1st Annual Petrey Family Baseball Classic
An article written by Brady Henderson entitled ‘The Impact of the Petrey Family Lives On!’
For the first time in recent memory, the Swansea High School Baseball Program is hosting one of the only Baseball Tournaments in the Midlands during Spring Break, officially called the ‘Petrey Family Classic’. The Petrey family has been a staple in the Swansea/Gaston communities for many years. Specifically in the area of public education. Mrs. Samantha Petrey marks the beginning of this great family's legacy. Mrs. Samantha Petrey was a lifelong resident of Swansea and was a retired English teacher at Swansea High School. Mrs. Petrey dedicated her life to educating and nurturing the young people of this small town, and in doing so established a family tradition of service and commitment to our students. Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Petrey was an avid sports fan. In particular, Baseball was her favorite. She enjoyed rooting for the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Swansea Tigers. This love of sports was passed down to her sons, two of whom played Baseball for Swansea. Mark Petrey, who still works for Lexington District Four today, was also a standout football and baseball player. At the beginning of 2024, I had the honor and privilege of conducting the Celebration of Life Services for John and Mark’s Brother, Eugene ‘Gene’ Petrey, who regularly attended the First Baptist Church of Gaston, where I serve as Pastor, and have since 2021. Since that time, I’ve gotten to know several members of the Petrey family, well. Gene’s wife, Angela, and daughter Emily still attend FBC Gaston, and Emily is a teacher at Sandhills Primary School. Continuing the Petrey Tradition of serving her community through education, like her grandmother and uncles. Emily’s Mother, Angela Petrey recently retired Lexington District Four after serving as an instructional coach for many years.
In addition to the entire Petrey Family, this year we want to give a special emphasis to the late John Petrey, who passed away in 2010 at the young age of 50 after a battle with an aggressive brain tumor called glioblastoma. Many of you reading this article may be like me and did not have the privilege of getting to know Mr. John Petrey. In 2021, Mr. Petrey was inducted into the Lexington District Four Athletic Hall of Fame. Once you read his athletic resume, you can see why he was inducted. A member of the Swansea High School class of 1978, John earned 14-varity letters during his High School Athletic Tenure. These letters include football, basketball, baseball, and golf. Not only was he an integral part of the Lower State Champion Basketball team, but he was also a Shrine Bowler and All-State Football Player. Dr. Robert Maddox wrote, ‘He was inducted into the Lexington Four Hall of Fame because he was one of the greatest athletes to walk these grounds.’
When it comes to Mr. John Petrey, his contributions do not end with his time here as a student; they actually only begin. After leaving Swansea High School, Mr. Petrey played baseball at USC-Aiken. John made many contributions all across the Midlands, not just in Swansea. And may it be known, that though he was not an ordained Minister, he impacted countless lives for Christ, through His Gospel influence. A great lesson to us all that no matter our vocation, if we claim to be a follower of Jesus, we can make an impact for Him everywhere that we go! After graduating from USC-Aiken, he worked at Strom Thurmond High School from 1983 to 1986 as an Assistant Football Coach. Then he went to Aiken High from 1987 to 1989 as the Defensive Coordinator. Then, in 1990, John came home to serve Swansea High School as Athletic Director and the Defensive Coordinator for Dr. Maddox’s Varsity Football Team. John served as the Athletic Director for the majority of what is known as the ‘Greatest Decade in Swansea Athletics’ from 1990 to 1997. During his tenure as Athletic Director, Swansea Athletics brought home Six State Championships. Including three in football in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
In an era of sports where everyone wants to be the ‘boss’ or rush to the front of the line for a Head Coaching position, John Petrey’s career was fascinating in the fact that he was never a Head Coach. He was an incredible Assistant Coach, specifically a superb Defensive Coordinator. His defensive schemes and plays live on in the many players and assistants that he impacted. Included former Midland Valley Coach, who retired in 2016, Rick Knight, who said ‘The defense I know, I learned from him. He’s an unbelievable defensive mind.’
