SAVANNAH, Ga. — Seven inductees. One stage. Savannah’s best, right here, tonight.
The Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame (GSAHOF) honors its Class of 2026 tonight, May 4, 2026, recognizing seven inductees and the top high school athletes across Savannah, Georgia, at 6 p.m. at the Alee Temple on Skidaway Road.
From Olympians to hometown legends, this class shows exactly what Savannah sports are all about.
Pictured are members of the Class of 2026 and local high school honorees.
Inductees (top two rows, l-r): Oscar Chaplin III, Cheryl Haworth, DeAngelo Brown, Mark Grainger, Terry Webb; Tim Jordan, Mary Vacala.
High school athletes (bottom two rows, l-r): Stephen Cannon, Quinn Johnson, Demetrus “Meechie” Brown, Taylor Young, Blaise Thomas; Emma Bromley, Asher Herrin, Jillian Austin, Briana Tuten.
Class of 2026 Inductees
Start at the top. Olympic level.
Oscar Chaplin III, a two-time Olympian, set 15 American records in weightlifting and helped grow the sport nationwide.
Right there with him, Cheryl Haworth. Three Olympic Games. A bronze medal. One of the most accomplished weightlifters this country has seen.
On the football side, DeAngelo Brown made his name at Savannah Christian before earning All-ACC honors at Louisville and getting his shot at the next level.
Then there’s Mark Grainger. Four-sport athlete. Ashley Dearing Award winner. The kind of player every coach wants in the program.
Citation Awards- Two coaches who built it the right way.
Terry Webb (HV Jenkins High School) made his mark in baseball, earning Coach of the Year honors and leaving behind a legacy that now includes a field named after him.
Tim Jordan (Savannah Hihg School) did the same in basketball. More than 500 wins. A state title. And decades setting the standard at Savannah High.
M.A. Spellman Award - Dedicated Service to the Savannah Athletic Community
The M.A. Spellman Award goes to Mary Vacala, who spent 47 years caring for athletes and advancing sports medicine, from local fields to the Olympic stage.
High School Athletes Recognized
Next up, the future of the 912.
Lawton M. Calhoun Award - High School Player of the Year
The Lawton M. Calhoun Award goes to Stephen Cannon of Benedictine. Quarterback. Playmaker. Winner. He threw for 2,266 yards and 26 touchdowns, added 625 rushing yards and nine more scores, and led the Cadets to a state title game appearance.
Across every sport, the talent showed up:
- Quinn Johnson (Calvary Day, Baseball) — Went 8-1 with a 1.56 ERA on the mound and hit .353 with 31 RBI, helping lead Calvary Day to the Class A-3A Private state title in 2025.
- Demetrus “Meechie” Brown (Calvary Day, Basketball) — Averaged 17 points per game and helped lead the Cavaliers to a Region 3A championship.
- Taylor Young (Jenkins, Girls Basketball) — Posted a 10.7-point, 10-rebound double-double average, adding 2.1 blocks per game while leading Jenkins to the Final Four.
- Blaise Thomas (Savannah Christian, Football) — Put up over 3,000 total yards, including 1,993 passing and 1,104 rushing, averaging 258 yards per game.
- Emma Bromley (Savannah Country Day, Soccer) — Scored 18 goals with 6 assists, earning Region Player of the Year honors.
- Asher Herrin (Benedictine, Soccer) — Tallied 15 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 20 matches, earning All-Greater Savannah First Team honors while leading the midfield and driving Benedictine’s playoff runs.
- Jillian Austin (Savannah Christian, Softball) — Hit .537 with 136 strikeouts in the circle, dominating both at the plate and on the mound.
- Briana Tuten (St. Vincent’s, Volleyball) — Filled the stat sheet with 330 kills and 293 digs, earning Area Player of the Year honors.
The Meaning of the Night
This is bigger than a banquet. It’s about the standard.
Savannah has built it over time, with athletes, coaches, and people who do it the right way.
Tonight, they all share the same stage, and the same standard.
NOTE: Click here to read more about previous inductees.
GREATER SAVANNAH ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Athletes' social media sites.
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