raleighprepzone

Area high school basketball holiday tournament schedules - more than a dozen tournaments included

dclaybest — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:40:54 -0500

Here's a rundown of high school holiday basketball tournaments involving area teams.

SOUTH GRANVILLE INVITATIONAL
At South Granville High
WAKE FOREST PHYSICAL THERAPY BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 — Fayetteville Victory Christian vs. (Durham) Cresset Christian, 9 a.m
GAME 2 — Haliwa-Saponi Tribal vs Ridgecroft School, 10:30 a.m.
GAME 3 — Fayetteville Village Christian vs Kestrel Heights, noon
GAME 4 — Charlotte CountryDay vs Wake Christian 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 9 a.m.
GAME 6 — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 10:30 a.m.
GAME 7 — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, noon
GAME 8 — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 9 a..
GAME 10 — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, noon
GAME 11 — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, 4 p.m.
GAME 12 — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 7 p.m.
BOJANGES BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 — Green Hope vs Warren County, 4 p.m.
GAME 2 — Sanderson vs Ravenscroft, 5:30 p.m.
GAME 3 — Athens Drive vs Southern Vance, 7 p.m.
GAME 4 — Louisburg vs South Granville, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 4 p.m.
GAME 6 — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 5:30 p.m.
GAME 7 — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 7 p.m.
GAME 8 — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 10:30 a.m.
GAME 10 — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 11 — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, 5:30 p.m.
GAME 12 — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 8:30 p.m.

HOLIDAY HOOPLA
At Eastern Alamance High
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 — Sanderson vs Southern Alamance, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 2 — Cary vs Burlington Williams, 3 p.m.
GAME 3 — Green Hope vs Cedar Ridge, 5 p.m.
GAME 4 — Riverside vs Eastern Alamance, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 6 — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 3 p.m.
GAME 7 — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 5 p.m.
GAME 8 — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 10 — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 3 p.m.
GAME 11 — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, 5 p.m.
GAME 12 — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 6:30 p.m.

YELLOW JACKET INVITATIONAL
At Lee County High
BOYS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 (Main Gym) — Northwood vs Piedmont, 2 p.m.
GAME 2 (Main Gym) — East Chapel Hill vs Cary, 4 p.m.
GAME 3 (Main Gym) — Jordan vs Western Harnett, 6 p.m.
GAME 4 (Main Gym) — Lee County vs Union Pines, 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 (Packard Gym) — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 6 p.m.
GAME 6 (Packard Gym) — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 8 p.m.
GAME 7 (Main Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 6 p.m.
GAME 8 (Main Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 (Packard Gym) — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 6 p.m.
GAME 10 (Main Gym) — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 4 p.m.
GAME 11 (Packard Gym) — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, 8 p.m.
GAME 12 (Main Gym) — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 8 p.m.
GIRLS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 (Packard Gym) — Northwood vs Southern Lee, 2 p.m.
GAME 2 (Packard Gym) — Union Pines vs Chatham Central 4 p.m.
GAME 3 (Packard Gym) — Lee County vs Hoke County, 6 p.m.
GAME 4 (Packard Gym) — Northern Vance vs Apex, 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 (Packard Gym) — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 2 p.m.
GAME 6 (Packard Gym) — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 4 p.m.
GAME 7 (Main Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 2 p.m.
GAME 8 (Main Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 (Packard Gym) — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 2 p.m.
GAME 10 (Main Gym) — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 2 p.m.
GAME 11 (Packard Gym) — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, 4 p.m.
GAME 12 (Main Gym) — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 6 p.m.

VISION SPORTING GOODS HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
at Cary Academy
BOYS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 (SEA Gym) — Norfolk Academy vs Cary Academy, 2:30 p.m.
GAME 2 (SEA Gym) — Southern Durham vs Elon School, 4 p.m.
GAME 3 (SEA Gym) — Durham Academy vs St. David's, 5:30 p.m.
GAME 4 (SEA Gym) — Cary Christian vs Fayetteville Christian, 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 (SEA Gym) — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 1:30 p.m.
GAME 6 (FC Gym) — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 4 p.m.
GAME 7 (FC Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 5:30 p.m.
GAME 8 (FC Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 (SEA Gym) — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 11:30 a.m.
GAME 10 (SEA Gym) — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 2:30 p.m.
GAME 11 (FC Gym) — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, noon
GAME 12 (FC Gym) — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 3 p.m.
GIRLS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
GAME 1 (SEA Gym) — St. David's vs South Granville, 1 p.m.
GAME 2 (FC Gym) — Fayetteville Christian vs Leesville Road, 5 p.m.
GAME 3 (FC Gym) — Durham Academy vs Southern Durham, 6:30 p.m.
GAME 4 (FC Gym) — Cary Christian vs Middle Creek, 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
GAME 5 (SEA Gym) — Loser of game 1 vs. loser of game 2, 3 p.m.
GAME 6 (SEA Gym) — Loser of game 3 vs. loser of game 4, 4:30 p.m.
GAME 7 (SEA Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 1 vs. winner of game 2, 6 p.m.
GAME 8 (SEA Gym) — Semifinals — winner of game 3 vs. winner of game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
GAME 9 (SEA Gym) — Seventh-place game — loser of game 5 vs. loser of game 6, 10 a.m.
GAME 10 (SEA Gym) — Fifth-place game — winner of game 5 vs. winner of game 6, 1 p.m.
GAME 11 (FC Gym) — Third-place game — loser of game 7 vs. loser of game 8, noon
GAME 12 (FC Gym) — Championship — winner of game 7 vs. winner of game 8, 1:30 p.m

ATHENS DRIVE GIRLS TOURNAMENT
at Athens Drive High School
(list does not include JV boys' game that same day)
Thursday, Dec. 27
Athens Drive vs Southeast Raleigh, 4 p.m.
Cardinal Gibbons vs Heritage, 5:30 p.m.
Fuquay-Varina vs Northern Durham, 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
Athens Drive vs Cardinal Gibbons, 4 p.m.
Fuquay-Varina vs Southeast Raleigh, 5:30 p.m.
Northern Durham vs Heritage, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29
Athens Drive vs Northern Durham, 4 p.m.
Heritage vs Fuquay-Varina, 5:30 p.m.
Cardinal Gibbons vs Southeast Raleigh, 8:30 p.m.

SECOND ANNUAL CORINTH HOLDERS HOLIDAY CLASSIC
BOYS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
Enloe vs. Smithfield-Selma, 4:30
East Wake vs. Corinth Holders, 7:30
Friday, Dec. 28
Consolation Game, 4:30
Championship Game, 7:30
GIRLS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
Enloe vs. Smithfield-Selma, 3
North Lenoir vs. Corinth Holders, 6
Friday, Dec. 28
Consolation Game, 3
Championship Game, 6

ROBERSONVILLE SOUTH CREEK ROUND ROBIN HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
BOYS BRACKET
Thursday, Dec. 27
Edenton Holmes vs. Princeton, 5:30
Creswell vs. South Creek, 8:30
Friday, Dec. 28
Edenton Holmes vs. Creswell, 5:30
Princeton vs. South Creek, 8:30

BUNN HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT - ROUND ROBIN
BOYS
Thursday, Dec. 27
Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest-Rolesville, 4:30
Bunn vs. Fuquay-Varina, 6
Friday, Dec. 28
Wake Forest-Rolesville vs. Fuquay-Varina, 4:30
Bunn vs. Chapel Hill, 7:30
Saturday, Dec. 29
Fuquay-Varina vs. Chapel Hill, 4:30
Bunn vs. Wake Forest-Rolesville, 7:30
GIRLS
Thursday, Dec. 27
Chapel Hill vs. Wake Forest-Rolesville, 3
Bunn vs. Kinston, 6
Friday, Dec. 28
Wake Forest-Rolesville vs. Kinston, 3
Bunn vs. Chapel Hill, 7:30
Saturday, Dec. 29
Kinston vs. Chapel HIll, 3
Bunn vs. Wake Forest-Rolesville, 6

