HALL OF FAME
ROBERT "BOB" CRABB
GIRLS TENNIS COACH
Coach Robert “Bob “Crabb was named head girls tennis coach in 1982. In his first season, he led the Lady Cavalier tennis team to a Region IV Runner-up title and finished 5th in the state that year. In the following year, Crabb knew he could be successful with the return of most of his players. In 1983, he proved this to be true with a 12-2 record coupled with Region IV Championship title. To include a 4th place finish in the state out of 48 4A teams. Coach Crabb’s pinnacle season occurred in 1984, with back to back Region IV Champion honors and South Carolina State 4A Championship Runners-Up title, led by current RNE Hall of Famer, Portia George. After that exciting season, Coach Crabb was forced to rebuild the Lady Cavaliers in 1985 and managed to claim the Region IV Runner-Up title. Coach Bob Crabb went on to coach one more season before retiring from coaching, but remained a beloved teacher of Social Studies and best known for his upbeat personality and the phrase “ This question is off the wall.” Sadly, Coach Robert “Bob” Crabb passed away in 2022, but will be forever honored with his name on the wall of the RNE Hall of Fame.
THOMAS BOOZER
BASEBALL
During his stellar career at Richland Northeast, team captain, Boozer, was a four year letterman as the starting pitcher. He compiled 76 strikeouts in 57 innings while hitting a .396 batting average. While leading the team in home runs and RBIs, Boozer was also voted the #1 pitcher in the state during his tenure. He was selected to All Area (96-98), All Region 1996 & 1998, and All State as a pitcher and hitter in 1998. To top off his senior year, Thomas Boozer was selected to the North & South Carolina All-star game. At the conclusion of Boozer senior season, he continued his baseball career by signing a scholarship to Clemson University where he was once again a 4-year letterman, compiled over 100 strikeouts, and appeared in the college World Series in 2000 & 2002.
SHAYLA PHILLIPS
VOLLEYBALL & TRACK
Shayla attended Richland Northeast from 2011 through 2015 and earned 8 varsity letters during her time. She obtained 3 letters from volleyball, 4 letters for track, and 1 for basketball. As a junior, Shayla participated in the 2013 Track & Field Nationals. As a senior volleyball Captain, she was selected to the All region & All-State team while also being named to the SCCAWS North All-star team. In 2014, she was named the Region 4 3A Player of the year and WLTX player of the week. Shayla Phillip is currently the top record holder for high jump, and remains top 10 in record holder in 400m hurdles, 100m hurdles, and 4x400 relay. After high school, Shayla attended Samford University & Ohio University, and later went on to play for the Volleyball League of America in 2024.
CHAD MCKENZIE
BASKETBALL
Chad was a standout basketball player from 2000-2002. As a 3-year starter and 3-year letterman, he was selected All Region & All State in 2000-2002. During his time, Chad helped compile a basketball record of 78-9. In 2002, he helped lead the Cavaliers to their first state championship appearance. He accumulated a bundle of stats that consist of 1050 points, 543 rebounds, 265 assists, 179 blocks, and 91 steals. He was named the Columbia 4-A player of the year, and selected to the SC vs NC All-Star game. Chad was the first player in Richland Northeast history to ever record a triple double. Following high school, Chad received a scholarship to play basketball for Louisiana Tech University. After college, he went on to play professional basketball overseas for 8 years.
RODNEY PAULK
FOOTBALL
Rodney Paulk attended Richland Northeast from 2002-2006. During his tenure, he became a 6- time Varsity- letterman. He received letters for track & field, wrestling, and football. He was selected to both all region & all state in 2004 and 2005. In 2005, Rodney was named the defensive player of the year while also being selected to the Shrine bowl and the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team. He holds a record of 174 tackles in a season while also being rated #1 Linebacker and #9 player in the state. After high school, Rodney received a scholarship to University of South Carolina where he was named to the SEC freshman 1st team and SEC freshman 2nd first team All-American. After his promising college career, Rodney signed with the B.C Lions Canadian Football League in 2012.
