59 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com our sports BY COLIN MCCANDLESS Making the When the Carolina Panthers selected Isle of Palms resident and Oceanside Collegiate Academy alum Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick in the NFL Draft, he became one of several notable players hailing from east of the Cooper to make it to the highest level of their sport. While most of East Cooper’s professional athletes have gone on to play football, there have also been individuals from the area representing us in Major League Baseball and on the PGA Tour as well. Below is a selection of people with ties to Mount Pleasant or the islands who were either drafted into or spent some time in the pro ranks. NFL Dexter Coakley, a Mount Pleasant native and Wando High School alum, played 10 seasons in the NFL from 19972006, eight for the Dallas Cowboys and two for the St. Louis Rams. Over his career, the two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker amassed 13 interceptions, six fumble recoveries, 9.5 sacks and 767 total tackles. Coakley attended college at Appalachian BIG TIME Professional athletes with East Cooper ties Monroe Freeling graduated from Oceanside and is playing in the NFL. Dexter Coakley graduated from Wando and was drafted to the NFL.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1