Pine Grove Middle School (Valdosta, Georgia) takes pride in the tradition of building young students into the leaders of the future. With such a rich sports heritage in the city, the athletic side of the pursuit is important, but the academic success of every individual that walks the halls of the school takes priority above all. With a school motto of “Preparing Great Minds,” it is apparent where focus lies within the institution.
In the case of two exceptional student-athletes, the quest for excellence is one that has been readily accepted. More impressive, however, is the fact that both of these young men have done so while seeing success in multiple sports throughout their middle-school careers.
Eighth-graders Tiberius Drocea and Gary Osby have made Pine Grove proud, both academically and in their respective athletic crafts. In the classroom, both young men are at the top of their class; Drocea currently boasts a 92 GPA (on a scale of 100), while Osby is also carrying an A average.
“Both Tiberius and Gary live by our motto ‘Perfect Effort’,” said Steve Holley, Pine Grove Middle School’s athletic director and head football coach. “They demonstrate this attitude in the classroom and athletic programs. This attitude is infectious and causes our other athletes to follow their example. They are well on their way to being successful in whichever avenue they follow.”
Drocea is the true personification of the term well-rounded. On top of performing near the top of his class academically, he faithfully shoulders a tremendous load in athletics. He contributed as a running back and outside linebacker during football season, and he wrestles in the 160-pound weight class for the Vikings. As if that’s not already enough, he will also be seen in the spring as he suits up as a centerfielder, catcher, and pitcher for the school’s baseball team.
“I like football the most because I like contact, and I feel like I am best at it,” Drocea said. “I have always been able to get better because I have the best coaches that a kid can ask for.”
While he said that football is his favorite sport, it is apparent that his talent carries over into all areas. In addition to being named a Player of the Week for the football team, he has also earned numerous medals for his wrestling accomplishments. While he doesn’t currently compete outside of school in any areas, he is considering getting some extra training and practice in with the South Georgia Athletic Club Devil Dogs, a locally based traveling wrestling program. When he is not performing with teams at school, he is still constantly working.
“I like to play outside, either sports or just running for a little bit,” Drocea said. “I don’t like to stay inside all day.”
Drocea has plans to continue his path of excellence at the next level; he wants to play all three of his sports in high school next year. Academically, his favorite subject is math, and he currently has aspirations to study engineering at Florida State University.
“Florida State has a really nice school,” Drocea said. “Also, I like their football team.”
Similar to his friend and football teammate, Osby was also a running back and linebacker for the Vikings’ program. He is a three-sport athlete as well; however, his other two sports of choice are basketball (where he plays small forward) and track (where he competes in the high jump, 400-meters, 4×100, and shot put). Like Drocea, Osby’s talents shine far beyond the classroom; he was named the Most Valuable Player for the basketball team for his work in his seventh-grade season (2014-15).
Osby’s accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and never-say-die attitude. He credits his coaches for his growth over the last few years and greatly appreciates what they have done for him.
“The coaches and teachers at Pine Grove always want me to be the best player and student that I can, with no exceptions,” Osby said. “I think that they will always remember that I am the type of student-athlete that understands that if you only put in half the effort, you will only get half of the results.”
Osby’s high standards, both in academia and in his athletic pursuits, are evident in his everyday actions. He holds himself to a strict list of expectations and morals rooted in character, integrity, and honesty. He makes sure to always pay attention in the classroom, and he reserves his social life for after his priorities are properly handled. While still a few years away, he has aspirations of attending either Florida State or the University of Georgia and would like to pursue some form of math-related studies.
“I always respect my coaches and their decisions,” Osby said. “I try to hold myself accountable for every decision that I make. Team success is my priority; I don’t go out there looking to necessarily be the star. And in the classroom, I am going to make sure that nobody outworks me.”
Not only do both young men shine in athletics and academics, but they are both active in other extracurricular activities. Topping that list is their membership in Pine Grove’s Young Men of Excellence (formerly known as Young Men Enterprise). As members of YME, young male students under the leadership of faculty mentors are taught irreplaceable lessons about critical issues, such as dealing with academic struggles, developing appropriate social behaviors, and avoiding peer pressure.
“Gary and Tiberius possess characteristics that place them on the popular end of the school’s social setting, which, through the YME program, can help to positively influence other students through their acts of leadership,” said Derrick Yarbrough, lead advisor of the YME program. “On top of that, they were chosen to participate based on their attitude and willingness to want to become active leaders in all walks of life.”
Adolescence can be one of the most difficult times of a person’s life. School, sports, and personal growth all battle to take precedence during those formative years. But Pine Grove Middle is doing an exceptional job of crafting their students to successfully handle all pressures that may come their way. Drocea and Osby are perfect examples of those efforts.
Sidebars:
Tiberius Drocea on Gary Osby: “Gary has meant a lot to me, and I think as we get older, we’ll both continue to excel in school and in sports. He is one of the best friends that I have had at Pine Grove. We only have one class together, and if he needs extra help, or I do, we help each other out.”
Gary Osby on Tiberius Drocea: “Tiberius has always been there, pushing me to do better as a teammate, and outside of sports, he knows how to prioritize academics. Sometimes we have to pick each other up. Oftentimes, there have been situations when I need some motivation, and Tiberius is always one of the first people that I look to.”
Tiberius Drocea
Parents: Thomas and Heather Drocea
Siblings: Noah and Dalton
Gary Osby
Parents: Alvin and Sheila Jones
Siblings: Camden Jones
South Georgia / January 2016
Tiberius Drocea and Gary Osby
Pine Grove Middle School
Valdosta, Ga.
For Pine Grove Duo, Perfection is an Ongoing Process
By James Washington