Cap Eight all-conference football

timstevens — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:27:20 -0500

Cap Eight all-confernce football

Player of the year – Connor Mitch, Wakefield

Offensive player of the year _ Braxton Berrios, Leesville Road

Defensive player of the year _ Blake Williams, Wake Forest-Rolesville

Special Teams Player of the year – Jarrett Cervi

All Conference Selections

Enloe

1. Cameron Clark

2. Damien Dozier

Sanderson

1. Jah Laville

2. Matthew Koehler

Millbrook

1. Corey Cooper

2. Andrew Ezebuiro

3. Davion Allred

4. Luke Collins

Broughton

1. Caleb Gabriel

2. Howard Boone

3. Victor Davis

4. Wolfgang Zacherl

Heritage

1. Greg Clifton

2. Trey Ratliff

3. Abdul Sesay

4. Charles Clark

5. Peyton Holste

6. Rob Powers )

Wake Forest-Rolesville

1. Taylor Bagley

2. Petey Williams

3. Chris Love

4. Bryce Love

5. Kyle Montgomery

6. Drew Alvarez

7. Ben Fingers

8. Cameron Fray

Wakefield

1. Quinton Ridges

2. Jordan Fieulleteau

3. Wesley Neal

4. Chris Ballen

5. Justin Puett

6. Ryan Anderson

7. Evan Brabrand

8. Dylan Knode

9. Xavier Smith

10.Tevin Hargrove

Leesville

1. Malcolm Hitchcock

2. Tucker Bell

3. Derahjai Robinson

4. Devin Williamson

5. Michael Williams

6. Kamir Bowen

7. Chris Pendergraft

8. Drake Edwards

9. Selo Kuvunna

10. Zarek Stafford

11. Brock Pyper

12. Evan Parker

2012 NCISAA playoffs in boys soccer, field hockey, volleyball and girls tennis

timstevens — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:32:28 -0400

N.C. Independent School Athletic Association playoff pairings in field hockey, boys soccer and volleyball. With the playoffs now done, here's a full list of what happened in each of those brackets.

Only two Triangle champs were crowned in this fall's team sports -- Durham Academy field hockey and St. David's volleyball.

Girls field hockey
Semifinals and Finals are Friday, Saturday at Cary Academy

1st round: Cape Fear Academy at Forsyth Country Day; Carolina Day at Ravenscroft; Arendell Parrott Academy at St. Mary's; Greensboro Day School at Cary Academy. Byes -- Charlotte Country Day; Durham Academy; Charlotte Providence Day; Charlotte Latin
2nd round: Forsyth Country Day at Charlotte Country Day; Ravenscroft at Durham Academy; Saint Mary’s at Charlotte Providence Day; Cary Academy at Charlotte Latin
Semifinals: Durham Academy vs. Charlotte Country Day; Charlotte Providence Day vs Charlotte Latin
Finals: Durham Academy defeats Providence Day

Girls tennis
3A Semifinals and Finals are Friday, Saturday at Charlotte Latin
1A Semifinals and Finals are Friday, Saturday at Barton College

3A
1st round: Charlotte Latin at North Raleigh Christian; Durham Academy at Covenant Day; Saint Mary's at Asheville School; Cary Academy at Arendell Parrott. Byes -- Providence Day; Greensboro Day; Ravenscroft; Charlotte Country Day
2nd round: Charlotte Latin at Charlotte Providence Day; Durham Academy at Greensboro Day; Saint Mary’s at Ravenscroft; Cary Academy at Charlotte Country Daye
Semifinals: Charlottte Providence Day vs. Greensboro Day; Ravenscroft vs. Charlotte Country Day
Finals: Providence Day defeats Charlotte Country Day
1A
1st round: Northeast Academy at Statesville Christian; Lawrence Academy at Wayne Christian; Raleigh Trinity at Wayne Country Day; Cape Fear Christian at Wilson Greenfield
Friday's semifinals: Statesville Christian vs. Wayne Christian School; Wayne Country Day vs. Wilson Greenfield
Finals: Statesville Christian defeats Greenfield

Volleyball
3A, 2A, 1A Finals are Saturday at Charlotte Latin
1A quarterfinals and semifinals are Friday at Statesville Christian
2A quarterfinals and semifinals are Friday at Gaston Day School
3A quarterfinals and semifinals are Friday at Charlotte Latin

3A
1st round: Charlotte Latin bye; High Point Christian at Ravenscroft; Covenant Day bye; Hickory Grove at Cary Academy; Durham Academy bye; Saint Mary’s at North Raleigh Christian; Charlotte Country Day bye; Village Christian at Charlotte Christian
Friday's quarterfinals: Charlotte Latin vs Ravenscroft; Cary Academy vs. Covenant Day; Durham Academy vs North Raleigh Christian; Charlotte Christian vs Charlotte Country Day
Semiinals: Charlotte Latin vs Cary Academy; Charlotte Country Day vs NRCA
Finals: Charlotte Latin defeats Charlotte Country Day
2A
1st round: St. David’s bye; Halifax Academy at Caldwell Academy; Cary Christian bye; Fayetteville Academy at Grace Christian; Durham Trinity bye; Calvary Baptist at Westminister Catawba; Asheville Christian bye; First Assembly at Davidson Day
Friday's quarterfinals: St. David’s vs. Caldwell Academy; Grace Christian vs Cary Christian; Durham Trinity vs Calvary Baptist; Davidson Day vs Asheville Christian atin
Semifinals: St. David's vs Cary Christian; Calvary Baptist vs Asheville Christian
Finals: St. David's defeats Calvary Baptist
1A
Tuesday's 1st round: Shannon Forest bye; Pungo Christian at Wayne Country Day; Statesville Christian bye; United Faith at Oakwood School; Hickory Christian; Community Christian at New Bern Epiphany; Freedom Christian bye; Lee Christian at Durham Cresset
Friday's quarterfinals: Shannon Forest vs Wayne Country Day; Oakwood School vs. Statesville Christian; Hickory Christian vs. Epiphany School; Freedom Christian vs Cresset Christian
Semifinals: Shannon Forest vs Oakwood School; Epiphany School vs Freedom Christian
Finals: Shannon Forest defeats Ephiphany School

Boys soccer
3A, 2A, 1A Finals are Saturday at Charlotte Latin
1A is at J. Burt Gillette Complex in Wilson Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
2A is at Westchester Country Day School Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
3A is at Ravenscroft Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

3A
1st round: High Point Wesleyan (bye); Arden Christ School at Covenant Day; Charlotte Providence Day (bye), High Point Christian at Forsyth Country Day; Charlotte Latin (bye); Cary Academy at Ravenscroft; Greensboro Day (bye); Charlotte Country Day at North Raleigh Christian
Quarterfinals: Arden Christ at High Point Wesleyan; Forsyth Country Day at Charlotte Providence Day; Ravenscroft at Charlotte Latin; Charlotte Country Day at Greensboro Day
Semifinals: Wesleyan Christian vs. Charlotte Country Day; Ravenscroft vs Greensboro Day
Finals: Wesleyan Christian defeast Greensboro Day
2A
1st round: Fayetteville Academy (bye); Carolina Day at Southern Pines O’Neal; Caldwell Academy (bye); Cary Christian at High Point Westchester Country Day; Durham Carolina Friends (bye); Coastal Christian vs. First Assembly; Kerr-Vance Academy (bye); Asheville Christian at Gaston Day School
Quarterfinals: Carolina Day at Fayetteville Academy; Cary Christian at Caldwell Academy; First Assembly at Carolina Friends; Asheville Christian at Kerr-Vance
Semifinals: Fayetteville Academy vs. Caldwell Academy; Durham Carolina Friends vs. Kerr-Vance Academy
Finals: Fayetteville Academy defeats Carolina Friends
1A
1st round: Lee Christian at Raleigh Trinity; New Bern Epiphany (bye); Statesville Christian at Ridgecroft; Wilson Greenfield (bye); Cape Fear Christian at Community Christian; Hickory Christian (bye); Shannon Forest at Wayne Country Day
Quarterfinals: Raleigh Trinity at Sanford Grace; Ridgecroft a New Bern Epiphay; Community Christian at Wilson Greenfield; Shannon Forest at Hickory
Semifinals: Sanford Grace Christian vs. Ridgecroft School; Wilson Greenfield vs. Hickory Christian
Finals: Greenfield defeats Sanford Grace

Final NCHSAA football playoff brackets posted

dclaybest — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:57:50 -0400

The NCHSAA has released the final brackets for the 2012 prep football playoffs. Analysis coming soon here.

