Blackman High School Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2024 Hall of Fame Inductees

Laura "LK" Caffey
		Laura “LK” Caffey is the most decorated tennis player in the history of Blackman High School. She won two regional singles titles and captured two regional doubles championships. She qualified for the TSSAA State Championship in all four years of high school. In her senior year, she had a 90% winning percentage with 23-2 singles record, winning the district and region singles titles, ultimately making the state semifinals. Caffey made the state tournament twice in doubles with her sister, Callie, finishing her senior year with a 15-1 mark. Caffey won three straight team Most Valuable Player awards and two All-midstate selections. She also won The Daily News Journal Girl’s Tennis Player of the Year in 2003. Caffey then attended Western Kentucky University, where she was a letter winner in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Caffey is near the top of the leader board in the Hilltopper’s history for most singles and doubles wins in a season. After Western Kentucky, Caffey continued to play several adult USTA Tournaments in the Middle Tennessee area. Laura Caffey currently resides in Middle Tennessee.

Megan Carter
		Megan Carter was one of the early stars of Blackman High athletics with the volleyball team. She was a four-year letter winner, while being selected All-District and All-Region in 2002 and 2003. Carter was named to the All-Area First Team in 2002 & 2003, as well as the All-Midstate First Team in 2003. She was a teammate of fellow Blackman High Athletic Hall of Fame member Lindsey Sisco; together they twice led the volleyball team to the AAA State Finals, which was the first team in any sport in school history to make a state tournament. Carter was chosen to be on the All-State Tournament Team in 2003. She was also chosen to the prestigious TSWA All-State Second Team in 2003. Additionally, Carter played a key role for the Lady Blaze Basketball team through from 2000-2003. After graduating, she attended and played volleyball for Middle Tennessee State University from 2004-2007, helping the team to the Sweet Sixteen in 2007. Carter later worked in marketing for MTSU and the Nashville Predators Hockey club; she is currently a merchandising assistant for the Dollar General Corporation.

Trenton Gibson
		Trenton Gibson was the heart and soul of Blackman High Blaze Boys’ Basketball team during his tenure. Gibson was named to the Daily News Journal’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s and was chosen as a two-time first-team All-Area selection. Gibson earned Player of the Year honors during his Senior season when he averaged over 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. He is a member of the Blaze 1,000-point club, where he currently holds the school record with 1,039 points, and the school record for single-season assists with 180. Gibson helped the Blaze to state tournament appearances in 2016 & 2018. After his time at Blackman, Gibson had a standout four-year career at Tusculum University. He is the only Pioneer player in history to record 1,500 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists, and 100 steals in a career; he was named the South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in 2021. Gibson finished his college career at Indiana State. He currently plays professional basketball in Europe, playing for teams in both Belgium and The Netherlands.

Ross Mitchell
		Ross Mitchell is one of the most accomplished pitchers in Blackman High School history. In his junior year in 2009, Mitchell was chosen by The Daily News Journal as the Pitcher of the Year, registering a 9-1 record and setting a new school record for wins that had previously been held by fellow Blackman Athletic Hall of Fame inductee David Price. As a junior and senior, Ross was named to the Second Team All-Midstate team. In his senior year in 2010, he tallied a .386 average with 34 hits, 10 doubles and 19 runs batted in. After graduation, Ross played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he continued to have tremendous success. He ended his career at Mississippi State as the fifth active winningest pitcher in the NCAA, as well as fifth in career Bulldog wins. Ross was a 2013 NCBWA, Louisville Slugger and College Baseball Insider All-American, and he was named to the 2014 All-SEC Team. Mitchell is currently a business owner of Broken Apparel and Magnolia Stripe and Seal.

Tanner Owens
		Tanner Owens is the most decorated boys’ golfer in Blackman High School athletic history. He was a four-year letter winner and team MVP, where he notched state tournament berths for each year, finishing in the top 10 in the championship for the last three. Owens was named All-Region as a junior and senior and also owns the Blaze top two scoring marks. Tanner won the prestigious Future Masters tournament and advanced in match play at the U.S. Junior Amateur. He was a medalist at the 2014 Tennessee PGA Junior qualifier and advanced to the National PGA Junior tournament. Owens finished second in the Tennessee Junior State Amateur and fifth in the Tennessee State Amateur, as well as several Top 10 finishes in other national events. In 2014, he was ranked the #1 player in the Class of 2016 for Tennessee and fourth overall in the state. For the Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider golf team, he was honored with three consecutive All-Conference USA team selections. Tanner Owens is currently employed as a specialist by UBS Investment Bank.

