The late Don Grider will be one of 12 new members to be inducted April 17 into the TSSAA Hall of Fame. He’s the only one from southeastern Tennessee.
Grider, who died in the summer of 2007 at the age of 67, was the head football coach at South Pittsburg from 1969 to ’92. He directed the Pirates to the Class A state championship in 1969, the first year of the TSSAA’s playoff system, and finished with a career record of 192-76-3.
“I wish it could have been when he was alive so he could have enjoyed it,” said his widow, Gaynelle Grider. “When we got the news, it made our whole family feel very proud because it is such a great honor. Don would be so proud to be considered among those who are in the state hall of fame.
“Football is an important part of our family’s life, and this community has been so supportive of us through the years. It’s good to know his legacy will live on.”
The Hall of Fame luncheon will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro at noon EST. Former South Pittsburg basketball coach Sam Brooks was inducted in 2009.
“That’s a pretty big deal for a school our size to have two in the last two years,” said Vic Grider, the Pirates’ football coach, athletic director and older son of Don Grider. “It’s something our whole community can be proud of.
“When people pass away, a common reaction is for people to forget about them. But there are a lot of people here that didn’t forget what Dad accomplished, and that means so much to our family. I wouldn’t be where I am if not for him. He laid the groundwork for our program, and Danny (Wilson) and I have just tried to follow what he started.”
District tourney moved
After higher-seeded teams host the first two days of the District 6-AA basketball tournament, the portion scheduled Feb. 20, 23 and 24 at Brainerd High School now will be held at East Ridge.
Brainerd boys’ coach and athletic director Robert High said he and girls’ coach Carolyn Jackson had been discussing the possibility of moving the tournament for about a month, before the fights that took place in the crowd Jan. 22 when Brainerd hosted Tyner.
“Our biggest concern is the dressing rooms,” High said. “It’s bad when you have people come here and there are no stalls in the boys’ dressing room. Because it’s a tournament, you’re going to have some girls’ teams in there at times, too. The sinks in the boys’ room are in terrible shape. It’s just not conducive for us to have it at this time.”
The move means the Panthers’ and Lady Panthers’ programs will not benefit from concession sales. High said he hopes repairs can be made in time so Brainerd can host the tournament when it becomes East Ridge’s turn.
Wrestling postponed
The GHSA announced Thursday that this weekend’s scheduled wrestling sectional rounds have been postponed because of possible bad weather. The tournaments, which set the field for next weekend’s state individual championships, will be held Monday and Tuesday.
Sectionals for northwest Georgia teams are being held at Upson Lee (Class AAAA), Riverwood (AAA), Gordon County Recreational Complex (AA) and Bremen (A).
Jones surprised at LFO
It hasn’t been the most memorable season for Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe boys’ basketball coach Jerry Jones, but Tuesday will be a day the veteran coach will never forget.
The school officially renamed the gymnasium after him and managed to keep the plans a secret. Jones, though, knew something was going on.
“When (son) J.R. shows up at Lakeview on a Tuesday night, I know something’s up,” he laughed. “Then I saw my mom, who’s 90, (son) Steve and some nieces and nephews. I thought they were going to retire me.
“Not many people get a gym named after them during a 1-23 season. I guess it means I’ve somehow managed to stick around a long time. It was nice. We’ve had a tough year, losing 11 games by a total of 26 points, but the guys have worked their tails off.”
Kelly gets 1,000th
Arts & Sciences senior Kayla Kelly scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season and was recognized at last Friday’s home basketball games against South Pittsburg.
CSAS boys’ coach and athletic director Mark Dragoo said the girls’ game was stopped after Kelly made her first basket against the Lady Pirates. She was presented a commemorative ball acknowledging the achievement.
Kilgore hits milestone
Whitwell senior Macy Kilgore scored her 1,000th point in the fourth quarter Thursday in a 66-38 victory at South Pittsburg. She finished with 25 points, including six 3-pointers, and the Lady Tigers secured the District 6-A regular-season title.
Kilgore will be honored tonight on senior night when the Lady Tigers host Sequatchie County.