Cherokee County Teachers Inducted Into Sports Hall Of Fame

CHEROKEE COUNTY, GA — Two Cherokee County School District teachers were recently inducted into the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame last week.

Etowah High School head baseball coach and physical education teacher Greg Robinson and Creekview High School career tech teacher Wyatt Wilkie were inducted as part of the organization’s annual enshrinement banquet on May 6.

Robinson was honored for his long and distinguished career in baseball. He was a starter on the University of North Carolina’s College World Series baseball team and, after college, was drafted by the Texas Rangers. After his playing days, Robinson began a coaching career that has resulted in more than 400 victories, with two Georgia High School Association State Championships and State Coach of the Year honors.

Most recently, Robinson led the 2017 Etowah High School baseball team to the first state baseball championship in Cherokee County history since the 1948 Canton High School baseball team. That 2017 team also was honored by the Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame.

A 1999 graduate of Sequoyah High School, Wilkie's wrestling success included becoming the first wrestler in county history to win a state championship as a freshman. He also led the 1996 team to the first team state championship in county history. After winning two individual Georgia High School Association state titles, Wilkie accepted a scholarship to Cumberland College, where he became the first county wrestler to become a two-time college All-American. Wilkie returned to Cherokee School as the first head wrestling coach at Creekview High School.

“We’re so fortunate to benefit from the successful athletic careers of Greg and Wyatt,” Superintendent Brian Hightower said. “The lessons they learned about teamwork, determination and overcoming challenges help our students in the classroom each day. Greg’s coaching skills also have afforded our student athletes the opportunity to win state championships, earn athletic scholarships … and even be drafted by the Atlanta Braves.”

Hightower also shared thanks for the Sports Hall of Fame, a Cherokee Schools Partner, and its longtime support of high school athletics through recognitions of top seniors from each school and of former student athletes’ successes.

The Cherokee County Sports Hall of Fame also inducted former district athletes Bart Manous, Cherokee High; Brett Gravitt, Etowah High; Justin Wilkie, Sequoyah High; and sports contributor Todd Adams into the Hall of Fame.