Gryphons grab top spot in CarolinaPreps.com 3-A poll

SANFORD - Rocky Mount's boys basketball team was voted to the top 3-A team in the state in the latest CarolinaPreps.com poll released Sunday evening.

The Gryphons pulled off three victories last week (86-59 vs. Wilson Fike; 105-75 vs. Southern Nash; 76-45 vs. SouthWest Edgecombe).

CarolinaPreps.com Boys Basketball Poll

3A

1. Rocky Mount 13-1

2. Northern Guilford 14-2

3. South Central 15-1

4. North Forsyth 12-3

5. Hickory 15-2

6. Carson 15-2

7. Hunter Huss 13-2

8. CB Aycock 14-2

9. Concord 10-5

10. Northern Vance 13-2

Honorable Mention

DH Conley 11-5

Jacksonville 13-5

North Buncombe 11-4

Mabry goes for record Tuesday

It looks like Tashawn Mabry will have to have an above average night to become Rocky Mount's leading scorer.

The senior forward is averaging 21 points a game this season - almost five points under his average of a year ago - basically he's getting a lot more scoring help from his teammates this season.

He needs 23 points against Northern Nash at home Tuesday to past the immortal Rocky Mount and UNC great Phil Ford on the school's all-time scoring list. Mabry is at 2,071 and Ford stands at 2,093. So a mark that has stood for 36 years is about to come down. I was there in Greensboro when Ford scored that final point in the 1974 4-A playoffs.

But Ford got used to seeing his marks go down last season when his 2,290 points scored at UNC - the school record for 31 years, went down to Tyler Hansbrough.

But Ford will likely hold on to one other prep record which leads the state - career points per game at 27.7. Ford played in 75 games during his career (1971-74). Mabry has played in 87 going into Tuesday's contest - with at least eight more to play in.

Ironically, another area player is next on the state's all-time scoring list after Ford - former Elm City and UNC standout John Virgil at 2,100 points.

Gryphon alum entertains former teammates in China

- 2005 RMHS grad Adam Kluger playing club soccer in China

When former Gryphon soccer player Adam Kluger asked his friends and former RMHS soccer teammates to come visit him over Christmas and play a little soccer while they were in town, they went a little further than across the state, or even the country.

How about halfway across the world!

Kluger, who graduated from UNC in 2009, made his way to China and began teaching and tutoring English there.

And over Christmas, his brother Alex, along with brothers Andrew, Scott and Stephen Peacock, and brothers Dennis and Justin Adams made the trip to Shanghai to see their buddy ... and sibling.

Adam has recently taken a position in busines finance with an Italian company based in Shanghai. But he still tutors in his spare time.

The above picture is him playing for Team Azzurie. Adam arranged for all seven of them to practice together with the team. He was second in their league in scoring the season before, despite joining the team in mid-season.

Imagine - seven former Gryphons playing on a soccer field in China! How cool is that?

2010 Big East 3-A Conference Master Varsity Baseball Schedule

Big East Conference baseball fans - print this one out! Here is a master schedule for every game played by all six league members for the upcoming season - including the Easter Tourneys five of them will play in.

Enjoy!

(subject to change)

March 1

Southern Nash @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 2

JH Rose @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Roanoke Rapids @ Nash Central, 4:30
CB Aycock @ Hunt, 5:00

March 3

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Eastern Wayne @ Northern Nash, 4:30

March 4

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma, 4:00
Northern Nash @ South Central, 4:30
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Hunt @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 5

Rocky Mount @ Durham Riverside, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Fike, 5:00
Southern Nash @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Bunn @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 6

Hunt @ South Central, 1:00
Rocky Mount vs. Ardrey Kell - Impact Classic, Cary, TBA

March 8

Louisburg @ Southern Nash, 4:30
Goldsboro @ Fike, 7:00

March 9

Rocky Mount @ JH Rose, 4:00
DH Conley @ Northern Nash, 4:30
Hunt @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Nash Central @ Tarboro, 7:00