Download the final brackets below

Josh Newkirk of Word of God commits to Pittsburgh

jmikeblake — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 01:31:55 -0400

Josh Newkirk of Word of God before last year's regular-season game against Ravenscroft. Staff Photo by Greg Mintel

With one tweet, Josh Newkirk announced that he'll be playing in the ACC.

"Officially committed to Pitt. Glad to be apart of the family #HailToPitt !!!"

While Newkirk will play his final high school season at Word of God, the Pittsburgh Panthers will play their final season in the Big East.

The point guard, who played his first season of high school basketball at Southeast Raleigh, led the Holy Rams (18-6) last year with 15.2 points per game.

He's rated a 3-star recruit by ESPN.com, which also lists him as the nation's 35th-best point guard and 8th-best player in North Carolina. Most recruiting sites say his decision was down to Pitt or Georgia Tech.

Southeast Raleigh High School to play in 2013 Kick-Off Classic event in Myrtle Beach

dclaybest — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:43:16 -0400

While practices for the 2012 high school football season are just getting to start today, Southeast Raleigh already had at least one 2013 date on its schedule.

First-year Bulldogs coach Marvin Burke said Monday that Southeast has agreed to play in the 2013 Derrick Law Firm Kick-Off Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Labor Day Weekend 2013.

The eight-team, four-game event will be held at Myrtle Beach High School, Aug. 30-31. On Aug. 30 (a Friday night), event host Myrtle Beach will meet Richmond County.

On Saturday of the weekend, Southeast, Wilmington New Hanover and Wilmington Hoggard will represent North Carolina in three games, opposing South Carolina’s Lexington Irmo, Conway and Northwestern Rock Hill.

Matchups between those teams will be determined after this season.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Burke said. “It’s a great opportunity for Southeast, one where we’ll represent Wake County and North Carolina in a great event. It’s something else we can look forward to next off-season as a real building block for our program.”

Northwestern was the 2010 South Carolina high school 4A-II champion and the state runner-up in 2009 and 2011. Myrtle Beach won state 3A titles in 2009 and 2011 and was the runner-up in 2010.

This year’s version of the even will feature the four South Carolina teams – Northwestern vs. Conway (5 p.m.) and Irmo vs. Myrtle Beach (8 p.m.) – in action on Aug. 25.

UPDATED Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League Baseball playoff results and schedule

dclaybest — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:01:21 -0400

The 2012 Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League playoffs are being held amid the thunderstorms this week. The schedule seen many revisions. Here's the latest one. The playoffs conclude tonight (Friday) at Lee County High School.
Friday's Semifinals
at Lee Senior High
Midway vs. Orange County, 2:30
Richmond County vs. West Johnston, 5
 Friday's Championship
at Lee Senior High
Game 15, 7:30: Semifinal winners meet
PREVIOUS RESULTS
Round of 16 Games
Bunn 4, Cleveland 1
Midway 8, Scotland County 6
Richmond County 10, Triton 0
Fuquay-Varina 7, Sanderson 4
Orange County 1, Wake Forest-Rolesville 0
Wilmington Ashley 2, South Central Pitt 0
West Johnston 4, Overhills 0
Middle Creek 3, Holly Springs 1
Quarterfinals 
Midway 3, Bunn 0
Richmond County 11, Wilmington Ashley 1
Orange County 9, Fuquay-Varina 5
West Johnston 6, Middle Creek 4
Friday's Semifinals
at Lee Senior High
Midway vs. Orange County, 2:30
Richmond County vs. West Johnston, 5
 Friday's Championship
at Lee Senior High
Game 15, 7:30: Semifinal winners meet

Rookie coach writes about his first season

timstevens — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 09:42:55 -0400

Kurt Ehlert is an orthopaedic surgeon, but last year he became a high school assistant football coach. An assistant football coach who knew little about coaching football and who coached kickers, although he knew nothing about kicking a football.
What he did know, though, was that he was interested in teaching and mentoring kids. Coaching seemed like a good fit and Steven Wright, who was starting his first season as the Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons High head coach, was a friend who was willing to let Ehlert join his staff.
Wright made one thing clear from the start. Wright views his coaching as building relationships with players and putting their needs first. Players need to be taught about things like discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, and perseverence. Every football player remembers his high school football coach, Wright told him. The staff’s goal is to make sure the players remember their coaches for the right things.
Ehlert kept a journal throughout the Crusaders’ 11-2 season. The expanded result of the journal is “Uprights,” his book about Gibbons’ season, coaching and the changes in his own life that came as a result of spending five months with a group of high school boys that was unified in a goal.
“What I found ... was that identifying, and understanding, the social interactions and emotions of the team (and the coaching staff for that matter) was a crucial part of a good coach’s job,” he writes. “... I am not a touchy-feely kind of guy ... but I got to appreciate these soft issues more and more as I matured a bit in my coaching development.”
Ehlert, who is a hospital emergency room surgeon in New Bern, will coach again this season. His duties have been expanded some to include some work with special teams, not just kickers.
He said the most frustrating moments in coaching last year were the times when he felt he had nothing to offer. But when he looks back on the season, he remembers the interaction with the players and the coaches. It was an honor to spend time with them, he said.
“I don’t recall the bad things easily -- the late Friday nights followed by too early Saturday mornings, the sweat and sticky heat of August, the shivering cold of Oxford in October,” he writes. “I can bring them to mind, but that isn’t what comes first. So, in my caveman orthopaedic surgeon brain, that means it was a good experience.”
The book is a good experience, too.
Contact: www.mifflinstreetpublishing.com.

"No legs, no problem" for former East Wake wrestler

timstevens — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:15:10 -0400

Lance Benson scrawled "No legs, no problem" across the front scrap of his wrestling helmet when he was a high school senior at East Wake High in 1991.

He still uses the same slogan, because, he said, it sums up his life very well.

"I have no legs, but that's not a problem," Benson said this week.

As his father Jerry Benson said in 1991, ""A closed mind is the biggest handicap anyone can have. Lance has overcome his disbelief."

Benson was born without legs, but became an outstanding high school wrestler, building a winning record at the Wendell school and claiming his weight classification title one year in the State Games of North Carolina.

Now a corporate real estate advisor in Miami, Benson still is doing amazing things. Propelling himself on a modified skateboard, he has completed more than 20 marathons with a career best time of 3 hours, 12 minutes.

He was involved in waters sports before attempting 5-kilometer road races. He signed up for a half marathon and discovered how much he enjoyed the competition. "Plus it was a great workout," he said.

Now he competes in marathons throughout the country. He wears heavy gloves and pushes himself along. He wrestled at 103 pounds years ago, but he is a muscle-filled 160 pounds today.

"I was really heavy into the weights for a while," he said. "But I do a lot more cross training now and I do yoga once a week to keep the flexibility."

Benson is an N.C. State graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering and received his Masters of Business Administration from Florida International. He is married with a 10 1/2 year old child and his wife is due again this month.

Years ago, Benson said, ""I don't wrestle to inspire people. I do it because I want to. It is my life and I want to do things"

He certainly has.

National Federation offers heat illness prevention course

timstevens — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:32:30 -0400

Heat illness prevention deservedly receives a great deal of attention each summer when high school football teams begin their official practice. This year high school football practice at N.C. High School Athletic Association schools officially begin Monday, July 30.

Most high school football teams have unofficial workouts throughout the summer, often during the worst heat of the year.

Athletic trainers are on hand for the many of the football workouts, but there still is danger of heat-related problems.

The National Federation of State High School Associations is providing a free on-line course: A Guide to Acclimatization and Heat Illness Prevention. (http://nfhslearn.com). The course helps parents, players and coaches recognize heat-related problems and plan safe workouts.