Class of 2023

Class of 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

Jeff Boynton
		Jeff Boynton was one of the early stars of the Blackman High soccer program and one of the most accomplished soccer players in the history of Rutherford County Schools. Boynton was a four-year starter for the Blaze, but excelled in his junior and senior year, posting All-State and All-Area selections in 2004. He also was chosen as an All-District selection in 2003 and 2004, as well as the Daily News Journal MVP in those years. In 2004, Boynton was a team leader for Blackman’s first state tournament bid in school history. He was also a member of the Select State Champion Under-18 team for 2003, and he was named to one of the Tennessee Soccer Association’s Olympic developmental teams. Boynton went on to play collegiately from 2004-2007 for Lipscomb University. Additionally, while still playing for the Bisons, Jeff played professionally for the Nashville Metros. Currently, Boynton is an educator at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he coached the Patriots to the state tournament four times.

Matthew Sells
		Matthew Sells holds a place as one of the leaders of the storied Blackman High School wrestling program. He excelled in all four years of high school wrestling, from 2014 to 2017. In his freshman year, he was a Region 5-AAA champion and won 2 matches at the Class AAA state tournament. In his sophomore year, Sells was named to the Daily News Journal All-Area wrestling team, where he was again a Region 5-AAA champion and placed fourth in the Class AAA state tournament. Sells leveled up again in his junior year by repeating the Region 5-AAA title and winning the Class AAA 160-pound state title. In 2017 he set a Blackman High wrestling record by becoming the only 2-time state champion in school history – a record which stands to this day. He was also a finalist for the All-Area wrestler of the year. Sells went on to wrestle at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Matthew Sells is currently a Registered Nurse Resident in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Donovan Sims
		Donovan Sims is one of the most prolific guards in Blackman High School boys' basketball history. He was a leader on the floor with impressive court vision. In his senior year, Sims averaged 9.3 points, 5.4 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game and earned All-District 7-AAA honors and the tournament MVP. His leadership helped the Blaze to an 85-11 record during his high school career. He made the All-District team and All-Region team as a junior and as a senior, and he led the Blaze to a TSSAA state tournament semi-final appearance in his junior year. Sims continued his academic and athletic pursuits at Middle Tennessee State University, where he amassed an impressive career 1,177 points, making him 19th on the MTSU career scoring list. He also holds the Blue Raider record for games played (140) and is tied for 2nd in career steals (156) and 5th in career assists (349). In his final season, he was named as Honorable Mention All-Conference USA.

Bill Vice
		Bill Vice is a legend in the Middle Tennessee soccer community, having coached the Blackman High boys’ and girls’ soccer teams starting in the school’s inaugural year in 2000. During his tenure as soccer coach, Bill tallied over 500 wins (including over 300 with the boys’ team) and routinely coached the team to deep postseason runs. Vice coached the girls’ team to the state tournament in 2003, and the boys’ team to the state tournament in 2004, 2005, 2007, and a state runner-up for Class AAA in 2018. Vice left behind a legacy of consistency and success at Blackman with a number of former players moving on to play collegiately and professionally, including Colleen Kennedy, Katie Smith, Jeff Boynton, Felipe Hernandez, Jeff Porter, and Matt Reed, among others. Not only did Vice have success in coaching the Blaze, but he was also involved with area youth soccer and instructional clinics for coaches. He currently is enjoying retirement and helping with the Stones River Soccer Club.

Class of 2022

Class of 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees

Shelby Campbell

		Shelby Campbell was a true standout with the Blackman High Lady Blaze basketball team. At the time of her graduation, she was the all-time leading scorer in the program’s history with 1,207 points. As a senior, she was rated one of the best point guards in the nation by ESPNU, as she averaged 12.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 2.2 assists per game. She was chosen to the 2009 & 2010 All-Region team, as well as the all-state team in 2010. Campbell was in the Top 5 placement for the Miss Basketball in Tennessee and a McDonald’s All-American nominee in 2010. Shelby attended Samford University, where she earned Most Outstanding Player at the 2012 Southern Conference tournament and was named to the All-Freshman team in 2011. She helped lead the team to consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament. Campbell was an assistant coach at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, Blackman High, and was a head coach at Oakland High. She is currently a pharmaceutical sales representative.

