice named to the Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll and once to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.