Caroline Marks’ career is the stuff of surfing legends. At 11, this goofy-footed ‘tween was the youngest girl to make the USA Surf Team. She is also the youngest female ever to surf in a World Surfing League Women’s Pro event.
Few have accomplished in their life as much as Brevard County resident Barbara Simmers Caywood. Capping a 46-year career in journalism, she retired in 2005 after covering generations of student-athletes and breaking down barriers as one of the first female sports writing professionals in America.
For Laurent Robinson, his time as a football player at Illinois State was much different than many. For him it wasn’t about the wins, it was about the preparation.
While the University of Miami in the 1980s was sometimes called “Quarterback U,” its defense was known for its speed and its intensity. And a major part of that was because of the play of Ronnie Lippett.
Since 2007, Coach Tyrone Giscombe has been an integral part of the lives of many student-athletes, volunteered more than 12,000 hours at three different area schools. He has mentored and coached student-athletes who have been on teams that have won a combined six state titles, nine district titles, 10 regional titles and three Cape Coast Conference titles in track.
Richard Sharpe is one of the most accomplished and talented soccer players to ever don the Florida Tech men’s soccer uniform. He holds the NCAA Division II and Florida Tech records for career goals (137) and points (321) and was a 1991, 1992 and 1993 first team All American.
Teresa Brantley Moon’s contributions to Florida Tech soccer earned her induction into Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. She the top career goal-scorer in Florida tech history, in addition to holding many other records.
Former World Heavy Weight Boxing Champion Pinklon Thomas has been a warrior, fighter and role model for disadvantaged and troubled youth at the University Boxing Gym in Melbourne. Thomas fought and defeated the very best heavyweight fighters the world could serve up, but his toughest fight has always been against the evils that plague our society through drugs and alcohol.
Coach Dabney Davis became the most successful AAU basketball coach in the history of Brevard County with an amazing won/loss record of 270-4. This was a county, state, and national record that has never been broken. He also coached junior high football and basketball. His three-year career won/loss record in football was 18-0, winning three straight County Championships.
Jimmy Black led the most prolific prep football team in the history of Brevard County – the 1972 Merritt Island Mustangs.
It’s hard to imagine but many local volleyball and beach volleyball players owe a debt of gratitude to Maverick, Goose, Iceman and Slider, nicknames of characters in the 1986 blockbuster film, Top Gun.
They may have been the very best Brevard County high school basketball team ever assembled. You can certainly make a case for it. Who were they? They are the Monroe High School Wildcats – Class of 1964-1965.
If you want to know what a great baseball manager looks like, look no further than Rockledge Raiders skipper, Greg Clayborne.
Robert “Bob” Anderson was a coach, principal, superintendent, sports official and served as a Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, including as Chair and Vice Mayor. The City of Rockledge dedicated an 80-acre recreational and dog park in his honor.
There are plenty of sportswriters, but only a few true sports journalists who can go beyond the statistics to the heart of the athletes. Larry Guest is one the latter.
Born in Merritt Island in 1927, Julia Beckman, 92, remains active, outspoken and independent. Today’s female athletes should be extremely grateful women like Beckman were there to help pave the way for them, striving on a daily basis, often tackling misconceptions and bigotry head-on in order to achieve rightful recognition her outstanding players deserved.
Six-time NBA MVP and 19-time All-Star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar once said, “I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrifice.”
Andy Seminick, best known as the leader of the 1950 National League pennant-winning Philadelphia Phillie “Whiz Kids,” holds a very special place in the hearts of many.
Wilbur Marshall’s performance on the high school football fields of Central Florida was a harbinger of things to come in the Hall of Fame career of the man who is clearly one of, if not the Space Coast’s greatest football player ever.
The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame selection committee announced an impressive array of outstanding individuals to be inducted into the 2019 Class of the Hall of Fame. The 2019 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Sports Awards will be held Friday, May 10 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club.
