Nomination year: 2023

Nominated by: Joe Sims

Nomination Category: Athletes & Coaches

Sport: Basketball & Volleyball

Years Participated: 2009-2012

Career Summary:

Sydney (Roach) Birdwell was one of the best basketball players to ever play in Clay County from 2009 to 2012, and she led her team to the program’s only State Championship her senior season.

As a four-year starter, Birdwell was a guard that could do it all.  She was a good shooter, ball handler, passer, defender, and could even post up if needed.  Individually, she scored 1,627 points, which ranks sixth all time.

Birdwell was viewed as one of the best players in the district, region, and state.  She was honored with an All-Tri-Lakes Conference Freshman Team selection; All-Tri-Lakes Conference 1st Team her sophomore year; All-Tri-Lakes Conference 1st Team, District All-Tournament Team, and Herald Citizen All-Upper Cumberland 1st Team selections her junior season; and All-Tri-Lakes Conference 1st Team, District All-Tournament Team, and Region All-Tournament Team selections her senior season.

Additionally in basketball, Birdwell was named TSWA All-State both her junior and senior seasons, and she was honored as the State Tournament MVP and the Herald-Citizen Upper Cumberland Player of the Year as a senior, when she averaged 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game.

Birdwell was also an exceptional volleyball player as a four-year starter and all-district performer, where she helped her team finish near the top of the district and reach the region tournament each year.  Individually she was an All-District Honorable Mention selection her freshman and sophomore years; named to the All-District, District All-Tournament, and Region All-Tournament teams her junior year; and All-District and District All-Tournament teams her senior season.

Nominator comment:

“Sydney was the best player on arguably the best girls basketball team in county history, which won the 2012 State Championship.

“She was one of the best ever and could have played college ball, but decided to get her college degree and start a family.  Sydney definitely deserves induction into the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame.”