Shawn Alexander: (1994-98) Shawn played varsity basketball all four years that he was at Roberson. He was a 4-year starter and lettered all four years. He was chosen as his team’s MVP twice. He was a 2-time first team All WNC selection and was the WNC Player of the Year his senior year. Also in his senior year, Shawn was chosen as the 3A/4A Male Athlete of the Year in WNC by the WNC Sports Awards Banquet Committee. His 1998 team finished the year as the 3-A State Runner Up, and Shawn was chosen as the MVP of the State Championship Game. He was named to the All State first team and was named the 1998 Associated Press State Player of the year. He was selected to play in the Annual East West All Star Game. During the state playoff run in 1998, Shawn averaged almost 38 points per game. He scored 41 points in the State Championship Game, which is still a Dean Smith Center record for points scored in a State Championship Game across all classifications. He holds school records for points scored in a game with 41 (tied with his brother, Greg Benton), points scored in a season with 779, points scored in a career with 2,035, points per game average in a season with 26.86 and free throws made in a season with 187. After graduating from Roberson, Shawn entered Appalachian State University on a full basketball scholarship. In his three years at ASU, Shawn averaged 9.9 points per game. After his junior year, Shawn transferred to Winston-Salem State University where he continued his basketball career. At WSSU, Shawn averaged 18.1 points per game his senior year. In his senior year, Shawn was named to the All-CIAA team as was named to the CIAA Commissioner’s All Academic First Team. He was also named to the District III Verizon Academic All American Team. He also received the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award. Currently, Shawn lives in Conyers, GA with his wife Cornice and his children Nylah, Neishae, Marcus, Noriyah and Mikael. He and Cornice are the owners of Trucking Company.
Laura Case Beatty: (1985-89 and 2001-present) Laura played volleyball her freshman and sophomore years. She played basketball and softball all four years that she was at Roberson. She lettered in all three sports. In basketball, she was All-Conference her junior and senior years as well as All-Area. She broke the scoring record her junior year with 30 points (since broken), the rebounding record her senior year with 22 (still stands!) and set the record for free throws made in a season with 125. She was named to the Blue/White All Star game. In softball, Laura was a 4-time All Conference performer as a shortstop. She was also named to the All-Area team all four years. She was the team MVP her junior and senior years. Laura was also named the Conference Player of the Year in her senior season. After graduating from Roberson, Laura went to Elon University on a basketball and softball scholarship. In basketball, she was All-Conference in her junior and senior years. She ranks in the top 6 all time in free throws made, made free throw percentage and made field goal percentage. She was named the team MVP her senior year as well as All-District. She was a 3-time All-Tournament team selection. In softball, Laura was All-Conference and All-District all four years. She is ranked in the top ten at Elon in many statistical categories in softball, including 1st all-time in runs scored in a season and 1st all-time in career triples. Following her junior year, Laura was the CV Briggs Scholarship Award winner presented to the athlete, male or female, who possesses outstanding athletic ability and high moral character. In her senior year, Laura was the Stein Basnight Award Winner presented to the most outstanding female athlete of the year. In the spring of her senior year, Laura also was named the Zuegner Award winner presented to the most outstanding college female athlete in Western North Carolina. In 2005, Laura was inducted into the Elon University Hall of Fame for both basketball and softball. Laura joined the staff of Roberson High School in 2001. As head softball coach, Laura’s had an overall record of 168-41. Her 2009 team set a record for wins for any TC Roberson team with 30 wins. That team finished as Runner Up in the 3-A State Championship. Her 2010 team broke the NCHSAA record for most home runs in a season with 35 and finished as Runner Up in the 4-A State Championship. That team finished the year in the top 50 (#44) in the ESPN/RISE national poll. She was the conference Coach of the Year and All WNC Coach of the Year. In her eight years as head softball coach, 14 of her players continued the softball careers at the next level. Laura was named TC Roberson Athletic Director in the fall of 2010. Roberson won the Wachovia/Wells Fargo Conference Cup each of her years as AD. She led the Roberson to become the first public school in WNC to field a lacrosse team. As AD, she was instrumental in the renovation of the softball complex as well as the football/lacrosse practice fields. In 2017, Laura received the Region 8 Athletic Director Citation Award. In 2018, she was named the NCHSAA Charlie Adams Distinguished Service Award Winner. Currently, Laura is an assistant women’s basketball coach and head women’s golf coach. She lives in Arden with her husband, Jim
Tim Epley: (1979-2013) Tim coached men’s cross country from 1979-1980 and 1994-1998. He coached men’s JV basketball for the 1989-1990 season and was varsity assistant in 1990-1992. He was the Head varsity women’s basketball coach from 1994-2009 and from 2011-2013. He also coached boys and girls cross country, track, basketball and baseball at Valley Springs Middle School from 1977-1994 when he moved to Roberson. At Roberson, Coach Epley’s men’s cross country teams were 3-time Conference Champions and 3-time state 3-A state championship meet qualifiers. In 17 seasons as head women’s basketball, Coach Epley finished his career with an overall record of 350-119. His teams won nine Conference championships, made five regional appearances and sixteen state playoff appearances. His 2001 team was state 3-A Runner-Up. He was selected as the Conference Coach of the Year multiple times. He coached in both the Blue-White All Star game and the East-West All Star game. He was selected as the Citizen-Times WNC Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2001. Coach Epley has recently retired as a driving education instructor for Mountain Professionals Driving School. He is an active player/coach in the Henderson County Senior Softball League. Coach Epley lives in Hendersonville with his wife of 31 years, Danette. They enjoy traveling together to destinations both new and old.
