Six inducted into Brookwood Athletic Hall of Fame

THOMASVILLE- The Brookwood School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted six new members, including Duke Bryan, Stephen Cheney Sr., Bobby Link, Lib (Lanigan) Olson, Heeth Varnedoe and Roger Walker, during a ceremony at the Joe and Mary Beverly Athletic Center on Thursday evening.

Headmaster Dr. Randy Watts opened up the ceremony with a welcome, recalling some history of the athletic programs.

“In 1970, during Brookwood’s first year, basketball, track, baseball, cheerleading and tennis were offered,” Watts said. “The only team with the luxury of an on-campus practice facility was basketball, who practiced on an outdoor court that doubled as a smoking area for the older students.”

When it was too cold or rainy, the basketball team would practice at Southwestern State Hospital’s gym. There they would go on to get Brookwood’s first ever win. “The girl’s basketball team, then known as the Warriorettes won the first ever game at that gym, 46-16,” Watts recalled.

Football was added the second year, with players often practicing on the front lawn of Buddy Hines’ home.

It is said the Hines often rewarded the players with a dip in the pool after a good practice.

“Soon after practice fields were put on campus, with the gym becoming the second building on campus,” Watts said.

Since those original two years, Brookwood School has continued to build on its athletic success.

“Today Brookwood School has athletic fields and facilities that are unparalleled to those in our region,” Watts boasted. “Brookwood now has 28 state championships and field 41 teams in 13 different sports.”

With such a rich history, Watts was more than excited to honor those who contributed their talents and devotion to the athletic program during Thursday’s ceremony.

“Each of our inductees this evening has inspired others to achieve as well and shape Brookwood into the school it is today,” he concluded.

Watts then introduced guest speaker and former coach, teacher and Headmaster, Tom Johnson.

Johnson told the crowd that sometimes scoreboards, points, wins and losses can convey the success of a team or a player, but they never convey the elegance or grace an athlete has on and off the court.

“The scoreboard does not show the world where an ardent heart, where the passion of the heart and a sharp mind exists,” Johnson said. “In this sports world, here at Brookwood School, it is where an ardent heart, passion and a sharp mind can reach a balance.”

Johnson claimed the inductees found that balance.

“All athletes have an iron clad resolve to improve,” he said. “They are driven by passion and strengthened by values. The player’s heart, spirit and soul is everything. It’s not enough to practice, but it is the spirit we bring to the game that wins.”

Johnson reminisced with each individual inductee, recalling details from their early years of sports practice and gritty games.

Bryan was a five-sport athlete and five-time State Champion for the Warriors. He competed in tennis, golf, football, baseball an basketball. He went on to become the first Brookwood athlete to win a State Championship in tennis in 1983 for singles and another State Championship in 1984 for doubles.

Cheney Sr. lettered in basketball, baseball, track and golf during his time at Brookwood. He went on to become a member of the 1975 and 1976 State Championship Golf teams.

Link was unable to be at the ceremony, due to recovering from a recent surgery, but his accolades spoke about the player he was during his years at Brookwood.

Link excelled in both football and baseball. He pitched at Carson-Newman University and St. Leo University, before he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 1985 MLB Draft. He pitched six years in the minor league, making him the only Brookwood player to ascend to that level.

Olson competed at a time in Brookwood’s history when the only sport available for women was basketball. She went on to be named Team MVP, Best Offensive Player and Best Defensive Player multiple times, receiving the High Point Award in 1973 and 1974.