Inaugural Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame features big names

Published 11:28 pm Sunday, January 26, 2025

By Dave Domescik

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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The stars aligned on Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Pelham High School athletics complex, as the school celebrated the inaugural class of the Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame.

An evening that featured 20 inductees from a variety of sports and careers being celebrated for their contributions to Pelham High School saw the inductees reunite over their dedication and love for the school that shaped them.

A list of names that included many backgrounds such as national-championship winning coach Dabo Swinney, former Alabama quarterback Tyler Watts, a Pelham staple in Kim Kiel, many impactful volleyball and baseball players and coaches from storied programs and many more all gathered in their appreciation for what Pelham helped them accomplish.

The ceremony began with a welcome from Pelham High School’s current principal, Sabrina Tutchtone. Tuchtone discussed her admiration for the inductees and her appreciation for the event in her remarks.

“As a former history teacher, this is really cool for me to watch the past and present meet and to literally see how one forwards the other,” Tutchtone said. “I’m so appreciative to get to be here to do that tonight. All of our inductees here are super special people. They’re special not because they had opportunities that this high school afforded them, but because they were prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that were given.”

Following Tutchtone’s welcome, Trey Simpson, PCS’s director of athletics, gave remarks on “The Pelham Way” and what it means to him.

“For a long time, I was like, ‘What does The Pelham Way mean?’” Simpson said. “It’s the collaboration, the willingness to work together and wanting to see each other succeed. It’s unique here. We love that about Pelham, and we feel blessed and very fortunate to be here.”

A video presentation then played, serving as a tribute to the legacy and spirit of Pelham athletics and the honorees inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame class.

“At Pelham High School, the Panther has always been more than a mascot,” Chris Honeycutt said. “It is a symbol of resilience, strength and pride. Our legacy has been written by those who dared to dream, push limits and embrace unique opportunities and connections. Because of the foundation you (the inductees) have laid, the spirit of hope continues to burn, brightly fueled by the potential of future generations.”

Honeycutt then stepped to the podium and proceeded to introduce each of the 20 honorees in alphabetical order for the remainder of the night. Each honoree had the opportunity to give a speech after receiving their Hall of Fame status.

The first honoree was Sean Anderson, who was an integral part of Pelham athletics for 30 years. Most notably, Anderson was Pelham’s head baseball coach for 12 years and was an assistant in baseball, football and cross-country for 18 years.

In his tenure as both an assistant and head coach, the baseball program won two Class 6A State Championships, had three state runner-up finishes, five South region championships and four area championships.

“Thank you everybody for being here, this is an exceptional night,” Anderson said. “I’m just honored and humbled to be a part of this group.”

Anderson retired in 2024, leaving behind an indelible mark on Pelham athletics as a whole. He cited his tenure at the conclusion of his speech.

“Thirty years is a long time, and I guess you know when you’re done, you’re done,” Anderson said. “It’s time for me to be a dad, for me to be a granddad and have a good time doing it.”

Lane Bearden, who graduated from Pelham in 1998, was the next honoree. Bearden shined on Pelham’s football team from 1994-1998, playing as both a punter and receiver. He received All-State honors as a punter in 1997, and following his career at Pelham joined the University of Alabama’s football program.

Bearden was the Crimson Tide’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and served as team captain in 2002 as well.

After Bearden, two of Pelham’s greatest volleyball players, Whitney Billings and Jeni Jones Chatman, were honored consecutively.

Billings graduated Pelham in 2009, and was a six-year varsity starter for the Panther volleyball program. In 2006, Billings was a member of the Junior Olympic All-Tournament Team, and won Shelby County Player of the Year in 2008.

She was a two-time National High School Player of the Year finalist, and continued her career at the University of Kentucky.

Billings continued to dominate the court with the Wildcats, winning All-SEC Freshman Team honors in 2010 and various All-SEC and All-American honors throughout her career. After college, Billings had several stints professionally overseas.

Chatman, like Billings, was a force at both Pelham and in the SEC, where she played for the Florida Gators. At Pelham, Chatman was a two-time AHSAA Player of the Year award winner and a three-time All-American.

With Florida, she helped the Gators win three SEC Tournament Championships and made three NCAA Final Four appearances.

Chatman continued to have an impact on the volleyball court even after her playing days concluded as she created the beach volleyball program at Central Arkansas.

Following the honoring of two volleyball stars, the focus shifted to the baseball diamond, where two teammates from Pelham baseball received their flowers.

Parker Curry and Trevor Fitts both shined for the Panther baseball program. Curry was a four-year varsity player, and is the program’s all-time leader in assists.

Curry signed with Samford University, and was a First Team All-SoCon pitcher with the Bulldogs in 2016. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and compiled a 3.92 ERA in his minor league career.

Curry currently serves as UAB baseball’s director of pitching development. While Curry wasn’t born in Pelham, he still considers it home.

“We actually moved (to Pelham) while I was in middle school,” Curry said. “The four years that I was here (at PHS), I feel like I grew up here. It’s awesome to have something that I’m a part of forever here and my name linked to this school.”

