‘An amazing opportunity’: 6 Northwestern High School athletes sign to play in college
As a sophomore, JT Lewis called the time he forced a fumble, recovered it and ran it back for a touchdown “the best play of my life.”
But on Friday, when asked about his favorite memory as a high school athlete, the senior Northwestern defensive lineman couldn’t help but reflect on the simpler joys of his career.
“It would have to be playing in front of the crowd, playing in District Three Stadium,” Lewis told The Herald via phone interview. “Just hearing our walk-out song coming out of the tunnel.”
Lewis was one of six Northwestern High School athletes who, via Zoom video call, were celebrated on Friday for signing to play their respective sport in college.
“It’s an amazing opportunity that I’ve been given,” Lewis said.
Lewis signed to play at Georgia Military College, a junior college in Milledgeville, Ga. He said he selected to sign with GMC for a variety of reasons — one of which being that the Bulldogs’ defensive scheme would allow Lewis to play a “hybrid outside linebacker” type of position, he said.
Lewis said he hopes his time at Georgia Military will develop him into a Division I-caliber football player. He said he plans to major in business marketing in college.
“I want to thank my mom and my dad,” Lewis said. “And yes, I’d like to shoutout Greenville again. And I’d also like to thank the brotherhood that I’ve made on the field and off the field with my teammates...
“High school football was part of the best years that I’ve ever had.”
And that sophomore fumble return for a touchdown made it even more special, right?
Lewis laughed: “Well, that can be a favorite memory, too.“
Notable and quotable: ‘The next chapter’
JT Lewis (Georgia Military, football)
Mason Grigg (Coastal Carolina, basketball): Grigg remembers scoring his 1,000th point as if it happened yesterday. It came against Gaffney at home in the first round of the 2020 5A state playoffs, a game the Trojans ended up winning by more than 40 points.
“It was the end of the third quarter, and I was at 17 points,” Grigg recalled in a phone interview with The Herald Friday afternoon. “We came in the huddle and they were like, ‘Alright, just give it to Mason, let him get that last point.’ And they just kept feeding it to me and feeding it to me. Gaffney put two people on me. It was obvious they didn’t want me to get it. But then finally I drew a foul, went to the line, missed the first one and made the second.
“And the second was my 1,000th point. And the crowd just went crazy.”
Grigg will be a preferred walk-on for the Chanticleers under longtime head coach Cliff Ellis. Grigg said he and the CCU coaching staff have been in talks since January, just after Grigg saw CCU defeat Winthrop in a fun, close game in Rock Hill.
“And then I visited down there in March,” Grigg said. “And right when I stepped on campus and just saw the facilities and stuff, I knew it was the place for me.”
The 6-2 senior guard averaged 16.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and three assists per game — which was enough to earn him All-State and All-Herald honors in 2020.
“I just want to thank all of my family, my teammates, my coaches, especially Coach John Bramlett,” Grigg said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
Alexis Salazar (USC Lancaster, soccer): Salazar was the Trojans’ anchor in the midfield.
“I just want to thank my coaches and my mom and my dad,” Salazar said. “When I was at my lowest, they were there and helped me through them.”
Reed Garland (San Jacinto Junior College, baseball): Garland plans to pitch next year at SJJC, one of the best junior college baseball programs in the country. The program has won five national championships and has made 26 JUCO World Series appearances.
“I just want to thank Coach (Ryan) Hunt for being a great coach for all five years I was there,” Garland said. “He’s always helped me with everything... My teammates too. They’ve all been great over the years.”
Maddy Campbell (Brevard College, soccer): “I just want to thank all of my club coaches and my high school coaches,” Campbell said. “They really pushed me through. And even when I didn’t want to go to practice, they were still there pushing me through. They were getting me ready for the best and the worst outcomes.”
Ann Cromer (Piedmont College, track and field)
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 5:11 PM.
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