March 10

Eastern Wayne @ Hunt, 5:00
Roanoke Rapids @ Southern Nash, 5:00
Fike @ Goldsboro, 7:00

March 11

Durham Riverside @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Bunn @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Northern Nash @ DH Conley, 4:30
Fike @ Beddingfield, 5:00
Tarboro @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 12

Nash Central @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00

March 13

Oxford Webb @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Bunn @ Fike, 1:00

March 15

Southern Nash @ Southern Vance, 4:00

March 16

Nash Central @ Bunn, 7:00

March 17

Smithfield-Selma @ Nash Central, 4:00
Rocky Mount @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Fike @ Bunn, 6:00
Holly Springs @ Hunt, 6:30

March 18

Northern Nash @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Beddingfield @ Southern Nash, 5:00

March 19

Princeton @ Fike, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Hunt, 5:00

March 20

Tarboro @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Hunt @ Eastern Wayne, 1:00

March 22

Southern Vance @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Hertford County @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 23

Rocky Mount @ Oxford Webb, 4:00
Farmville Central @ Hunt, 5:00

March 24

Roanoke Rapids @ Rocky Mount, 4:30
Rosewood @ Fike, 5:00
Northern Nash @ Eastern Wayne, 5:00

March 25

Nash Central @ Hertford County, 7:00

March 26

Southern Nash @ Louisburg, 4:30

March 27

Northern Nash @ East Wake, 2:00

March 30

Fike @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 31

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00

April 1

Southern Nash @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Hunt, 7:00

April 3

Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma - Johnston Co. Easter Invitational, 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Easter Tournament, TBA
Northern Nash - George Whitfield Invitational, Kinston, TBA

April 5

Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 6

Hunt vs.Champmanville (WVa.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 7

Nash Central vs. Jefferson Forest (Va.) - Tarboro Classic, 1:30
Hunt vs. Sumter (SC) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00

April 8

Hunt vs. Westminister (Miami,Fl.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00
Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA

April 9

Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA
Hunt vs. TBA - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), TBA

April 13

Nash Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Hunt @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 15

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 20

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Hunt, 7:00

April 22

Southern Nash @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

April 26

Rocky Mount @ Louisburg, 6:00

April 27

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 29

Northern Nash @ Nash Central, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Fike, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00

May 4

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

May 6

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Hunt @ Fike, 7:00

May 10

South Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00

May 14

NCHSAA Baseball State Playoffs - First Round, TBA

Gryphons to play in the Johnston Co. Easter Invitational

- Gryphon senior lefty Hobbs Johnson

For the first time since 1976, Rocky Mount's baseball team will being playing in someone else's Easter tournament.

Rocky Mount will join Smithfield-Selma, Cardinal Gibbons, West Johnston, Fayetteville Academy, Clayton, Harnett Central and host South Johnston in the 2010 Johnston County Easter Invitational April 3, 5-6.

The Gryphons will open the event on Day 1 (Saturday) at 11 a.m. against Smithfield-Selma.

The event, which was started in 1991 by former South Johnston and Rocky Mount head coach Pat Smith, will also have a Home Run Derby on Day 1 at 3 p.m. - between Game 2 and Game 3.

Smith, who led not only led the Gryphons to a state title, but the Trojans also in 1990, has an event award named for him - the Pat Smith Most Outstanding Defensive Award. An Outstanding Hitter (Andy Pleasant) Award along with the (John Stott Memorial) MVP will be given out after the championship game.

A 17-member All-Tournament team will be selected with four going to the first place team.

Here is Day 1's schedule:

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitiational
@South Johnston HS

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Game 1 - Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - Cardinal Gibbons vs. West Johnston, 1 p.m.
Home Run Derby, 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Fayetteville Academy vs. Clayton, 5 p.m.
Game 4 - Harnett Central vs. South Johnston, 7:30 p.m.

