Most Famous MBHS Athlete: Readers Weigh In

MOUNTAIN BROOK, AL - Mountain Brook natives take their athletics pretty seriously, as noted by the response to last week's article regarding famous MBHS athletes.

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Who Is Mountain Brook's Most Famous Athlete?

While the article only listed 10 suggestions for who might be in the discussion for determining the most famous former Spartan athlete, the list could have been expanded exponentially, as readers were quick to point out.

While not initially made clear in the article, the discussion was centered on athletes who graduated from MBHS, which excluded athletes such as Jenny Chandler, an Olympic Gold Medalist in diving who lived in Mountain Brook but attended high school in Georgia and Anniston; and Greg Huntington, who once lived in Mountain Brook but moved to Ohio while in high school. Huntington played football at Penn State and later enjoyed a long NFL career. Mac Styslinger, who also grew up in Mountain Brook and has enjoyed a successful tennis career, was mentioned by readers, but was not mentioned in the article because he graduated from IMG Academy rather than Mountain Brook High School.

MBHS alum A.K. Schleusner mentioned that former Spartan and All-State track star Sissy Costner went on to win All-American honors on the Auburn indoor and outdoor track teams, winning an individual national championship in the high jump in 1990 for the Tigers. Costner is also one of only three track and field athletes at Auburn to be awarded the Leah Rawls Atkins Award, the highest award an Auburn student-athlete can receive.

Schleusner also threw former MBHS softball player Courtney Shea into the discussion. Shea just finished her eligibility at Auburn where she was part of the Tigers softball team that reached the championship game of the College World Series.

Another MBHS softball player, Katie Beckham, who was a Great South Athletic Conference All-Conference selection all four years she played at Maryville College was mentioned by readers. Beckham was also awarded the the JD Davis Award- given to one female and one male athlete during their senior year at Maryville, encompassing athletics, academics, leadership, and community service. Beckham was the MVP of Maryville's softball team her senior year, and helped lead the Scots to two conference titles.

Tom Lovelady received some love from readers as well. Former Spartan golfer Lovelady, an All-American at the University of Alabama, helped the Crimson Tide to the 2013 and 2014 national championships, and is now on the PGA Tour where he is considered one of the top rookies on the tour this year.

Mountain Brook resident Trip Galloway pointed out that Pat Dupre, who led the Spartans to three tennis state championships in the early 70s, was an All-American while playing for the Stanford tennis team that captured two national championships. Dupre went on to play professionally and reach a world top 20 ranking, making the semifinals in the 1979 Wimbledon tournament and the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

MBHS alum Sally Baker mentioned former Spartan football player Chip Long, who was an All-American while playing for the University of North Alabama, and has become a star assistant coach at the top NCAA level. Long is currently the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, and is considered one of the best recruiters in college football.

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