Jauan Jennings
		Jauan Jennings was a 4-star prospect in football and one of the top recruits in Tennessee coming out of Blackman High School. In his time with the Blaze, as quarterback he totaled 3,425 passing yards with 31 passing touchdowns, while also totaling 1,560 rushing yards with 26 touchdowns for a total of 4,985 yards and 57 touchdowns. As a senior, Jennings was honored as the 2014 Tennessee Mr. Football Division 1 Class AAA Back of the Year. As a junior on the basketball court, Jauan averaged 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists while leading the Blaze Boys team to its first Class AAA title and won the TSSAA State Tournament MVP. Jennings attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he finished his career as one of the top receivers in program history, finishing fifth all-time at UT in receptions (146), fourth in receiving yards (2,153) and tied-for-fifth in touchdown receptions (18), while finishing as a 2020 Senior Bowl selection. Jennings is currently a wide receiver with the National Football League’s San Francisco 49ers, where he caught 5 touchdowns in his rookie year.

Alexandria Johnson
		Alexandria Johnson is one of the most highly decorated players in Lady Blaze basketball history. For her career as a power forward at Blackman High, Johnson was second all-time in scoring with 1,589 points as a member of the 1,000-point club, first in rebounding with 886, and second in blocked shots with 117. She helped lead the Lady Blaze to TSSAA State Championships in 2014 and 2015, including a National Championship in 2014. She was selected as a 2015 McDonald’s All-American nominee and the 2015 Wendy’s Heisman Winner. She was chosen for the All-Region team in 2013-15, was a 2-time all-state selection for 2014-15, and included as a Class AAA Miss Basketball finalist in 2015. Johnson attended Middle Tennessee State University, where she was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2015-16. By the end of her career, she was in the Top 10 in nine career categories for the Lady Raiders, including scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. Alexandria is currently an employee of Middle Tennessee State University in the Admissions department.

Isaiah Phillips
		Isaiah Phillips was the heart and soul of the Blackman Blaze Boys basketball team from the opening of the school in 2000 through 2004. As the starting point guard for his last 3 seasons, he was both an offensive and defensive leader of the squad. He set the then-team record for most career assists with 382 and was part of the first Blaze team in school history to win a district championship. In his senior year, Phillips was chosen to the Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Basketball Game and was a Second Team selection for the 2004 Daily News Journal all-area Boys Team, when he averaged an area-best 5 assists per game and shot 80% from the free-throw line. Isaiah played collegiate basketball at Columbia State Community College from 2004-2006. He went on to be head basketball coach for Warren County High and Franklin County High in Tennessee. He is currently an assistant coach and teacher at his alma mater, Blackman High.

Class of 2021

Class of 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees

Crystal Dangerfield

		Crystal Dangerfield is the most decorated player in Lady Blaze history. She won the 2016 Morgan Wooten Player of the Year award, was a 2016 Naismith All-American, and a USA Today All-USA first team selection. Dangerfield was also one of five athletes to play on two USA U19 World Cup teams, where she won a gold and silver medal. She won the 2014, 2015, and 2016 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year awards, as well as winning the Miss Basketball Tennessee award in 2015 & 2016. Dangerfield led the Lady Blaze to two TSSAA state titles in 2015 and 2016, where she twice won Most Valuable Player. For her high school career, she scored 2,186 points, grabbed 507 rebounds, dished out 503 assists, and swiped 362 steals. From 2016-2020, she played collegiately for the University of Connecticut, where she was named first team All-Conference in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, she was drafted by the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA and was named the AP, ESPN, and WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Megan (French) White
		Known as the “Queen of Area High School Links” and “The Intimidator” in the early part of the new millennium, Megan French was one of the best female golfers in the state of Tennessee during her high school career. In 2000 (her junior year), she won 1st place in Districts & Regionals and was the first individual athlete in any sport in Blackman High School history to make a state playoff, as well as the first to make a state finals. In her senior year, she again won 1st in Districts and helped lead the team to the school’s first ever team entry into a state playoff. She qualified for the state tournament during all four years of her high school career. French was also the first female athlete college signee from Blackman High, as she played collegiately for the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles. At Tennessee Tech, she was a team Co-Captain and played in the OVC championship for 3 years. Megan (French) White is currently an engineer in Huntsville, Alabama.

