B

R

E

N

T

W

O

O

D

H

I

G

H

Alec Thomas
Sophomore / Cross country & track

Sophomore Alec Thomas has a little family competition during cross country season.  His twin brother Aaron runs on the BHS team, as well as his brother Nate, who is a senior. Nate Thomas and Paul Stuart are consistently the No. 1 and No. 2 runners for the team, but Alec is now the No. 3 runner and getting faster every meet.

Alec says having his brothers on the team and his dad as a coach fuels his drive to run.

Alec’s personal record time in a 5K is 16:28, and last year he was his team’s No. 4 runner in the state meet, placing 28th. His goal this year is to finish in the top 15. In track last year he was the only freshman on the 800-meter relay team at the state meet.

Alec has a 4.367 GPA and has no college choices yet, although he has narrowed down that he dreads Latin, but looks forward to AP Euro.

Brittany Alexander has only been running for two years, after being a cheerleader, and is one of the top runners on the cross country team. Her personal record for the 5K is 19:50, but she is committed to her goal of breaking 19 minutes this season. 

Brittany credits her cross country coach Kelly Rowe for her success in both sports. “Mrs. Rowe has been a great influence in my life. She makes running fun and pushes me to perform at my highest level – especially when it hurts the most. She has created a fun family atmosphere the entire team enjoys.”

Brittany is fired up about the cross country float for this year’s Homecoming Parade. The girls team consists of mostly seniors and it is always her favorite time of the year.

With a 4.1 GPA Brittany would like to run cross country in college, and is looking at University of South Carolina, Furman and College of Charleston.

R

A

V

E

N

W

O

O

D

H

I

G

H

Trevor Phillips
Sophomore / Cross country & track

Sophomore Trevor Phillips is the No. 3 runner on the Ravenwood cross country team and a top runner on the track team. His personal record times include:  5K – 18:17, 1600 meters – 5:15, 3200 – 11:03. 

Trevor finds his inspiration for running from his coach Pete Mueller. “He knows everything about running, and actually runs with the team!”  Only a few meets into the season, Trevor hopes to break the 18-minute mark in the 5K.

Trevor has many other talents. He is a brown belt in karate, has played the violin for 10 years – including classical and fiddle, has played the string bass for four years, and is an avid cook.

Both his parents are vets and own the Southside Animal Hospital and Clovercroft Veterinary Hospital, so Trevor has MANY animals.

With a 4.4 GPA Trevor would like to attend either MIT or Vanderbilt on a running or music scholarship, and also go to culinary school.  

Erika Peoples
Senior / Cross country & track

Erika is Brentwood Home Page’s first athlete to be chosen three times.

As the No. 1 runner on the cross country team, Erika led the Lady Raptors team to a second-place finish out of 31 teams in the state meet last season with a time of 19:48.

Her goals this year include finishing top 5 in the state and breaking 19 minutes in the 5K. Since freshman year Erika has been named All-District, All-Region and All-State.

Erika is definitely going to run in college but has not decided which one as of yet. She is in the process of going on official visits, but feeling a bit stressed out with everything going on in her life at the moment. One big stressor is Erika is an only child and already dreading leaving home.

She will also miss Coach Pete Mueller. “I would have been lost these past four years without his guidance and support.”

B

R

E

N

T

W

O

O

D

A

C

A

D

E

M

Y

Corien Owens

Corien Owens plays noseguard for the “state champion”-bound Brentwood Academy Eagles. “This is the year I’m not leaving this school without a state champion ring.”

As an All-Region lineman, Corien’s stats last year included 22 tackles, 5 sacks, 16 assists, and Player of the Week for his performance in the Ensworth game.

“Coach Pittman, my defensive line coach, taught me everything.  During my four years at BA I have watched and mimicked everything he does. I will use his teachings throughout my life.”

Corien is also a talented budding music producer. It is his hobby, as well as a part-time job as his cousin’s – “lil goonie” – producer.

Sound engineering is what Corien would like to pursue a career in, but he would also like to play football in college.

Nikki Kocina
Senior / Cross country

Nikki Kocina is known around BA as being a great runner, but she is mostly known for her inspirational and happy spirit.

Now a senior and the cross country team’s No. 2 runner, Nikki received the Inspirational Award last year, which was her most coveted achievement. 

Her personal record in the 5K is 22:11 at the UTC Powerade Meet, and her goal for this year is to break 22 minutes.

Nikki states her coach Cathy Cheeseman has been “enormously influential in my life. Not only has she expanded me athletically, but she has nurtured and inspired me to approach life’s challenges.”

Instead of running track in the spring, Nikki plans on assisting with the middle school boys track team.

Nikki is also a wrestling cheerleader, and she practices piano and guitar every day. Her dream is to major in music in college, and then start a music program for inner-city children.