Clayton is the defending champion.

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2009 - Clayton
2008 - Middle Creek
2007 - South Johnston
2006 - Jack Britt
2005 - Jack Britt
2004 - South Johnston
2003 - Smithfield-Selma
2002 - South Johnston
2001 - Cape Fear
2000 - South Johnston
1999 - Clayton
1998 - Clayton
1997 - Fuquay-Varina
1996 - Fuquay-Varina
1995 - Clayton
1994 - South Johnston
1993 - South Johnston
1992 - Princeton
1991 - Rosewood

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITAIONAL
HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION

2009 - Josh Elmore, Fayetteville Academy
2008 - Kris Richards, West Johnston
2007 - Quincy Lattimore - Middle Creek
2006 - Trenton Lansgton - Smithfield-Selma



- Photo, Baseball America

Jenkins win ECU Football Award

East Carolina redshirt freshman Jacobi Jenkins was honored with an award on Saturday, Jan. 9 as the Pirate football program closed the 2009 season with the team, parents, coaches, athletic staff and Pirate Club members gathering for the annual awards banquet held at the Greenville Convention Center.

Jenkins, a standout defensive back for the Gryphons, received the Special Teams Crunch Award.

As a receiver, Jenkins played in 11 games and caught two passes for 11 yards during the season.

ECU, which claimed claiming back-to-back Conference USA Championships and subsequent AutoZone Liberty Bowl appearances, closed the season with a 9-5 record.

Deloach helps end NSU's losing streak

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. - Former Northern Nash star guard Michael Deloach scored a game-high 25 points to help Norfolk State snap its school-record 11-game losing streak with a 78-65 win over Florida A&M Monday night at the Alfred Lawson Center.

Deloach, a senior, scored 14 points in the second half as the Spartans (2-12, 1-2 MEAC) outscored the Rattlers (3-12, 1-2) 49-36. NSU got its first win since a 72-71 decision over Maine on Nov. 16.

The win also snapped the Spartans’ 11-game road losing streak but was their fifth win in a row over FAMU. NSU’s last victory away from Echols Hall was a 68-62 triumph at Hampton on Jan. 31, 2009.

Deloach is averaging 21 points a game and 4.7 rebounds per contest.

Though Deloatch was a Knight, his dad Michael and uncle Steve were both Gryphons!

Gainey nearing 300 wins

Rocky Mount head girls basketball coach Pam Gainey is nearing 300 wins for her career.

With the Lady Gryphons' 51-30 victory over Nash Central last Friday, Gainey picked up win No. 286 for her career. She's in her 17th season as RMHS' head coach.

With a little luck and possibly her ninth regular season conference title along the way, Gainey could pick up that coveted victory sometime late this season.

Only two other current area coaches have that many wins - SouthWest Edgecombe's girls coach Sandra Langley and Northern Nash's girls coach Grover Battle. Those two combined have also claimed five state titles.

PAM GAINEY

2009-10 - 8-2 (through 1/08/10)
2008-09 - 22-5, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2007-08 - 23-2, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2006-07 - 16-11, playoffs
2005-06 - 8-18, playoffs
2004-05 - 17-8, Big East 4-A champs, playoffs
2003-04 - 23-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2002-03 - 22-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2001-02 - 20-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2000-01 - 24-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1999-00 - 20-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1998-99 - 20-6, playoffs
1997-98 - 12-12, playoffs
1996-97 - 12-13, playoffs
1995-96 - 14-10, playoffs
1994-95 - 15-10, playoffs
1993-94 - 10-14

Career - 286-130, .688 winning percentage (17th season)

(Eight conference titles, seven conference tournament crowns, eight 20-win seasons, one sectional title, 15 straight playoff appearances)

Ginn passed over for Grand Valley head job

The new head coach at Grand Valley State is not Jack Ginn.

