Tony Baldwin: (1969-1973 & 1990-1996) Dr. Baldwin played basketball while at Roberson High School. Following graduation from Roberson, Dr. Baldwin attended UNC-Chapel Hill. Following graduation from Carolina, Dr. Baldwin served as an assistant coach to the UNC-Chapel Hill women’s basketball team. He then moved to Belmont Abbey College where he served as head women’s basketball coach and assistant Athletic Director. In 1985, Dr. Baldwin became the head coach of the women’s basketball team at Western Carolina University and remained there through 1990. Dr. Baldwin returned to Roberson High School as Assistant Principal in 1990. He remained there until 1996 when he was named Principal of Valley Springs Middle School. After two years at Valley Springs, Dr. Baldwin was named Principal of AC Reynolds where he served until becoming Associate Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools in 2004. After five years in that role, Dr. Baldwin was named Superintendent of Buncombe County Schools, a position that he currently holds. Over his career as an administrator, Dr. Baldwin has been very supportive of high school athletics. He has always been active at the state level with the NC High School Athletic Association. He served on the NCHSAA Board of Directors from 2012-2016. Dr. Baldwin and his wife, Angela, have four children, Lauren, Meredith, Garrett, and Taylor, and five grandchildren.
Steve Carpenter: (1979-1983 & 1999-2008) Steve ran cross country and track during his years as a student at Roberson. The 1979 team was the first cross country team ever to make the state championship meet. At that time, only 10 teams qualified from all classifications combined. His teams made the state championship meet all 4 years that he ran. In track, Steve competed in the distance events. He won numerous 3200m and 1600m runs in the years that he ran. His coaches were two other “Ring of Gold” coaches, Pee Wee Jones and Jerry Wilkins! Following his graduation from Roberson, Steve attended NC State University. In 1999, Steve became “Coach Carpenter” at Roberson when he became the head boys cross country coach. His teams qualified for the state AAA meet each year during his tenure. His teams were regular conference champions. The 2000 and 2003 teams finished 3 rd in the state AAA championship meets and the 2002 team was state AAA runner-up. The 2004 and 2005 teams won the state AAA championships. Along the way, there were numerous all-conference, all-regional and all-state performers on Coach Carpenter’s teams. During Coach Carpenter’s tenure, Roberson served as the host school for several conference and regional cross country championship events. Coach Carpenter was the founder of the WNC Cross Country Carnival, which became the 2nd largest cross country event in North Carolina. As track and field coach, both indoor and outdoor track, Coach Carpenter led his teams to numerous conference and regional meet championships. His teams won the state the AAA Indoor Track championship in 2006 and were the state AAA runners-up in 2003, 2004 and 2006. His 2005 track and field team won the state AAA Track and Field championship. During his track and field tenure, there were 12 individual state champions in multiple events. Coach Carpenter was the founder of the Jus Running Relays, a popular annual outdoor track and field event, hosted by Roberson High School. Coach Carpenter elevated the level of competition at Roberson in both cross country and track by hosting first-class events and inviting our-of-area elite teams and individuals to participate. He also served on the inaugural NC Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Board of Directors. He began one of the first cross country and track web sites which became the clearinghouse for WNC cross country and track and field. Steve currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, Kelly, where he manages a consulting engineering firm.
John "JT" Labruyere: (2000-2004 & 2008-2011) JT played varsity soccer all four years he was at Roberson High School. His teams earned a 92-10-6 record over those 4 years. He was selected a team captain his senior year. His teams were state AAA champions two times while JT was at Roberson. JT was a 2-time selection to the All- South team and a 3-time selection to the All-State team. After graduation, JT attended Appalachian State University where he was a 3-year varsity starter. He was selected as team captain his senior year. While at ASU, JT was selected to the ASU academic Honor Roll three times. In 2008, JT began to assist Coach Wilcher with the TCR varsity soccer team. JT is currently completing a graduate medical degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Wake Forest University.
Courtney Chambers Mooney: (1995-1999) Courtney played basketball all fours years that she was at Roberson High School. She also played volleyball for 2 years and ran track her freshman year. She was a four-year, varsity starter in basketball. She also was selected to the all-conference team all four years. She received the Golden Cager award in her sophomore year and was team MVP her junior and senior seasons. She was selected to the all-WNC team her last 3 years and was the Hendersonville Times-News Player of the Year her junior year. Courtney was selected to play in the Blue-White All Star game, the East-West All Star game and the North Carolina-South Carolina All Star game her senior year. She held the school career scoring record for 10 years with 1600 points. In track, Courtney was conference champion in the 800 M race and 3200 M relay. Her 3200 M relay team went on to be state AAA champions. After graduation from Roberson, Courtney received a full scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill to play women’s basketball and was a member of the team all four years that she attended UNC. While at UNC, she was team captain for 2 years. Her UNC teams were consistently ranked in the top-10 nationally and made it to the sweet 16 three times. She received the Team Hustle Award her junior year. She was a student-athlete speaker for the Educational Foundation and a 2-year representative on the Student Athlete Council. After graduation from UNC with a degree in communications, Courtney began a career in medical sales for some of the top companies in the United States such as Pfizer and Stryker. She currently works for LabCorp. She has received several awards for top sales in each of these companies over her career. Courtney
Phil Shope: (1968-1972) Phil was very involved as a high school student at Roberson. He played JV and varsity football, was in the FCA, FFA and chorus. He also served as class president. In his senior year, Phil received the Outstanding Senior and Outstanding Citizen awards. Following graduation from Roberson, Phil attended Gardner Webb University, UNCA and AB Tech. He joined his father’s business, Heavy Equipment Sales for 23 years after which he began his own excavation and grading business. Along the way, Phil became a professional fisherman where he has enjoyed a very successful career. As his children became students at Roberson and involved in athletics, Phil became an avid volunteer at Roberson High School. He served on the TCR Advisory Board as chairman. Phil also served as Roberson Rams Club President for 3 years, the only person in recent history to hold that office for more than one 2-year term. During his tenure on the Rams Club, Phil was instrumental in raising significant funding for capital improvements to the athletic facilities at Roberson High School. Phil is also very active in the Roberson community. He has been a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the Skyland Volunteer Fire Department where he received the President’s award. He has served as Chairman of the Skyland United Methodist Board of Trustees. He has received the mayor’s award from the City of Asheville. He has served as President of the Land of Sky Bass Masters. He has conducted numerous fishing tournaments, both here in the community as well as in other locations. Phil has also received numerous awards in the professional fishing ranks. He continues to travel frequently in the boating industry. Over the years, Phil has been most generous to Roberson High School, its students and staff. In addition to supporting Roberson athletics Phil has supported many other aspects of our school. He has a most generous heart, giving back to his school and community both financially and as a volunteer. Phil continues to live in the Roberson district with his wife, Robin. Phil’s daughter, Ashley, lives in Charlotte and his son, Jamie, lives in Arden with grandson, Cayden.