One of the greatest parts of producing our podcast here at LowcoSports has been the opportunity to talk with some incredible student-athletes, coaches, and community ambassadors. Over this second season of our LowcoSports Lowdown podcast, we’ve been able to learn so much about what it takes to succeed in athletics and life, and more importantly how to be a compassionate and respectful individual. There have been so many memorable guests these past 12 months, but here are a few that have left a mark on myself and our listeners.
Billy Sampson
As Labor Day weekend approached last year, I was given the name of Billy Sampson, the director of golf at Old Tabby Links in Spring Island. It was 12 years ago when Sampson first heard of Folds of Honor, a charitable organization that provides scholarships to family members of fallen and disabled veterans. After his childhood friend lost his life while serving in Afghanistan, Sampson committed himself to help families of veterans in need of support. In 2009, he completed his first golf marathon, playing 114 holes in a single day while raising money for the organization. With friends, family, and military members cheering him on every Labor Day weekend since, he has raised over $600,000 for Folds of Honor, money that has changed the lives of so many hoping for an opportunity to attend higher education. His commitment over the years to his mission has been an inspiration for all of us in the Lowco.
Abi and James Brighton
It was a dream afternoon come true for the Brighton family last November. Not only did Clemson sophomore James and Vanderbilt freshman Abi each win their conference tournaments, but they also scored a goal apiece in their championship games. We caught up with both sibling stars over the week of Thanksgiving and learned about their impressive journeys to the collegiate stage. From the early days in the backyard to the many grueling practices in their club programs, Abi and James put in the work at every stop (including 1,000 juggles in a row in a training session) and made each other better along the way. They discussed the many hurdles of adversity that they overcame, including James’ torn ACL and Abi’s tough transition right into the Vanderbilt starting lineup. Their passion for the game is unbeatable, and their success at the college level and beyond is only just beginning.
Chad Malphrus
Before our interview with Chad Malphrus, I never considered the prospect of traveling to four different continents to play (American) football. But that’s exactly what this young man did. After he finished his career at Bluffton High School, Malphrus didn’t want to give up his gridiron dreams. After honing his skills with an arena football team, he went online to find opportunities overseas. Thus began an incredible journey to Brazil, Australia, and Poland where he played, coached, and created a lifetime of memories with friends from all over the world. He wasn’t sure what to expect when he first made the flight to South America. Despite the language difficulties, the offensive lineman developed a system to communicate with his teammates and started excelling in his new home. Most recently, Malphrus competed for Team America in the Global Games and picked up the win over Costa Rica. But what impressed me the most weren’t the victories. It was his love and respect for the game and his opponents. He’s experienced a football story unlike any other, and I have a feeling he’s not done writing it yet.
Herbert Glaze
We’ve spoken with several incredible and inspirational coaches and community ambassadors this past year, but none have meant more to the Lowcountry than Beaufort High’s own Herbert Glaze. The legendary coach has built a dynasty on the track, leading the Eagles to 10 state championships in his incredible 45 years at the helm of the program. He’s received numerous impressive accolades, including induction into three halls of fame, a nomination for National Coach of the Year, and now the namesake of Beaufort High’s track. But the accomplishment he values the most is the number of young men and women that he’s sent off to college, including 64 female student-athletes that have earned full scholarships. On top of his brilliance as a coach, Glaze has also served as a community leader, helping to encourage efforts to promote racial equality. He was born right here in the Lowcountry and experienced the difficulties that segregation brought firsthand. He encouraged all of our young people to learn from the past to help make a better future through the gift of education. Because as Glaze said, when a person passes away, “another library has closed.” If we can share our knowledge with the next generation, they can take the lessons we learned and create a brighter tomorrow.
John Houpt
Back in March, we lost one of our most amazing young men in a heartbreaking tragedy. In a moment like this, it was difficult to have any words to say. But Bluffton football coach John Houpt used the opportunity to tell his team and his Bluffton students the importance of spreading love, not hate. He called senior DJ Fields the glue that kept the community and team together and challenged us all in his speech at Fields’ vigil to care for one another and live just like DJ. We may be rivals on the field, but Coach Houpt reminded us that at the end of the day, we truly are one community and one Lowco. As he brilliantly said in our interview, instead of destroy, we should enjoy. Competition and rivalries are great, but after the final whistle is blown, it is up to us to congratulate and embrace our fellow athletes. Houpt said that there are so many people we meet during a day that we don’t know. If we can show love, support, and encouragement at every step, we will create a culture of positivity that can spread to every corner of our community.
We’ve heard some amazing stories from so many people from around the Lowcountry over the past year, and I’m incredibly proud of the young men and women we continue to develop thanks to our outstanding coaches. Our mission here at LowcoSports is to celebrate our student-athletes for all they do on and off the field, and we can’t wait to continue hearing and learning from their inspirational lives.
By Wes Kerr
