Class of 1983

Phil was a 1983 graduate of Apex High School and was a three sport letterman in soccer, outdoor track and field, and cross country. While Phil remains one of the fastest sprinters in Apex history and was, in fact, All Conference in track and field his junior and senior years, the soccer pitch was where he truly distinguished himself. Playing during an era when the soccer team was just starting at Apex High School, Phil became a two-time captain and four-year letterman on the fabled “A Team.” In addition, he was recognized as one of the great soccer players in the area, as he was selected to the All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-Region soccer teams three times during his career. Phil’s stellar play and leadership helped shape the “A Team” from a program in its infancy into a regional and state power.

The long and storied soccer tradition at Apex High School was built on the foundation that Phil, his teammates, and his coaches laid during the early 1980s. Phil was further honored as the Male athlete of the year for Apex High School in 1983. In addition to the many honors that Phil earned as an athlete, he continued to show his Cougar pride as he served as an assistant coach for three years after his graduation.

In fact, one of Phil’s greatest memories is having had the ability and privilege to play for and then coach with another one of our 2017 Hall of Famers, Bob Matthews, as well as another Apex soccer great, Stuart Nisbet. Phil has served our community proudly in a 28-year career in law enforcement. Phil’s multi-faceted roles include serving as a police officer with the Raleigh, Cary, and Morrisville Police Departments, as well as being a detective with the Cary Police Department and an investigator with the Wake County District Attorney’s office.