T. Paige Dalporto/for the Register-Herald Greenbrier East s Piner wins Fulton Walker Award as state s top special teamer
By Tyler Jackson
The Register Herald Dec 15, 2020
Dec 15, 2020
Greenbrier East s Colby Piner runs upfield during a game against Sissonville this season. T. Paige Dalporto/for the Register-Herald
For Colby Piner, 2019 was a tough year.
After earning Class AAA second-team all-state honors as a sophomore in 2018 while helping guide Greenbrier East to the playoffs, he was ruled academically ineligible for his junior season. As a result, he missed out on another playoff campaign as the Spartans hosted their first playoff game since 1998.
That served as motivation.
For Colby Piner, 2019 was a tough year.
After earning Class AAA second-team all-state honors as a sophomore in 2018 while helping guide Greenbrier East to the playoffs, he was ruled academically ineligible for his junior season. As a result, he missed out on another playoff campaign as the Spartans hosted their first playoff game since 1998.
That served as motivation. Coming from my sophomore year I was expecting another big year as a junior, Piner said. It hurt so bad that I couldn t make it on that team. I knew I had to get my grades up and play my senior year. I missed out on that my junior year and knew I had to make a statement my senior year.