“Heat stroke is the leading cause of preventable death in high school athletics and results in thousands of emergency room visits and hospitalizations throughout the nation each year," said Tim Flannery, the NFHS director of coach education,

“Many times, deaths from heat strokes are preventable, and we believe this course can be just the tool that players, coaches and parents need to guard against serious illness or death.”

Frequent breaks are needed and fluid replacement is very important.

Early warning signs of heat-related illnesses include: exhaustion, headache, muscle cramping, dizziness, nausea, thirst and decreased athletic performance.

The National Federation also offers a free course on concussions at the same site.

American Legion Baseball playoffs begin Thursday

dclaybest — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 00:05:59 -0400

The American Legion Baseball playoffs begin Thursday across Eastern North Carolina with eight Triangle-area teams in action. The first-round best-of-three series continue through Saturday. All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted.

The Area I West Division first-round match-ups are:

(1) Raleigh Post 1 (12-5) vs. (4) Pittsboro (3-9)
(2) Apex Post 124 (9-5) vs. (3) Durham Post 7 (8-10)
(1) Johnston County Post 71 (16-4) vs. (4) Creedmoor (3-10) - Thursday at Smithfield-Selma High (7:30); Friday at South Granville; Saturday at Smithfield-Selma High
(3) Garner Post 232 (19-8) vs. (2) Cary Post 67 (8-9) - Friday at Cary High; Saturday at Garner; Sunday (if necessary) at Garner

The Area I East Division first-round match-ups are:

(1) Rocky Mount Post 58 (19-5) vs. (4) New Bern Post 24 (2-9)
(2) Wayne County Post 11 (9-5) vs. (3) Edenton Post 40 (5-9)
(1) Pitt County Post 39 (11-5) vs. (4) Ahoskie Post 102 (6-14)
(2) Wilson Post 13 (8-10) vs. (3) Kinston Post 43 (8-5)

Winners in the first-round series begin play in the second round, also best 2-of-3 on Monday night.

2012 N.C. Softball Coaches Association all-state team

jmikeblake — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:47:52 -0400

Several area players were named to the 2012 N.C. Softball Coaches Association all-state teams. Each classification has their own all-state team, with a player and pitcher of the year for the West and East.

We've attached the full list, and included Triangle-area players plus individual awards below.

Middle Creek's Allie Geiner was co-4A East player of the year, North Johnston's Ashleigh Mason (pictured right) was 2A East player of the year and Holly Springs' Erica Nunn was 4A East pitcher of the year.

1A
Chelsea Brewer, Chatham Central, senior 3B
Kelsey Hayes, Chatham Central, junior P
Cayley Oldham, Chatham Central, junior SS
Kayla Williamson, Chatham Central, junior OF
Jessica Cockman, Chatham Central, junior CF
Erin Sugg, Chatham Central junior C
Alex Schmid, NCSSM, senior C
Erin Mayo, NCSSM, junior P/U

1A Player of the Year- East
Lindsay Russell, Camden County
1A Pitcher of the Year- East
Meghan Johnson, East Montgomery
1A Player of the Year- West
Taylor Woods, West Wilkes
1A Pitcher of the Year- West
Steely Russell, South Stanly

2A
Logan Barefoot, Cedar Ridge, sophomore 2B
Aiyana Lew, Cedar Ridge, senior P
Nella Chamblee, Corinth-Holders, junior C
Taylor Creech, North Johnston, senior P
Ashleigh Mason, North Johnston, junior CF
Jamelynn Johnson, North Johnston, sophomore SS
Crystal Overcash, Northwood, senior SS
Kasey Newcomb, South Granville, junior P
Jenna Davis, South Granville, junior 1B

2A Player of the Year- East
Ashleigh Mason, North Johnston
2A Pitcher of the Year- East
Summer Darnell, Topsail
2A Player of the Year- West
Taylor Burkhalter, East Burke
2A Pitcher of the Year- West
Carley Tysinger, Central Davidson

3A
Brittany Bucklin, Cleveland, sophomore 3B
Kaitlyn Cowell, Cleveland, junior 2B
Morgan Davis, J.F. Webb, senior P/1B
Kali Puckett, J.F. Webb, junior SS
Mackenzie Cates, Orange, sophomore C
Kerri Roberts, Triton, senior SS/ UT
Tyler Ross, Union Pines, junior LF

3A Player of the Year- East
Meredith Burroughs, C.B. Aycock
3A Pitcher of the Year- East
Maryann Hoskins, Havelock
3A Player of the Year- West
Merritt Wilkinson, Western Alamance
3A Pitcher of the Year- West
Lexi Shubert, Fred T. Foard

4A
Lindsay Hodge, Apex sophomore P
Elizabeth Margagliotti, Apex, senior SS
Nicole Bond, Clayton, junior P
Alyssa White, Fuquay-Varina, senior C
Hannah Wallace, Fuquay-Varina, senior 3B
Lexi Ross, Green Hope, junior C
Erica Nunn, Holly Springs, senior P
Jenna Firestein, Holly Springs, senior CF
Chandler Patterson, Lee County, sophomore SS
Nikki Hoover, Lee County, junior C
Allison Geiner, Middle Creek, senior OF
Megan Walker, Middle Creek, freshman OF
Mary Lynn Burton, Person, senior P
Brittany Dahle, Wake Forest-Rolesville, junior P
Christina Gower, West Johnston, junior P
Megan Gibbons, West Johnston, junior SS
Danielle Myers, West Johnston, junior C

4A Co-Players of the Year- East
Drew Dickson, Ashley
Allison Geiner, Middle Creek
4A Pitcher of the Year- East
Erica Nunn, Holly Springs
4A Player of the Year- West
Taylor Wikerson, Alexander Central
4A Pitcher of the Year- West
Lexi Davis, Porter Ridge

