fall sports 2012

Friday, Aug. 17, 2012

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THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

BY CHARLIE BERGMANNSpecial to The Pilot

In its first scrimmage opportunity last weekagainst Douglas Byrd, the Pinecrest defensecame out flying to the ball. The starting unit thatincludes nine players that started footballgames last season gave up ground grudgingly.The defense showed more of the same againstTerry Sanford two days later.

“I think defensively it’s pretty cut and dry, buton offense there’s some pretty significant com-petition,” Patriot head coach Chris Metzgersaid, looking ahead to tonight’s season openerat Jack Britt. “The defense has a chance to bereally special. They’ve just got to keep gettingbetter. They will not let themselves be compla-cent.”

Special teams also look solid, but there arequestion marks on the offensive side wherealmost all of the personnel are varsitynewcomers. A week from taking on the fourth-ranked Buccaneers (NC-Preps.com preseason

poll), the competition for the startingquarterback job between seniors DwayneSimpson and Aaron Reimer was still not settled.

“Basically we have two unbelievable kids thatare willing to do whatever it takes,” saysMetzger, who also serves as offensivecoordinator of the multiple split-back veer.“Right now it’s a battle. We’re definitely going tohave a two-headed monster because Aaron ismore comfortable passing and Dwayne poses athreat wherever he is at. So we’re going to takethat into account.”

Simpson was the team’s second leadingground gainer a year ago. In the scrimmageagainst Terry Sanford he demonstrated his passcatching ability. In one of the 10-play series, hecaught about a 20-yard fade from Reimer inthe right corner of the end zone for a touch-down. Two plays later, the pair duplicated thehookup on the left side for another score.

see PATRIOTS, page 16

Defense Leads the Way for Patriots

PHOTOS BY DONNA FORD/The Pilot

The Patriot defense, which will be the anchor for the 2012 squad, in action last season.

DATE OPPONENT SITE8/17 Jack Britt AWAY8/31 Overhills HOME8/31 Cox Mill AWAY9/7 Reagan HOME9/14 Western Harnett AWAY9/21 New Hanover HOME9/28 Lumberton HOME10/5 Scotland HOME10/12 Purnell Swett AWAY10/19 Richmond AWAY10/26 Hoke HOME

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BY JAMES W. HOUSTONSpecial to The Pilot

When you’re around the North Moore foot-ball team and its coaching staff, you can sensean air of optimism and a change in the attitudefor the 2012 season.One of the reasons for the optimism is that

third-year head coach Greg Simmons has 17seniors on the team, many of whom played atthe varsity level as sophomores.“We’ve got a good group of seniors that

know how to play football and are ready towin,” said Simmons. “They’ve worked hard andhave endured some rough times, but I think thisis the year we start winning some games. Theydeserve to win — they’re a good group of kids.It’s time for something good to happen forthem. They’ve paid the price.”The change in attitude comes from the philos-

ophy the coaching staff and players adopted:“burn the boats.” The term comes from the timewhen the Spanish were a world power andwhen they would embark on a new campaignto conquer a country, they would burn theboats, so the only way they could get backhome was to be victorious.“We really needed to change the culture

around here and not be afraid of failure andwhat people would say or think about us,” saidSimmons. “By using the phrase ‘burn theboats,’ we’re saying, ‘no more excuses for notwinning games.’ You have to eliminate excusesor you’ll never be a good football team.”The Mustangs have only one way to go and

that is up, since they haven’t won a game onthe field the past two seasons. They received aforfeit from West Montgomery during the 2010season. The last time North Moore won a gamewas Nov. 6, 2009, when they defeatedChatham Central 22-13.Another goal for the Mustangs is to make the

state playoffs, where they haven’t played since2008.“It would be great for the kids if we qualified

for the playoffs,” said Simmons. “It’s tough onthe players when the regular season is over andthey’re not playing and most everyone else is.Being on the sidelines at that time of the year ishard.”While the Mustangs have 17 seniors starting

out the season, one of the main concerns isdepth, since they will dress out 23 to 25 playersfor the varsity. The junior varsity should havearound 25 players, many of them freshmen.With the lack of numbers, it will be important

for the players to be in good shape. Several ofthe players will be expected to go both wayswith the coaches searching for times to givethem a breather.One of the players that the coaches are

expecting a lot from is senior Kyle Kidd, who isone of the leaders on defense at one of thelinebacker spots. Kidd will also see plenty ofaction as a tailback.Another player expected to go both ways is

Landon Auman, who was one of the team’s toptacklers last year before being injured. Aumanwill be one of the safeties on defense and awide receiver in the Mustangs’ newly installedspread offense that features one running back.Fellow senior Ethan Morrison will line up in theslot on offense and play inside linebacker ondefense.The success of the Mustangs’ offense,

according to new offensive coordinator MikeLoutzenheiser, will depend on the five linemenup front. Anchoring the line is center EthanSessoms, who started last year at the spot. D.J.Smith, Cody Maness and Richard Sullivanshould see plenty of action at the tackle

positions while DillonCaviness and CalebGalloway are pen-ciled in at the guardspots. These linemenwill have to be inter-changeable andknow all the linepositions. This groupwill also see actionalong the defensivefront.One of the impor-

tant positions onoffense is at thequarterback spot, where Luke Auman andXavier Richardson are battling for the startingspot.“We’ll go with whichever player gives us the

best shot at winning,” said Simmons. “They’re

both good players, and there will be timeswhen we have both on the field.”Richardson is slotted as safety on defense

and Luke Auman at outside linebacker. One ofthe luxuries that Simmons has is an abundanceof slot backs and wide receivers with JustinAllred, Cody Vaughn and Michael McNeill.Adrain Wall, a transfer from East Montgomery,will be vying for playing time at tailback.Vaughn will be counted on to return punts

and kickoffs. Allred is one of the team’s betterplaymakers and may have the best hands onthe team. He will be a corner on defense.A couple of juniors on the team that will be

contributing are Will Noll and Jacob Green,Noll either at slot back or wide receiver. McNeillwill be counted on as an inside linebacker.Sophomore Nathan Hussey has worked hard

over the summer and will play along the offen-sive line and inside linebacker.A couple of freshmen that could see some

varsity action are Patrick Horner and AaronRichardson, both who are very athletic.The Mustangs have a very tough, four-game

non-conference schedule with all the games onthe road. They open tonight at Union Academythen travel to cross-county rival Union Pines

Aug. 24, journey toFayetteville ChristianAug. 31 and finallyto Red Springs onSept. 7North Moore’s first

home and YadkinValley Conferencegame is Sept. 14,when WestMontgomery comesto Robbins.“The last couple of

years, our goal hadbeen to be ingames, stay close,”said Simmons. “Thisyear the goal is towin games andknow what that feelslike. I want the peo-ple to come out andsee how hard thekids have worked. Ithink the supportersof North Moore willbe very surprised.”

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1177 —at Union Academy; 2244—at Union Pines; 3311—at Fayetteville Christian; SSeepptt .. 77 — at Red Springs; 1144 — WestMontgomery; 2211 — South Davidson; 2288 — North Rowan; OOcctt .. 55 — atEast Montgomery; 1122 — at South Stanly; 1199 — Albemarle; 2266 —Chatham Central.

PAGE 4 THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012

‘Burn the Boats’No Turning Back for Optimistic Mustangs

DONNA FORD/The Pilot

Coach Greg Simmons talks with Luke Auman during practice.

DONNA FORD/The Pilot

Kyle Kidd is one of the Mustangs’ mainstays.

