The Palmetto High School Athletic Hall of Fame recently announced six new inductees. The recognition will take place at halftime of the first home football game this Friday Sept. 15.
This year’s inductees are: BJ Tompkins, Baseball, 1987-1991; Derek Watson, Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball 1995-1999; Alyssa (Strom) Kirk, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer 2003-2007; Steven Cooper, Baseball 2008-2012; Ryan (Rector) Juell, Softball, Basketball, 2009-2013 and Tal Davis, Swimming 2013-2017.
BJ Tompkins, Baseball, 1987-1991
BJ was Skyline All-conference, the team’s best defensive player, and the team’s most valuable player in 1990 and 1991. He was the Skyline Baseball player of the year in 1991, as well as the Anderson Independent AA Baseball Athlete of the Year. He was also named to the High School Sports Report Top 100 players in South Carolina in 1991. That year, he batted 456, had only 2 errors playing shortstop and pitcher, went 6-1 on the mound. His career pitching record was 22-2 which included 2 no hitters. BJ served our country in the United States Marine Corps following graduation and currently serves the community coordinating and consistently improving youth sports programs.
Derek Watson, Football, Basketball, Track, Baseball 1995-1999
Derek graduated as the state’s all-time leading rusher with 6,766 yards and 88 touchdowns. He was named Mr. Football in SC his senior year. Derek led Palmetto to back to back runner-up finishes in the basketball state championship. He was the 2A Basketball Player of the Year in back to back years as well. He was also a standout in track winning the state championship in the long jump and triple jump in both his junior and senior seasons. Derek attended and played football at the University of South Carolina and SC State. He also went on to play professional football in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.
Alyssa (Strom) Kirk, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer 2003-2007
Alyssa was the Region Player of the Year, All-State and the Anderson Independent Player of the Year in 2007. She also competed in the North-South all-star game. Alyssa set a Palmetto high record during her senior season with 127 steals. She scored over 1000 thousand points in her career including a record setting 43 point game against Abbeville. Alyssa went on to play in the USA Junior Nationals where her team finished second. She has served as an assistant basketball coach and served one season as the Head basketball coach at Palmetto Middle.
Steven Cooper, Baseball 2008-2012
Steven was a 4 year starter for Palmetto baseball. He was named all region in 2011 and 2012 as well as being named to the SCBCA all state team. Steven was the 2011 Region player of the year. In his senior season, Steven was selected to the North/South All-star game and named all state by the High School Sports report. Following graduation, Steven played baseball at Anderson University setting multiple team records. He was also named the AU baseball player of the year and the 2016 Male Athlete of the Year for all sports at Anderson University.
Ryan (Rector) Juell, Softball, Basketball, 2009-2013
Ryan was a leader on the 2012 AA State Champion softball team. She hit a solo home run to win the first game and scored the go ahead run in the second game to secure the state championship. She earned all state as a junior hitting 398 with 7 homeruns, 40 rbi and 53 runs. She was named the Anderson Independent player of the year, all state and all region twice. Ryan was also a standout player for Palmetto basketball being selected all region twice as that team won back to back region championships. She went on to have an outstanding softball career at USC Upstate.
Tal Davis, Swimming 2013-2017
Tal won six state championships in swimming from 2014-2016. He was the state runner up three times. He was named all state nine times and recognized as the AA SC swimmer of the year in 2015 and 2016. He set seven state records in swimming and was a USA Swimming All-American three times. He Participated in the US Junior National Select Team and was a US Olympic Team Trials qualifier in 2016 as well as gold medal winner at NCSA Junior Nationals. Tal went on to swim for the University of Georgia and is currently serving in the US Navy in Naval Special Warfare.
