Class of 2009

Houston Hawley is a 2009 Apex High School graduate and three-sport athlete who played football, baseball, and basketball. He excelled not only on the athletic field and court but also in the classroom earning seven varsity letters and seven Academic All-Conference selections. In football, Houston took over starting quarterback duties as a Sophomore and started 35 consecutive games at that position leading the team to three straight state playoffs. As a Junior, he was the starting quarterback as the program transitioned from a predominant triple-option running offense to a spread passing offense. In 2008, he led the team to the third round of the state playoffs (Eastern Semi-Final game) and a 10-win season. He was selected All-Conference and earned the Apex “Offensive Player of the Year” award.

In baseball, Houston started three years on the varsity as a pitcher/1B where he earned All-Conference Honorable Mention as a Sophomore and All-Conference as a Junior and Senior.  He also earned several team awards to include the “Best Prospect” award as a Sophomore, “Best Pitcher” award as Junior, and “Most Valuable Player” award as a Senior.  He was the winning pitcher when the Cougar’s beat Fuquay in the 2008 Conference Championship game and compiled an overall 15-2 record as a pitcher at AHS while leading the Cougar’s to three consecutive third round playoff appearances.  As a junior he helped Region 3 win its first Gold Medal in the 2008 State Games and was selected to participate in the North Carolina East/West All-Star Baseball Series in 2009. Houston played JV basketball as a Freshman and Sophomore, and varsity basketball as a Senior where he served in a sixth-man role.  As a Senior, he was selected the Apex High School “Most Valuable Male Athlete.”   

Houston was recruited by several colleges including every Ivy League University.  He chose Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. where he was a two-sport athlete playing football as a freshman and sophomore, and baseball as a sophomore, junior, and senior. As a relief pitcher in 2012, Houston helped the Big Red to its first Ivy League Championship in baseball in school history and its first NCAA Tournament Regional in school history. He was voted team Captain as a Senior.  Houston ranks 4th all-time in Cornell pitching appearances in a season, and 6th all-time in games finished. Houston graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in Industrial and Labor Relations.

After stints in the Pittsburgh and St. Louis areas, Houston currently resides in Raleigh.  He married Lindsay Brown-Hawley in 2020. Houston also attended the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School where he earned his MBA in October 2022. Lindsay and Houston welcomed a baby boy, Houston Cade Hawley, in March 2024.