The former N.C. Wesleyan head coach was passed over for the position by the team's defensive coordinator Matt Mitchell. Mitchell is a six-year veterean of GVSU's staff and is the school's seventh head coach.

Ginn, I know, will get his chance to be a head coach once again. Ginn is expected to stay on as wide receivers coach at the school.

In other NCWC football-related news, former Battling Bishop linebqacker and Northern Nash Knight Bo Brown is now a graduate assistant at Mississippi State. Brown, who also served as an assistant coach at NCWC last season, will also be working as a strength and conditioning coach for the MSU program.

He and his wife Brittany relocated to Starkville over the Christmas holidays.

Ginn up for Grand Valley State head job

Former N.C. Wesleyan head football coach Jack Ginn is a candidate for the head football job at Grand Valley State (Allendale, Mi.).

Ginn, who has been an associate head coach/wide receivers coach at the Div. II powerhouse the last two seasons, is reported to be one of three current assistants up for the job.

The opening came about when new Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly hired Grand Valley State head man Chuck Martin to be his defensive coordinator earlier this week. Kelly is also a former head coach of the Lakers.

Ginn started the football program at N.C. Wesleyan six years ago and was a candidate for the Rocky Mount head football job last summer. Ginn was having trouble selling his home here and was commuting back and forth from Michigan. He was considering moving back to Rocky Mount. With that possibility, he was interested the Gryphon football job opening.

But when his home finally sold early this past summer, he withdrew his application for the RMHS job and moved his family to Michigan with him.

In his four years at NCWC, Ginn compiled a 23-17 overall record and an 18-9 USA South mark, having produced the first-ever undefeated conference champion with a 7-0 league record in 2007. Additionally, Ginn produced 42 All-Conference players, two Defensive Rookies of the Year, two Offensive Rookies of the Year, and two Offensive Players of the Year.

Prior to coming to NCWC, Ginn served two years as an assistant coach at Shepherd College, an NCAA Division II school in Shepherdstown, WV. During his tenure, Shepherd compiled a two-year record of 15-5, and set 16 offensive school records. From 1997-2000, Ginn was the Offensive Coordinator at Wartburg College, a NCAA Division III school in Waverly, IA . His offense averaged 35 points per game over the four-year period, setting 19 school records and helping Wartburg achieve a 35-6 record.

Virgil's college career is over

Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Stephan Virgil has seen his college career at Virginia Tech come to a premature end.

The senior defensive back has been ruled academically eligible under NCAA guidelines for the Hokies' match-up against Tennessee Thursday in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. So for a second straight season, Virginia Tech's football team will be missing a starter for its bowl game because of academic issues.

Virgil has had his problems with injuries this season. After playing in VT's 34-24 loss to Alabama in the season opener - also in Atlanta, he injured his left knee making a tackle on the game's final play. The injury kept him out of the lineup for the Hokies' next two games.

Hudgins finishes second in Payton Award voting

Terrell Hudgins' mom Leslie took this picture of Terrell and his competitors Deji Karim of Southern Illinois' and Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State) at the NCAA's Div. I banquet in Chattanooga, Tenn. last Thursday evening. Edwards, who has led App. State to two national titles, won the Walter Payton Award that evening.

Vote for Hudgins - TWICE!

The News and Observer needs help finding their Triangle Area Athlete of the Deacde - for high school, college and the pros - male or female.

In my mind, former Rocky Mount High star athlete Terrell Hudgins could possibly win this thing in two categories. He was the N&O's Male HS Athlete of the Year in 2005, and he was the NCHSAA's Male Athlete of the Year the same year.

And unless you have been under a rock, you have to know about Hudgins' record-breaking pass catching exploits in his four years at Elon.

So if you go to http://share.triangle.com/node/30000 and put his name in the high school and college fields, perhaps he will have a better chance of winning these votes! Vote as much as you like for Terrell Hudgins! Deadline is Dec. 11 for the nominees, then after that, should Hudgins make the list - vote for him until the end of the year.