All-state regional baseball coaches

timstevens — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:51:34 -0400

N.C. Baseball Coaches Association regional coaches of the year, 2012

2012 Regional Coaches of the Year

Region 1 – Hank Tice Riverside Martin

Region 2 – Jack Brown Dixon

Region 3 – Jeremy Thompson Middle Creek

Region 4 – Brett Harwood Whiteville

Region 5 – Alan Plaster East Forsyth

Region 6 – Terry Tucker South Stanly

Region 7 – Mike Herndon Davie County

Region 8 – Mark Cooke Hendersonville

2012 North Carolina Player of the Year

Corey Seager – Northwest Cabarrus

2012 N.C. Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams

timstevens — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:36:00 -0400

N.C. Baseball Coaches Association All-State teams 2012

ALL-STATE

1. Trevor Pence New Bern POY Mideastern

2. Matthew Parrish West Johnson POY Greater Neuse

3. Curt Britt Scotland POY Southeastern

4. Wood Myers Jordan POY PAC-6

5. Will Gilbert Green Hope POY Tri-Nine

6. Vance Vizciano Wakefield POY Cap Eight

7. Tommy Marshall Southern Alamance POY Metro 7

8. Matt Orth Southwest Guilford POY Piedmont Triad

9. Corey Randall Davie County POY Central Piedmont

10. Trent Thornton Ardrey Kell POY Southwestern

11. Mike Herbert Providence POY Southwestern

12. Ryan Ryder North Mecklenberg POY I-Meck

13. Matt Profitt Watauga POY Northwestern

14. Michael Downing Terry Sanford POY Mid-South

15. Alex Raburn Durham Jordan

16. Brad Stone Ardrey Kell

17. Landon Lassiter North Davidson

18. Chance Shepard Ashley

19. Keaton Haack NW Guilford

20. Jackson Campana Providence

21. Garrett Suggs Fuquay-Varina

22. Corey Kimber Dudley

23. Jimmy Boyd Middle Creek

24. Ty Buttrey Providence 25. Dylan Ward East Forsyth

26. Matt Eddy Pinecrest

27. Ryan Foster Davie County

28. Matt Tenuta Apex

29. Brandon Gragilla Hough

30. Johnny Piedmonte Hough

4A Player of the Year – Curt Britt Scotland County

1. Harry Ferrguson Currituck POY Northeastern Coastal

2. Davis Kilpatrick DH Conley POY Coastal

3. Jacob Page Hunt POY Big East

4. Chastin Radford North Lenoir POY Eastern Carolina

5. Max Shrock Card Gibbons POY Carolina

6. Nick Collins Union Pines POY Cape Fear

7. Scott Ellington Williams POY Mid State

8. Jailyn Davis NE Guilford POY Mid Piedmont

9. Sean Grant West Iredell POY North Piedmont

10. Corey Seager NW Cabarrus POY South Piedmont

11. Alec Bostwick Weddington POY Southern Carolina

12. Tyler Chadwick Marvin Ridge POY Southern Carolina

13. Eddie Hull Charlotte Cath POY Mega 7

14. Nick Triplett Crest POY Big South

15. Davis Hanvey Hickory POY Northwestern

16. Dustin Greene Burns POY South Mountain Ath

17. Colby Fox No Buncombe POY Mountain Ath

18. Rob Howard Tuscola POY WNC

19. Markel Jones West Brunswick

20. Brody Koener JM Robinson

21. Reily Hovis Forest View

22. Nick Monroe Eastern Alamance

23. Nick Debo Orange

24. DC Arendas Northern Guilford

25. Jeremy Schellhorn Weddington

26. Zach Mozingo Eastern Wayne

27. Kevin Wise Southern Wayne

3A- Player of the Year - Corey Seager – Northwest Cabarrus

1. Trent Hansley Topsail POY East Central

2. Chad Briley No Pitt POY Eastern Plains

3. Clay Lockamon Roanoke Rapids POY Northern Carolina

4. Matt Fuhr South Granville POY Carolina 12

5. Matt Lowry No Brunswick POY Waccamaw

6. Alex Britt Fairmont POY 3 Rivers

7. Christian Snyder Providence Grove POY Mid-State

8. Dylan Richardson Randleman POY Pac-6

9. Tyler Stroup East Davidson POY Central Carolina

10. Jake Walser West Davidson POY Central Carolina

11. Colby Barnette Piedmont POY Rocky River

12. Addison Parrish East Lincoln POY Southern Piedmont

13. Hunter Harvey Bandys POY Catawba Valley

14. Blaine Durham West Stokes POY Northwest

15. Stefan Susi Wilkes Central POY Mountain Valley

16. Roberto Taft Polk POY Western Highlands

17. Hunter Donaldson No Henderson POY WNC Athletic

18. Hunter Smith Surry Central

19. Cameron Tekker Cuthbertson

20. John Mangum Cuthbertson

21. Ridge Beheler East Rutherford

22. Lucas Owens East Rutherford

23. Bryant Battle North Pitt

24. Chance DuCharme First Flight

25. Joel Booker Polk

26. Andrew Webster Northwood

27. Zack Cooper South Granville

28. Cody Trogdon Randleman

29. Easton Welch Randleman

30. Hunter Smith Whiteville

31. Nathan Hood Whiteville

32. Kyland Tyler Whiteville

2A Player of the Year- Matt Lowry - North Brunswick

1. Terrence Jackson Creswell POY Tideland

2. Austin Freese Perquimans POY Four Rivers

3. Jonathan Hayes Gates County POY Tar-Roanoke

4. Austin Benson Southwest Onslow POY Coastal Plains

5. Matt Sugg Ayden-Grifton POY Carolina

6. Chad Sykes Voyager Academy POY Carolina 12

7. Stephen Wallace South Stanly POY Yadkin Valley

8. Zach Wall Hayesville POY Smoky Mtn.

9. Jacob Rhodes Hiwassee Dam POY Smoky Mtn.

10. Jackson Reister Mitchell POY Western Highland

11. Russ Weiker South Stanly

12 Grayson Short South Stanly

13. Jordan Starnes South Stanly

14. Samuel Linn Hendersonville

15. J. P. Lisk South Stanley

16. Will Sheppard West Wilkes

17. Hunter Hamilton West Montgomery

18. Cody McKenzie West Montgomery

19. Loy Stone Voyager Academy

20. Brett Godwin Midway

21. Riley Baggett Midway

22. Brandon Marsh Northside

23. Hunter Early Manteo

24. J. P. Padgett Dixon

25. Matt Rouse Dixon

26. Will Gurganus Riverside

27. Tyler Woodhouse Camden

1A Player of the Year – Stephen Wallace South Stanly

Smith is new Garner AD; will leave football after 2012 season

timstevens — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:03:39 -0400

Veteran Garner High football coach Nelson Smith is the new athletic director at the school and will step down from his football coaching duties after the 2012 season.

Smith is succeeding Dwight "Doc" Harrell as athletic director. Harrell is retiring.

Smith came to Garner as an assistant football coach under Hal Stewart in 1983 and succeeded Smith as head coach in 2000.

Garner principal Drew Cook said Smith would have a busy fall with his new AD duties, football and as serving as the North Carolina coach for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

"He is going to be a very busy man for the next six months or so," Cook said. "But we are excited to have a person with the respect, knowledge and connections that Coach Smith has in the area and across the state

"Fortunately, he doesn't have to right the ship, because Doc Harrell has done a tremendous job as athletic director and leaves the program in very good shape."

Green Hope, Cardinal Gibbons, Carrboro and NCSSM win NCHSAA Wachovia Cups

jmikeblake — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:38:39 -0400

Wells Fargo, along with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, today announced the final standings in the Wells Fargo Cup competitions for the 2011-12 academic year.

It was nearly a Triangle sweep. Green Hope won 4A, Cardinal Gibbons won 3A, Carrboro won 2A and N.C. Science & Math tied for first in 1A.

The Wells Fargo Cup, formerly known as the Wachovia Cup, is sponsored by Wells Fargo and the NCHSAA. The award recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance within each of the state’s four competitive classifications.

Wells Fargo Cup points are determined by a system based on performance in state championship events. All schools that finish in the top eight positions (plus ties) earn points. In the playoff events involving teams from more than one classification, Wells Fargo Cup points are awarded based on the school’s standing against other schools in its own classification. If fewer then eight schools from a classification compete in a sport, only those schools that are represented are eligible to receive the Cup points.

Points are awarded for all sports as follows: 50 for first, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fifth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth. In the event of a tie, the schools receive an equal number of points based on the number of teams that tie and the number of teams that finish higher in the standings. Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school competes.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
FINAL WELLS FARGO CUP STANDINGS 2011-12

1-A CLASSIFICATION
SCHOOL             POINTS
1. Kernersville Bishop McGuinness       527.5
N.C. School of Science and Math     527.5
3. Lake Norman Charter         447.5
4. Hendersonville           432.5
5. Monroe            325
6. West Wilkes            320
7. Raleigh Charter           302.5
8. North Rowan           252.5
9. Riverside (Martin)           242.5
10. Ayden-Grifton            227.5
11. North Stokes           215
12. Thomas Jefferson Classical       207.5
13. Mount Airy           197.5
   Misenheimer Gray Stone Day       197.5
15. Elkin             195

2-A CLASSIFICATION
SCHOOL             POINTS
1. Carrboro            602.5
2. Shelby              415
3. Waxhaw Cuthbertson         400
4. Salisbury             370
5. North Lincoln           362.5
6. Burlington Cummings         350
7. Wilson Beddingfield         307.5
8. Cedar Ridge         282.5
9. Northwood         255
10. Kill Devil Hills First Flight       242.5
11. Kinston              237.5
12. Newton-Conover           222.5
13. Swansboro             220
14. West Davidson           210
15. West Stokes           207.5

3-A CLASSIFICATION
SCHOOL             POINTS
1. Cardinal Gibbons        775
2. Waxhaw Marvin Ridge         642.5
3. Charlotte Catholic           575
4. Chapel Hill             435
5. Northern Guilford           347.5
6. Weddington             305
7. Asheville             280
8. Hickory               277.5
9.  North Buncombe           272.5
10. Rocky Mount              245
11. Orange             240
12. Burlington Walter Williams       235
13. West Carteret           222.5
14. Pikeville Charles B. Aycock       220
15. Berry Academy           217.5

4-A CLASSIFICATION
SCHOOL             POINTS
1. Green Hope        510
2. Charlotte Myers Park         400
3. Broughton           377.5
4. Cornelius W.A. Hough         357.5
5. Charlotte Ardrey Kell         355
6. Southern Pines Pinecrest         345
7. Lake Norman           292.5
8. Pfafftown Ronald Reagan        285
9. Charlotte Providence         275
10. Wakefield         270
11. Millbrook           260
12. Apex             255
13. Winston-Salem Mount Tabor       242.5
14. Watauga             237.5
15. East Chapel Hill           227.5

Girl golfer that beat Simpson was really good

timstevens — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:49:32 -0400

Adrienne Millican, a girls golfer that beat U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson in match play in 2001, was an exceptional golfer who later won the N.C. Women' Amateur championship.