Meghan Gilmore: (2004-2008) Meghan played soccer all four years that she was at Roberson as well as running cross country. In cross country, Meghan was one of the top runners on the team. In her sophomore year, Meghan had her personal best time of 19:26. Her team won several major races that they entered. They were county champions, conference champions, regional champions and 3-A State Champions. Meghan was named to the All-Conference, All Regional and All-State teams. In soccer, Meghan lettered as a varsity soccer player all four years. She finished as Roberson’s all-time leader in goals with 117 and points with 297. She set a single season record with 36 points. She received the Sportsmanship Award at the Brittany Willis Memorial Showcase. She was a 3-time All State selection. Also in her senior year, Meghan was chosen as a team captain. After graduating from Roberson, Meghan went to the University of Georgia where she played soccer her freshman year. She was an academic All-American and received the coaches and teammate awards. She transferred to Palm Beach Atlantic University after her freshman year where she became the first All-American in school history. She continued her participation in Cross Country and was Division II National Champion. Meghan graduated magna cum laude in 2012 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After graduation, she began her career selling real estate in south Florida. She loves to travel and has visited all but one continent. Currently, she divides her time between Florida and California.
Kyle Jambon: (1992-96 and 1996-2015) Kyle became a manager for the JV men’s basketball team in his freshman year at Roberson. In his junior year, he “moved up” to become the manager for the varsity men’s team. He also became the bookkeeper for men’s varsity soccer and baseball teams. He also served as the ball boy for the varsity football team. After graduating from Roberson in 1996, Kyle continued his service to the men’s basketball team as a volunteer assistant coach. He continued in this role while attending Western Carolina University. Kyle served as an assistant coach to the men’s basketball team until 2015. During his tenure, he coached over 500 men’s varsity games. The 1998 team was state 3-A Runner-Up. The teams that he coached made 7 regional tournament appearances and finished as Conference Champions 8 times. Kyle began work with Edward Jones in 2006 and remains there today. He has served as committee member and former chair of the Knights of Columbus Charity Golf tournament which benefits intellectually challenged individuals in Buncombe County. He lives in Fletcher with his wife, Meredith and their three children Gabrielle, Rose and Andrew.
De’Von Mills: (2001-05) De’Von played varsity football all four years that he was at Roberson. He also ran track for three years. In football, De’Von was a three year starter on the varsity as a running back and defensive cornerback. He was a 3-time All conference selection. In his sophomore season, De’Von rushed for over 1,000 yards and was All Conference. As a junior, he rushed for over 1600 yards and was named to the All-WNC team in addition to the All Conference team. As a senior, De’Von rushed for well over 2,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, which tied an area high. He also had 7 interceptions on defense. He was named All Conference, All WNC and was the All WNC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also named as the conference Player of the Year. In track, De’Von finished in the top five in the 40 yard dash with a 4.46 time. After graduation from Roberson, De’Von attended Yuma College in Arizona to continue his football career. After Yuma, De’Von returned to Asheville to play with the semi-pro Grizzlies team for three years. De’Von has been very active in the youth sports leagues in South Asheville and South Buncombe. He has coached in the South Asheville Baseball League, the South Buncombe Youth Basketball League, the South Buncombe Youth Softball League and is now coaching in the TC Roberson Youth Football League. Currently, De’Von works for Oracle Paper Recycling Group. He lives in Arden with his wife, Porchea, and their children De’Vona, De’Sha, Camden and Tra’.