Alana (Hicks) Grey
		Alana (Hicks) Grey was one of the first successful two-sport athletes in Blackman High School history. She was a four-year starter in both softball and basketball and was selected as the 2004 Daily News Journal Girls Athlete of the Year. For the Lady Blaze softball team, Hicks was one of the area’s top hitters. She was 7AAA's offensive MVP for her senior year after hitting an area-best .600. In 2004, she was selected as a Daily News Journal Player of the Year and was named to the TSWA All-State softball team. For the Lady Blaze basketball team, she became the first player in school history to top 1,000 points in a career. She was a double-digit scorer for three seasons and the team’s leading rebounder. She helped lead the Lady Blaze basketball team to their first-ever Region tournament appearance in 2004. She was named 7AAA All-District from 2002-2004 in basketball. Hicks played softball collegiately at Jacksonville State (AL) from 2005-2008. Alana (Hicks) Grey currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, and is employed with State Farm Insurance.

Adam Smith
		Adam Smith was a linchpin of the Blackman High football team’s offensive line during his time with the Blaze. He and his fellow linemen helped pave the way for a record-breaking 2007 offensive squad, and he was the Blaze Football Lineman of the Year in 2007. He was also named First Team All-Region in 2006 and 2007. As a senior, he was chosen as a starter for the Tennessee East/West All-Star team. Adam played football collegiately for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers, where he won First Team All-Conference honors in 2012. During his time at Western Kentucky, he helped the Hilltoppers to become one of five programs in NCAA history to produce a 1,500-yard rusher in three straight seasons. Adam was signed as a free agent by the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. He then played with the Arena League’s Philadelphia Soul in 2015, where he won an Arena Bowl championship and was named First Team for the All-Arena League in 2015 & 2016. Adam Smith currently works in the construction business in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Zander Wiel
		Zander Wiel was one of the most dangerous power hitters in the history of the Blackman High Blaze baseball program. Splitting time between catcher and first base, Wiel was a three-time First Team All-District and Region selection from 2009-2011, helping the team to its first TSSAA State tournament. He was a Second Team All-Mid-State choice in 2010, and a first team All-Mid-State choice in 2011. In 2011, he was also an All-State First Team selection. In 2010 and 2011, he combined to hit .415 with 18 doubles, 13 home runs, and 69 RBI. He played collegiately at Vanderbilt University, where he was named to the 2013 All-SEC Freshman team. From 2013-15, he hit a combined .292 with 25 home runs and 139 RBIs, while helping the Commodores to their first ever College World Series championship. Wiel was drafted by Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins in 2015 and is currently a first baseman and outfielder in the organization, where he has been selected to multiple all-star teams in the minor leagues.

Class of 2020

Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees

Chris Berry

		Chris Berry is the only four-time state qualifier in Blackman High School cross-country history. He was an All-State selection in 2004-2005 and holds the fourth fastest all-time record in Rutherford County history. He helped the 2006 squad to the highest finish for a Blaze Cross Country team at State, placing 13th overall; he was also a 2006 Region Individual Champion. He owns four of the top ten 5K times in Blackman High School history. In track and field, he is the fourth All-Time in Rutherford County in the mile and two-mile. During his 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years, Berry was both the Rutherford County Track Most Valuable Player and an All-State selection. Berry went on to a stellar track career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, including several school records and All-Academic honors. Dr. Berry is currently an Assistant Professor with the Marketing Department at Colorado State University.

Kenny Meredith
		Kenny Meredith was the first state champion of any sport in Blackman High School’s history. During his high school career, Meredith placed three times in the state wrestling tournament and finished with a record of 169-17. In 2005, he became Blackman High School’s first state wrestling champion. He finished his senior season undefeated, with a 43-0 record. That year he was also named the Tennessean Wrestler of the Year. A two-sport athlete, Meredith excelled as a football player as well. He was the first running back for the Blaze football team to run for 300 yards in a single game and was selected for the all-state team two times. Meredith continued his wrestling career at the University of Central Oklahoma where he wrestled for four seasons. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and Public Relations. Meredith is currently the Director of Advancement at Great Circle, a behavioral health services center for children and families in St. Louis, Missouri.

