In the last year, over 20 high school athletes from across the Chattanooga area were recognized by various entities as All-Americans. While too numerous to include in one article, what follows are the stories of six of these students and what led them to seek and achieve this distinguished honor. Their stories of ambition and perseverance, along with those who coached and inspired them are uplifting and heart-warming.
T.J. Kemp
McCallie School
University of North Carolina
A 2010 graduate of McCallie School, T.J. Kemp has been welcomed to the lacrosse team as a freshmen at the University of North Carolina. An accomplished scholar and athlete, Kemp was honored academically as a National Merit Commended Scholar and National Achievement semifinalist. Selected as a lacrosse All-American by Adidas, Under Armour, and other organizations, he was listed this year as a “Power 100 Freshman” by Inside Lacrosse magazine.
“I’ve actually had a stick in my hands since I was three or four years old,” T.J. remarks. “My dad has a tremendous passion for the game, and he is definitely responsible for cultivating the interest and passion I have as well. I would say that easily my favorite accomplishments have been the two lacrosse state championships. My class at McCallie was really tight on and off the field.”
The son of McCallie Dean of Admission and Financial Aid and lacrosse coach Troy Kemp, T.J. appreciates the male influence in his life, particularly at McCallie. “I always wanted to be like Garrett Harvey, Penn Garvich, Jason Hall, Ayanga Okpokowuruk, Clint Brakebill, and pretty much any other guy that has dominated sports for McCallie. I grew up on the sidelines at football and lacrosse games, so I definitely always strove to emulate those childhood heroes.”
T.J. looks forward to the challenge of lacrosse at the college level and understands the impression his conduct and performance have on those who watch him. “I really started to work harder once I realized the impact I have on younger guys,” he explains. “It had never really occurred to me that I was a role model for a lot of kids, but one day a kid came up to me after a game and asked for my autograph. … I hope to be able to contribute to the Carolina lacrosse family however they need me. Ideally, I would like to progress to the level of a significant point scorer, but right now I’m just really glad to be here.”
Savannah Napier
Baylor School
Savannah Napier’s mother taught her how to swim at the age of three. With encouragement from her parents, Jeff and Lisa Napier, and older sister Stephanie, she has excelled as a competitive swimmer throughout her career at Baylor and plans to continue into the future.
“A goal I have had for four years is to make my Olympic trial cut,” says the 17-year-old, “and to compete with the best swimmers in the country. I am most proud of my performances after my freshman year of high school.”
Inspired by older sister Stephanie’s performance as a national champion swimmer and Olympic trials qualifier at the University of Florida, Savannah has competed in the Southern Zones Championship meet in 2009 and 2010 and won the 400-meter individual medley both times. She currently holds the record time in the event and won the 200-meter individual medley in 2009 and finished a close second in 2010. Savannah and her relay team members who claimed state championship status for the ‘09-‘10 school year all achieved All-American status.
“My father and mother both encouraged me to do something I loved and to be the best I could possibly be,” she reasons. “They supported me in all the decisions I have made throughout my swimming career – even when I wanted to try something new. My sister was a world class swimmer and is my biggest role model in swimming. Without Stephanie I don’t know if I would be so into swimming like I am now.”
The Napier family recently relocated to Orlando, Florida, after living on Signal Mountain for 12 years, and Savannah now boards at Baylor as she continues to swim. She considers her family and Baylor teammates to be the body of a machine that powers her engine. Without them, she says, she would be an engine with no way to get around.
Justin Mathieson
Hixson High School
Hixson High School has an impressive record in wrestling – having produced 70 place winners, two State Championship teams, several top 10 team finishes, four Regional championships, and many district and league titles.
Justin Mathieson has added to the list of accomplishments by achieving Hixson’s first recorded high school All-American status. In 2009, Justin placed fourth in the National High School Coaches Association freshman wrestling Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and earned All-American honors from that organization.
He went on to compile a 31-12 record in the 152-pound weight class as a freshman on the Hixson Wildcat wrestling team, and following his sophomore season his career record stood at an impressive 66-20 with 39 pins. He has participated in the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) state tournaments in both his freshman and sophomore years. In both years, Hixson won the state dual wrestling championship.
