PICKENS — Pickens hurdler Tanner Saunders is the latest PHS senior to earn an athletic scholarship.

Pickens’ Tanner Saunders is shown signing with USC-Upstate recently. Pictured with him are Dalton Yates, Tammy Saunders, Bobby Ravencraft, Max Monroe and Somer Anthony.

Saunders, who ran track in addition to being a member of both the Blue Flame football and basketball teams, inked recently with USC-Upstate.

Saunders starting running track at PHS in his sophomore year and managed to earn Western AAA most valuable honors as a junior and finished second in the state in the 400 meter hurdles that year.

This season, Saunders put on a record-breaking performance to become the Western AAA 400 hurdles champ and competed in the 400 and 110 hurdles in the state meet, finishing seventh in the 110 and third in the 400.

Saunders said he picked USC-Upstate because of the school’s pre-physical therapy program.

“I am looking to further my education, and they have a really good track program,” he said.

Saunders said he will miss wearing the Pickens blue.

“The PHS track program is like a big family, and everyone takes care of everyone,” he said. “Having that mentality in practice and then going out there and competing, it was like racing against friends.”

Pickens track coach Bobby Ravencraft said even though this was his first year as head coach, he recognized Saunders had been putting in the work for several years to get this opportunity.

“He came out in his sophomore year and he has shown a lot of talent and along with that, he works very hard,” he said. “He has discovered what it takes.

“Coach Lauren Carlisle deserves a lot of credit for working with him as his hurdles coach, helping him get to where he needs to be and peak. Tanner serves as an example to the other kids as to what it takes to get to that level.”

Ravencraft also knows the impact of a runner from PHS getting to the next level.

“It makes kids realize that you can actually get money to go to college running track and people from Pickens High can go anywhere,” he said. “I think he has opened a lot of kids’ eyes.”

Saunders is looking forward to the increased competition.

“It will be hard to get a spot on the travel team, but if I work hard I can make it,” he said. “I want to thank my parents for pushing through it. There were times I felt like giving up, but they keep me on track, and I thank all my coaches and teammates at Pickens.”