Henry Harding Tift IV
Henry Tift was the headmaster of Stratford from 1977 to 1997. During his years at Stratford, the Eagles won 68 state championships. Known for his eccentric yet endearing ways by faculty who knew him, he was an avid and faithful supporter of all Stratford athletics.
–Aiza Shabbir
Carter Kelly Monroe
Carter Monroe played soccer, softball, and basketball, and was awarded the Best Senior Female Athlete Award in 1996. Monroe said the greatest lesson she learned from athletics is that it is important to “sit at both ends of the bench.”
“I went from being one of the stronger players in high school to being one of the weaker ones at Davidson College and I learned just as much about leadership from both perspectives,” Monroe said.
Monroe and her husband, Bill, have two children, Lawson and William.
–Aiza Shabbir
Robert Sovie
Robbie Sovie won the 2002 Dr. John Paul Jones Best Senior Male Athlete Award and is the school record-holder in the 200 meter dash. He also was a four-year letter winner in football, and was a member of the 1999 and 2000 state championship teams. Sovie said that playing football during his junior year, when he was recovering from a torn ACL, was one of the toughest challenges he had to face.
“Mentally and physically it was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in my life,” Sovie said.
In track, Sovie won eight state championships in the 100- and 200-meter dash, as well as the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400-meter relays. The boys track team won the overall state championship during all four years of his high school career. Sovie set the school record of 22.1 seconds in the 200-meter dash in 2001 – the same year he was recovering from his torn ACL. Sovie said the injury affected his performance, but he was fortunate enough to make it to the state tournament.
“My biggest obstacle was fighting my doubts and lack of condition to help the team. Being part of a state championship that year was a true victory,” Sovie said.
Sovie also was a three year letterman in baseball and won the 2002 Lem Clark MVP Award. He was All-State in 2002.
–Amber Datta
1994 Baseball Team
Stratford Academy’s 1994 baseball team was the only undefeated baseball team in school history. They were the GISA AAA State Champions.
–Amber Datta
Kyle Johnston
Kyle Johnston, Class of 2002, was known as a triple threat during his high school sports career at Stratford.
Johnston was a four-year letter winner in football, playing for the 1999 and 2000 state championship teams.
As a five-year letter winner in basketball, Johnston was named an All-State player in 2001 and 2002. His stats included 941 points, 399 rebounds, 160 assists, and 114 steals.
As a baseball player Johnston also was a five-year letter winner and was selected All-State in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. Johnston received the Lem Clark MVP award in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002.
He was named the Dr. John Paul Jones Best Senior Male Athlete in 2002, sharing the award with Sovie.
Johnston played baseball for Mercer University from 2002-2006. Johnston lives in Macon and is married to Christy Johnston (Cantrell). They have three sons, Jett, Tate, and Tucker.
–Jensen Bowden
Coach Bobby Hendley
Former major league pitcher Bobby Hendley was an assistant baseball coach from 1983-2001.
During Hendley’s years at Stratford, the baseball team compiled a 332-95 record, including 5 state baseball championships, 9 region baseball championships, and the perfect 1994 season, 27-0.
Hendley was inducted into the Macon Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
During his major league career, Hendley pitched for the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs, and the New York Mets. His win-loss record was 48-52, including 522 strikeouts in 879 innings.
–Jensen Bowden