Millican won the N.C. High School Athletic Association girls championship in 1999 and went on to win five college tournament titles while playing at East Carolina. She was named to the Conference USA all-decade team.

She also won the N.C. Amateur in 2006. She had a career best round of 66 in a junior tournament and has shot 68 a few times.

Millican was playing with the Harnett Central High boys team during Simpson's freshman year at Broughton. He was paired against her on the Carolina Country Club course for match play and both of them played from the same tees.

"That was so long ago that I don't remember anything about the match except that I had never seen the course before and that I was the only one on our team that won a match that day," said Millican, who celebrated her one-year anniversary yesterday and is now Adrienne Millican Matthews.

She said she wasn't a long hitter in those days and often had to hit fairway woods to the green. "I had a good shot game and putted well," she said.

Millican played on the boys team her junior and senior seasons at Harnett Central.

She said she remembered Simpson has being very friendly and nice. She said she had kept up a little bit with Simpson's golfing career and knew he had a great career at Wake Forest University.

She is now a Language Arts teacher at Harnett Central Middle School and coaches the golf team.

Class of 2012 Triangle college commits

jmikeblake — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:22:52 -0400

Below is a list of area athletes who have committed to play a sport in college. Some of these athletes signed their national letter-of-intent in the fall. Certain sports, like football and boys soccer, prohibit the athlete from signing a letter-of-intent until the first Wednesday in February.

Click on the "recruiting" tag above to see more N&O blogs on recruiting.

Last update: June 18

Apex
Katie Burnet, girls lacrosse, Longwood
Mitch DeForest, boys swimming, UNC-Chapel Hill
Jake Fegely, boys lacrosse, Wingate
Megan Gravley, volleyball, Elon
Alex Herbst, boys soccer, Appalachian State
Harrison Hodge, boys soccer, Greensboro College
Kyle May, baseball, Louisburg Junior College
Lizzie Margagliotti, softball, Morehead State
Alexis Murphy, girls track & field, South Carolina
Tyler Rogers, boys lacrosse, Queens University of Charlotte
Logan Rohde, boys soccer, Greensboro College
Meghan Poirier, girls soccer, James Madison
Markey Studnicky, girls soccer, Western Carolina
Hannah Snyder, girls swimming, Towson
Matt Tenuta, baseball, N.C. State
Katie Thomas, girls soccer, UNC-Charlotte
Hayley Tomlinson, girls swimming, N.C. State
Ali White, volleyball, Utah Valley

Athens Drive
Tyler Agiovlassitis, boys soccer, Limestone (SC)
Jason Curfman, boys soccer, Greensboro College
Mike Estes, football, Gardner-Webb
Daniel Hughey, boys lacrosse, Guilford College
Brandon Lohmiller, boys lacrosse, Limestone (SC)
Kevin Vincent, boys track & field, N.C. Central

Broughton
Elizabeth Bialkowski, volleyball, Queens University of Charlotte
Jabari Crenshaw, football, Wingate
Drew Davis, football, N.C. State
Austen Johnson, boys lacrosse, Bridgewater (VA)
Sarah King, girls tennis, Appalachian State
Chris Mangus, football, Virginia Tech
Everett McCord, boys soccer, Lehigh
Justin Moore, boys lacrosse, Emmanuel (MA)
C.J. Tikvart, boys soccer, Davidson
Clay Weaver, girls soccer, Richmond
Eric West, boys soccer, Lafayette

Bunn
Marisa Bellamy, girls track & field, South Carolina

Cardinal Gibbons
Carolyn Albright, volleyball, William & Mary
Lauren Brooker, girls tennis, Virginia Wesleyan
Maddi Bugg, volleyball, Stanford
Matt Daly, boys tennis, College of Charleston
Eleanor Derouin, volleyball, Navy
Caitlyn Donovan, girls soccer, UNC-Charlotte
Kevin Dougherty, boys soccer, Belmont-Abbey
Luke Enzweiler, boys lacrosse, Rutgers
Ben Huger, boys lacrosse, VMI
C.J. Miller, boys soccer, Winthrop
Tim Nalesnik, football, Wingate
Victoria Phillips, volleyball, UNC-Wilmington
Connor Prevost, boys lacrosse, Navy
Chris Shannon, boys soccer, Elon
Max Shrock, baseball, South Carolina
Matthew Skowron, football, Princeton
Alex Taylor, volleyball, N.C. State
Monica Trickett, girls soccer, UNC-Charlotte
Hunter Tyson, girls lacrosse, Lynchburg (VA)
Satchel Wiltshire, boys soccer, USC-Upstate
Lauren Willoughby, volleyball, King College (TN)
Tyler Zimmerman, boys soccer, Catholic University (D.C.)

Carolina Friends
Zoe Vernon, girls basketball, Winthrop

Carrboro
Samantha Burch, girls soccer, Elon
Neela Mahanty, field hockey, Penn
Francesca Perone, girls track & field, MIT
Jack Snyder, boys lacrosse, Kenyon (OH)
Kylie Tawney, girls soccer, Clemson

Cary
Joel Ahearne-Ray, boys soccer, Rensselaer (NY) Polytechnic Institute
John Allen, boys lacrosse, Limestone (SC) College
Ryan Beeler, football, Campbell
Patrick Ebbs, boys soccer, Concord (WV)
Sarah Henry, equestrian, South Carolina
Erin Harwood, volleyball, Fairmont State (WV)
Nikki Hoff, girls soccer, Queens College of Charlotte
Sarah Jabusch, girls swimming, Campbell
Tony Sanchez, baseball, Brunswick CC
Zack Sowers, boys swimming, UNC-Wilmington

Cary Academy
Sydney Branson, girls soccer, Clemson
Thomas Graham, cross country, Stanford
Noah Greenblatt, baseball, Mary Washington (VA)
Tyler Holt, baseball, Louisburg Junior College
Haleigh Morgus, girls tennis, Loyola Maryland
Andrew Park, boys soccer, Johns Hopkins
Tyler Powell, field hockey, UNC-Chapel Hill
Keenan Szulik, baseball, Amherst (MA)

Cary Christian
Dakota Dukes, girls basketball, Davidson
Mary-Katelyn Holonek, girls golf, Campbell
Chris Thomas, boys basketball, Francis Marion (SC)

Cedar Ridge
Fred Blanks, football, Campbell
Casey Ward, girls golf, High Point

Chapel Hill
Jessica Barfield, field hockey, Dartmouth
Roscoe Burnette, football, NC Wesleyan
Montrell Carty, football, NC Central
Joey Duronio, boys swimming, Kenyon College (OH)
Denzel Ingram, boys basketball, Charlotte
Allie Krasnov, girls swimming, Loyola (MD)
Katelyn Layden, volleyball, Campbell
Mitch McLeod, cross country, Appalachian State
Alexa Mendes, girls swimming, Duke
Mark Morton, boys lacrosse, Berry College (GA)
R.J. Quick, football, Winston-Salem State
Lydia Renn, girls swimming, College of Charleston
Liza Schimmelfing, volleyball, Queens College of Charlotte
Lila Scott, girls basketball, Guilford College
Amoris Thompson, football, NC Wesleyan
Hunter Tyson, girls lacrosse, Queens College of Charlotte
Aaron Weber, boys tennis, Elon
Katy Weinberg, equestrian, Davidson
Paul Whitford, boys lacrosse, Queens College of Charlotte
Haley Wilson, girls lacrosse, Queens College of Charlotte
Stephen Winsor, boys lacrosse, UMBC