MARK GARDINER
TENNIS
Mark was a standout tennis player for Richland Northeast from 1978 through 1982. As a 4-year starter he played #1 singles and doubles earning himself 4 varsity letters. He was the Region Individual Tennis Champion each year rom 1979 through 1982. During his career our boy's tennis teams were region champions for 3 consecutive season, State Runners Up in 1980 and 1982 and were the first team at Richland Northeast to ever win a state championship when they won the Class 4A State Tennis Championship in 1981. As a senior Mark was selected All State and he received a scholarship to play tennis at Winthrop University.
GARY GRAY
FOOTBALL
Gary attended Richland Northeast from 2003 through 2007 and earned 3 varsity letters in football while being a standout 2-way player at Quarterback and Cornerback. He was selected All Region and All State during both his junior and senior season while being ranked nationally by multiple media outlets. To cap off his senior season Gary was selected to play in the North Carolina versus South Carolina Shrine Bowl game in the U.S. Army All American Bowl game in San Antonio Texas. At the conclusion of his senior season he continued his football career by signing a scholarship to play football for Notre Dame University.
ALLISON CLARY KJAERSGAARD
CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK
Allison lettered and excelled in both cross country & track & field. She earned letters in cross country and 6 letters in track & field. Allison was selected All Region and All State in both sports for three years while being selected as the SC Women's Association 4A Runner of the Year in 1995 & 1996. She won the individual State Championship in track & field for the 1600 meters her senior season. Allison holds 3 school records in track & field; the 800 meters at 2:22, the 1600 meters at 5:20, the 3200 meters at 12:01 and the school record in cross country at 19:05 (5K). After high school, Allison attended the University of Tennessee on an athletic scholarship to run cross country & track.
BRYANT LATIMER
BASKETBALL
Bryant was a 3-year starter and letterman in basketball on teams that complied a record of 66 wins and 17 losses. Bryant was selected All Region, All Area, And All State during his junior and senior seasons. As a senior he was selected in the pre-season as one of the top 5 basketball players in the state and at the conclusion of the season he was selected to patriciate in the North/South All Star game. Bryant score 1,210 points in his career (second all -time) and holds the school's single game record (38 ) points scored. He set the South Carolina High School League's state record for consecutive free throws made (46) in 1999 that stood for 13 years. He finished off his Richland Northeast career by signing a basketball scholarship to attend Winthrop University.
BARRY MIZZELL
BASEBALL COACH
During his tenure as RNE's Head Baseball Coach his team's compiled an overall record of 227 wins and 129 losses for a 64% win percentage that included winning 7 region championships. Coach Mizzell is Richland Northeast's all-time leaders as coach in team wins for baseball. He was selected Region Coach of Year 7 times and State Coach of the Year once. Our Cavalier baseball team under his direction was Class 4A State Runner Ups in 2000 and State Champions the following year.
STACY SIMPSON LYONS
SOCCER
Stacy Simpson (Lyons) was a 4-year letter recipient for girls soccer and a member of our 2001 Girls Soccer 4A State Championship team. During her career she was named All State twice. During Stacy’s junior season (2001) she was named Class 4A Girls State Soccer Player of the Year and during her senior season (2002) she was name Gatorade State Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
HENRI STANLEY
BASEBALL
Henri Stanley was 4-year letterman in baseball. His senior year he was name Class 4A State Player of the Year by the State Newspaper and the Gatorade State Baseball Player of the Year along with being named one of the Top 100 high school players by Baseball America.
ROBERT "BOBBY" URBAN
CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK
Robert “Bobby” Urban was both a cross country and track standout at RNE earning 5 letters in each. He was a 6-time All State athlete. Bobby won 2 individual state championships in the 3200 meter race and was a 2-time state runner-up in cross country.
ALLISON SIMONS WISE
SOFTBALL
Allison Simons (Wise) was a stellar softball player earning 4 varsity letters. She was named All Area and All State three years. Allison holds school records for pitching with 6 no-hitters and 2 perfect games.
RYAN BETHEA
FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL
Richland Northeast High School Class of 1985 Ryan was a standout in 3 sports at Richland Northeast during his high school years earning 4 varsity letters each in football and baseball and 3 letters in basketball. He was selected All Region, All-Area, All State and All American in football his junior and senior seasons. His senior season efforts in football resulted in Ryan being selected to participate in the NC/SC Shrine Bowl game of which he was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. He was also invited to participate in the Blue Chippers All Star game. Ryan received a scholarship to play football after high school for the University of South Carolina where he continued to excel on the gridiron.
