The clock was turned back inside the Gleason High School gym on Friday
evening. Members of both the 1992 and 2007 Class A State Championship girls’
basketball teams reunited at their alma mater for a presentation and recognition
of the squads in between games featuring the current Gleason and Greenfield
squads.
To begin the ceremony, the 1992 and 2007 state championship trophies were
wheeled out onto the floor by current members of the Lady Bulldog basketball
program moments after Gleason claimed a 57-50 triumph over G’field.
Then, the 1992 squad was introduced and presented with medals commemorating the
reunion by current members of the Lady Bulldog team. Three of the current
Gleason girls have direct ties to the 1992 squad. Current Lady Bulldog junior
Aubrey Wallace is the daughter of 1992 senior Cristi (Wallace) Sawyers.
Gleason’s Lillian and Martha Nichols are the nieces of Camille (Connell) Legins,
who was a sophomore on the ’92 state champion team.
“Although it’s been 25 years, I still remember winning the state tournament just
like it was yesterday,” Sawyers said. “Seeing all the girls tonight from both
teams as well as Coach (Randy) Frazier, Coach (Joel) Ayers) and Mr. (Mitchell)
Parham brought back some of the best moments of my life. However, the highlight
of it was my daughter handing me the memento from the evening. That brought
tears to my eyes and will be something I cherish forever. I’m so proud to be a
part of the Lady Bulldog team and hope that we will soon have a fourth state
championship.”
All but five members of the 1992 girls’ state champion team were on hand at
Friday’s celebration, including Becky (Crowe) Padgett.
“Friday night’s 25-year reunion brought back so many special memories like the
love and support of our Gleason community, the bond between teammates, the
admiration and respect for Coach Frazier and Mrs. Terry (Frazier) and the pride
of what it meant to wear orange and represent the Lady Bulldogs,” said Padgett.
“I was overwhelmed by Gleason High School’s warm welcome and hospitality.”
Aside from Sawyer and Padgett, other members of the 1992 squad – which went 33-3
en route to the state championship – present for the reunion were Selena (Dilday)
Hodges, Heather (Lehmkuhl) Leach, Kristy (Freeman) O’Connor, Tonya (Parham)
Lutz, Camille (Connell) Legons, Stacy (Stewart) Cook, Kristy (McKee) Dunn, and
Holly (Crowe) Adams. Lisa (Wallace) Palmer, Ashley (Hopper) Flint, Brandy
(Wiseman) Horler, Olivia (Lowe) Gilliam, Nicki (Stephens) Pace and LeAnn (Bell)
Smith were not present.
Following the introduction of the 1992 state champion team, the 2007 squad was
welcomed back for its 10-year reunion.
A decade ago, Gleason posted a 35-1 worksheet en route to the program’s third
state crown. As was the case with the 1992 squad, the 2007 team’s medal ceremony
had family ties. Current Lady Bulldog Jayden Green – who scored a dozen points
during the win over Greenfield – is the niece of 2007 team member Candace
(Green) Lindsey.
“It was great seeing everyone again and catching up like old times,” Green said.
“I got a little emotional when my name was called and when Mr. P came out to do
his chant, but I guess that’s expected when you’re nine months pregnant. I’m
very proud of my niece Jayden and it’s an honor to know all those people were
able to watch her win a big game.”
2007 Class A Miss Basketball award winner Kayla (Hudson) Irvin – the current
girls’ coach at Crockett County and a second cousin to current Gleason player
Kenady Atkins – was also on hand to take a bow alongside her teammates from a
decade ago.
“It was such an honor to stand beside the girls I went to battle with 10 years
ago,” Irvin said. “That team became my family. The wins and championships are
fun, but it’s the relationships that make the journey worth it. Those ladies I
love so much are now great wives and mothers. The lessons we learned on the
court permeate into so many other areas of life. I was just so humbled and
grateful to get to reminisce and experience that with them again.
“As a coach myself, I am now aware of the time and preparation our coaches put
in to making us into a team that could succeed at that level. I see with clear
vision that “whys” behind every drill and mental toughness challenge our coaches
put us in. I am so grateful for the opportunity to play for coaches who expected
excellence in all areas. It is my prayer that I am able to teach these same
lessons to my team.”
Along with Irwin and Lindsey, numerous other members of the 2007 Class A state
champion squad (35-1) were on hand on Friday including Ashley Coble, Camille
(Cooper) Legens, Erica (Morgan) Stahr), Sara (Hensley) Webb, Elizabeth (Terrell)
Cunningham, Kim (Edenfield) Marcus, Breanna (Wallace) Nerie, Jenna (Frazier)
Verdell, Taylor Stout, Tiffany Coble, Riley (Auvenshine) Laster and Kim
(Reynolds) Healy along with assistant coach Joel Ayers. Members of the 2007
squad not present were Becca Hodges, Alexis Tipton and Maggie Lowrance.
Following the team introductions, current Weakley County Director of Schools
Randy Frazier – who served as the head coach for both of the honored Lady
Bulldog state champion squads – briefly shared his memories of the two teams
before turning over the festivities to former athletic director/ principal
Mitchell Parham.
Parham led the home section of the crowd in a Gleason chant - a staple of
postseason basketball pep rallies and games during his long tenure at the
school.
“It was great to be back in Gleason for the reunion of the 1992 and 2007 state
championship teams,” Parham said. “I enjoyed seeing all the former players as it
brought back very good memories. I also enjoyed talking with many of the great
Gleason Bulldog fans, who are the best. Thanks to Gleason High School for
getting this together and I was honored to be invited to join in with the
celebration. It was great.” Source: The Dresden Enterprise.
