Due to the current coronavirus situation and all sports being shut down, there are a lot of athletes who have had their senior seasons cut short. ENC Sports Review thought it would be nice to highlight some of these seniors as a small way to celebrate their senior year, since so much has been taken from them already. Today, we will highlight Faith Christian School’s Hobart Brantley. We thank Hobart for taking the time to sit down with ENC Sports Review and answer these questions for us. We had fun learning more about him and we hope you will too!
How long have you been playing sports?
I have been playing sports since I was about 5 years old. I never played tee-ball because I had two older siblings who were being pitched to, so I didn’t want to hit a ball off the tee. I wanted to be pitched to like my brother and sister.
What teams have you been on? (This can be rec ball, middle school and high school)
I guess you could say, I started playing basketball when I was in kindergarten. I played several years of Upward Basketball at Momeyer Baptist Church. My dad was my coach every year. I also played baseball with Nash County. I played on Nash County Rec teams, Little League, and Babe Ruth All Star teams. Andy Jones, Clay Thornton, Tim Edwards, Marcus Taylor, Deryl Land and Ray Baker were some of my coaches during this time. My first time playing football was with Nash County Rec in the 7th grade. My coach was Judd Hyde. I played middle school basketball at Faith Christian in the 7th and 8th grade coached by Jay Hooks. I went on to play JV and Varsity basketball (9th – 12th grade) coached by Robert Brothers and Kelly Webb. I played JV baseball my 7th and 8th grade years coached by Marcus Taylor then played Varsity baseball 9th – 12th grade. Greg Clifton, Mike Pannell, and Al Carter were my coaches until my junior year. Ronnie Beddingfield then became my junior and senior year coach with Mike Pannell as assistant. In my sophomore year of high school, Faith Christian started a new football program. I played Varsity football 10th – 12th grade with Russell Weinstein, Blake McKeel, Jeremy Jones, Tony High, Andrew Brown, Al Carter and Eddie Harris as my coaches. I can’t forget Mrs. Linda Weinstein and Drs. Ashley and Holly Parker who were on the sidelines and kept me hydrated, taped up, and sewn up so I could be on the field.
Who has been your favorite coach and what did he or she teach you that you carry with you through today?
In all of my years of playing sports, I have been blessed with many wonderful coaches. I truly cannot say one particular coach has been my favorite. All of my coaches have been special to me. Each one, in their own way, has given me something I am taking with me in my next chapter in life and sports, which I’m about to begin in a few months. At times, my coaches and I didn’t always see eye to eye; however, I know what they were trying to teach me was for my own good.
What makes a good coach? One that is far more than just a coach, and I have many that are still a big part of my life and will continue to be as I begin to play college sports.
What is your favorite memory and least favorite memory of playing sports?
I would have to say that my favorite memory of my high school sports is the 3 state championships that I have had the opportunity to win. My first was my freshman year when I played Varsity baseball. Then we turned around the next year and won our 2nd championship. Back to back state championships are hard to forget. Our second year of having a football team at Faith Christian School we beat St. David’s Academy 24 – 20 in the state playoff game. This was a feeling I will never forget. So many thought we would never make it that far with only having a football program at our school for just two years.
My least favorite memory was my last football game. That may sound strange but I hated to see that part of my athletic career come to an end. I do have many wonderful memories, especially when we won the state championship, that will always be very special to me, but I still didn’t want it to end.
What is one thing or event that if you could do over again you would change?
One thing I would change is I would be a better leader on the football team. I was the only senior. I feel like I was a good leader but I could have been better by speaking up more or vocalizing what needed to be said.
Who is someone you look up to and why?
One person I look up to is my dad, Brian Brantley. He is always there for me no matter what. He has pushed me to be a better person and at the same time he taught me to be a better athlete. He never missed any of my games. I could always count on “replaying” the highlights of my game with him once we got home.
If you could go back 5 years and tell yourself something then that you know now what would it be?
If I could go back 5 years I would cherish each and every memory I make because it will be gone before you know it. My dad tells me to make sure I always give 100% each and every time I am on the field or court for whatever sport I play. He says before you know it you will come to this field or this court and wish you could put on your old jersey. Instead you will be standing on the sidelines watching, not participating.
What is something you would tell someone trying to follow in your footsteps?
If I could tell one thing to someone trying to follow in my shoes I’d tell them- “Don’t leave anything on the field. Always give 100%. If you do that you will not have any regrets.” It bothers me when athletes don’t give 100% or are lazy. There’s no time to be lazy anywhere if you are going to be on a team. You have teammates that are depending on you to do your part, so do it. Like I said before it will be gone before you know it and if you don’t give 100% you will have some regrets when you come back to stand on the sidelines.
If you have played your last high school game, what is something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
If I have played my last high school game because of this COVID-19 pandemic I will always remember that whenever I stepped out onto the field/court I gave it everything I had. I left nothing behind. I gave it my all each and every time. I knew I had a team that was depending on me and I never wanted to let them down. I can say my high school athletic career has been one I will never forget. I am thankful to God for giving me the talents I have that I used in each sport I played. I know He helped me get through some difficult times, especially when Dr. Parker had to sew up my finger on the sideline so I could get back in the game and finish playing. I will cherish the memories and friendships I have made forever.
Feel free to add anything that I might not have asked that people would like to know about your time playing sports or your future plans.
As I begin to look to the future I have to stop and think how will sports look from this point on. Will football continue to be played as it has been in the past? Will we ever get to sit in the stands beside our friends to watch an “All – American” game of baseball? Will we ever be able to go inside a gymnasium to play on a basketball court? I don’t have the answers to these questions and I’m not sure anyone does. But as I prepare to make decisions about where I will go to college and what sport I will be playing, I pray that life will soon return to normal, or at least the normal I used to know.
Philippians 1:3 – “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Thank you again, Hobart Brantley , for taking the time to be one of our 2020 senior spotlights. We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.
Attention 2020 Seniors: If you are interested in possibly being our next spotlight, please inbox us with a picture of you (head shot or action shot, or multiple pictures), your name, school, sports/positions played and answers to some or all of the questions above.
Note: All photographs have been contributed to this post from the senior’s family.
ENC Sports Review 