By Rubin E. GrantAlvin Bresler was a young coach when he led the Homewood Patriots to their first state championship in 1974, in just the third year of the program’s existence.“When I think back about that, Homewood High School hired me when I was 23 years old (in 1972),” Bresler said. “I was 25 when the 1974 season started and I turned 26 during the season.“I … [Read more...]
Briarwood’s Leib Earns MVP Honors in AHSAA Girls All-Star Soccer Game
By Rubin E. GrantBriarwood Christian’s Taylor Leib enjoyed all the festivities surrounding the 2024 AHSAA North-South All-Star soccer game last week.She liked going to a museum and spending time with the other all-star soccer players, girls and boys.But the main event for Leib was the game itself. And she took center stage, scoring the North’s first goal and … [Read more...]
Twice as Nice: Mountain Brook Soccer Players Experience a Double Dose of Championships
By Rubin E. GrantBetsy Ankar and Gabby Lamontagne experienced a remarkable double dose of soccer titles within a few weeks.In May, Ankar and Lamontagne helped Mountain Brook win the AHSAA Class 6A state championship, which was the Spartans’ first title since 2013.Then barely a month later, they helped the Hoover-Vestavia Soccer Club 2008 team win the U16 Development … [Read more...]
John Carroll’s Steele Recognized for Making a Difference
By Rubin E. GrantRonald Steele was caught off guard, something that rarely happened on the court when he was earning back-to-back Alabama Mr. Basketball awards and leading John Carroll Catholic to consecutive state championships 20 years ago.But Steele was taken aback when he was included among seven 2024 Making a Difference Award recipients by the Alabama High School … [Read more...]
Life-Changing: Chandler Recalls Winning Diving Gold Medal at Montreal Olympics
By Rubin E. GrantJennifer Chandler gets transported back in time and her heart rate increases whenever the Summer Olympics approach.She always returns to the same year and same place: 1976 in Montreal, Canada.With the 2024 Summer Olympics set to begin July 26 in Paris, Chandler is time traveling again. “Every time the Olympics roll around and they start … [Read more...]