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DATE OPPONENT SITE8/17 Union Academy AWAY8/24 Union Pines AWAY8/31 Fayetteville Christian AWAY9/7 Red Springs AWAY9/14 WestMontgomery HOME9/21 South Davidson HOME9/28 North Rowan HOME10/5 East Montgomery AWAY10/12 South Stanley AWAY10/19 Albemarle HOME10/26 Chatham Central HOME



BY F.W. MANNING IISports Writer

Over at Union Pines, head coach Ryan Riggan and his Vikingfootball team are approaching the 2012 season by rallyingaround each other in an effort to constantly give their all whilestriving to be competitive.Coming off a year where the squad went 2-9 overall and 0-6

in its 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference campaign, viable com-petiveness is something the team lacked for a vast majority of the2011 season effort.Over the span of summer workouts on up through the second

full week of official practices, Riggan has seen plenty of proofthat this year’s Viking squad has the ability to shift the downwardprogression the program has seen of late and reset the courseon a much more positive plane.“This team has a strong desire to get better every day,” said

Riggan. “They work really hard as a unit and have played welland hung together in the scrimmages. They really seem to enjoyworking together and being around each other at practice.“The intensity and drive they bring to practice every day has

been awesome. They give it their all and would bounce fromstation to station. I think they will make a lot of improvements ifthey continue to bring this effort every day all season long.Some changes have been made since Union Pines last took to

the field in a lopsided loss to Douglas Byrd to close the 2011season. The most significant and noticeable of those modifica-tions occurred in the form of a retooled assistant coaching staffthat features several new and experienced faces on the Vikingsidelines.Greg Mayer, Mark Trueblood, Buck Fry and Frank Rodriguez

join Riggan, Tyler Callahan, Don Hooker and Colton Long inmaking up the 2012 Union Pines varsity coaching staff.

see VIKES, page 16

HardworkingVikings

Hope forTurnaround

On the CoverPinecrest Patriot Dwayne Simpson pulls away

from a Richmond Raider last season.

Cover PhotographyDonna Ford

Cover and Supplement Design/LayoutMartha J. Henderson, Special Sections Editor

Supplement EditorHunter Chase, Sports Editor

Contributing PhotographersDonna Ford, Philip Taylor,

F.W. Manning II and Norma Stilwell

Contributing WritersCharlie Bergmann, F.W. Manning II

and James W. Houston

For advertising information,contact Pat Taylor at (910) 693-2505 or

email [email protected].

145 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines(910) 692-7271 • thepilot.com

Copyright 2012

About This Issue

PHILIP TAYLOR/The Pilot

The Vikings take a break during the heat of August preseason practice for the upcoming 2012 season.

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DATE OPPONENT SITE8/17 SW Randolph AWAY8/24 North Moore HOME8/31 Cardinal Gibbons AWAY9/7 East Montgomery HOME9/14 Overhills AWAY9/21 Gray’s Creek AWAY9/28 Western Harnett HOME10/5 Westover HOME10/12 Southern Lee AWAY10/19 Northwood HOME10/26 Douglas Byrd HOME




The 2012 Union Pines Lady Viking volleyball team willhave a different look this year, as coach Leslie Fish entersher seventh season at the helm of the program.Gone are five seniors that each played key roles for a

squad that finished its 2011 campaign with a record of21-4, bowing out in the second round of the 3-A stateplayoffs.Along the way, led in large part by seniors Crystal Hicks,

Morgan Bridgers, Lexi Byrd, Anna Sadler and CassidyWalker, Union Pines earned a share of the 3-A Cape FearValley Conference regular season championships, alongwith Overhills and Western Harnett, with a league mark of10-2.At a Thursday practice that took place less than five

days before her squad hit the floor in Rockingham for itsseason opener, Fish addressed the status of her currentsquad as it braces for the campaign ahead.“Our summer has been pretty steady with jamborees,

workouts and weight room sessions,” said Fish. “Thejamboree was especially good because it allowed ourgirls a chance to get used to each other with the loss ofour five seniors who all played varsity several years.“Then we went to Campbell University for team camp


Informed that she was only nine assists away from1,000 in her volleyball career at Pinecrest, MeganThomas was surprised.With the help of a formidable group of hitters that

includes 6-foot Felicia Painter, 6-3 Janea Williams and 5-10 Amber Goodwin, the senior setter was likely to achievethat milestone in last Monday’s season opener at homeagainst Jack Britt.“I have the confidence that they can basically hit what-

ever I set,” Thomas, who was an All-SoutheasternConference selection and shared team-MVP honors withPainter last season, said. “They’re strong hitters and Ithink they’ll take us far this year.”Thomas and Painter have played a part in adding 58

wins to Barbara Foxx’s career total of 636 during hercoaching career at Pinecrest. The Patriots were 21-9 ayear ago, with Scotland High defeating them three timeson the way to its seventh conference title in a row.Painter, who had 391 kills, and Keegan Lynch, another

senior, also earned all-league honors. Along with Thomasand Williams, all four were starters on the Patriot basket-ball team.The versatile Lynch will make the move from sharing the

Young Mustangs Look to Seniors for Leadership


One of the highlights of the volleyball season is when Union Pinesand Pinecrest face off. They play on Sept. 5 and 19.


As North Moore head volleyball coach EmilyColeman starts her second season at the helmof the program, she will be doing so with oneof the youngest teams in the Yadkin ValleyConference.While Coleman had one of the largest num-

ber ever to tryout for both varsity and junior var-sity teams, only two were seniors, Jalisa Davisand Mone’ Little.“We’re a very young team and will be count-

ing on a lot of those younger girls to step up,”said Coleman, whose record was 10-10 in herfirst year of guiding the program. “I tried tokeep the freshmen and sophomores on the jun-ior varsity, but I kept three sophomores on thevarsity. The varsity will be made up mostly ofjuniors, some who played varsity last year. Theymay be young, but they’re a hard-workinggroup.”With the large turnout for the program,

Coleman has 13 players on the varsity and 15playing on the junior varsity squad.While having to deal with a young team,

Coleman will have to replace two all-confer-ence performers off last year’s state playoff

team in Coco Brower and Holly Green.The two seniors on this year’s squad could

very easily step into the roles of Green andBrower. Davis is coming off an injury and isfinally cleared to play at full speed. Davis is oneof the team’s better leapers and blockers at hermiddle hitter spot. Little is an outside hitter, agood passer, and she brings a lot of energy tothe team.“I expect these two seniors to be leaders for

the younger girls on the team,” said Coleman.“They’re both good players and bring a lot tothe game.”Along with the two seniors on the squad,

there are eight juniors and three sophomores.Coleman is still experimenting with a startinglineup and the rotation, so the lineup canchange over the course of the season.One of the outside hitters slated to start is jun-

ior Dara Forrest, who hits the ball hard and isvery competitive. Fellow junior and the tallestplayer on the team is middle hitter Dana Wolfe.Wolfe is a strong blocker with fast feet.Junior Erica Kennedy will see a lot of action

as middle hitter and on the right outside.Kennedy was one of the top players on the jun-ior varsity squad last year and has good hands

for her position.Coleman plans on starting junior Alex

Williams at the important setter position.According to Coleman, Williams is a rock outon the court and knows how to run the show.Juniors Holly English and Payton Wall are thedefensive aces on the team, with Wall beingused mostly as the libero. Wall is very good atdigs and is a very vocal leader. English is agood defender on the back row and is a goodpasser.A couple of juniors that should see plenty of