AIRESE CURRIE
TRACK & FIELD, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL
Richland Northeast High School Class of 2001 While at Richland Northeast, Airese was a 3-sport athlete. He earned 3 varsity letters in track & field, 2 letters in football and 1 letter in basketball. Airese was selected All Region and All-Area in Track & Field for 3 years and football for two years while being selected All State for two years in both sports. He was a stalwart member of our 2001 track & field state championship team where he individually won the 100 and 200 meters state championships. During the meet he broke the previous state record in the 200 meters. His record time held for over a decade before being broken. During his senior year Airese was selected to participate in multiple All Star events including the NC/SC Shrine Bowl in football and the Golden South Track and Field Classic. To cap off his stellar high school career, Airese was named the 2001 Gatorade 4A State Track Athlete of the Year. After high school he attended Clemson University on a football scholarship where he also ran track. After college he was selected in the 5th round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.
RICK GRICH
COACH
Rick Grich served Richland Northeast High School as both a coach and athletic director for the first 20 years of the school’s history (1978 – 1998). Coach Grich coached both boys’ basketball and baseball for the first three years of the school’s opening while also serving as athletic director. His baseball team won the Region Championship in 1979. After he retired from coaching, he continued to direct the athletic department for the next seventeen years with exemplary leadership before his retirement in 1998. Rick is a native of Connecticut and a graduate of the University of South Carolina.
CHARLES "CHUCK" LEE
TENNIS
Richland Northeast High School Class of 1988 Chuck Lee excelled and earned 6 varsity letters in tennis while being selected All Region all six years he played (7th grade thru 12th grade) for Richland Northeast. He was selected All State during his sophomore, junior and senior years. During his senior year of 1988, Chuck won the Class 4A State Singles Championship while leading his team to a State Runner-Up finish. His efforts earned him recognition as a Prince High School All American. After high school, Chuck received a tennis scholarship to play at the College of Charleston where he continued his stellar career by being named a NAIA All American in 1989.
AARON LUCAS
BASKETBALL
Richland Northeast High School Class of 1998 Aaron earned 3 varsity letters during his stellar high school basketball career at Richland Northeast during which he led his teams to an overall 64-15 record. He was selected All-Region and All-Area for 3 years and All State for 2 years as a high school player. During his senior year he was honored as the High School Sports Report Basketball State Player of the Year and he was selected to participate in the North/South All Star game. Aaron is our boys’ basketball All-Time leader in points scored for a career with 1,238. He received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of South Carolina where he was a 4 year starter. After graduating from college he played professionally overseas for several years.
PORTIA GEORGE-MORROW
TENNIS
Richland Northeast High School Class of 1985 Portia was a dominant tennis player during her 3 years as a varsity player for Richland Northeast. She had a school record of 42 wins and only 1 loss. For those three years (1982-85) she was selected All Region, All-Area and All State. During her junior year, Portia won the tennis Class 4A Singles State Championship and was State Runner-Up during her senior year when she led our girl’s tennis team to a school best record finishing as state runners-up. She received a tennis scholarship to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she was an 8-time NCAA Division II All American while helping guide her team to four consecutive Division II National Championships.
BRYN POST
SOCCER
Richland Northeast High School Class of 2002 Bryn was a 4-year varsity letter recipient for girls’ soccer. She was selected All-Region and All-Area all four years of her career while being named All State for three years. Bryn is our school’s All-Time leader in goals scored in a single season with 60 goals and goals scored for a career with 220. She helped lead our girls’ soccer team to the Class 4A State Championship during her junior season of 2001 while being named the High School Sports Report State Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. To top off her stellar high school career, she was selected to participate in the North/South All Star game during her senior season of 2002.
LAURA BOOZER-WENTZY
SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL
Richland Northeast High School Class of 2004 Laura lettered and excelled in 3 sports during her high school career at Richland Northeast. She earned 6 varsity letters in softball, 4 varsity letters in volleyball and 2 varsity letters in basketball. Laura was selected All Region, All-Area and All State in both softball and volleyball for all four years of high school and was selected to participate in both the volleyball and softball CAWS All Star games during her senior year. After high school, she attended Clemson University on a volleyball scholarship where she was a member of the 2007 ACC Champions team.