“Many people have helped me along,” he remarks, “and I give a lot of credit to Coach Garrick Hall at Hixson and to my teammates and my mom, Tracy Mathieson. Mom has always been there to support me no matter what. She is at every wrestling match and always doing this or that for the team. That’s just the way she is.”
In recent months, that core support group has meant more to Justin than ever as he has battled back from a serious injury sustained while playing football.
“I enjoy wrestling because it is an individualized team sport. When you are out there on the mat it is 100 percent you and that other guy. If you lose you can’t blame anybody but yourself or say that anybody else did anything. When you win a match and they raise your hand at the end, you think, ‘I just physically and mentally beat you!’ and nobody can challenge that.”
Troy Tillman
Notre Dame High School
University of Tennessee
During four years of swimming at Notre Dame, Troy Tillman was coached by his mother Dale. A high school All-American in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle for two consecutive years, and a relay All-American as well, Troy is now swimming at the University of Tennessee as a freshman. At Notre Dame, Troy won the Tennessee State High School Championship in both the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, but he is most proud of having anchored the 200-meter freestyle relay team to a second place finish at the 2010 state meet. That finish meant the team accomplished its goal of becoming All-Americans together.
“Up to this point, there are two people who have been the primary influences on my athletic career,” comments Troy. “The person who has influenced my career the longest would be my mom, as she has been there for me from the beginning, coaching me through thousands of practices and hundreds of meets – honestly too many to count. My mom has had the longest influence, but Coach Dan Flack of the Baylor Swim Club (an open U.S.A. Swim Club) would be the person who has had the strongest influence on me. I started training with Coach Flack three years ago, and he taught me to be more athletic and how to sprint. It was under his direction that I was able to move to the next level. There is no doubt in my mind that had it not been for Coach Flack I would not be swimming at the University of Tennessee right now.”
“I absolutely love being at the University of Tennessee,” he relates. “My goal is to focus on the things I need to do to in order to get stronger and faster in the sprint freestyle events. If I am fast enough to represent the Vols at the Southeastern Conference championships in February, then I will consider my freshman year a success.”
Julianne Wilson
Girls Preparatory School
University of Tennessee
Named All-American in several athletic pursuits, Julianne Wilson won the Tennessee State Diving Championship in 2007 as a freshman at GPS and again as a senior in 2010. She is currently diving for the University of Tennessee and concentrating solely on that activity, although her high school career included outstanding performances in track, cheerleading and dance.
Julianne’s diving career started during her first year at GPS as a sixth grader when she saw the diving team practice. Since she already had a background in dance and cheerleading, twisting and flipping in the air looked like a great fit.
“Winning the state diving championship has been the most exciting thing that has happened in my career so far,” she remarks. “Coming in as a new freshman, no one expected me to finish in first place; so I was extremely excited when I was able to bring in a win for GPS. I’m a very self-driven and competitive person, so whenever I participate in an athletic event, I always give my all. Although awards and recognition have never been a main source of motivation for me, I am extremely honored to be named an All-American. Growing up, my dad told me stories about how he was an All-American runner in high school, so it’s a great feeling knowing that I can follow in his footsteps.”
The daughter of Jim and Beth Ann Wilson, Julianne praises her support network for helping her career to blossom. “I am so thankful for all the sacrifices my parents have made for me and the support they have shown me,” Julianne says. “Besides my amazing family, who have always been more than supportive of all my athletic endeavors, the athletic department at GPS influenced me more than anyone. So many coaches bent over backwards to accommodate to my needs so that I could be a successful three-sport athlete. I was truly blessed with outstanding coaches who I try to make proud.”
These young men and women are just a small representation of the many Chattanooga athletes that have been recognized as All-Americans. Collectively, they experienced the long hours, setbacks and triumphs inherent with the pursuit of excellence. They also enjoyed the encouragement, love and support of coaches, family members and friends that helped them reach such a tremendous milestone. Their stories of success and the people who supported them serve as an inspiration to others pursuing new personal goals.