Below is the text of their request for voting from the N&O's website:

The possibilities range from Dustin Ackley to Brian Zoubek, but The News&Observer sports department needs your help to find the one and only area athlete of the decade. Your choice can be male or female and from any sport at any level of competition. The only limitations are time and area.

We're looking for someone who participated from 2000 through 2009 and competed in the general Triangle area, which we can expand to include East Carolina and Wake Forest candidates.

Obviously, this is a big-tent project. The winner could come from high school, college or the pros and from sports that cover the gamut from land, water or ice.

We'll do the counting and announce the results, but the most important part of the process is up to you the reader. Give the matter some thought and then enter your choices below. We'll accept submissions until December 11.

In case you need a refresher of his college and HS careers, here is some background info:

NCAA Records

• 207 - combined receptions in one season (FCS record with former teammate Michael Mayers in 2007)

• 395 - career receptions (all NCAA Division I record)

• 123 - receptions in a season (done in 2009; FCS record)

• 8.8 - career receptions per game (FCS record)

• 5,250 - career receiving yards (all NCAA Division I record)

• 116.7 - career average yards gained receiving per game (FCS record)

• 28 - career games gaining 100 or more yards receiving (all NCAA Division I record)

• 1.2 - career touchdown passes caught per game (ties FCS record)

• 34 - career games with a touchdown catch (FCS record)

• 4 - career 1,000-yard receiving seasons (all NCAA Division I record)

SoCon Records

• 10 - games in a season with 100 or more receiving yards (done in 2009)

• 5 - consecutive games with 100 or more receiving yards (done once in 2006 and twice in 2009)

• 2,538 - combined receiving yards in a season (with former teammate Michael Mayers in 2007)

• 3 - career 200 or more receiving yard games (tied)

• 52 - career receiving touchdowns

• 1,633 - receiving yards in a season (done in 2009) Elon Records

• 16 - receptions in a game (vs. Liberty and at Furman in 2007; at Furman in 2009)

• 4 - touchdown receptions in a game (vs. Liberty in 2007)

• 18 - touchdown receptions in a season (2007)

High School Resume

Played varsity football, basketball and baseball at RMHS. 2005 NCHSAA Male Athlete of the Year.

FOOTBALL

A three-year starter, Hudgins passed for 1,687 yds. (78-174) and 22 touchdowns (only five interceptions) … Rushed for 393 yds. and 14 touchdowns ... Led Rocky Mount to its first Big East 4-A Conference title since 1990. He helped the Gryphons to a 12-1 record – at the time - tied for most wins in school history. He led Rocky Mount to three straight playoff appearances – prior to 2006, it was the first such occurrence at Rocky Mount since 1977-79 … Set school records for career passing (5,524), touchdown passes (61), touchdown responsibility (77) … Helped the 2004 Rocky Mount squad set school records for scoring (534) and total yards (4,687).

2004 Big East Conference Player of the Year
2004 Rocky Mount Telegram Offensive Player of the Year
Member of NCPreps.com 2004 4-A All-State Team
Played for the East in the 2005 N.C. Oasis Shrine East-West All-Star Game

BASKETBALL

A two-year starter at forward, Hudgins led the Big East Conference in scoring (20.6) and rebounding (12.0) this past winter as Rocky Mount finished second in the Big East and recorded a 17-9 record (second-round loss to Millbrook) … Also led Gryphons in field goal percentage (.688), steals (52) and blocked shots (32)… Scored a career-high 32 points against Southeast Raleigh… Scored 944 points in just two seasons as a Gryphon for fifth place on the all-time Rocky Mount scoring list – behind Phil Ford (2,079), Tashawn Mabry (1,899), Buck Williams (1,440), George McClain (1,209) and Larry Lucas (1,056)

2005 Big East Player of the Year
Big East All-Conference performer (2004, 2005)
2005 Rocky Mount Telegram Player of the Year
Honorable mention NCPreps.com All-State 4-A Team

BASEBALL

An All-Big East Conference player in 2004, Hudgins played third base, first base and pitched. He helped Rocky Mount to a 15-6 record this season - up from a 10-14 campaign the previous spring. He batted .387 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, 21 RBI and 22 runs scored. On the mound, the right-hander was 4-3 with a 2.49 ERA.