Clayton
Evan Phillips, baseball, UNC-Wilmington
Daiquan Thomasson, football, Navy

Durham Academy
Shannon Cleaver, girls soccer, N.C. State
Lauren Rogers, field hockey, Wake Forest
AnneMarie Thomas, volleyball, Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ)

East Chapel Hill
Hanna Gardner, girls soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill
Bill Heine, football, Georgetown
Charles Retter, diving, N.C. State

East Wake
Jonathan Aparicio, baseball, East Carolina
Macon Crowder, boys swimming, East Carolina
Azzam Dhamra, boys soccer, Mount Olive
Jerry Goodson, football, Lenior-Rhyne College
Griffin Heffner, boys soccer, Penn
Randolph Johnson, football, Tusculum
Jonathan Waszak, baseball, Western Carolina
Macon Watkins, boys soccer, Mount Olive

Enloe
Jonathan Addison, boys track & field, N.C. State
Dana Brown, girls basketball, UNC-Wilmington
Taylor Brown, girls soccer, Meredith
Joe Brunk, boys swimming, Denison (OH)
Faison Mann, boys soccer, West Alabama
Mike Paye, boys soccer, Creighton
Julie Woody, girls swimming, Savannah College of Art and Design

Franklinton
Nichole Poppe, girls soccer, Gardner-Webb

Friendship Christian
Chad Yanez, boys soccer, Columbia International (SC)

Fuquay-Varina
Elaine Barnes, girls soccer, Mount Olive College
Kyle Boraski, baseball, Winston-Salem State
Addison Braswell, baseball, N.C. State
Brian Davis, boys track & field, N.C. State
James Daughtery, boys lacrosse, Bridgewater (VA)
Tyson Fernandez, football, Appalachian State
Adrian Gonzales, boys soccer, Louisburg JC
Jessi Johnson, volleyball, Meredith
Cameron Mulvey, boys soccer, Campbell
Danielle Plante, volleyball, Mount Olive
Hannah Rembach, girls soccer, Urbana University (OH)
Cole Schwietering, boys soccer, UNC-Asheville
Andrew Sotak, boys soccer, UNC-Asheville
Andrew Starnes, boys soccer, VMI
Chris Williams, baseball, Louisburg Junior College

Garner
Steven Brown, football, Methodist
Demetrius Fairley, football, Gardner-Webb
Alec Hulmes, football, Samford University
Tyler Marshburn, baseball, Louisburg Junior College
Greg Milhouse, football, Appalachian State
Tavis Mitchell, football, N.C. Central
Juwan Moye, football, Fayetteville State
Cameron Redd, boys basketball, Catawba Valley CC
Dominique Reed, boys basketball, Mount Olive
Maylon Rowland, football, St. Augustine's
Aquail Sanderson, baseball, Shaw
Deshawn Stabler, boys basketball, Catawba Valley CC
Trey Thompson, baseball, East Carolina

Grace Christian - Raleigh
Keerthi Boru, boys basketball, Carnigie Mellon
Anna Green, girls basketball, Emory & Henry

Granville Central
Martin Alston, boys basketball, William Peace University
Briana Haith, girls track & field, South Carolina
Tevin Hester, boys track & field, Clemson
Jaimie Jordan, softball, North Carolina A&T
Keyante Lindsey, boys basketball, Averett University (VA)

Green Hope
Sarah Alexander, girls cross country, UNC-Wilmington
Erica Amatori, girls cross country, William & Mary
Alec Baulch, boys soccer, Methodist College
Miles Brown, boys track & field, UNC-Asheville
Alex Conwell, boys basketball, Randolph College (VA)
Indi Cowie, girls soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill
Chris Flemmings, boys basketball, Barton College
Kristen Gaffney, girls basketball, Vanderbilt
Will Gilbert, baseball, N.C. State
Daniel Glover, boys cross country, UNC-Pembroke
John Hardin, boys basketball, William Peace University
Claire Nobles, girls swimming, Dusquense
Kaitlin Quinn, volleyball, Campbell
Haley Patsey, girls soccer, East Carolina
Jessi Rossabi, girls cross country, East Carolina
Cyndey Smith, girls soccer, Campbell
Morgan Stevenson, boys soccer, Greensboro College
Will Thomas, boys golf, UNC-Greensboro
*Ryan Thompson, boys soccer, Duke
Christina Vucich, volleyball, Duke
Shewit Wendelese, girls cross country, East Carolina

Harnett Central
Nathan Laing, football, Georgia Southern

Hillside
Collyn Anderson, football, Gardner-Webb
Kevin Cousins, football, North Carolina A&T
Dylan Davis, football, West Virginia Wesleyan
Daniel Jordan, football, UNC-Charlotte
Aaron Krah, football, Appalachian State
Anthony Mangum, football, North Carolina A&T
Jamal Marcus, football, Ohio State
Lamonte Melvin, football, Fayetteville State
Casey Perry, football, UNC-Charlotte
Lee Williams, football, Fayetteville State
Ronald Witherspoon, football, N.C. Wesleyan
Kelvin Wright, football, Hampton

Holly Springs
Markez Davis, football, Air Force
Bobby Gazak, football, Campbell
Jenna Firestein, softball, NW Florida Junior College
Brandon Jones, football, Campbell
Hannah Lamb, girls lacrosse, Campbell
Cameron Martin, girls swimming, James Madison
Erica Nunn, softball, South Florida
Joey Roach, baseball, Georgia State
Jake Stone, boys golf, King College (TN)
Von Williams, football, Campbell

Jordan
Amir Abdullah, boys lacrosse, Ohio Valley
Jeff Clark, football, UNC-Pembroke
Joaquin Del Rosario, boys soccer, N.C. State
Nick Drew, football, Campbell
Sam Lindsey, boys lacrosse, Marquette
Rachel McGirt, girls basketball, UNC-Asheville
Alexis Perry, girls track & field, N.C. State
Alex Raburn, baseball, UNC-Chapel Hill
Greyson Ray, girls soccer, UNC-Wilmington
Sydney Sawaya, girls soccer, N.C. State
Phillip Williamson, football, UNC-Chapel Hill

Knightdale
Dane Famiglietta, boys soccer, Greensboro College
Craig Gage, boys soccer, Greensboro College
C.J. Moose, softball, UNC-Wilmington

Lee County
Nick Durazo, baseball, East Carolina
Brady Heath, boys soccer, Methodist College

Leesville Road
Sarah Floyd, girls soccer, Appalachian State
Krystal Garbarino, girls swimming, Denison (OH)
Caroline Gentry, girls soccer, N.C. State
Courtney Johnson, girls soccer, Army
Hannah Lincoln, girls swimming, UNC-Chapel Hill
Grayson Murray, boys golf, Wake Forest

Lighthouse Home School
Michelle Hovey, volleyball, UNC-Charlotte

Millbrook
Elizabeth Bialkowski, volleyball, Millbrook
Matt DeGraffinreed, football, Western Carolina
Eli Dodgson, boys lacrosse, Mount Olive
Samantha George, cross country, N.C. State
Taylor Houston, girls basketball, Bethune-Cookman
Kyle Margosian, boys lacrosse, Messiah College (PA)
Keith Marshall, football, Georgia
Awele Nweze, volleyball, Miami
Alex Olofson, boys soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill
Landon Pope, boys lacrosse, Guilford College
Brett Villena, boys lacrosse, Randolph College (VA)

Middle Creek
Josh Banks, football, Wake Forest
Jimmy Boyd, baseball, Brunswick CC
Allison Geiner, softball, UNC-Greensboro
Nicole Giamber, girls swimming, N.C. State
Brandon Hooks, boys basketball, Barton College
Mary Johnston, girls basketball, Oglethorpe University (GA)
Kevin Jones, football, Georgia Military College
DaJon Montague, football, St. Augustine’s
Jon Moore, football and boys basketball, Wingate
Jasmine Shaw, girls basketball, Wake Tech CC
Ty Unger, boys soccer, Valparaiso
Darius Wilkins, football, Old Dominion
Marvin Wilson, boys basketball, Ferrum College (VA)

N.C. Science & Math
Richard Lu, boys track & field, MIT
Ada Taylor, volleyball, MIT