playing time are Casey Rouse and TristenHoneycutt. Rouse is an outside hitter, but hasbeen dealing with injury. Honeycutt is a gooddefender and will substitute for Wall at thelibero position and is also a good passer.The three sophomores that are on the varsity

squad are Kasi Martin, Gwen Steslicke andErica Vasquez. Vasquez was one of the leaderson the junior varsity last year and will back upWilliams as a setter. Martin can play either themiddle or the outside while Steslicke is good ondefense as a middle hitter.Coleman expects the conference to be very

competitive this year with defending championAlbemarle, West Montgomery and Gray Stone

as the teams to beat. Chatham Central, SouthStanly and East Montgomery usually field com-petitive teams while South Davidson and NorthRowan could surprise some teams this season.“This should be a very balanced conference

with anyone capable of beating anyone,” saidColeman. “Gray Stone is very strong ondefense while Albemarle and West have somegood hitters. We played some close matcheswith them last year. Our top goal, of course, isto win the conference and we want to make theplayoffs and go past the first round where welost last year to Union Academy.“We’ve been working hard on defense and

passing and I’ve been stressing speed and play-ing together as a team. I expect the girls towork hard, play as a team, have a positive atti-tude and give it a 100 percent all the time. I’mreally excited about this team and the season. Itshould be fun.”

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1166 —at Providence Grove; 2211 —South Stanly; 2233 —at North Rowan; 2277—O’Neal; 2288—at South Davidson; 3300 —Albemarle;SSeepptt.. 44 —West Montgomery; 1100 —East Montgomery; 1111 —Gray Stone;1133 — at Chatham Central; 1177 — Providence; 1188 — at South Stanly; 2200— North Rowan; 2244 — South Davidson; 2255 — at Albemarle; 2277 — atWest Montgomery; OOcctt .. 44 —at East Montgomery; 99 —at Gray Stone; 1111—Chatham Central.

Patriot NettersTurn to Hitters

see HITTERS, page 9 see CHEMISTRY, page 9

Chemistry Key For Lady Vikes

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2012 THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. PAGE 9

setting duties to using her passing and digging ability at thedefensive specialist (libero) position. Painter and Goodwin will bedeployed as middle blockers.Williams, who missed last season because of shoulder surgery,will be one of the outside hitters along with senior Devin Lallyand varsity newcomers in sophomore Olivia McKinney and sen-ior Mary Grace Phipps. Sophomore Alysha Gaffney is anothermiddle blocker. Returnee Katie Smith, Madison Walling and EllaCotton, all juniors, are defensive specialists.“Our hitting is great and our setting is amazing,” Painter said.“We have great chemistry, especially with Megan, Keegan and

me. It’s like a bond we have. We jell.”Missing will be two players who could have helped a lot. Afterenjoying a strong sophomore season as a defensive specialist,and an impressive summer camp with the team at UNCGreensboro, Rae Nunez moved to Texas. Molly Maples, impres-sive as a freshman varsity player two years ago, will miss her sec-ond season in a row because of a knee injury.The nucleus of the team played Junior Olympic volleyball forthe AC Sandhills club during the offseason. Foxx, who is within21 wins of second place on the state’s all-time win list, looks forher experienced squad to get off to a good start.“We have a lot of talent, but this year we’re looking for consis-tency,” the coach said. “We’re looking forward to a big year andgoing farther than we did last year. The conference should bestrong this year and I’m looking forward to that. That only makesus better.”

But can the Patriots finally displace the Scots as conferencechampions? Painter thinks so.“We cannot wait to play them,” she says. “I wish we could playthem tomorrow. I think that seven years is going to come to anend. I think we will beat them this year.”The Pats would also like to go farther than the third round ofthe state playoffs as they did the past two years.“We’re going to be pretty tough to beat, but we can’t take any-body for granted,” Painter says. “Everybody in our conference ispretty tough so we have to play hard all season.”

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1133 —Jack Britt; 1144 —Lee County; 1166 —E.E. Smith; 2200 —at Jack Britt; 2211 —Western Harnett; 2277 —at E.E. Smith; SSeepptt.. 55 —Union Pines; 66 —Lumberton; 88 — tournament atLaney; 1111 — Scotland; 1122 — at Lee County; 1133 — at Purnell Swett; 1188 — at Richmond; 1199 — atUnion Pines; 2200 —Hoke; 2244 —Middle Creek; 2266 —at Western Harnett; 2277 —at Lumberton; OOcctt ..22 — at Scotland; 33 — at Overhills; 44 — Purnell Swett; 99 — Richmond; 1100 — Overhills; 1111 — atHoke; 1155 — start of SEC Tournament.

HittersFrom Page 8

and had a great experience. For me, the chem-istry this unit has built from our early summerjamboree to the end of our team camp isamazing — they have been working hard.”Despite losing five seniors, Fish admitted sheis not really concerned with leadership being aproblem for the Vikings.“I am not all that worried about our ability tocompete or stay composed,” said Fish. “I thinkthese girls will be fine. I am not questioningwhether players will step up and beleaders on the team because I seeit happening already“Brittany Erickson is a naturalleader, Tiffany Hicks has a lot of thesame quality characteristics that hersister, Crystal Hicks, had. KelseyTroyer has also been stepping upby being a vocal leader so I amreal pleased with her. Also ZazilPorras is stepping into a prominentrole where she is leading by exam-ple.”Vike seniors Erickson, Porras andTroyer along with junior TiffanyHicks form the nucleus of returnersfrom last year’s squad, and allplayed significant minutes as eithera starter or key reserve. The otherreturnee is junior Ashlyn Owens,who did see some time on thecourt last season but in a limitedrole.Erickson proved to be a versatile player forUnion Pines last season as one of the Vikes bet-ter servers as well as being a superior defenderthat could pass with precision and slam homea kill at the net on the outside.“Looking at our team, I think we have a goodmix of veteran players and some younger onescoming up to the varsity level,” said Erickson.“More than anything, I think this year is goingto be fun and full of excitement because ourteam chemistry is so strong.“Being a senior I am really stoked about it alland ready to get the season going. Our pass-ing and communication is going to be very

important on the back row and it has beensteadily improving. Meanwhile, our attackershave been doing well when the sets are there.”In terms of numbers, Fish and the Vike pro-gram had so many players turn out for tryoutsthat she actually had to cut some girls — some-thing she had not had to do in four years.“Our numbers have been getting better atcamp the past few years so I think that is onething that can attribute to it,” said Fish, whoseteam scrimmaged against O’Neal the day priorin a final preparatory exercise.“At the scrimmage yesterday, I saw a lot ofgood things,” said Fish. “We were making sureto back each other up out there and as a groupwe passed really well, which are two things we

have been talking about and willbe critical to our success all seasonlong.”Fish made it clear that on-the-court success is among her team’smost primary of objectives.“This season, our ultimate goal isto claim the top-seed going intoour league tournament outright,”she said. “Even though we werethe top seed last season, we gotthe seed through luck of the draw.This season we don’t want to leaveit to luck.”Joining the five returners toround out the Viking varsity rosterare Shelby Boyette, RachelBreasseale, Melissa Green, MeganHarris, Charlotte Holder, StephanieJohnson, Alex Prots and BrookPhillips.