Smith adds to his team

- Pictured, left to right, Ashton, Shepherd and Hunter Smith (click on picture to enlarge)

EASLEY, S.C. - Former Rocky Mount assistant football coach and Northern Nash head coach Chad Smith is beginning to have the makings of a pretty good offensive line - right in his very own home!

Smith and his wife and former RMHS teacher Hannah added to their roster on Nov. 18 with the birth of their third son, Shepherd Owen. He weighed eight pounds, nine ounces and was 21.25 inches long - the biggest of the three boys at birth, says Hannah.

Congrats to the Smiths and their families for their new addition!

These Smith boys, I bet, will make for some pretty good O-linemen one day. I know Chad will see that!

Noble makes MEAC All-Conference Team

NORFOLK, Va. - Redshirt sophomore Kendall Noble was named to the MEAC second-team All-Conference football team recently. The 6-foot-4, 292-pound offensive lineman played left tackle for the Spartans as they went 7-4 this past season.

He was also named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week in NSU's game against Howard.

Noble, who is majoring in kinesiotherapy, lettered and started for three years at Rocky Mount High. He was a first-team all-conference and all-county selection as a junior and senior and helped the team win the North Carolina 4-A regional championship as a junior. He played in the North Carolina East-West All-Star game his senior year and he also lettered in track and field four seasons at RMHS.

His brother Wayne Jr., also a former Gryphon football standout, was a senior defensive back this past season at Winston-Salem State.

Word has it that his former Gryphon teammate and former Shrine Bowler Nazir Levine, who was out this season with an injury at WSSU, will transfer and join his old teammate on the O-line at Norfolk State.

Chauncy Perry, a senior offensive lineman at Virginia Union University, was named to the CIAA All-Conference second team. Perry, who is 6-2 and 325 pounds, is a computer information systems major. Perry was three-year starter for the Gryphons (2003-05).

Chesson's greatniece signs with ECU

Even though former Rocky Mount head baseball coach Shelton Chesson made his mark on the diamond, he knows basketball, too. In fact, he was the Gryphons' head boys basketball coach my senior year (1975-76) and coached former All-America Buck Williams as a sophomore.

Now another Chesson offspring has made some noise in the state - also in basketball.

His great niece (his brother's grandaughter) Katie Paschal, the state's top girls scorer last year as a junior at Williamston High School, signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at East Carolina last week.

“We are very excited about the addition of Katie,” head coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener stated. “Our coaching staff was very selective in finding the right pieces to the puzzle for next year’s team and did a great job. We are excited to this young lady to join the Pirate family.”

Paschal, a 5-8 guard, led all North Carolina prep players in scoring last season as a junior, netting 33 points per contest while averaging four assists, six rebounds and five steals. She is ranked as the 42nd-best shooting guard in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report and 78th by ESPN.com. Additionally, Atlantic South has tabbed her as one of the top five players in North Carolina.

Paschal has garnered numerous honors during her high school career, including 2009 North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (NCBCA) First-Team All-State and Associated Press Second-Team All-State accolades as well as 2008 First-Team 1A All-State and 2007 Third-Team All-State laurels from NC Preps. She was also named ESPN.com Southeast Region Player-of-the-Week for the period ending Feb. 23.

Paschal has helped Williamston to three berths in the North Carolina 1A playoffs, including a sectional championship and regional appearance in 2008.

“Katie is a gym rat that understands the game of basketball," said Baldwin-Tener. "She is not just a great scorer but a great passer as well. She makes the people around her better. We are excited that Katie decided to stay close to home for the next four years.”

