After their game, Woodland Middle JV players shake hands with Sunset and sixth-grader Jared Stevens, who participated in a play in his wheelchair.

Father-son stories, pro athlete articles also among BHP readers' tops

By CAROL STUART
Brentwood Home Page
From a father-son coaching together to sons playing against their dad’s schools, and from NFL players working out to an NBA player coaching during lockouts, BHP readers found favorites among some of our fun, heartwarming or intriguing sports features.

The one story that seemed to touch Brentwood Home Page readers the most was Jodi Rall’s article that captured a shining moment when a Sunset Middle School JV football player in a wheelchair participated in a play against Woodland.

Here are the top sports features of 2011 according to clicks on our website, presented in chronological order:

Auburn players in national championship: Brentwood had several connections to the War Eagles’ football team which won the BCS national championship in January.

The real ‘Rudy’ visits BA: The real-life Rudy Ruettiger, whose Notre Dame football story inspired the movie Rudy, gave an inspirational talk to Brentwood Academy students during Spiritual Awareness Week.

Nation’s top 2 junior tennis players: Maxx Lipman and Sean Karl, long-time friends and training partners, became ranked No. 1 and 2 nationally among 16s junior tennis players but still played high school tennis at Brentwood High and Ravenwood.

Schmittou heritage at BHS: Lady Bruins softball player Clarissa Schmittou, granddaughter of Sounds founder and former Vanderbilt baseball coach Larry Schmittou, carried the family tradition onto the diamond.

Full Circle baseball:  BHS players spent a day with the Challenge League baseball players in April, and then in June the Full Circle program got its own field for the league sponsored by the YMCA for players with disabilities.

Belmont, Byrd headed to OVC: Basketball coach Rick Byrd talked to seniors at the Martin Center monthly potluck about Belmont joining the Brentwood-based Ohio Valley Conference.

UNC’s Stallings faces dad’s school: Former Brentwood Academy player Jacob Stallings, the catcher for North Carolina, opened College World Series action against Vanderbilt – where his dad Kevin is the men’s basketball coach.

Packers work out at MAD Sports: Former UT and BA player Scott Wells, the center for Super Bowl champion Green Bay, brought his Packers buddies in for workouts during the National Football League  lockout. 

National seniors tennis champs: Brentwood tennis partners Roger Greenup, born with only one hand, and Ronny Green brought the National Seniors Games 65s doubles title home from Houston.

BA grad in ‘Courageous’ movie: Ben Davies, former four-time state high school champ at Brentwood Academy, told students God had different plans for him when he was sidelined from college competition by injuries. Davies landed a starring role in Courageous, a new Christian film about fatherhood.

C.J. Sanders faces dad’s team: BA freshman running back C.J. Sanders squared off on the opposite sidelines against his father, former Tennessee Titans receiver Chris Sanders, who is now an assistant coach with Montgomery Bell Academy. C.J. has had an acting career, appearing in the movie Ray.

Ironman for all continents:  Brentwood resident Phil Theodore is well on his way of completing an Ironman  triathlon on every continent – even considering a way to run one with his own team in Antarctica.

Missing Friday night lights: Ravenwood linebacker Collin Sawyer, BHS linebacker Will Witherspoon and BA running back Radir Anoor all were busy rehabbing instead of playing their final season of high school football.

Wheelchair football player: After the Sunset coach talked with the Woodland coach at the end of their  middle school JV football game, a Sunset wheelchair-bound student carried the ball on the final play as he was pushed by teammates.

Two Crawfords on the sidelines: Brentwood high coach Ron Crawford and his father, Bruins defensive line coach Tom Crawford, shared their story of special bonds on the sidelines after son first played for and worked with his dad.

CPA new coach and special Thanksgiving: Christ Presbyterian Academy’s first-year head football coach Ingle Martin brought his winning ways from MBA, Florida, Furman and the NFL’s Green Bay to the Lions program. CPA then fit football around the Thanksgiving feast after making the state semifinals.

NBA player coaches during lockout: Brandan Wright, former BA and UNC basketball star,  coached the Eagles freshman team while returning home during the National Basketball Association lockout.

Iraq sports clinic: Matt Hoppe, a middle school social studies teacher and coach at Brentwood Academy, helped with sports clinics in war-torn Iraq during his summer and Thanksgiving breaks.

RHS one-handed basketball player: Ravenwood sophomore Zach Hodskins is working hard at the sport he loves and is well on his way to a college career although he has only one hand.