Union Pines started its season with two roadmatches, first on Aug 13 at Richmond SeniorHigh and then against the West MontgomeryWarriors in Mt. Gilead on Aug. 15 before host-ing Purnell Swett in the Vikes’ home opener onAug. 16.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1133 —at Richmond; 1155 —at West Montgomery; 1166 —Purnell Swett; 2211 —Richmond; 2222 —West Montgomery; 2233 —at PurnellSwett; 2277 —— at Terry Sanford; 2288 —— at Douglas Byrd*; 3300 — atOverhills*; SSeepptt.. 44 —— Gray’s Creek*; 55 — at Pinecrest; 66 —— SouthernLee*; 1111 —— at Western Harnett*; 1122 —— Terry Sanford; 1133 —The O’NealSchool; 1188 —— Westover*; 1199 —Pinecrest; 2200 —— Douglas Byrd*; 2255 —Overhills*; 2277 —— at Gray’s Creek; OOcctt .. 22 —— at Southern Lee*; 44 ——Western Harnett* (Senior Night); 1155--1166 —— CFVC Tournament (LocationTBA)

* Cape Fear Valley Conference games

ChemistryFrom Page 8


Pinecrest volleyball coach Barbara Foxx and Union Pines coach Leslie Fish (foreground) are both expecting successful seasons for their teams.

“ I think wehave a good

mix of veteranplayers and

some youngerones coming

up to thevarsity level.”

Vike SeniorBrittany Erickson


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Union Pines Boys Ready to Build on Last SeasonBY F. W. MANNING II

Sports WriterAfter a concerted rebuilding effort last season,

head coach Mike Mibb and the Union Pinesboys’ soccer team are hoping a solid foundationand some stability will be the building blocks to asuccessful 2012 on-pitch campaign.

After a 1-4 start under new head coach Mibblast season, the Vikings later suffered a three-game league-losing skid as they fell to 2-3 in 3-ACape Fear Valley Conference play and 3-7-1overall. From that point on, Union Pines went 6-2to close the season with a renewed sense of prideand belief in their abilities as a team.

One reason for the mid-season turnaroundwas the process the team endured in the earlygoing of learning the system and philosophy of anew coach. Mibb, who was the team’s third headcoach in as many seasons, opted to start fromscratch when he took the helm of the team. Theresult was a resolute focus on fitness, along withaptitude in fundamental skills and tactical think-ing.

This season with Mibb back on the sidelinesand a large contingent of varsity returners, thesummer training sessions have been less aboutlearning the basics and more about how toimplement those basics into more complex setsand game time strategies.

“I have 13 returning juniors and four seniors,”

Mibb said “and they all played a substantialamount of time, although not all on varsity. Butthere is a strong core of guys that saw a substan-tial amount of time on the varsity level and wegot to know each other.”

Mibb served as both the varsity and junior var-sity head coach last season and will be doing soagain this year.

“At the end of the season that familiarity beganto show on the field in terms of our level of com-petitiveness and with results,” said Mibb. “I havebeen able to work with the boys since last springsemester three times a week and then all duringthe summer I had a core that was here — justgetting fitter, faster and softer with their touches.

“As a result I have not had to spend the timeworking so much on the basic fundamentals interms of dribbling and how to defend. That hasallowed us to put a whole lot more emphasis on(the) small-sided game scenarios where they areworking as units instead of individuals. So theyare working more cohesively, they are thinking alittle better and are anticipating in terms of look-ing ahead as the game unfolds in front of them.”

Adam Howard, one of the Vikes’ top goal scor-ers last season, returns for Union Pines this yearfor his senior year, and he is pleased to havesome steadiness back in the soccer program.

“We have been getting a good number of guysout consistently with good workouts,” Howard

said, “and we finally have a dedicated coachwho comes out and really cares about us. So thatis something nice to have finally.

“As a result I would say that we are going intothis season better than we have in the past since Ihave been here. I feel like based on the work andsacrifice we made to get better last season, com-ing into this year we have a general idea of what

we want to do and what our coach expects. Theway the preseason has gone, I think we are readyto prove something, but we will see.”

Union Pines opened its season Wednesday,Aug. 15, with a road match against intra-countyrival The O’Neal School in Southern Pines.

In terms of his team’s prospects for the upcom-ing season, Mibb is optimistic.

“I know more about our league now,” he said.“I really like the way Southern Lee plays soccer —they play a beautiful fluid game for a high schoolteam.”

Last season, Southern Lee won the CFVC regu-lar-season championship with a perfect leaguemark of 12-0, going 17-4 overall

“My guys are getting closer, but until we get tothat level we can’t beat them (Southern Lee),”Mibb said. “Having said that, we should be noless than second in the conference. Still we haveto play better as a unit, we have to play quickerand we have to be able change speeds effective-ly.”

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1155 —at The O’Neal School; 2200 —at Richmond; 2222 —Jordan-Matthews; 2233 — at Lee County; SSeepptt .. 44 — at East Montgomery; 55—— Lee County; 1100 —at Douglas Byrd*; 1122 —at Overhills*; 1177 —Gray’sCreek*; 1199 —— Southern Lee*; 2244 — at Western Harnett*; 2277 — HokeCounty; OOcctt.. 11 — Westover*; 33 — Douglas Byrd*; 88 — Overhills; 1100 ——at Gray’s Creek*; 1155 —at Southern Lee*; 1177 —— Western Harnett*; 1188 —at Hoke; 2222 — at Jordan-Matthews; 2244 —— at Westover*.

*Cape Fear Valley Conference games

F.W. MANNING II/The Pilot

Adam Howard is one of the top playersreturning for the Vikings.



When Taylor Morton joined the Pinecrest boys’ soccer teamtwo years ago as a sophomore, it was loaded with experiencedplayers that would go on to make history at the school.

The Patriots head into this season minus 16 members thatgraduated after helping the team make it to the 4-A EastRegional championship match for the third year in a row. A22-3-2 2011 season ended with a 4-0 loss to eventual statechampion Green Hope.

“It’s weird not having guys like Richard (Palmer), Barrett(Goulden) and Nick (Kruyer) to look up to,” Morton said beforea practice last week. “They were so good. Now we’re in thatposition and we’re leading everybody.”

Todd Abbey, the Patriot coach during the run, has steppeddown and been replaced by junior varsity coach Evan Saleeby.

In addition to Morton, who was credited with seven goalsand 17 assists a year ago as an outside midfielder, the sevenreturnees included Hayden Little. The senior striker led theteam with 28 goals, including five in the state playoffs.

Senior Luke Lynch is the lone returning defensive starter. Mid-field returnees are seniors Hunter Oliver, Jake Harbeck andDrew Phillips, and junior Rene Cruz.

Saleeby, a Virginia native who played four years of collegesoccer at UNC Pembroke, is well-acquainted with the varsitynewcomers moving up from the jayvee team that went 14-0.He also got to see them work with the returnees during a teamcamp held at UNC Greensboro this summer.

“The most important thing we have to work on is the chem-istry because there are a lot of jayvee players coming up,” hesaid. “I feel good about the team offensively with Hayden Littleback.”

At 6-foot-4, Little provides a lot more problems for defendersthan just his size.

“He’s not just a target person,” his coach said. “It’s part ofhis game, but he’s also dynamic. He’s pretty fast and his feetare very good. And he’s a good finisher. He’s the whole pack-age.”

Little will be on top in a 4-2-3-1 formation that Saleeby says

is popular among the top European teams. The Patriots willalso use a 4-3-3.

Looking at the other projected starters, sophomore GerardoPeraza moves up from the jayvee team to be the inside attack-ing midfielder. He is flanked by Cruz and Harbeck. Phillips andOliver take over the holding midfield spots from Palmer, a two-time all-state selection, and Goulden, an all-region pick.