Chesson, who has been packing his car with many of his RM area friends and making pilgrimages to Martin County to see Katie play since she was in the eighth grade, will now get to see her play at Williams Arena the next four years.

Paschal also thought about coming to Rocky Mount. Her dad, Roanoke's head football coach Brian Paschal, had thought about joining then-head coach B.W. Holt's football staff before her junior year and Katie thought she might come with him and play for Pam Gainey's squad.

But alas, her dad opted to stay at Roanoke, so Katie stayed at Williamston.

Wesleyan to face Wesley College in first round of NCAA playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The NCAA released its 2009 Division III Football Championship bracket on Sunday afternoon, and North Carolina Wesleyan has learned it will travel to Delaware to take on the South Region's top-seed, Wesley College, next Saturday at 12:00 noon. The 3rd-ranked Wolverines were awarded a No. 1 seed after completing an undefeated regular season at 10-0, while the Blue & Gold were tabbed the No. 8 seed after posting seven straight wins and an 8-2 overall record.

NCWC is making its second playoff appearance in program history after posting an undefeated 7-0 record in the USA South to secure the league's automatic bid. The feat marks the second time in the past three seasons that the Bishops ran the table against conference opponents. NCWC's two regular season losses came at the hands of non-conference foes Emory & Henry and Hampden-Sydney, which also turned in a 10-0 record en route to the region's No. 3 seed.

Wesley is making its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAAs, winning the South in both 2005 and 2006 and advancing to the quarterfinals in 2007. The Wolverines and Battling Bishops have just one series meeting between them: the 2007 opener for both squads, which was won by Wesley 34-31.

On paper, the two teams looked to be evenly matched offensively. The Battling Bishops averaged 36.5 points and over 450 total yards of offense per game during the regular season, while the Wolverines turned in 35.6 points and 410 yards per contest. The outcome, therefore, may be determined on the defensive side of the ball.

Other top seeds in the tournament include Mount Union in the East, UW-Whitewater in the North and St. John's (MN) in the West. In the South, the winner of the Wesley/North Carolina Wesleyan game will face the winner of the Mississippi College/Huntingdon contest.

Note: I will post a link to live coverage of this game Saturday right here later this week!

RMAC's field dry - the only game in town

Give former Rocky Mount head football coach and athletic director Walt Wiggins most of the credit for the Gryphons getting to play last Friday night against South Central.

Wiggins, the Gryphons' head coach for 14 seasons and their AD when he retired, planned the Rocky Mount Athletic Complex - from its design, its layout and thank goodness, its field.

I can see an old picture of him and former assistant superintendent (Rocky Mount City Schools) John Langley looking over the observation deck on to the field just weeks before the first game was played there in fall of 1987.

Wiggins had the forethought to bring in agronomists from N.C. State to prepare the ground underneath the field for optimum draining. Gravel, sand, filtering membrane - it's all down there and it has been amazing - despite some minor problems - how well it has drained. It's been the gold standard for football fields down east.

With the help of Quentin Leggett, father of former Gryphon pitcher Jim Leggett, and some of his colleagues, the field's drainage was improved upon and the root system strengthened.

That field has a history.

From so much play on it (semi-pro football, tons of soccer matches, etc.), to the loss of a lot of top soil when it was under eight feet of flood water from Hurricane Floyd. And of course, we were all upset when it was in such bad shape, the 2002 team was forced to play its home games at Nash Central's then-new field while it was being repaired.

And we all remember how wet the field seemed all during the 2008 playoffs.

Well, that problem is seemingly gone, thanks to Leggett and his friends.

I took to the field before the game with South Central last Friday around 5:30 p.m. and talked to a few of the Falcons' coaches. They could not believe that after around the seven inches of rain in the area and in the East the previous two days, the field could be so dry and firm.

