Brookwood to induct Hall of Fame class
Brookwood School will induct its first class of honorees into the school’s athletics hall of fame, with an event in mid-October to unveil the space and honor the initial inductees. Twenty-two inductees will comprise the first class. Construction and installation of the Hall of Fame space has been underway in the Beverly Athletic Center.
Biographies of each of the first class of inductees will be published. The initial seven, with their year of graduation, are:
Brad Alexander ‘77
Brad Alexander ‘77
Brad Alexander excelled in four sports during his time as a Warrior: football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. As a junior, Alexander played a vital role for the 1975 state champion and undefeated varsity football team as an all-region and all-state safety. Later that same school year, he was named all-region for Warrior baseball and tennis where he was the region champion in singles play.
As a senior, he was again named all-region and all-state in football. Alexander earned team MVP honors that year, playing running back on offense and safety on defense. He contributed to the 1977 state champion basketball team and was named honorable mention all-region. In the spring, he was selected all-region and all-state in baseball while earning all-region in tennis as the singles champion.
As a senior, he was again named all-region and all-state in football. Alexander earned team MVP honors that year, playing running back on offense and safety on defense. He contributed to the 1977 state champion basketball team and was named honorable mention all-region. In the spring, he was selected all-region and all-state in baseball while earning all-region in tennis as the singles champion.
Professionally, Alexander is the chief operating officer of Flowers Foods,Inc., serves the American Bakers Association as first vice-chair, and is a member of the Advisory Council to the Grocers Manufacturing Association.
Stephen Cheney Jr. ‘04
Wesley Brown ‘99
Wesley Brown lettered as a Warrior in four different varsity sports in his time on campus: football, baseball, basketball, and track. Brown’s performance on the football field stands out, as he graduated as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 4,326 yards from scrimmage. He was named both all-region and all-state three consecutive seasons in 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Other athletic accomplishments include earning Warrior football team MVP in 1997 and 1998 and receiving the Class of 1999’s Outstanding Male Athlete award. Brown also garnered 2nd place at the 1999 GISA state track meet in the 300 meter hurdles.
Other athletic accomplishments include earning Warrior football team MVP in 1997 and 1998 and receiving the Class of 1999’s Outstanding Male Athlete award. Brown also garnered 2nd place at the 1999 GISA state track meet in the 300 meter hurdles.
After his time at Brookwood, Brown went on to graduate from the University of Florida with his bachelor’s degree and the University of South Florida with a master’s. In his free time, he mentors people with substance abuse problems and helps find employment for those in remission. He resides here in Thomasville, where he is the general manager of the popular Jonah’s Fish & Grits downtown.
Stephen Cheney Jr. ‘04
Stephen Cheney Jr. was a three-sport athlete at Brookwood, competing in football, basketball, and baseball in his time as a Warrior. Stephen was a main contributor on two of the best teams in Brookwood’s baseball history, a power-hitting catcher for the back-to-back state champion teams of 2003 and 2004. He was a three-time all-region player behind the plate and named all-state as a junior and senior in 2003 and 2004.
On the football field, Cheney earned all-region honors in the fall seasons of 2002 and 2003 as a quarterback and also played linebacker.
He played baseball collegiately and have a successful career at LaGrange College for four seasons from 2005 through 2008.
Presently, he lives in Thomasville and works as a vice president at Thomasville National Bank. He is active in both civic and community affairs in Thomasville and the Thomas County area.
Holly Hobbs ‘96
Holly Hobbs excelled as a star athlete in multiple sports at Brookwood. She lettered in softball, basketball, track and field, and soccer as a Lady Warrior.
Her main sport of excellence was softball, where she was named the Brookwood team MVP in 1993, 1994, and 1995. Hobbs was selected as an all-region player on four separate occasions in 1992 through 1995. As a senior, Hobbs earned all-state honors.
She played collegiately at South Georgia State College. During her freshman year in the spring of 1997, Hobbs recorded a NJCAA record for the most triples in a National Tournament game. She was named SGSC’s team MVP her sophomore year of 1998, posting a .667 batting average while being named an NJCAA All-American.
Holly worked with children during the summers in various camps throughout the community, including at the YMCA in Pavo at the field that would later be named after her. During her senior year of high school she started PawPrints, a T-shirt printing business, with her sister. Twenty- three years later, it is still growing strong.
She played collegiately at South Georgia State College. During her freshman year in the spring of 1997, Hobbs recorded a NJCAA record for the most triples in a National Tournament game. She was named SGSC’s team MVP her sophomore year of 1998, posting a .667 batting average while being named an NJCAA All-American.
Holly worked with children during the summers in various camps throughout the community, including at the YMCA in Pavo at the field that would later be named after her. During her senior year of high school she started PawPrints, a T-shirt printing business, with her sister. Twenty- three years later, it is still growing strong.