John Petrey left Coaching in 1998 to serve as an administrator in the Lexington County School District. While his career was amazing, the kind of career in Athletics many aspire to have, especially in their hometown, this wasn’t his greatest love and contribution to this world. His wife, Ms. Gay Petrey, and two sons, Tanner and Grant Petrey, continue his legacy to this very day. The current Swansea High School Athletic Director, Preston Deaver, decided to name the first annual Midlands High School Baseball tournament after this family for all of their contributions to this historic community. Preston Deaver has done an outstanding job since 2023 in steering Swansea Athletics back to the ‘Glory Days’ that we all miss. I personally believe that it’s only a matter of time before his hard work turns into success for all Athletic Departments here at Swansea. We are blessed to not only call Coach Deaver our Athletic Director, but also the Head Baseball Coach. Be sure to come out if you can to this year’s Petrey Family Classic. You can see below who is competing in the tournament, what the trophy looks like, and much more.
As I conclude, I mentioned earlier that I have lived and served in this area for over 5-years. I personally think that if God allows me to grow old, I will reflect one day on these exciting times of serving in this community. The Gaston/Swansea Communities are a special place. And for those of you who have lived here much longer than I, I want to invite you to not just talk about how great the days gone by were and might’ve been, but look at what we have now. Look at the great people in our community. Take a look at the strong Churches in our area. The Great Pastors we have in this community, such as Swansea’s own Rev. Luke Beasley, Rev. Quincy Sutton, Rev. Steve Kittrell, Rev. Chad Meredith, Rev. Mark Hardenbrook, Rev. Terry Wilder, Rev. Billy Craps, and Swansea First’s new Pastor, Dr. Chris Cornette. Just to name a few, I know there’s many more than just who I listed. Look at the great teachers in our school system, who are too numerous to even try to name. The great businesses, and of course, the great Coaches. May we be thankful for each of them. Let’s be excited that good times are not just on the way, but they are already here! The Swansea Baseball team is 14-3 heading into the Petrey Family Classic and was just ranked #1 in the State for 3-A. The Swansea Football Program has gone 15-7 over the last two seasons under Head Coach Willie Fox after a 0-10 season in 2024. The girls’ volleyball team went to the playoffs last season. Gaston/Swansea Community, what we have here is special. Let’s cherish it. Let’s each try to live our lives not asking what this community can do more for us. But simply ask, what can I do for this community and those who will come and live here way after I’m gone? Sounds a lot like John Petrey and the Petrey family, doesn’t it?
On Monday Night at 6 PM we will be celebrating the Petrey Family at the Ballpark. We’d love for you to join us in person but if you can’t make it, we do understand. You can always tune into the Swansea Tiger Sports Network on YouTube. We will be covering games during the 4 PM game on Saturday, and the Monday Night Game at 6 PM. As the Play-by-Play voice of STSN, I’d like to take time on our broadcasts this weekend sharing memories of Mr. John Petrey and the entire Petrey Family. But I need your help! If you have an email, you’d like to be shared during our Broadcasts, email me please, at Swanseatigersportsnetwork@gmail.com
I hope to see you this weekend at the Petrey Family Classic,
With Love and Grace,
Rev. R. Brady Henderson
Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Gaston
Play-by-Play and PA Voice of Swansea Tiger Athletics
With what is hoped to become an annual tradition, the following programs are going to be participating in this year’s classic:
Junior Varsity Teams (are not eligible to win the Championship):
Ridge Spring
Swansea
Ridge View
Varsity Baseball Teams:
Mountain View Prep
Saluda
Swansea
Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Ridge Spring
Barnwell
Ridge View
How the 1st Annual Petrey Family Classic Tournament Winner will be decided:
1st Option is best overall record.
2nd Option is head-to-head record.
3rd option is total runs allowed.
4th option is total runs scored.
5th option is run differential.