“I really like that position,” Phillips said. “Obviously, I havebig shoes to fill, but I think I can handle it. Last year my rolewas to come in when somebody needed a break. Now I needto be there and give it everything I have for the whole game.”

Because of a shortage of experienced defenders to start theseason, Morton volunteered to pitch in. He was expected to bein the right back position for last Monday’s season openingmatch against Jack Britt. Junior Steven Sawyer, Lynch and sen-ior Jeffrey Maser complete the back four.

Junior Garrett Melia will be the goalkeeper, backed up bysenior Jordan Wilkins.

Saleeby appreciates the leadership being provided byMorton.

“As soon as we started the summer workouts, he was the guygetting everybody together,” the coach said. “That’s a veryimportant role this year with all the new faces.”

Other varsity newcomers include seniors Phillip Lett, ClayRitcher, Ryan Garner and Eisaku Sato, juniors Felix Licerio, SamAlexander, Spencer Eltschlager, Jovanny Gonzalez, NickGuyon, Mark Kropp, Michael Phelps, Josh Rhea and MikeTzavlas.

The Patriots will be seeking their 16th conference title in arow. They are 160-5-5 over the last 15 years in league match-es. Steve Tarr replaces Saleeby as the jayvee coach.

“We’re looking to get back to the semis for sure and I don’tsee any reason why we can’t,” Morton says. “If we don’t, I’mgoing to be pretty disappointed.”

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1133—Jack Britt; 2277 —at Sanderson; SSeepptt .. 66 —East Chapel Hill; 1100—HollySprings; 1122 — Lumberton; 1177 — Scotland; 1199 — at Purnell Swett; 2244 — at Richmond; 2255 —Hoke; 2277 —at East Chapel Hill; OOcctt.. 33 — at Lumberton; 88 — at Scotland; 1100 —Purnell Swett;1155 —Richmond; 1177 —at Hoke.


With longtime North Moore boys’ soccer coach MichaelShamberger missing most of the preseason doing missionwork in Kenya, one might think he wouldn’t be familiar withhis 2012 team.

That may not be case with 10 returning starters, includingfour all-conference performers returning from last year’ssecond-place team. With the number of veterans hitting thefield for the season, the Mustangs could unseat longtimeYadkin Valley Conference champion East Montgomery forthe league title.

“If we live up to our potential, we can be pretty good,”said Shamberger, who is starting his 14th season at thehelm of the Mustang program. “But you never know when itcomes to soccer. We have a good mix of younger and olderplayers, and a lot depends on how well they adjust to eachother.”

The four returning all-conference players include lastyear’s top scorer, sophomore Pedro Ugarte, who mans oneof the forward positions. A pair of seniors, Oliver Castrejonand Gerbacio Cabrera, are also returning all-conferenceplayers and are this year’s captains. Castrejon will be adefender while Cabrera is a midfielder.

The fourth member who received all-league honors lastyear is sophomore Fernando Lopez, who was a defenderlast year, but moves to a midfielder position this year.

The team’s roster is made up of five seniors, six juniors, sixsophomores and four freshmen. The other three seniors onthe team are all starters with Brandon Ambriz and BrianMorales being defenders and Luis Solache playing a for-ward position. Junior Alejandro Mendoza is slated to startas a midfielder. There are two other sophomore starters,Danny Garcia and Fredy Loza, with Garcia being the goal-keeper and Loza a midfielder.

The lone newcomer on the starting squad is freshmandefender David Benitez. The other juniors on the squad thatare expected to see plenty of playing time are Julio Parra,Edgar Catalan, Roque Popoca, Cesar Rojo and RodolfoZamora. The rest of the sophomores are Juan Cruz andToni Cruz. The other three freshmen on the 21-man teamare Iban Catalan, Eddie Garcia and Anselmo Gonzalez.

Shamberger expects the competition for the conferencechampionship to be fierce between the Mustangs, EastMontgomery, Albemarle and Gray Stone. He also thinksSouth Stanly could be a dark horse or maybe spoil one ofthe top teams’ chances for a title. South Davidson hasshown improvement over the years and could create someproblems if overlooked.

There are three conference teams, West Montgomery,North Rowan and Chatham Central, not fielding teams thisyear, so it will be a six-team race for the championship.

Shamberger always plays a tough nonconference sched-ule that includes several 3-A and 4-A schools in hopes ofpreparing the team for the demanding conference slate.

“Our goal is to compete for the conference championshipand if we live up to our potential, we have a good chanceto meet that goal,” said Shamberger, whose team finishedlast year with a 10-9 overall mark and a second-roundplayoff exit. “We also want to make a deeper run in thestate playoffs.”

NORMAL STILWELL/Special to The Pilot

Hayden Little, here scoring a regular-season goal, had five goals during the Patriots’ playoff run last season.

New Coach Guides Patriots

Veteran MustangsMake Run at Top



When North Moore cross country coach Chris Coble speaksabout the upcoming season for his boys’ and girls’ teams, youcan’t help but notice the contagious excitement in his voice.

One of the reasons is the large turnout he had for both teams,plus the number of returning top runners from last year boys’team.

“I have been a coach at North Moore for 11 years, sevendoing the cross country team, and we’ve never had this many tocome out,” said Coble, whose boys’ team finished third in theYadkin Valley Conference last season. “We had 26 boys and 16girls come out for the two teams. We had a lot of freshmencome out, and that is good for the future.”

With five of his top-seven runners from last season’s boys’team coming back, including all-conference performer seniorAlex Landers, Coble has a right to feel optimistic about thisyear’s chances of finishing high in the conference standings.

“Alex finished fifth last year in the conference meet and I’mlooking for him to improve,” said Coble. “He’s been working

real hard in the offseason and if he stays healthy, he shouldcompete with the top runners in the conference.”

The other runners returning that were among the Mustangs’top-seven are seniors Cole Garner, Luke Moore, Daniel Purvisand sophomore Tristin Mackey. Other seniors on the boys’ squadwho will be pushing the top of the lineup are Paul Grant, MasonMorris, Brandon Purvis and Ollie Seawell.

Coble has three juniors on the team in Tristan Britt, AustinHunsucker and Jesse Priest. The sophomores on the teambesides Mackey are Jacob Lewis, Jacob Marley, Josh May andTristan McDonald, who Coble thinks should compete in the topseven.

There are eight newcomers on the team from the freshmanclass, Ivan Bunjume, Kylie Bouplon, Jacob Britt, Justin Edmonds,Tyler Hunsucker, Jarrett Hussey, Camden Little and Travis Shelton.

“I look for us to be competing for one of the upper spots in theconference,” said Coble. “But you never know what the otherteams might pick up. Last year West Montgomery won the con-ference, but they had a lot of seniors. If I had to pick a team, Iwould have to say Chatham Central, who has everybody back,

including last year’s top runner Chris Jaeger.”Coble has his best runner back from last year’s girls’ team,

senior Jourdan Wofford, who is healthy this year.“We had a small team last year and we were banged up,”

said Coble. “But if Jourdan stays healthy, along with seniorMiranda Freeman, and we get some help from the youngergirls, we hope to move into the upper half of the conference.”

Coble has a third senior on the team in Bethany Robbins,along with junior Kristin Garner, sophomores Merlin Cabrera,Morgan Jeffries, Judith Pulido, freshmen Haley Davis, CristinaGuillen, Kayla Kidd, Stephanie Maness, Taylor Sheffield andEmiliee Brown.

