FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 • 1C ’63 Admirals honored This 1963 Farragut High School football team remains the only Admi- rals varsity team to finish a season undefeated (8-0-3) and will be honored with Special Recognition during Farragut High School Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony, which begins at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, in FHS Commons. Dr. Michael Baird, featured speaker (Class of 1979) FHS Athletic Hall of Fame Saying it wasn’t anything he training at the University of Ten- did athletically in high school nessee, “FHS was such a great Ceremony Information that earned him the honor of place to go to school,” said Baird, being featured speaker for 2020 who has been an anesthesiologist Farragut High School Sports Hall at Parkwest Medical Center for Farragut High School Sports Hall of Fame Ceremony, of Fame Ceremony, Dr. Michael “about 24 years now. Baird may have been chosen “… I was very well-prepared honoring 12 Class of 2020 inductees and a Service Award for another out of Farragut to go on and honoree plus special recognition to a legendary Admirals important compete at UT academically,” he football team from the 1960s, begins at 5:30 p.m., reason: added. “It was just the quality serving his and character of the people we Saturday, Feb. 1, in FHS Commons. country. were exposed to there with the Featured Speaker is Dr. Michael Baird, FHS Class of 1979, A 1979 teachers and the coaches. FHS gradu- “I was sure blessed to get to an anesthesiologist at Parkwest Medical Center and ate, Baird grow up in Farragut.” a U.S. Navy veteran. turned years Living in West Knox County of medical near Farragut, Baird and wife, school train- Cindy Reavis Baird, have four Tickets are $35 each, with a table costing $250. ing in Mem- Baird children ages 33 to 23. They can be purchased at phis into five He has a son-in-law and daugh- years of service in the U.S. Navy, ter-in-law who both are FHS www.knoxcountyschools/farraguths/. highlighted by being “the medical Hall of Fame inductees: Nick officer for a submarine squadron” Reveiz (former wrestling state with a high rank of lieutenant. champ and football star at FHS, For more information, contact David Moore Playing football (receiver) and a standout over-achieving by e-mail at [email protected] or by and baseball (catcher and third linebacker at Tennessee) and calling 865-966-9775. baseman) for the Admirals be- Kelsey Benorden Baird (volley- fore starting his college medical ball star). SERVICE AWARD WINNER EErikrik GGerhardterhardt Class of 1988 The 2020 FHS Hall of Fame Ser- A 1988 FHS graduate who vice Award goes to “The Voice of FHS was a starting right fielder Admirals Football and Basketball” on Hall of Fame coach John — who also has become “The Voice Heatherly’s 1988 Admirals of Induction.” baseball team, which fin- Erik Gerhardt, emcee of FHS Hall ished as Class AAA state of Fame Induction Ceremony each runner-up, Gerhardt is in year since its founding in 2013, is his 12th season of calling well-known in Farragut athletics FHS girls and boys varsity circles for turning his passion for basketball after finishing his nal and lost in a quagmire at Rhea Admirals athletics into thorough re- 15th season calling Admirals varsity County,” Gerhardt added. “That was search inside the three programs re- football last fall. an awesome team.” ceiving air time on WFIV-FM i105.3 Saying he developed a passion for He also recalled Hall of Fame from late August to late February Admirals athletics during his “im- coach Lynn E. Sexton’s memorable each school year. pressionable years” as a child and 1982-83 basketball team “went 36-0 The result is detailed statistics, young teenager, “The Voice” fondly before they lost in the state tourna- some with historical implications, recalled the 1981 FHS football sea- ment. I can still remember the start- and up-to-date team news for his lis- son and the “All-Mike backfield” ing five: Jack Williams, Bo Creech, teners — not to mention many dra- (Mike Bland, quarterback; Mike Dan Martin, Bill Clements and Mike matic and memorable play-by-play Moeller, fullback; and Mike Stone, Carpenter,” he said. “A couple of calls when the Admirals and Lady tailback). those guys I’ve had the privilege to Admirals win big games. “They went to the state semifi- introducing at the Hall of Fame.” 2C • FARRAGUTPRESS THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2020 FARRAGUT SPORTS HALL OF FAME BBarryarry MouserMouser Class of 1981 Football/Track & Field An offensive and defensive line A very aggressive player,” star at Farragut High School (Class Courtney said. of 