As many of you know, none of the other three playoff games set for the Twin Counties area last Friday could be played. North Edgecombe had to move their opener with Columbia to Monday due to field conditions.

The RMAC's field was about as dry as it could be. And a little shower before kickoff didn't affect it a bit.

Proof of that came in the latter stages of the South Central game when RM's Collins Cuthrell lofted a punt from his own 45-yard line and when the ball hit the field, it bounded nearly 10 feet in the air and bounced into the end zone for a touchback!

I just hope when we get our new stadium at the new campus, whenever that may be, the N-RMS will get N.C. State to set up our new stadium's field the exact same way.

But guys, I wouldn't turn down some fieldturf, either!

Facing South Central for the first time

South Central High, which was built in Winterville at the same time Nash Central was constructed - in 2002, has never faced the Gryphons in football.

But it has had an encounter with Nash Central (2006 playoffs) and Northern Nash earlier this season.

Here is how the Falcons faired in each of their games this season:

2009 South Central Schedule/Results

Aug. 21
AT GREENE CENTRAL
W, 10-6

Aug. 28
FARMVILLE CENTRAL
W, 28-21

Sep. 4,
AT J.H. ROSE
L, 0-13

Sep. 11
AT NORTHERN NASH
W, 13-7

Sep. 28
AT WEST CARTERET
W, 46-20

Oct. 2
JACKSONVILLE
W, 28-14

Oct. 9
AT WEST CRAVEN
L, 7-28

Oct. 16

HAVELOCK
YES
L, 7-27

Oct. 23
AT WHITE OAK
W, 9-3

Oct. 30

AT

WASHINGTON
W 14-13

Nov. 6
D.H. CONLEY
W, 62-6

THE SERIES: Rocky Mount vs. Northern Nash

Rocky Mount traveled to Northern Nash this season and won for the seventh year in a row. RM now leads the varsity football series 24-17.

Here, for your enjoyment, are all 41 games of the series!

FYI - Northern Nash was a 2-A school in the first four years of the series:

2009 - RM wins, 15-12

2008 - RM wins, 49-0

2007 - RM wins, 54-21

2006 - RM wins, 54-0

2005 - RM wins, 21-0

2004 - RM wins, 40-0

2003 - RM wins, 21-14

2002 - NN wins, 47-6

2001 - NN wins, 48-13

2000 - NN wins, 48-28

1999 - NN wins, 21-20

1998 - RM wins, 21-7

1997 - RM wins, 28-12

1996 - RM wins, 39-12

1995 - RM wins, 14-12

1994 - NN wins, 54-31

1993 - NN wins, 28-12

1992 - RM wins, 13-7, OT

1991 - NN wins 21-19

1990 - RM wins 35-7

1989 - NN wins 20-18

1988 - NN wins 21-6

1987 - NN wins 13-10, OT

1986 - NN wins 34-14

1985 - NN wins 14-12

1984 - RM wins 20-7

1983 - RM wins 21-14

1982 - NN wins 21-13

1981 - NN wins 21-16

1980 - RM wins 21-18

1979 - RM wins 21-14

1978 - RM wins 22-0

1977 - RM wins 23-6

1976 - NN wins 20-6

1975 - NN wins 18-6

1974 - RM wins 21-7

1973 - RM wins 28-16

1972 - RM wins 21-6

1971 - NN wins 14-8

1970 - RM wins 21-12

1969 - RM wins 20-0

TRENDS:

1. Rocky Mount has won 14 times scoring 21 points or less. Northern has done it nine times.

2. Rocky Mount has shut out Northern Nash six times - three times in the last four seasons, but the Knights have never shut out the Gryphons. Until Northern's first-quarter score in the 2007 tilt, the Knights went scoreless in the series for straight14 quarters.

3. Both teams have won a contest in overtime.

4. Rocky Mount is the first team in the series to win seven consecutive games.

5. Over their last six meetings, Rocky Mount has outscored Northern Nash 233-33.