SportsWeek
October 11, 2012
TSC Photos
Cullen Jones accepts his award from Al Buehler.
N.C. Olympic
heroes honored
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
Five prestigious awards were presented by the Triangle
Sports Commission to Olympic athletes and coaches at a North
Carolina Olympic Celebration held in Cary late last month.
The LeRoy Walker Outstanding North Carolina Male and
Female Olympian Awards went to Cullen Jones, who won one
gold and two silver medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games,
and Abby Johnston, a 2012 Summer Games silver medalist,
respectively.
Jones, a former NC State University varsity swimmer and
current Charlotte resident, was
North Carolina's most decorat
ed Olympian at the London
Games. He won gold on the
Men's 4x100 Medley Relay, sil
ver on the Men's 4x100
Freestyle Relay and an individ
ual silver medal in the Men's 50
Freestyle. This was Jones' sec
ond LeRoy Walker Award, hav
ing captured the same trophy
for his outstanding performance
in the Beijing Olympic Games
in 2008. Jones' second-place
finish in the 50 unofficially
makes him the world's second
fastest man on water. A versatile
performer, Jones also gave the
keynote address at the Olympic
& Paralympic Athlete
Reception & Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Johnston competes for the Duke Diving Team under Coach
Drew Johansen, who also served as head coach for the U.S.
Olympic Diving Team in London. Johnston captured the silver
medal in the 10-meter Synchronized Diving event. Together
with her diving partner, Johnston became the first American(s)
ever to win an Olympic Synchronized Diving medal. Coach
Johansen accepted the award on Johnston's behalf.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski was awarded the first-ever A1
Buehler Coaching Excellence Award. Coach K has had an
unprecedented run by leading two consecutive Olympic Gold
medal-winning basketball teams (Beijing and London).
Buehler. a coaching legend and the main subject of a recent
film and book, "The Timeless Wisdom of A1 Buehler," told the
audience that Coach K represented the United States at the high
est level and in the finest way possible.
The Kay Yow Courage Award was presented by Nora Lynn
Finch, associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference
and a longtime associate and friend of the former N.C. State bas
ketball coach who died of breast cancer. Finch indicated that this
year's award winner. Western Carolina University Assistant
Track Coach Manteo Mitchell, was especially deserving, con
sidering he ran his leg of the men's silver-medal-winning 4x400
Relay with a broken leg but refused to stop or give up. The Hill
Carrow Regional Sports Leadership Award was presented to
Bridge 2 Sports, the Triangle region's Paralympic organization
and to Ashley Thomas, the organization's executive director.
Manteo Mitchell speaks.
Raiders near-perfect this season
BY CRAIG T. GREENLEE
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Reagan's junior varsi
ty went through an awful
30-minute stretch in last
week's match-up against
North Davidson. The
Raiders were flagged for
five personal fouls in the
first half and two players
were ejected from the game.
Given all those mis
deeds, coach Josh McGee's
team was fortunate to be
tied 7-7 at halftime. The
Raiders, though, reasserted
themselves in the second
half and the end result was a
24-14 victory.
Trailing by a field goal
late in the third quarter,
Reagan took the lead for
good on Jake Easter's 46
yard touchdown pass to
Isaiah Anthony. The Raiders
put the game away early in
the fourth quarter. Bryson
Harrison dashed past North
Davidson's kick coverage
on a 50-yard punt return and
four plays later, Easter
scored oh a quarterback
keeper from two yards out.
"At halftime, we had a
long conversation about
self-discipline and self-con
trol," said McGee. "I'm
proud of the way
they bounced
back and how
they got better in
the second half.
T h a t ' ?
exactly what we
needed."
Reagan ,(6-1)
could easily be
undefeated at this
point in the sea
son. The only
blemish is a 28-27 home
loss to East Forsyth in late
August.
In that contest, Reagan
missed a PAT kick that
would have tied
the game with less
than four minutes
left to play. The
Raiders offense
launched another
potential game
winning drive with
time running out.
But the comeback
effort fell short
when Anthony
barely missed a 25
yard field goal that would
have won the game.
"There were other things
that we should've done
against East Forsyth but
didn't," said McGee. "But
I'm happy about where we
are right now. Our kids play
hard and they've bought
into our system. We're
excited about the future."
Easter, a strong-armed
passer who can also beat
opponents with his running
ability, is the centerpiece
for Reagan. But that doesn't
mean the Raiders are a one
player team. Running back
Jahni Glenn has game
breaking skills as an elusive
runner and capable receiver.
At the wide-out positions,
Bryson Harrison, Darriel
Brown and Chandler Belk
are dependable and produc
tive.
Defensively, the Raiders
rank among the top JV units
in the county. Alex
Purviance is one of the key
performers at linebacker. In
the North Davidson game,
Purviance recovered a fum
ble and ran it back 69 yards
for Reagan's first score of
the game.
Purviance gets plenty of
help from Paul Rader and
Rick Harrison. Up front,
Garland Wallace, Leroy
Scales and Tim Jordan are
formidable and they contin
ue to improve with every
game.
Even though Easter feels
good about the Raiders hav
ing a superlative season,
he's far from being satis
fied. With three weeks left
in the season, Reagan has
Central Piedmont 4-A
Conference games against
Reynolds (tonight), Davie
t County (Oct. 18) and Mount
'Tabor (Oct. 25). Entering
tonight's junior varsity
games. Reagan is locked in
a three-way tie with
Reynolds and Mount Tabor
for first place in the confer
ence standings.
