Since 1980, Brentwood Academy has won 16 state track and field titles, including
a Class AA three-peat from 1980 to 1982 and Class A/AA five-peat from 1987 to 1991.
Last season, the Eagles made Tennessee Secondary Schools
Association history by winning their sixth-straight state championship. No. 7 is within reach as Brentwood Academy will be the overwhelming favorite at
the Blue Cross Blue Shield Spring Fling state championship next month in
Murfreesboro.
Brentwood Academy started its dominance in 2003 after
seeing Montgomery Bell Academy and Baylor combine to win
all five state titles since 1998 when the TSSAA formed Division II.
Although the Eagles had won 10 state titles, BA coach
Charlie Harper hatched a plan in 2000 to make his team more competitive at the
start of the decade.
We had to redefine our program,” Harper said. “We had to
develop depth in Division II to be successful and it took us a couple of years
of taking our lumps to finally get it.”
When the Eagles were in Class AA and A/AA, depth
didn’t matter as much as they were able to win a state title without a ton of
points.
“When we were in the other classes, you could win a state
title with 50 to 65 points,” Harper said.
The Eagles in their Class AA state title wins averaged
72.6 points. The Class A/AA state titles produced an average of 77 points. The Eagles have averaged 150.3 points in their six Division II title wins.
Good athletes have helped the cause as BA has
had three Division I signees in Andrew Bumbalough (Georgetown), Chris Vaughn
(Indiana) and Ben Davies (Florida) since 2005.
While the athletes have come and gone, the one stable
force behind the Eagles' success is Harper who has coached the Eagles to 13 state
titles in his 26 seasons as head coach.
“While we have had some good athletes we have also had
some very unselfish, team-oriented kids that have really been key,” Harper
said.
The Eagles have several football players on the team this
season, including Vanderbilt signee Thad McHaney who is running the sprint
relays and throwing the discus and the shot put. Navy signee Barry Dabney is throwing
the shot put as well.
The Eagle sophomore
class is talented led by Josh Davies in the decathlon and hurdles, Bryson
Lillard (hurdles, 400 meters), Derek King (100, 200 meters) and Victor Caro
(long jump, 100, 200, 400 meters).
Senior Chase Brannon leads in the way in the pole vault. Fellow seniors Terrance Scott (relays) and Breon Dixon (400 and 800) are major contributors while
freshman Sam Roberson (3,200) leads the distance runners for BA.
Don’t forget about us
While BA is the favorite to win a seventh-straight state
title, three other teams could contend;
Memphis
University School
The Owls were young last season and bring
back a slew of athletes that finished fourth at the state meet with 88 points.
Junior Stephond Allmond excels four events, the 110 hurdles, pole vault, long jump
and triple jump.
Senior Barrett Folk competes in four events, as well, 110 hurdles, 300
hurdles, high jump and pole vault.
Juniors Keith McBride, Hank Hill and Elliott Bryant leads the sprint
events.
Matt Grisham leads the distance events as he runs the 800
and 3,200, while Jared Davis does both the high and triple jump and Michael
Delugach throws the shot put and discus.
Christian
Brothers
The Purple Wave could be the spoiler in the Division II
state meet thanks to several returning lettermen.
They recently defeated MUS and 15 other Memphis-area
teams in the Christian Brothers Invitational.
Whit Orians (400, long jump), Will Sneed
(800 and 1600 runs) and Tyler Catterton (800, 1,600, 3,200 runs) led the way in
the distance runs.
Tristan Jaynes (300 hurdles, 110 meter hurdles), Seymore
Wright (high jump), Lane LaChapelle
(long jump, triple jump) are good in the field events.
Bruck Brucker (shot put, discus), Lyndell
Mitchell (shot put, discus) and Tony Downs (pole vault) are also consistent scorers.
Montgomery Bell Academy
The
Big Red actually own a head-to-head win over the Eagles in the Doug Hall Relays
so they know they can beat BA.
They also won their fourth
consecutive Nashville Track and Field Championship last weekend, their 10th Nashville Track and Field title in the last 13 years.
They also picked up a win in
the Buster Relays in early April.
The Big Red are led by
athlete Patrick Crum in the long jump, Vanderbilt football signee Wesley Johnson
handles the shot put and big man Scott Bubis throws the discus.
Chase Owen takes care of the
long jump while Brian Oslin, Ryan
Venable and Rhett Wallace comprising a solid group of hurdlers.
Michael Peters (800, 3,200), Dalton Fouts (800),
Jarrett Love (400) and Baker Mulherin (800) provide
leadership and depth.
Questions? Comments? Contact Donovan at dstew4vu@yahoo.com.