Fitts, like Curry, shined on the mound for Pelham. He was the 6A All-State Pitcher of the Year and the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year in 2010.

Fitts was a four-year letterman at Mississippi State, where he was an SEC Tournament champion in 2012, and was a part of the Bulldogs’ team that finished the 2013 season as the runner-up in the College World Series. Fitts currently serves as the director of player development with Kentucky’s baseball program.

Fitts was emotional in his acceptance speech, citing how much Pelham High School means to him and his family.

“Pelham High School has always felt like home,” an emotional Fitts said. “Pelham just means everything to us. To all of my coaches and teammates, thank you so much… It’s a great day to be a Panther.”

Bill Flowers was the next Pelham athlete to be honored. Flowers was a two-sport athlete for the Panthers, participating in both football and indoor/outdoor track. As a football player, Flowers was the 1999-2000 Alabama Gatorade Athlete of the Year, while he won multiple state championships as a hurdler in track.

Flowers played football at Ole Miss, and graduated as second all-time in receptions and sixth all-time in receiving yards for the Rebels. In 2005, Flowers signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns.

“I was really blessed to be able to have such great coaches and great teammates,” Flowers said. “To be thought of as somebody worthy enough to be part of this inaugural class of the Pelham Hall of Fame is absolutely honoring and humbling.”

Hasaan Hawthorne was honored next as a remarkable representative of Pelham’s wrestling program.

Hawthorne is a double amputee who was born without tibias in his legs. Nevertheless, Hawthorne dominated as a wrestler at Pelham.

In 2016, Hawthorne finished the wrestling season with a 37-0 record. He received a scholarship to North Idaho College, and was ranked as a top-five wrestler in the country in 2018.

Hawthorne currently serves as the marketing director of Next Step Prosthetics and Orthotics in Alabaster.

Bobby Hayes, former mayor of Pelham from 1984-2008, was then the first inductee who did not play or coach at PHS. His impact, however, helped shape the future of Pelham athletics.

Hayes and his wife Judy remain devout supporters of PHS athletics. Hayes assisted in the construction of Pelham’s original fieldhouse, expansions to the football stadium and the construction of the bleachers and press box at the baseball field, which bears his name.

As mayor, Hayes was the President of the Alabama League of Municipalities in 2005, and oversaw a period of major growth in Pelham both commercially and in population levels.

Walking to the stage to receive his plaque and make a speech, the crowd quickly stood to its feet to recognize his impact.

“I can’t tell you what this means to me, my family and all of my friends,” Hayes said with emotion filling his voice as he continuously looked to his wife. “Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.”

Another impactful person who didn’t play for Pelham but helped make a difference for athletics school system wide was Kiel, who served as the PHS principal from 2019-2024, and was the PCS director of athletics from 2014-2023. She currently serves as assistant superintendent of PCS. Kiel started at Pelham City Schools in 1999 and has served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, system athletic director and principal.

Kiel discussed her time at Pelham in her speech and what she has gained from her time there.

“Each role taught me invaluable lessons, but the relationships I’ve built along the way have been the absolute true reward,” Kiel said. “This honor isn’t just about my accomplishments. It’s a reflection of the incredible people of Pelham who have inspired and supported me. To be inducted in this first inaugural class alongside of such an amazing group of individuals whose accolades and contributions have left a lasting legacy makes this recognition even more special.”

Basketball star Alex Reese was the next Hall of Fame honoree. Reese graduated from Pelham in 2017 after a historic career in men’s basketball. Reese was the 2016-17 Shelby County Player of the Year and graduated Pelham as the No. 2 ranked prospect in Alabama.

Reese played for the University of Alabama in college and currently plays for the Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers’ G-League affiliate.

Reese was not in attendance for the Hall of Fame ceremony due to his basketball schedule, but his father accepted the award on his behalf.

After Reese, Rick Rhoades took the stage to accept his Hall of Fame induction. Rhoades served as Pelham’s head football coach and athletic director from 1996-2001, and was the president of Pelham City Schools Board of Education from 2014-2024.

Rhoades was the Shelby County Coach of the Year in 1997 and made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. As a college coach, Rhoades won an NCAA Division II National Championship with Troy State in 1987 and was the two-time Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year.

In his speech, Rhoades took time to acknowledge the other inductees rather than resting on his laurels.

“Your courage, competitiveness, spirit, skill and the dedication you brought to what you did is something exceptional,” Rhoades said. “You truly are considered the best of the best.”

After Rhoades, another legendary Pelham coach was honored. Tammy Richardson was Pelham volleyball’s head coach from 1981-2007. In her tenure, Pelham appeared in 11 Final Fours, 14 Elite Eights and won two state championships and seven area championships.

Richardson recognized that her coaching style was tough, but it was always in an effort to develop and nurture her players.

“I was very mean, but my players could get through anything after they had done my practices,” Richardson said. “They could face any challenge and do anything. I wanted them to know that I loved them.”