Darius Thompson
		As a Blackman High School senior, Darius Thompson was rated as the nation’s No. 4 overall combination guard and the 8th best prospect in Tennessee in 2013. He was named a 2013 Tennessee Class AAA Mr. Basketball finalist and a Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State, All-Region, and All-District performer in each of his last two seasons. He was also a McDonald’s All-American nominee. In his senior season, Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. In his junior and senior years, Thompson led the Blaze to two straight berths in the Class AAA state tournament quarterfinals. Thompson played collegiately at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Virginia, and Western Kentucky University, where he played in three NCAA Tournaments, including three Sweet Sixteen appearances and one trip to the Elite Eight. Since graduating from Western Kentucky University, Thompson has continued to play basketball professionally. In 2019, Thompson won the Most Valuable Player award for the Dutch Basketball League while playing for ZZ Leiden. Currently, Thompson is playing professionally in Italy for Happy Casa Brindisi.

Chad Hibdon
		In his ten seasons as the head coach of the Blackman High Lady Blaze basketball team, Chad Hibdon produced a 199-98 overall record. For six consecutive years, his Lady Blaze teams won at least twenty games per season. His final two teams in 2014 and 2015 were 66-3 and won back to back Class AAA state championships. During his tenure at Blackman, fifteen of his players went on to play collegiately. In 2014, Hibdon was named the Naismith All-USA National Girls Basketball Coach of the Year and his Blackman team was named National Champions by USA TODAY, MaxPreps and ESPN. The National High School Coaches Association named him the 2015 Women's Basketball National Coach of the Year, and he was a finalist for the 2015 Pat Summitt Trophy. Hibdon was also selected as the district Coach of the Year three times, the Basketball Coaches Association of Tennessee Coach of the Year twice, and the A.F. Bridges TSSAA Coach of the Year. He later went on to become the head coach of the women’s basketball teams at Truett-McConnell College and then Trevecca Nazarene University.

Class of 2019

Class of 2019 Hall of Fame Inductees

David Price

		David Price was a two-sport athlete at Blackman High School. A record-setting basketball player, David is best known for his legendary career as a pitcher. A four-year starter, David’s career stats include a 0.43 ERA and 151 strikeouts. After high school, David pitched for Vanderbilt University and was named as SEC Pitcher of the Year and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year. In 2007, David became the first baseball player to win all four of the top collegiate awards: Brooks Wallace Award, Roger Clemens Award, Dick Howser Trophy, and the Golden Spikes Award. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted David with the first overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2012, David was named the American League Cy Young Award winner and won the 2018 World Series with the Boston Red Sox. A noted philanthropist through Project One Four, David has continued to give back to the community by partnering with local officials to construct the Murfreesboro Miracle Field providing a baseball and playground facility for children with special needs.

I'Tavius Mathers
		I’Tavius Mathers was a running back for the Blackman Blaze from 2008-2012. Known for his humble spirit and electrifying play, I’Tavius earned state-wide recognition in 2010, being named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. During his Junior and Senior years, I’Tavius rushed for 4,867 yards and 56 touchdowns. After graduating in 2012, I’Tavius played football for the University of Mississippi and transferred back home to play at Middle Tennessee State University during his senior year. In one year at MTSU, I’Tavius became the first player in NCAA FBS history to have 1500 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards, and 60 catches in the same season. I’Tavius set MTSU single season records for rushing yards (1,561), all-purpose yards (2,194), and receptions for a running back (66). Signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017, I’Tavius’s professional football career was cut short due to injuries. He is currently giving back to the game he loves by coaching high school football in the Middle Tennessee area.

Lindsay Sisco
		The many accolades of Blackman High School athletics can be traced back to a few exceptional athletes who set a high standard in the years after the school first opened. One of those athletes was Lindsay Sisco. As a volleyball player, Lindsay was named District Most Valuable Player in 2001 and the Region Most Valuable Player in 2002 and 2003. She was named to the All-District Team in 2001, 2002, and 2003 and the All-State Volleyball team and the Tennessee Sports Writers All-State first team in 2002 and 2003. In her senior year, she earned the honors of state tournament Most Valuable Player and Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. After graduation, Lindsay played volleyball at Middle Tennessee State University.

Nathan Stephens
		Nathan Stephens came to Blackman as a sophomore when the school opened in 2000. He was a two-year starter on the basketball team, but his greatest contributions were off the court. Nathan was known by students and teachers alike for his strong character, love for his teammates, servant leadership, diligent work ethic, and academic achievement. In 2007 while attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Nathan tragically passed away playing the game that he loved. In his honor, a memorial scholarship was founded to recognize future Blackman athletes who exemplify his outstanding character. Nathan will be inducted as the first honorary member of the Blackman High School Athletic Hall of Fame.