Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - On May 17, 2026, Cherryville High School held its annual Ironmen athletics banquet at Starnes Auditorium in Cherryville, NC. Two exemplary young men, Coach Antonio Griggs and Coach Brandon Shull, received prestigious Coach of the Year honors. Student athletes face many opponents on and off the court, field, or course. These young athletes are honing their skills as they navigate the treacherous waters of classroom work, relationship problems, and life in general. Coaches are often much more than just someone who makes you run laps or practice drills. They are often the student-athletes' most trusted lifeline. The coach must invest time in their lives, building trust through relationships. Basically, they become a life coach, mentor, and in some cases, a parental role model. The coach must also demonstrate what it is like to be a man or woman of integrity and how to handle all that life throws at you. Anyone can blow a whistle or run a practice, but a coach must instill sportsmanship and character in their charges. These two award recipients have done that and much more. Students and athletes regard these young men highly as educators and coaches. In a small school where athletes must be shared between teams and budgets are limited, motivation to take on this responsibility goes beyond a small stipend or recognition. The coach must truly care for the players and the future men and women they will become. Coach Griggs and Coach Shull each have demonstrated the passion and compassion necessary to succeed in all these areas and deserve their recent recognition.
The Blue Jacket Award is the name of the honor given to the Cherryville High School Coach of the Year, which all the coaches at the school vote on. This year, the honor was bestowed upon men's cross country and men's basketball coach Antonio Griggs. Along with coaching, his other roles include teaching Economics and Personal Finance, as well as Student Leadership and Community. When a teacher or coach is known simply by one name, in this case, Griggs, then one realizes the students and athletes have a great rapport with the individual. He is seen as more than just a coach.
Coach Griggs is no stranger to the halls of Cherryville High School; he is a 2006 graduate of the school and ran cross country and played basketball. He never truly left Cherryville. After graduation, he returned the following year to begin coaching basketball as a volunteer assistant on Coach Scott Harrill's staff. Even as a student at Western Carolina, he would return to Cherryville on Friday nights to be around the program and attend games. Ironmen basketball was in his blood, and he wanted to be around the team. Following several years of volunteering, Coach Harrill offered a paid assistant position. In 2013, Griggs accepted the role of head coach at John Chavis Middle School. He continued in this role for six years. Next, he returned to Cherryville High School as junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant under Coach Harrill. After Harrill retired in 2023, Coach Griggs was honored to be named the next head coach of the varsity team.
"I see the role of a teacher and coach as more of a life coach than just an athletic coach. My responsibility goes far beyond what happens in the classroom, on the court, or on the course. It's about helping young people develop habits, character, and a mindset that will serve them long after their playing days are over." – Coach Antonio Griggs. He explained that one of the most consistent messages his athletes hear from him is "I just want you to be great". He emphasizes this by ending many conversations with
"Go be great!" He means greatness in effort, attitude, academics, relationships, and life decisions, not just in sports performance. He credits former teachers and coaches for inspiring him to pursue this career. He was taught discipline, accountability, teamwork, and how to overcome adversity through athletics. He wanted the opportunity to pass it on to the next generation. Coaches such as Scott Harrill, Bud Black, and Dennis Tate were very instrumental in his development as a coach and teacher. Former teachers such as Jeanne Burks and Pamela Harris played major roles in his development as a student and as a person. They helped shape his approach to coaching and teaching through their leadership, mentorship, and belief in building strong relationships with students. Coach Griggs wanted to recognize another of his former teachers, baseball coach Scott Heavner, for leading the Ironmen to the state playoff finals in his final season as coach. At a recent coaches meeting, Heavner spoke from the perspective of a parent, with his sons attesting to the relationships that were built and how much they enjoyed playing for Coach Griggs. That was a special moment for him. Coach Heavner added that it’s bigger than wins and losses; the true reflection of coaching is impacting young people, building lasting relationships, and helping shape them well beyond the game.
As a man of faith, he attributes that to his learning the importance of serving, leading with integrity, showing compassion, and building meaningful relationships with students and athletes. He makes it a priority to pray about situations, seek guidance, and discuss concerns with coaching staff before making major decisions. Being named coach of the year is an honor he doesn't take for granted. He is appreciative of his fellow coaches for honoring him. Still, he is quick to point out that Athletic Director Matt Powers has assembled a great coaching staff for all athletic teams and has been very supportive of him and his teams. Griggs went on to acknowledge that any success he has enjoyed would not be possible without his co-coach in cross country, Callie Cooke, or in basketball, assistants Dennis Tate, Yung Sherrill, and Landon Hahn.
"Coaches have a unique opportunity to impact players by teaching accountability, resilience, teamwork, and discipline in real time. Those lessons carry into how they handle challenges, relationships, work, and responsibility in the future. My goal is always to help students become successful people first, and athletes second." - Coach Antonio Griggs.
Brandon Shull teaches Civics and Economics at Cherryville High School and has several coaching roles. He is the head coach of women's and men's tennis at Cherryville High School and is on the coaching staff of men's wrestling at both John Chavis Middle School and Cherryville High School. This season, Coach Shull experienced success with the women's tennis team in the Fall, then, in the Spring, led the men's team to one of its most successful seasons in school history. Coach Shull is very humble in his accomplishments and in his approach to coaching. This has carried over to how his players and students are developing into young adults. He is also a man of faith and allows the qualities he has learned to guide him in his approach to his students and athletes. As a praise and worship leader at his church, he is gifted in the areas of encouragement and inspiration of others, which work well in his roles of teacher and coach.
"I want to be remembered as a coach who truly cared about my players, no matter what the score of the game or match was." – Coach Brandon Shull. The SPC Tennis Coach of the Year award is truly an honor for him, as it is voted on by the other coaches in the conference, which makes it especially meaningful. He truly appreciates and feels honored that the other conference coaches would consider voting for him.
One of the things that motivates him is the people who coached before him and helped build the program. Also, the legacy of coaches at Cherryville High School and the coaches who impacted his life when he was in school. Just as they made a huge difference in his life, he sees that as the kind of impact and legacy he hopes to leave with the students he is currently coaching. Ultimately, one of them will take his place and continue that tradition. This would be the ideal legacy he would choose to leave, if it were up to him.
Coach Shull sees one of the biggest lessons taught through athletics as how to adapt to change. Things can change quickly during athletic competitions, such as starting times, delays, or complete schedules, due to inclement weather or injuries. In tennis, you're sometimes competing individually and other times playing doubles, which requires a completely different mindset and style of play. Learning to adjust to those situations helps prepare students to adapt to the challenges they'll face in life.
Coach Shull explained a few unique approaches he takes to coaching tennis. When coaching tennis, there is a challenge in the game's unique circumstances, requiring both physical and mental aspects to be considered. Along with the physical ability to successfully react to what the opponent does, there must be anticipation of their next move so you can be in a good position to block and return their action, such as a volley, lob, or serve. The game keeps the player mentally alert. Many of his lessons are not focused solely on tennis skills; often, conversations are less about tennis and more about life. Discussing things such as life, how to handle obstacles, overcome challenges, and keep moving forward when things get difficult. The game of tennis is fast-paced and requires split-second reactions to sudden changes, like how life can change. The game helps teach how to think quickly on your feet and make the necessary adjustments when things change or obstacles get in the way.
"The biggest thing I hope they remember is that after the last whistle blows or the last point is scored, the relationships will always be there. I want them to be able to look back at their time in high school athletics with a smile and a laugh and remember the memories they made with their teammates and coaches."- Coach Brandon Shull.
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