Meggie Briley excels on different stages

At seventeen, a senior and on the verge of stepping into a world much larger than the one she has grown accustomed, Mary Meggan, “Meggie,” Briley has seen a life of dual purpose.  From time on the hardwood to performing on center stage, Briley’s tenure at Gallatin High School has been busy, but one with which she has no regrets.  

Briley’s basketball career began at a young age.  At four years old, Briley found her first basketball team experience at the Gallatin Civic Center as a part of the Dribblers.  Briley called the Civic Center home until she reached seventh grade, where she became a part of Shafer Middle School’s Lady Wave basketball team.  After her two-year middle school stint, Briley entered the realm of high school and quickly turned to basketball once more.

Making the freshmen team and then moving to the varsity within the same year, Meggie has seen basketball in her life for its majority.

The move to the high school level meant Briley was playing basketball four nights a week.  The difficulty in maintaining academics, playing basketball and having a social life was a unique balancing act for Briley, yet she remained atop the field academically, excelled on the hardwood and was active socially among her peers.  

Briley said, “Basketball is a stress relief for me.  Anytime I felt overwhelmed I could always pick up a basketball and watch my problems dissolve.  It has been the one thing that has been the most constant in my life besides my friends and family.”

Now a senior, Briley remains the only player on the Green Wave squad that has been a part of the Green and Gold for all four years.  She is the “senior” member that many look toward for leadership, but it has not been an easy path.  

During her time at Gallatin High School Briley has seen four different coaches.  Said Briley of the coaching shuffle; “It has definitely been hard because you do not know what to expect.  Each coach has his or her own coaching style and we have had to adapt to it as we go.  Coach (Drew) Smith, (Gallatin’s current girl’s basketball coach), has been a little different. He knows we have seen a lot of new faces and it has helped that he is so understanding.”

Though the Lady Wave has not enjoyed numerous wins during her senior campaign, the support given by Smith does not go unnoticed. “We are in a slump right now, but you can tell that Coach Smith is not going to give up on us.  He and Coach Kendrick, (long time Gallatin head coach and former coach of Briley) have been the two most influential coaches I have had throughout my basketball career,” said Briley.  

As Briley enters the latter portion of her high school basketball life, she looks forward to the time beyond the Green Wave but being a part of the Lady Wave has not been the only outlet for Meggie.  

Since the age of five and performing the National Anthem atop the coffee table in front of family,

Briley has been one who enjoys her time on the stage.  Singing and basketball have coincided with one another throughout her life.  “Singing and basketball are right there together because I love to do them both.  With music I can express exactly how I am feeling with a song.  It helps because people know how you are feeling at that particular moment.”

From the coffee table, Meggie has seen many accomplishments through her singing.  She has began many sporting competitions by singing the National Anthem, is a member of the performers at Gallatin High School and is currently rehearsing for the production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Briley was one of the few freshmen to be chosen to be a part of the GHS performers.  

The play, to be held March 11-14th, will see Briley portray Mrs. Dorothy Brown.  “Mrs. Brown,” said Briley, “is a sophisticated ditsy girl from California.  Playing her is hard because I have to learn how to drop my accent, but it is fun.  It is a really nice play.”

Thoroughly Modern Millie is the second to last performance for Briley.  Having a spring formal and a music competition in Murfreesboro held in April will conclude the senior year of performing for Meggie.  

The April competition sets the stage for the state competition, which Gallatin has made the last two years.  Being the eldest member Meggie said, “It puts more pressure on me because I know the ropes and I am suppose to know ho everything goes.  It is very nerve racking but that is just a part of it.”

Once her senior year comes to an end, Briley looks forward to the college life.  Briley plans to be an education major with a possible minor in music.  Her future prospects see her teaching high school.  “I have had so many great teachers along the way, but it has been the teachers I have had in high school that have really made an impact on me,” said Briley.  “That’s why I want to teach high school, because of them.”

Coming from the small atmosphere found in Gallatin, Briley knows the change of pace and scenery will be much different.  “It is a little scary because it is going to be different and I know that, but I am looking forward to it.

Briley continued, “For lack of a better analogy, it is like going to Walmart and knowing everyone there then going to a different Walmart and not knowing anyone.”

Briley wishes to continue her basketball career during college.  “I love the game of basketball and being able to continue my career at the next level is something I have always wanted to do.  I look forward to the opportunity.”  

Along the way Briley has had the love and support of close family.  Her parents, John and Tribby Graves Briley have been to every basketball game and have yet to miss a performance.  Her brother, Ben Briley, remains one of Meggie’s biggest fans.  Though his schedule remains hectic during his third year at Middle Tennessee State University, Ben makes as many games as his schedule permits and never misses a singing performance.  At the Gallatin High School basketball homecoming, Meggie had 45 members of her family and friends in attendance.  “My family has always been there for me and I appreciate a family that is behind me and wants me to exceed in everything I do,” said Briley.  

Meggie Briley enters the final stages of her high school days with limitless opportunities ahead.  Gallatin has seen one of its finest grow from Civic Center nights and coffee table encores, to the starting lineup of the Lady Wave and center stages of opening night.  For Briley, she would not have had it any other way.  “I am just a country girl at heart and growing up in Gallatin has been a blessing.  I would not have changed a thing.”