He went on to be one of the elite drug-free powerlifters in the nation, placing in the top five in national meets in California and Illinois.īatson pursued a career in strength and conditioning, completing stints at Bowling Green, South Carolina and Furman prior to his tenure at Clemson, where he just completed his 23rd season. He made history in 1975 as part of the first group in the school’s history to be part of a formal weightlifting program. Unsurprisingly, strength training and conditioning was an area in which Batson excelled in high school. He was an all-conference selection in 19 in addition to being named to the 1977 All-State team as well as the 1978 All-Greenville County team.īatson also played basketball for the junior varsity Devildogs as a freshman and was a member of the Devildog track team in 19, when he participated in sprinting and throwing events. In 1978, Batson was named Greenville News Piedmont Player of the Week after a 22-0 upset victory over Woodmont High School, producing 11 total tackles (seven solo) including one for a safety in the contest. He earned three varsity letters for the Devildogs beginning as a sophomore in 1976, and during the 1977 season, he was an integral part of a squad that won the Peach Blossom Conference II Championship and earned a spot in the 3A State Football Playoffs. TRAVELERS REST - Travelers Rest High School inducted Clemson Director of Football Strength, Speed & Conditioning Joey Batson into the Travelers Rest High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday evening.īatson, a 1979 graduate of Travelers Rest High School, was a three-year, two-way starter for the Devildog football team as a tight end and defensive end.

Travelers rest high school athletics