1981) and teammate of future UT In 1980 Mouser was Vols and Dallas Cowboys standout ranked 21st statewide Bill Bates, Barry Mouser caught the among senior high school attention of a young FHS assistant football prospects by Knox- coach in the late 1970s. ville News Sentinel. “He was one of our best players, Having played under then I know that. He was just a hard- Farragut head coach Ken nosed, tough football player,” said Sparks, Mouser and Sparks Eddie Courtney, FHS head coach would reunite when Sparks seasons as an Eagle, Eagle Mouser earned since 1996 who was linebackers left FHS for Carson-Newman Col- conference Defensive Player of the coach in 1978 and 1979 during lege (now University) after the 1979 Week honors three times. Mouser’s sophomore and junior sea- season, and Mouser signed with the As for Mouser’s FHS track & field sons as an Admiral. C-N Eagles and began his career in years, he was a two-year letterman Mouser went on to earn All-state Jefferson City in the fall of 1981. in shot put and discus. Honorable Mention honors and a He was a two-time NAIA All- Currently a resident of Asheville, spot on the All-KFL first-team de- American and an Academic All- North Carolina, Mouser is an engi- fensive unit his senior season. American at C-N who was later neer for Norfolk Southern Railroad. “He had good size for a kid back named to the Carson-Newman All- (Repeated attempts to reach then; he was probably in the neigh- 20th Century Team. Barry Mouser for an interview borhood of 6-(foot)-1, 240 (pounds). During his junior and senior were unsuccessful) BBrentrent WWattsatts Class of 1997, Basketball Relationships with teammates Watts added. was especially important to Brent He also was close with Watts, Farragut High School Class of FHS athletes in other sports. 1997, an All-state basketball shooting “The athletes I hung out guard his senior season who led the with the most were Rudy KIL in field goal percentage (67.3) Smith (power forward, first and three-point percentage (56.2). team All-KIL with Watts), “Like with a lot of athletes, timing Bryan Stickley (center), is everything, and I went through Landon Shewmake (small FHS at a time when I had a lot of forward), Brad Rolland (foot- great teammates. … The bulk of ball quarterback) and Todd us still talk every day,” said Watts, a Cox and John Wisniowski and we were down going into the shooting guard at Maryville College (baseball Admirals),” Watts said. fourth quarter,” Watts said. “I had 14 who was named Great South Athlet- Pointing out his supporters, “My points in the fourth quarter. ic Conference Player of the Year his mom and dad and stepdad were “We hadn’t won at Bearden in senior season (16 points per game). my biggest fans. They were at ev- years,” he added. His MC Scots also earned three ery game,” Watts said. “… I went An international business ma- trips to the NCAA Division III Tour- through with a phenomenal group jor at MC, Watts said, “I own the nament, including one “Sweet 16” of players and parents and coaches. only Native American-owned North appearance. There couldn’t have been a more American implant company.” Moreover, “As a citizen of the supportive environment.” Residents of Village Green, Watts Catawba Indian Nation, I went to As for fondest memories, “We beat and wife, Keri Watts, have two sons, Maryville on a Tribal Scholarship,” Bearden at Bearden my senior year, ages 10 and 7. Jennifer Bocko McCown Class of 1991, Soccer Being nominated as a FHS Sports son I am now.” Hall of Fame inductee has been a As for specific memories, trigger of sorts for Jennifer Bocko “Bus trips were super fun, McCown, Class of 1991. another great way to bond “Being inducted has brought back with all the girls I played so many memories,” said McCown, a with,” McCown said. “That four-time All-State Tournament soc- was like the first time do- cer honoree, as a forward, named ing something away from my TACA Player of the Year as a senior. parents and something on “It was kind of like the first time be- my own.” ing accepted as a female athlete. Naming names, she re- However,However Eastwood “came“cameupto up to “… It was nice to be accepted by called juniors Heather Eastwood me and said, ‘What are you crying other girls who were athletic as well and Mara Moreale “as mentors on for? You’ve got three more years to and good in a sport,” she added, as the team, for where to go, how to do do this,’” she added. McCown helped her Lady Admirals it” when she was a freshman in 1987. Even to this day, playing in the reach the Class AAA state tourna- Recalling her emotions following Knoxville Metro Soccer League, “I ment semifinals all four seasons.