Neuse Baptist
Terry Henderson Jr., boys basketball, West Virginia

Northern Durham
Caleb Hawkins, football, Western Carolina
Sam Murray, boys basketball, William Peace University

Northwood
Brianna Greene, girls basketball, Averett University (VA)
Kerri Snipes, girls basketball, St. Andrews College
Blake Svendson, boys soccer, Gardner-Webb
John Wieland, boys basketball, Mount Olive
Shelby Wolfe, girls basketball, Brevard

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/05/31/2102285/aycock-seeks-baseball-softball.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy

Panther Creek
Jasmine Aguinaldo, volleyball, Meredith
Dan Beilinson, football, Duke
Maddie Bisantz, girls soccer, Radford
Kristin Connors, girls swimming, N.C. State
Dana Cox, cross country, Appalachian State
Kennedy Garrett, girls soccer, UNC-Asheville
Emily Hendricks, volleyball, Meredith
Joshua Hong, boys soccer, Johns Hopkins
Asyia Mitchell, girls soccer, Radford
Noah Parson, boys lacrosse, Vassar College (NY)
Jamel Ross, football, UNC-Charlotte
Jacob Sears, boys cross country, William & Mary
Kayla Seymour, girls basketball, UM-Baltimore County
Henriette Stenkvist, girls swimming, Southern Cal
Claire Wach, girls lacrosse, Lenior-Rhyne
Matt Williams, football, Davidson
Jake Wimberly, boys soccer, Lees-McRae College
Thomas Young, baseball, Western Carolina

Raleigh Charter
Joe Bonk, boys swimming, Virginia Tech

Ravenscroft
Melissa Funsten, field hockey, Davidson
Scott Goldcott, boys lacrosse, Mars Hill
Madison Jones, boys basketball, Wake Forest
Caroline Lindquist, girls soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill
Caroline Margolis, girls lacrosse, Boston College
Taylor Newcomb, girls soccer, UNC-Greensboro

Riverside
Nicole Anderson, girls soccer, UNC-Charlotte
Maddie McCallie, girls basketball, Miami of Ohio
Kelsey Rothwell, girls soccer, Barton College
Kira Speer, volleyball, South Carolina

Saint Mary's
Sarah Scott, field hockey, Miami of Ohio

Sanderson
Dylan Ejlali, boys soccer, N.C. State
Desmond Owino, football, N.C. State
Nicholas Williams, boys soccer, UNC-Chapel Hill

Smithfield-Selma
Tyler Casselbury, baseball, Danville Area CC

South Granville
Zack Cooper, baseball, Wake Tech CC
Adam Daniel, baseball, Mars Hill
Matt Fuhr, baseball, William & Mary

South Johnston
Alex Barbour, football, Averett University (VA)
Brandon Beasley, football, Tusculum College (TN)
Chris Crumity, football, Fayetteville State
Joel Watson, football, North Carolina A&T

Southeast Raleigh
Quentin Atkinson, football, Georgia Military
Dolphus Pearson, football, Morgan State
Sumner Tate, football, Louisburg College
David Washington, football, Old Dominion

Southern Durham
Dorian Belcher, football, North Carolina A&T
Lian Fleming, football, Ferrum College
Lee Harley, football, Georgia Military
Jemiah Johnson, football, St. Augustine’s
Micah Martin, football, N.C. Central
Reggie Prince, football, North Carolina A&T
Jeremy Thompson, football, N.C. Central

Upper Room Academy
Rodney Purvis, boys basketball, N.C. State

Wake Christian
Tyler Renfroe, football, Campbell

Wake Forest-Rolesville
Corey Brookins, baseball, UNC-Pembroke
Sam Culbertson, girls soccer, Cape Fear CC
Katie Davis, girls basketball, Anderson (SC)
Xavier Gill, football, Lenoir-Rhyne
Will Perry, boys basketball, Lenoir-Rhyne
Seth Poole, boys soccer, N.C. State
Phil Seamster, boys soccer, Mount Olive

Wakefield
Matt Anderson, football, Layfayette
Grace Cho, volleyball, Purdue
Alex Eiden, boys swimming, South Carolina
Ariah Graham, girls track & field, N.C. State
Christopher Hawley, boys lacrosse, Lynchburg College (VA)
Lauren Hudson, girls basketball, Elon
Kiera Molloy, girls swimming, Duke
Michelle Oestreich, girls soccer, N.C. State
Alex Puszcynksi, girls soccer, Old Dominion
Madison Shaw, girls soccer, N.C. State
Vance Vizcaino, baseball, Tennessee

West Johnston
Scarlett Beamon, girls track & field, UNC-Asheville
Dakota Foskey, girls track & field, UNC-Wilmington
Marquel Gathers, football, Fayetteville State
Jeremy Gower, cross country, UNC-Asheville
Andrew Henry, boys swimming, Eastern Michigan
Lauren Pollard, girls track & field, UNC-Charlotte

*a junior who will complete coursework to graduate one year early

Josh Hamilton on Sports Illustrated cover

timstevens — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:27:34 -0400

Texas Rangers centerfielder Josh Hamilton will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. The Raleigh Athens Drive High graduate is the subject of a story entitled “The Fragile Brilliance of Josh Hamilton.”
This is the second SI cover appearance for Hamilton, who was on the cover four years ago. Seven Rangers have been on the cover, but Hamilton and Nolan Ryan are the only ones to make it twice.
"Hopefully they did a good job with the story," Hamilton told. Fox Sports Southwest. "I spent an hour and a half with the guy. They talked to Katie [Hamilton's wife]. We had a message we wanted to get in there and get across, and hopefully it made it. It's always cool to be on the cover."
Hamilton is hitting .341 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI.
An excerpt from the story by S.L. Price:
“Yes, opposing fans will be screaming "Crackhead!" or "Have a drink on me" until the day Hamilton retires. But the general public's attitude has been markedly sympathetic --"shockingly so," says Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. Hamilton's jersey ranked fourth in nationwide sales in 2011, and kids, with their parents, still form up in long lines to meet him. After decades of secret pills, creams and injections, of finger-wagging denial and disgrace, there must be something refreshing about a player who admits it all.”

NCSU recruit Matt Tenuta signs with Kansas City Royals; Triangle players selected in MLB Draft

jmikeblake — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 23:24:10 -0400

N.C. State recruit Matt Tenuta (pictured above), a lefthanded pitcher from Apex High who led the Triangle in strikeouts this season, has already signed with the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the 25th round (763rd overall) today in the 2012 Major League Baseball Draft.

Tenuta's father Jon is the linebackers coach at N.C. State, and when the latter turned down Illinois this offseason, he said in a statement that watching his son play college baseball was a reason why. By signing with Kansas City, Matt forgoes his college eligibility and should report to the minor leagues within the coming weeks.

In total, four former area players and four current ones were selected in the draft.

Apex grad Chris Diaz, a junior shortstop at N.C. State, was the first to be selected as the Pittsburgh Pirates picked him in the 11th round (346th overall) on Tuesday. Diaz was a second-team all-American this year for the Wolfpack.

Despite not playing college baseball until this year, Green Hope graduate Chris Perry was the next to go as the St. Louis Cardinals selected him in the 17th round (540th). Perry played this past season for Methodist University in Fayetteville after two years spent as a student at UNC-Wilmington.

Former Fuquay-Varina standout Kevin Brandt, a senior lefthanded pitcher at East Carolina, went to the Tampa Bay Rays in the 18th round (572nd)

Cardinal Gibbons senior Max Schrock, who led the Triangle in home runs, fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 28th round (873rd). Schrock, a shortstop, was projected by many publications as a top-10-round pick, but the senior plans on playing his next three years with the University of South Carolina.

Wakefield senior shortstop Vance Vizcaino, a Tennessee recruit, was drafted by the New York Mets in the 31st round (950th).

One pick later (31st round, 951st) Apex grad Corey Thompson, a senior third baseman at East Carolina, was taken by the Chicago White Sox.

Clayton righthanded pitcher Evan Phillips, a UNC-Wilmington signee, was drafted in the 33rd round (1,003rd) by Kansas City.