"Sure, we've only lost
one game, but there's still
so much work for this team
to do," Easter said. "There
are still more games for us
to play. And we take things
game by game. That's why
we have to go back to work
and get ourselves ready for
the next opponent on our j
schedule."
I ? ? iiii i ? I
Photo by Bead Richard/NC Prep Photoa
Jahni Glenn is one of Reagan's key offensive players.
McGee
Rams dominate at Wilbur Ross Invitational
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem State
University Rams and Lady Rams Cross
Country teams took home their third
straight title at the 2012 Wilbur Ross
Cross Country Invitational on
Saturday morning. WSSU hosts the
annual run.
The WSSU men's cross country
team got things started when they took
the men's 5K run title with a team total
of 23 points while the Lady Rams
totaled 16 points to take the win.
The WSSU cross country teams
had a great day against Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(CIAA) foes as well as local rival
Salem College.
The Rams had a great day with six
top ten finishes at the meet, including
three of the top five. WSSU senior
Andrew Chebii led the way for the
Rams with a 16:20.10 to win the men's
5K run. He won the meet by over a full
minute. Sophomore Lewis Benjamin
finished fourth with an 18:07.23 while
fellow sophomore Jaquan Dupree
added a fifth place finish in 18:31.61.
Winston-Salem State remained
dominant in the women's SK run with
the Lady Rams taking the win. The
Lady Rams took the top four finishes
with sophomore Aquila Jones leading
the way. She finished the women's 5K
run in a 20:58.13 while junior Kristi
Baptiste added a second place finish
with a 20:59.39. Freshman Danisha
Wiggins placed third with a 20:59.92
while senior Tyrah Winfrey added a
fourth place finish at 21:33.01.
Overall, the Lady Rams placed six run
ners in the top ten.
With the win, the Rams and Lady
Rams will next take to the course in
the 2012 CI A A Cross Country
Championship at the WakeMed
Soccer Park in Cary, on Friday, Oct.
20.
The speedy Lady Rams runners.
Alum to fund Reynolds Gym makeover
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Wake Forest University alumnus Ben Sutton and
his family have committed to a leadership gift to his
_l A. 1 1_ _ ? 1 1-1_
aim a maier 10 launcn a major neaiui
and wellness initiative on campus. The
centerpiece will be the renovation of
historic Reynolds Gym that includes a
major new addition, creating a facility
with more than 250000 square feet of
space dedicated to fitness and well
being.
The facility will bring together the
elements of campus life, student health,
academics, student recreation and
NCAA Division I athletics under one
roof. In honor of four generations of
the Sutton's family who have attended
Wake Forest University, the facility
will be named the Sutton Wellness and
Recreation Center at historic Reynolds
Gym.
Although Sutton and University officials declined
to announce the exact amount of the gift, it is the sec
ond largest ever received from an alumnus, according
to Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch. According to
President Hatch, the state-of-the-art fitness, health
and wellness center for students, faculty and staff will
??Hi l
be the first and most visible sign of Wake Forest
University's renewed commitment to a culture of
wellness. Officials said that early plans for the new
center include an expanded space for research and
teaching in Health and Exercise Science,
modernized space for fitness and recre
ational sprats, a revitalized health clinic,
a new volleyball venue and spaces for
fitness activity, ranging from free
weights to weight machines, group fit
ness classes, a swimming pool and bas
ketball courts. Additionally, the facility
will house new state-of-the-art strength,
conditioning, sports medicine and nutri
tion components for all of Wake Forest's
student-athletes that Head Football
Coach Jim Grobe, Athletics Director
Ron Wellman and Sutton say will be on
par with the finest athletic programs in
the country.
Sutton, who is president of the sports
marketing company IMG College, has a
long relationship with Wake Forest. His parents, Ben
Sutton Sr. and Minnie Branch; and his maternal
grandfather, former Trustee Dr. Douglas M. Branch;
all attended Wake Forest, and his daughter is current
ly a junior. He is considered a "Double Deac," with
Wake Forest undergraduate and law degrees.
WPU Photo
Ben Sutton Jr.
Renegades extend win streak
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem-based Carolina
Renegades triumphed
over the Kowan
Rampage in Salisbury
on Saturday with a 37
6 victory.
The Rampage
scored first in the sec
ond quarter. The
Renegades came back
as Jeremiah Marable
pitched out to DeFonz
Willis, who completed
a pass to Sammy
Henderson for 22
yards. Marable then
completed a 45-yard
pass to Cory Ingram.
DeFonz Willis inter
cepted a 40-yard pass
and returned it for a
touchdown. Andrew
Tuttlc completed three
yards for an extra point
conversion leaving the game 22-6 going
into the first half.
In the last half, Marable ran three
yards on a quarterback sneak. Evan
Selman kicked a 50
yard field goal.
Marable completed a
60 yard pass to Ray
Montford for the
final score.
The Renegades
play in the Central
Carolina Football
League (CCFL),
which is made up of a
number of semi-pro
teams.
The game brings
the Renegades 9-1
for the season. The
next Renegades
game will be in
Newton on Saturday
against the other top
team in the Central
Carolina Football
League, the Catabwa
Hornets, the only
team to have defeated the Renegades so
far this season.
Submitted Photo
Ray Montford celebrates his
touchdown.