VALDOSTA — Everything has fallen into place for John Mark Stephenson.
Stephenson, a three-sport athlete at Valdosta High School last year, had already decided to attend Faulkner University and study ministry, and planned to try out for the Eagles’ baseball team. But then he met the golf coach, and now he will be pitching with a wedge instead of a baseball.
Stephenson has signed a golf scholarship to Faulkner, a Church of Christ-affiliated school in Montgomery, Ala.
“I’m excited. It just got sprung on me,” Stephenson said. “God just opened doors for me. I give all the credit to Him.”
When Stephenson traveled to Faulkner last week, he planned to talk to the school’s baseball coach about playing for the Eagles. But then he met Faulkner golf coach Brent Barker. Barker needed golfers, and had scholarship money to offer. So Stephenson decided to put his mitt back in the closet, and bring out his clubs instead.
“I went there to try out for the baseball team, but then the golf team made me a good offer,” Stephenson said. “(Barker) said he didn’t want to change my decision, but when he offered that scholarship, it wasn’t hard to decide (on golf).”
“He’ll do real well there,” Valdosta High golf coach Ashley Henderson said. “It was a good match for him, because he wanted to go to that school to become a minister, and then they had some golf money for him.”
Stephenson looks forward to playing on Faulkner’s two home courses, a Robert Trent Jones course in nearby Prattville and the Arrowhead Country Club in Montgomery. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill hosts an LPGA event in November, and has been ranked one of the top 50 courses in the U.S.
Very few athletes play three sports at the AAAAA level. But Stephenson did last year for Valdosta. He pitched for the baseball team. He kicked and punted for the football team. And he was the golf team’s top player.
“It was a great opportunity to play all three sports,” Stephenson said. “It was an awesome experience.”
He played both baseball and golf for Valdosta in the spring. Henderson and VHS baseball coach Bart Shuman agreed to let him play both.
“Coach Shuman let me play both sports, which is real hard to do. He and Coach Henderson were real supportive when I said I wanted to play baseball and golf,” Stephenson said.
“He was a closer, punter, kicker and No. 1 golfer last year. That’s a great year,” Henderson said.
Stephenson actually still has the option of trying to walk on for the baseball team, and the football coach has also talked to him, but says he plans to focus on just one sport in college, at least for now.
Focusing on one sport for the first time, Stephenson believes his golf game will improve.
“Now I can just concentrate on golf, so I can get better,” he said. “Playing two spring sports made it hard to practice a lot. Now I’m just playing golf.”
“His best golf is in front of him, now that he’s concentrating on golf,” Henderson said. “He can play. He can hit it a mile.”
Stephenson will be a ministry major at Faulkner. The devout Christian plans to become a youth minister, and wants to work with kids.
“I want to go into youth ministry,” he said. “I have a great youth minister at my church, Chris Petty. I feel like I have a calling to do that, and that’s a job I think I will like. I love youth ministry. I’ve seen the effect my youth minister has had on my life, and I want to have an effect on others’ lives.”
Stephenson is currently spending three weeks in the Ukraine, doing mission work with a group from the Central Avenue Church of Christ. The group will be holding Bible school for both kids and adults in a country where Christianity is still being reintroduced, after being suppressed during decades of communist rule. The Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union from 1922-91.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a great experience,” he said before departing last Friday. “We’ve been sending people over there, and it struck me that I wanted to go. It’s a different world over there. I hope we can bring kids to Christ.”
Local Sports
Valdosta golfer signs with Faulkner
- Local Sports
-
-
New York wins Super Bowl
Eli Manning and the Giants one-upped Tom Brady and the Patriots again, coming back with a last-minute touchdown to beat New England 21-17 Sunday night for New York’s fourth Super Bowl title.
- Super Bowl boosts Indy’s image
-
Blazer softball sweeps Nova Southeastern
On Super Bowl Sunday, Valdosta State showed why it has been one of the super teams in the south region for years now.
-
Blazers fall to Saints
Just 24 hours after earning an impressive opening day victory, the Valdosta State baseball team struggled to find a rhythm against North Georgia, as the Blazers fell to the Saints 8-3.
North Georgia pitcher Blake Hobby was a major factor for VSU’s struggles. The senior right-hander held the Blazers to just one run on four hits across his eight innings of work on the hill. -
Tift County wins region wrestling championship
Tift County won the Region 1-AAAAA traditional wrestling championship on Saturday at Lowndes High School.
Tift had three individual region champions, had wrestlers place in the top three in 13 of the 14 weight classes and qualified wrestlers for next weekend’s sectional tournament in all 14 weight classes. Tift earned 184 team points, two points more than second-place Lowndes. -
Wildcats beat Crisp in overtime
Valdosta’s boys basketball team dominated the overtime period, and defeated Crisp County 66-56 on Saturday night at the VHS gym.
The Wildcats outscored the Cougars 17-7 in overtime to pull away for the win.
“Another big win,” Valdosta head coach Antonio Haynes said. “I’m happy for the guys. They played hard. They deserved this win.” -
Hartry accomplishes career milestone as Lady Blazers win
Valdosta State bounced back with a vengeance against Christian Brothers, cruising to a 62-44 victory to move to 16-5 overall and 6-3 in the Gulf South Conference. Senior guard Sczeny Hartry joined Valdosta State's 1,000-point club in the win and finished the game with 13 points and 1,006 career points.
Bena Hanyard played a strong game off the bench, leading all scorers with 14 points and tallying five rebounds, four steals and three assists. -
Rough season continues for Blazer basketball
Scott Dennis scored 24 points to lead No. 10 Christian Brothers to a 62-50 victory over visiting Valdosta State in Gulf South Conference men's basketball action at Canale Arena Saturday evening.
With the victory, the Buccaneers improve to 17-3 on the season and 8-1 in GSC play while VSU falls to 9-11 and 2-7 in league action. -
Valdosta sweeps Lowndes
Two games, two wins for Valdosta’s basketball teams on Friday night.
Valdosta’s girls rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Lowndes 50-45. Then the Valdosta boys completed the sweep with a 60-48 win at the VHS gymnasium. -
Midseason form
For the first time under head coach Greg Guilliams, the Valdosta State baseball team claimed an opening day victory.
The Blazers used solid offense and precise defense to beat the Lindenwood (Mo.) Lions 6-2 at Billy Grant Field. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