Her young life was cut short by tragedy. In Hobbs’ memory, the Holly Hobbs #7 Foundation was formed. Through her foundation, more than 20 girls from Brookwood, Thomasville High and Thomas County Central have received scholarships to play collegiate athletics.
Deborah Jones (Nigh) ‘04
Deborah Jones Nigh shined as a standout runner for both the Brookwood cross country and track teams in the early 2000s.
In cross country, she finished as the individual region champion her final three seasons in 2001, 2002, and 2003. She earned all-region, all-state, and finished in the top 10 at the state meet annually from 20002003. Her significant highlights include winning individual state championships as a junior and senior in the falls of 2002 and 2003.
Nigh may have been even more dominant on the track in the spring. A four-time region champion in the 3200 meter and 1600 meter races, she won both of those races at the state championships as a junior and senior in 2003 and 2004. She was the recipient of the Thomasville Sports Hall of Fame Special Achievement Award in 2004.
Nigh may have been even more dominant on the track in the spring. A four-time region champion in the 3200 meter and 1600 meter races, she won both of those races at the state championships as a junior and senior in 2003 and 2004. She was the recipient of the Thomasville Sports Hall of Fame Special Achievement Award in 2004.
She starred collegiately as a runner for cross country and track at Mercer University, being named team MVP four times, 2004 through 2007. She served as the team captain at Mercer in 2006 and 2007, owning multiple school records during her time there.
After graduating from Mercer, Nigh continued academically to earn her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga. She currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina where she works in marketing and administration at the Nigh Eye Group.
Stephen Shea ‘04
Stephen Shea was a two sport athlete at Brookwood in the early 2000s, playing both football and baseball. He was a core part to two of the best teams in Brookwood’s baseball history, winning back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004.
He excelled as an all-state pitcher and outfielder in 2003 and 2004. As a pitcher in 2003, he went 11-2 on a team that posted a 26-3 record en route to a state championship win. He continued his strong play as a senior, going 7-3 on the mound while sporting a 1.58 ERA with 101 strikeouts. In the batter’s box, he carried a solid bat that season hitting .431 for the Warriors. That year Brookwood went 24-3, winning a second consecutive state title by sweeping Tiftarea Academy in a bestof- three series at Strickland Field on campus. He was named the Area’s Player of the Year by the Thomasville Times-Enterprise after his Senior season in 2004.
He excelled as an all-state pitcher and outfielder in 2003 and 2004. As a pitcher in 2003, he went 11-2 on a team that posted a 26-3 record en route to a state championship win. He continued his strong play as a senior, going 7-3 on the mound while sporting a 1.58 ERA with 101 strikeouts. In the batter’s box, he carried a solid bat that season hitting .431 for the Warriors. That year Brookwood went 24-3, winning a second consecutive state title by sweeping Tiftarea Academy in a bestof- three series at Strickland Field on campus. He was named the Area’s Player of the Year by the Thomasville Times-Enterprise after his Senior season in 2004.
On the football field, Shea was named all-region twice as a linebacker. He played baseball collegiately at Furman University in South Carolina. He currently works in medical sales in Tallahassee.
Kevin Vick ‘86
Kevin Vick was a three sport athlete for the Warriors as a four-year letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a key player of a dominant three-year stretch winning two state championships in 1983 and 1985 with a state semifinal finish in 1984. During his senior season, he was an all-state selection and Team MVP. Vick finished his career with 3,843 rushing yards. He was named the Thomasville Times-Enterprise All-Area Offensive Player of the Year as a running back.
On the baseball diamond, he earned all-region and team MVP in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Vick made all-state his senior year with a .488 batting average and 45 RBIs for the 1986 state champion Warriors. He earned the Outstanding Male Athlete award for Brookwood’s Class of 1986.
On the baseball diamond, he earned all-region and team MVP in 1984, 1985, and 1986. Vick made all-state his senior year with a .488 batting average and 45 RBIs for the 1986 state champion Warriors. He earned the Outstanding Male Athlete award for Brookwood’s Class of 1986.
After Brookwood, he signed to play football at Liberty University before transferring to Mercer University to play baseball. He was inducted into the Thomasville- Thomas County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
Currently, he is the vice president commercial banker at TC Federal Bank. He and his wife Sonia have three children, who are all Brookwood student-athletes: Anna (‘20), Mollie (‘20), and Turner (‘22). An active member of the Thomasville community, he is on the Brookwood Board of Directors, Brookwood Booster Club, an ambassador for the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, and a member of First Baptist Church.
Brookwood School
Located in Thomasville, GA, Brookwood School is a private school for grades JK-12. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.