One of Richardson’s former players, Sara Sandrik, was honored next. Sandrik was recognized as the National Senior Player of the Year by Student Sports Magazine in 1997. She set the national high school record for kills in a match with 41 and kills in a season with 992 in 1997 and was the 1997-98 Gatorade National High School Volleyball Athlete of the Year.

Sandrik’s skills weren’t limited to just the volleyball court as she was an indoor track and field state champion in 1997 and an outdoor track and field state champion in 1998.

Following her time at Pelham, Sandrik played volleyball at Stanford, where she won a national championship with the Cardinal in 2001. Sandrik currently serves as a reporter for the local ABC affiliate in Fresno, California, where she has won multiple Emmy Awards for her coverage.

She emphasized the impact that her growth in Pelham began with the help of her coaches and teammates.

“You have to bloom where you’re planted,” Sandrik said. “It didn’t take long to really feel like I had roots here in Pelham, and that is because of Coach Richardson and my amazing teammates.”

Erica Braswell Speegle was the next honoree, and is one of the most accomplished runners in Pelham’s history.

Speegle ran cross-country and indoor/outdoor track for the Panthers from 1994-1998. She was the Alabama Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 1996, and ran the first sub five-minute mile in Alabama high school history that same year.

She won multiple state and team championships in her tenure with the Panthers, and after a sterling career at Auburn, she has ran in various marathons across the country.

Hunter Stovall was the final representative of Pelham baseball honored at the ceremony. He graduated from Pelham in 2015 and won a state championship with the Panthers in 2013. He was an All-State selection in both 2014 and 2015 and was Shelby County Player of the Year in 2015.

Stovall was a three-year starter at Mississippi State, and made the College World Series in 2018. After leaving the Bulldogs, he joined the Colorado Rockies organization and has spent six seasons in the minor leagues, earning the 2023-24 Colorado Rockies Triple-A Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Following Stovall was national-championship winning coach and former Pelham football player Dabo Swinney. The current head coach of Clemson University’s football program graduated Pelham in 1988. Swinney was a team captain of the football, baseball and basketball teams during his time at Pelham.

He then earned a spot as a walk-on at Alabama, eventually earning a scholarship. He was a part of the Crimson Tide team that won a national championship in 1992, and was a two-time member of the Academic All-SEC team.

Swinney immediately entered coaching after graduating from Alabama, staying with the Crimson Tide as an assistant coach from 1993-2000. Swinney joined Clemson as an assistant in 2003, and was named the head coach of the program in 2009.

Since taking over at Clemson, Swinney has won nine ACC championships and two national championships. He is the winningest head coach in Clemson and ACC football history and has won three Bear Bryant Awards, which is given to the best coach in college football for that season.

Despite all of the success and accomplishments, Swinney has never forgotten where he came from and is still a proud Pelham native.

“This s really cool, because I literally grew up here,” Swinney said. “No matter where I’ve gone, Pelham has always been home to me. I’m proud to tell people that I’m from Pelham.”

Althea Thomas was honored after Swinney. Thomas had a storied career as a part of Pelham’s indoor and outdoor track teams. She won multiple state championships in her tenure and set the state record in the 800-meter run in 1999.

Thomas continued her track career at LSU, and now serves as Vanderbilt University’s director of cross-country and track and field.

“I’m really grateful for everyone who poured into me, and I’m really grateful that I became the woman that I am because of the two years I spent here at Pelham,” Thomas said in her speech.

Greg Vinson was the lone representative of the Pelham soccer program to be honored. He shined as a goalkeeper for the Panthers from 1989-1991 as a three-year varsity player.

Vinson was a star for Birmingham Southern College, setting single-season records in saves and shutouts for the program. In 2000, he was voted in to the Birmingham Southern College Sports Hall of Fame.

Vinson is now the associate head coach of Thompson High School’s soccer program.

The final inductee of the evening was Tyler Watts, one of Pelham football’s greatest stars. Watts was a four-year letterman in both football and baseball for the Panthers. On the gridiron, Watts was a Parade All-American in 1997, and was the No. 1 ranked prospect in Alabama and No. 4 ranked quarterback in the nation that same year.

Watts played for Alabama following his career with the Panthers and won an SEC Championship in 1999. He was team captain for the Crimson Tide in 2001 and 2002 and signed a contract with the Tennessee Titans following his collegiate career.

Watts now serves as a part of the radio broadcast team for Alabama football. He heaped praise on his fellow inductees in his speech.

“Congratulations to all of y’all up here and the accomplishments y’all made,” Watts said. “It is certainly an honor and privilege to be up here with you.”

The evening ended with closing remarks from Dr. Chuck Ledbetter, the superintendent of Pelham City Schools. He emphasized the winning culture each honoree created at Pelham.

“Excellence and winning matters,” Ledbetter said. “We want to win in everything we do. At Pelham, we believe in excellence and character. We see it in this group, and they have laid a foundation that permeates the halls of this school and everything we do.”

The inaugural Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame class is filled with athletes, coaches and leaders that had an indelible impact at Pelham High School and beyond. The Hall of Fame will now serve as a testament to excellence in Pelham, preserving the legacy of those who have left a lasting impact for generations to come.

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