Greenbrier East has experienced great success on the gridiron under head coach Ray Lee.
That success has afforded his players opportunities at the next level.
Monday afternoon, Bryson Ormsbee and Kamon Anderson made it four Spartans that have singed a National Letter of Intent to play at the next level.
Earlier this month, Jacob Wickline signed as a Preferred Walk On at West Virginia University, while Garrett Bennett signed to play at Waynesburg University.
Ormsbee and Anderson will stay together as teammates after both players signed to play at Alderson Broaddus University in Philippi.
“This means the world to me. I have had this dream since I was like six-years old suiting up in Pop Warner (football). It is truly a blessing and an honor to play for another four years,” Ormsbee said.
Signing day was not only great for the players, it was a special day for the coaching staff as well.
“Both of them have been in our program since their freshman year and worked their way up. It is has been one of those things where you see them grow from their freshman year all the way up to now as they head out the door,” Lee said. “When they aspire to do that, it’s always a good feeling as a coach and an assistant coach, knowing you had an impact on the young men’s life like that.”
The two senior standouts were honored this year at the annual Greenbrier East football banquet.
Ormsbee was named “Mr. Dependable”, while Anderson was named the team’s “Outstanding Defensive Player.”
“To me, it means if coach calls on me to play whatever position, I am ready to play it,” Ormsbee said. “I usually played (defensive back) throughout my four years. Two or three games this year, we needed someone to rush the edge, so I played defensive end against Ripley and Hampshire County. I feel like I am very dependable and I am going to be there for whatever that may be.”
The veteran head coach explained just how important Ormsbee had been over his career.
“You can ask him to play wherever and he did just that. He always did a good job playing the position and learning the position. We played him in basically every position in the secondary,” Lee said. “We even had him at outside linebacker and he played well. We had him at wide receiver, slot back and on kickoff return and punt return. When you asked him to do something, he got the job done. We could always count on him.”
Anderson controlled the defense for the Spartans from his middle linebacker position.
“Kamon pretty much led our team in tackles. He was an under-sized kid playing middle linebacker. He played all year long at about 175 pounds, but played like he was 220 pounds,” Lee said. “We always teased him that if the Brad Anderson gene kicked in, he would be an All-American. His dad was a pretty big guy. Kamon always played with a lot of heart.”
Defense was not the only place where Anderson made a name for himself.
“The best memory with him and what really got him going was during his junior year. He played on pretty much every special team and spot linebacker,” Lee said. “Against one of the teams, he made every single tackle on special teams. Everyone of the tackles was a solo tackle. That was the kind of motor he played with. Going into his senior year, it was the same work ethic. He was always high energy and high motor. He was our fire-up guy and got everybody ready to play.”
Ormsbee started his first game as a freshman and wasted no time giving the coaching staff a glimpse of the player he would become over the years.
“The first game my freshman year we played James Monroe and I believe the score was 7-0 and I had a pick with about five minutes left to close out the game,” Ormsbee recalled. “Definitely a memory I will take with me and I ended up getting Player of the Game.”
While both players are excited to be playing at the next level, the four years in Fairlea will always be a time they treasure.
“We have a saying, I will be a Spartan until I die. That will always stick with me,” Ormsbee said. “The coaches have been there with me the whole time and have put a lot of trust in me. They have given me a lot of confidence. I can’t give enough credit to those coaches.”