Coble is assisted this year by coach Brandon Reynolds and theteam’s first meet is the conference preseason meet at ChuckMorehead Park hosted by Gray Stone Aug. 21. The meet isscheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 2288 —at Chatham Central; SSeepptt .. 44 —at East Montgomery; 1111 —home meet; 1188— Chatham Central; 2255 — at North Rowan; OOcctt .. 22 — at West Montgomery; 99 — at EastMontgomery; 1166 — conference championship.


Longtime Union Pines cross country coachNat Carter had a modest number of athletesparticipating in summer workouts as the Vikingboys’ and girls’ squads readied for the 2012campaign.

Those numbers have since grown a bit, as 33runners comprise the Union Pines overall crosscountry roster.

“We have been training for over a monthnow and the numbers are starting to pick upsome, which is something we need,” saidCarter. “It will be the second or third meet of theseason before some of these people start tocome around. As a result I will need to continueto run in longer distances before I can appreci-ate what they are doing, and capable of doingin their interval work.”

Union Pines’ Abby Verchick made her mark inthe 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference in amajor way her freshman season. Verchick wasnamed the conference’s female runner of theyear. She did so by winning all seven of herregular season races.

Now with one season under her belt, Verchickis excited to get her sophomore season started.

“Things have been going pretty well from atraining standpoint,” she said. “Now cominginto August, I need to push a little bit more andfocus on what needs to be accomplished thisseason.”

The Vike girls placed second in the regular-season standings a year ago and finished third

at the league meet to make it to the regionalrace. Both Verchick and her coach believe thatthis year’s squad of 19 runners can competefor and possibly win a league crown.

Of the 19 girls, nine are upperclassmen withLaura Haulsee and Brianna Stengel serving asthe senior captains. Other seniors includeDebbie Gibson and Tayloranne Kramer.

The team has five juniors competing in KatlynBenton, Joe Kelly, Hannah Phillips, KatlinRichards and Danielle Wilson, while the fivesophomores include Verchick, MackenzieFrancisco, Jessica Galloway, Erin Metcalf andRachel Peterson. A group of five freshmen,including Alizabeth Bowlus, Aubrey Dalton,Lillie Majuri, Emma Short and Ali Wadsworth,round out the girls’ roster.

“We are going to see if we can go out therethis season and get our conference champi-onship back,” said Carter. “I know Overhills isgoing to be tough again, and Western Harnettwas doing pretty well late last year andSouthern Lee has been sneaking in there, so itwill be challenging. But I like our chances andthink this group has the potential to take thetitle if they want it.”

The Viking boys are 24 runners strong thisyear with three seniors, including captain StormJessup along with Zack Sprouse and RobertSibley.

“Being a captain is a great honor, but it isalso a lot on me,” said Jessup. “I want to do

N.M. Coach Excited About Upcoming Season


Union Pines cross country coach Nat Carter shares a light moment with sophomoreAbby Verchick, who was named the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference’s FemaleRunner of the Year in her freshman season.

League Crown in SightFor Vike Cross Country

see CROWN, page 13



As successful as the Pinecrest cross country program has beenat the conference and regional levels, it has been a while sincethey’ve been in the state equation.With a tightly knit group of talented runners on both squads,

girls’ coach John Buchholz and boys’ mentor Jeremy Swoffordsize things up similarly.“In order to break into the top five in the state, we are going to

have to have five girls in the mid-19s or better,” Buchholz says.“Every guy in the top five from last year’s state meet is going to

have to improve last year’s times by at least 30 seconds,” is theway Swofford puts it.The pollsters also recognize the possibilities for the Patriots. NC

Runners ranks the boys No. 3 behind Broughton and Watauga,and the girls No. 7. Another poll has them at No. 4 and No. 10,respectively.Patriot senior Jennie Cunningham’s personal best of 18:42 is

only five seconds off the Pinecrest record of 18:37 set by LexieSchustrom in 2010. Senior Sarah Pressley and juniors KatieHayes, Jaleigh Jensen and Mulloy Manning have all broken 20minutes during their running careers.Senior Hayden Rudd and junior Sarah Klug have knocked on

the door. Another is senior Savannah Merritt, a transfer from TheO’Neal School, who finished eighth at last year’s 2-A NCISAAmeet in 20:27.Other experienced seniors are Kara Zoellner, who competed in

last year’s state meet, Hannah Barnhorst and Allie Schustrom.Junior Zia Matti is among the others who have a chance to breakinto the top seven.Cunningham, the school record holder in the 800-meter run,

East Regional runner-up and defending Southeastern Conferencechampion, had surgery in June to correct a deviated septum andsinus problems.“I can definitely tell on runs I have more energy,” she said by

phone from the team camp held in Charlottesville, Va., last week.“This week has really clarified how united we are and work as ateam. That will be a key to our being a top-five team.”The Patriot girls won their 20th conference title in a row last fall

while the boys squad that had no seniors came out on top for the17th time in the last 18 years. The Pats swept the East Regional.Junior Chris Kelly is back after earning SEC Runner of the Year

honors a year ago. Senior Jacob Troutman’s eighth-place finish in16:39 led the Patriots at the regional. Seniors Will Pearson andBecket Killam and juniors Kelly and Matt Harmody all finishedwithin 12 seconds of him.

Senior Graham Hawes and junior Javier Bustos, who Swoffordsays has improved dramatically, are among the others that willcompete for the top-seven positions. The turnout of 13 freshmenfor summer workouts is the largest the coach has had.“We’ve built a program where we’re feeding in constantly,” he

says. “The middle school program is what has really helped us. AtSouthern Middle School, they’re training them the right way andthat’s helping us.“Barring injuries, we should have one of the best finishes since

we won the state meet (2004).”The season gets under way with the annual Jungle Run at South

View High School on Sept. 1.“It’s exciting going into it,” Troutman says of his senior year,

“but at the same time it’s almost a bittersweet feeling. It’s my lastyear so I really want us to do well. After four years of runningtogether, we’re really tight. We pick on each other, but at the endof the day we’re all friends. It’s a real close team.”

SScchheedduullee:: SSeepptt.. 11 — Jungle Run at South View; 55 —SEC at Hoke; 88 —Fundraiser (ACT); 1111 —SEC at Purnell Swett; 1155 — Patriot Derby Invitational; 1188 —Hagan Stone Invitational; 2255 — SEC atLumberton; 2299 —Great American CC Festival at Wake Med; OOcctt.. 22 —SEC at Pinecrest; 66 —Wendy’sat McAlpine Park; 99 — SEC at Scotland; 1133 — Beeson Park Invitational; 1166 — SEC championship atCarolina Horse Park; 2277 —East Regional at Carolina Horse Park; NNoovv.. 33 — 4-A state meet at BeesonPark, Kernersville.

O’NealCoverage

For preview stories of The O’NealSchool’s fall sports teams, see Fridayand Sunday’s editions of The Pilot.The Falcons have teams playing

boys’ soccer, girls’ tennis, cross countryand volleyball in the Cape FearIndependent Conference.

my best to get the guys motivated and do whatthey are supposed to do. So in a way it isnerve-racking but I will try my best to learn as Igo how to be a leader, because we have a lotof new runners.” Last season, the boys won five of their final

seven regular-season CFVC races but placedsecond in the league championship meet toOverhills.

“We look to be in the top three of the leaguethis season,” said Carter. “Overhills will still bethe team to beat, and Douglas Byrd has two orthree real solid runners, though I am not surethey will have the overall depth they had a sea-son ago.“For us we should be pretty deep from our

first through seventh spots if the guys start com-ing along.”The Vike boys have seven juniors, including

Clay Davis, Anthony Heinauer, PatrickO’Sullivan, Waylin Owsley, Jake Strickland, IraVanPelt and Peter Whitehouse, eight sopho-mores in Nicolas Campbell Noah Harvey-Fonvil, Shane Medlin, James Pederson, Brian

Porter, Kenneth Skipper and Benjamin White,along with six freshmen in Wade Benton, JakeChavis, Reagan Fedowitz, Joshua Kegley,Noland Kraemer and Cullen Owens.Both the boys and girls Viking cross country

teams open the season Aug. 29 in Lillington ata tri-school CFVC meet hosted by WesternHarnett.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg 2299 — at Western Harnett; SSeepptt.. 11 — Jungle RunInvitational at South View; 55 — at Overhills; 1122 — home CFVC tri-schoolmeet; 1155 —— Patriotic Derby Invitational at Carolina Horse Park; 1199 — atSouthern Lee; 2266 — at Westover; 2299 — Greensboro Invitational at HaganStone Park; OOcctt.. 33 —— Douglas Byrd; 1100 —home CFVC tri-school meet; 1177—CFVC championship meet at Southern Pines Reservoir Park.

CrownFrom Page 12

Coaches, Pollsters Recognize Patriots’ PotentialDONNA FORD/The Pilot

The Patriots, attired in green uniforms, send wave after wave of talented runners into cross country action each season. This year both boys and girls are ranked in the top 10.



As North Moore coach Cheryl Brewer opensher third season back on the job coaching theLady Mustangs girls’ tennis team, she doeshave eight returning players from last year’steam.

That sounds like a lot of veterans, but manyare inexperienced and still learning the gameof tennis.

“We lost only two players from last year(Julie Williams and April Warren), but we dohave some returners from last year,” saidBrewer, who coached for 22 years beforecoming back into coaching ranks after a fewyears of retirement. “We’re very inexperiencedand we’re working hard to improve. I tell thegirls to try to come off the court better thanwhen they went on the court.”

The Mustangs’ top player is senior ShannonMarley, who didn’t play last year but was all-conference her sophomore season as a mem-ber of the team. Brewer stated that Marley isthe only girl to wrap up her position on theteam and the rest of the lineup is uncertain as

the girls battle each other for playing time.Brewer has three other players that were in

the top six last year, senior Clerisa Gomez,junior Ciera McDonald and sophomoreMelanie Stewart. All three should challenge forplaying time again this year.

The team has four other players that weremembers of last season’s team, seniors LeslieAvila, Sabrina Garner, junior Sara Comer andsophomore Melissa Kennedy. SophomoreLydia Priest is a member of the team after notplaying last season as a freshman.

The Mustangs have five freshmen on theteam, making the future to look bright asBrewer rebuilds the tennis program. The fresh-man group of players are Amber Hussey,Stephanie McNeill, Keely Cleaveland, MarianaOrtuno and Birianda Lira Guiterrez.

As the group learns the game, the competi-tion should make the girls better players forthe future. This year’s Yadkin ValleyConference race should once again be athree-team battle for the top spot. ChathamCentral is the early choice for the league titlethat East Montgomery won last season.

After finishing third last season in a tightlycontested battle with East Montgomery andGray Stone, the Lady Bears return all sixstarters from last year’s team. EastMontgomery and Gray Stone, who finishedsecond last year, have players to replace intheir starting lineup.

“Our goal is to get better every day and tryto make it the playoffs,” said Brewer. “I’m real-ly looking forward to this season. The girls areeager to learn and they’re working hard toimprove. This is a great group of kids and weshould have some fun.”

The Mustangs open their Yadkin ValleyConference slate Aug. 20 when they hostSouth Stanly. They are on the road the nexttwo matches, traveling to North Rowan Aug.22 and South Davidson Aug. 23. All thematches are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 2200 —South Stanly; 2222 —at North Rowan; 2233 —at South Davidson; 2299 —Albemarle; 3300—West Montgomery; SSeepptt.. 55— East Montgomery; 66 —Gray Stone; 1100 — at Chatham Central; 1122—at South Stanly; 1133 —North Rowan; 1177 —South Davidson; 1199—at Albemarle; 2200 — at West Montgomery; 2266 — at East Montgomery;OOcctt.. 11 —at Gray Stone; 33 —Chatham Central.


It’s been almost four years since then-Pinecrest freshman Chrissy Nurnberg showedsome true grit in the final consolation singlesmatch of the Southeastern Conference tennistournament.

Playing for the fourth time that day, she rallied from a 6-1 loss in the first set to defeather Scotland High opponent in an excruciat-ingly tense match under the lights at thePinehurst Tennis Center.

“Well, I really wanted to go to regionals,”she said moments after that victory.

Nurnberg and another determined playerin junior Caroline Decker won the conferencedoubles title the last two years. That qualifiedthem for the regionals twice and they made itto the state tournament a year ago. They arealso expected to be the top singles duo for aPatriot squad coached by Gail Deese thatbegins a new season seeking its fifth leaguetitle in a row.

“I think my No. 1 and No. 2 are going tobe hard to beat,” Deese says.

The Patriots will be without two-time confer-ence singles champion Ally Parziale and lastyear’s No. 4, Antonia Meyers, through grad-uation. They may not match last year’sleague dominance that included winning 58of 59 sets in singles. But Deese likes what shehas seen of the talent so far.

“We’re not real powerful, but very steady,”last season’s conference coach of the yearsays. “Our top-six players are very deter-mined, especially in singles.”

Nurnberg and Decker were both 11-2,including non-conference play and 15-2 indoubles. Senior Karen Smith (7-4) and soph-omores Brittany Jenkins (9-2) and Piper Davisare other returnees that were in the singlesrotation a year ago and received All-SEChonorable mention recognition.

Among those back vying for a singles spotis sophomore Delaney Kjellson. With addi-tional players still expected to come out forthe team, juniors Kaitlyn Newman, Josie Lee,Amanda McCauley and Lynsi Beers, andfreshmen Samara Wright and Paige Sumner,are also providing competition.

“We have a bunch of young girls on theteam this year,” Nurnberg says. “I’m hopingall the girls can step it up. They’re going tobe good.”

The Patriots open the season at Jack Britton Monday.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 2200 —at Jack Britt; 3300 —Lumberton; SSeepptt .. 44 —Scotland; 66—at Purnell Swett; 1111—at Richmond; 1133—Hoke County;1144 — Chapel Hill; 2200 — at Lumberton; 2255 — at Scotland; 2277 —Purnell Swett; OOcctt.. 11 — Union Pines; 22 — Richmond; 44 — at HokeCounty; 99--1100 — conference tournament.


Led by a group of five savvy seniors, theUnion Pines girls’ tennis team approaches the2012 season with expectations of competingfor league, regional and state honors.

According to head coach John Frye, thesquad should be among the early favorites towin the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference(CFVC) championship.

Last season the Lady Vikings finished 17-1overall, capturing their seventh straight CFVCcrown along the way before reaching theround of 16 in the state dual team playoffs.

As the most heralded senior of the bunch,Melissa Tally went 34-3 in 2011 and becamea member of Union Pines’ exclusive 100-career-win club. All indications point towardTally being set for her final season in theViking blue, where she returns to the court asa two-time CFVC singles champion.

“Being here since I was a freshman, it is soexciting to come into my senior year havingplayed with all these girls,” said Tally. “For me,the fact I have already accomplished the 100wins and have the two (singles) titles justmakes me want to work even harder

“Also as a senior I want to do my share tohelp lead our team in league play and keepour conference championship winning streakalive. As far as leadership, all five of us(seniors) are excited to and embrace that role.”

An all-conference selection Tally will bejoined by fellow seniors Laura Cameron, ElenaD’Argenio and Maddie Walden.

Also in that group is fourth-year standoutMadi Kramer, who finished last year at 28-5.However, the two-time CFVC doubles champi-on is nursing a signifi-cant shoulder injury,making her statusuncertain.

The team will also bewithout conference sin-gles runner-up BrittanyJones and VirginiaPriest, who are prepar-ing for college tenniscareers.

“We hope to getMadi back by midsea-son,” Frye said, “but asof now three places areopen in our dual-teamlineup. So we will haveto fill those slots in theearly going, as we willbe facing some realchallenges at the out-set.

“But still, we feelgood about our girls.They have tremendous work ethic and wehave been able to do a lot with them this sum-mer. We have had tremendous camps andgreat drill sessions, so the progress we aremaking is noticeable. Every player is improvedso we are looking forward to the season.”

As the CFVC singles champion, Tally wasone of six all-conference selections along with

Jones, Priest, Kramer, Cameron andD’Argenio.

The four returning all-conference selectionswill be joined by fiveincoming freshmen,including SouthernChampionship qualifi-er Mary Beth Jackson,along with MaudieChalflinch, MeaganPusser, Megan Smithand Kailee Southworth.

Junior Celine Bullockand sophomoreTabitha Hamiltonreturn along withAudrey Van Arsdale.According to Frye thetrio figures to competefor playing time.

Union Pines openedthe season on the roadagainst the Chapel HillTigers on Aug. 13 andin Siler City against theJordan-Matthews Jetson Aug. 16.

SScchheedduullee:: AAuugg.. 1133 —at Chapel Hill; 1166 —at Jordan-Matthews; 2200—at Douglas Byrd*; 2222 —at Overhills*; 2277—Gray’s Creek*; 2299 —Southern Lee; SSeepptt.. 44 — at Western Harnett*; 1100 —Westover*; 1122—Douglas Byrd*; 1177 —Overhills*; 1199 —at Gray’s Creek*; 2244 —atSouthern Lee; 2266 — Western Harnett*; OOcctt .. 1100--1111 — CFVCTournament at Southern Lee; 1166 — Dual team playoffs; 1199--2200 —Individual regional tournament at Burlington.

*Cape Fear Valley Conference games.


Union Pines’ Melissa Tally returns forher senior campaign.

DeterminedPats Ready

Expectations Are High for Vikings

Making Playoffs Is Goal for Lady ’Stangs



Entering his second season with theUnion Pines girls’ golf team, head coachRaymond Groseclose feels his squad hasplenty to be optimistic about.The Lady Vikings return five playersfrom last year’s group that placed third inthe 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference(CFVC) despite being a relatively youngunit.Three of those golfers, juniors LindsayDakin and Channah Valkos, along withsophomore Kayla Jackson, enter the cur-rent season as 2011 all-league perform-ers. Other returners for the Vikings arejuniors Olivia Blue and Shannen Burns.“Lindsay has been playing in tourna-ments all summer, so she is poised foranother strong season,” said Groseclose.“Channah Valkos has been playing everyday after she gets done (with her job) life-guarding and I can really tell a differencein the way she is hitting the ball.”Union Pines, which officially beganteam practices on Aug. 6 at WhisperingPines Country Club, lost two seniors tograduation in Riley Whalen andMackenzie Koppenhofer. Whalen was anall-conference performer, whileKoppenhofer served as the 2011squad’s captain.Nevertheless, Groseclose feelsthat the addition of two solidfreshmen in Hanna Duncan andAbby Parsons will help his teamwork to achieve its goal of claim-ing a CFVC championship.“Abby Parsons has a swing-and-a-half that you would notbelieve,” said Groseclose. “She is a

solid player who has been taught well andI look for her to be a major contributor forus right off the bat.“So overall I think we are lookingstronger than we were last year — lastyear we were right there at first, second orthird every match with Southern Lee andWestern Harnett. The hope is to push onahead of them this year for the title.“Our group of juniors will be anchoredby Channah (Valkos) and Lindsay (Dakin).Those two have the most experience andwe will naturally be looking for them tolead us.“Meanwhile Shannen Burns and OliviaBlue showed strong signs of improvementlast season and I hope both will be bigcontributors for us this year.”Last year, Union Pines broke a three-season team postseason drought by quali-fying for the Mideast Regional. Prior tothat team-playoff dry spell Union Pineswon back-to-back 1-A/2-A/3-A state teamchampionships in the 2007 and 2008seasons.The Vikings start their campaign Aug.27 with a CFVC match in Sanford atQuail Ridge.


Coming off a fourth-place finish in lastyear’s 4-A state golf tournament, thePinecrest girls have their sights set on big-ger things this time around.Junior Savannah Thompson’s confidencewas buoyed by a fifth-place finish individu-ally after earning Southeastern ConferencePlayer of the Year honors. She and seniorHailey Crider led the Patriots to the EastRegional title as five players qualified forthe state event.Four of those five are back, but Crider,who was the team captain and conferenceplayer of the year as a sophomore in2010, will be unable to play for health rea-sons. She will share the team captain hon-ors this season with Haley Robinson,another fourth-year and all-conferenceplayer.Sophomore Catherine Cirigliano, whoalso gained state tournament experience,and junior Elaine Kearney, are the otherreturnees.A strong addition to the squad isPennsylvania transplant Gabrielle Weiss,who is currently ranked No. 9 amongNorth Carolina junior girls by Golfweek. Agood turnout of new players also includesseniors Shayla Birath and AlexandraSarsozo, juniors Chrissy Boals andVeronica Ogbe and freshman CarolineMiller.“Being a captain and being on the teamfor four years, it’s a big disappointment,”Crider says of her situation. “It makes mefeel better that we have so many girlshere.”Thompson added to her experi-ential memory bank in June by

representing The First Tee of the Sandhillsat the Champions Tour’s Nature Valley FirstTee Open held at Pebble Beach. Her pro-fessional partner was Fred Funk.“When I was there they put us in situa-tions where we had to be social,” she saidbefore a practice round at Pinehurst No. 4last week. “I was in an atmosphere with allthose professional golfers and cameras. Ifeel it made me more confident allaround.”Weiss and her family became acquaintedwith this area when she participated in theU.S. Junior Girls Amateur held at CCNC in2010.“That’s pretty much why we movedhere,” she says. “We really liked the area.”The junior enrolled at Pinecrest last fallafter finishing ninth at Pennsylvania’s (PIAA)state high school championships and earn-ing all-state honors. An AJGA tour regular,she first tried to qualify for the U.S.Women’s Amateur as a 13-year-old andmade another bid to make it this summer.“I really enjoy Pinecrest,” she says. “I’venever learned so much. I’ve never playedon a girls’ team before so I’m pretty excitedabout that.”Second-year coach Jennifer Kearney willbe assisted by Pinehurst Resort profession-als Rich Wainwright and Eric Alpenfels. Thefirst match of the season will be a confer-ence affair on Sept. 10 at one of thePinehurst Resort courses, but the overallschedule has not been finalized.Thompson was asked about her goalsfor the new season.“One of my goals is for our team to winstates,” she said. “I don’t really have a lot

of personal goals.”

Pinecrest Girls TakeAim at State Title

Veteran VikingsPoised to Make Run

fall sports 2012

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