Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Aug. 30, 2001, edition 2 / Page 2
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The New Season Republic Newspapers is happy to bring area football fans this comprehensive pre- season report on teams in its coverage area, and other teams that compete in their confer- ences. 5 : The publication is a joint ef- fort of the editorial and com- posing staffs of The Kings Mountain Herald, Bessemer City Record, Cherryville Eagle, Belmont Banner, and Mount _ Holly News. Contributing writers include Todd Hagans, editor of The Bessemer City Record; Ronald Kiser, sports editor of The Cherryville Eagle; Gary - Stewart, Editor of The Kings Mountain Herald, and Dwight Frady, sports editor of The Mount Holly News and The Belmont Banner. : Coordinator and composer of the publication was Gary Stewart, editor of The Kings Mountain Herald. The front cover was de- signed by Todd Hagans, editor of The Bessemer City Record and The Cherryville Eagle, and Shelley Campbell and Robert Ward, graphic artists for Republic Newspapers. Special thanks to the adver- tisers who made this publica- tion possible. For the best in high school football coverage of the local teams in the Big South 3A, Southwestern Foothills 3A, and Southern Foothills 1A, subscribe to your local weekly newspaper. A New Beginning Realignment places all area teams in new conferences By TODD HAGANS Editor of The Eagle-Record The upcoming grid season sees all of the area's high schools making new homes in new conferences. With realignment by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) com- plete, teams across Gaston, Cleveland and Lincoln counties will play in four different conferences - the Southern Foothills 1-A, the Midwest 2-A, the Big South 3-A and the Southwestern Foothills 3-A. For the first time ever, Gaston's smallest schools - Cherryville and Bessemer City - see play in, an all 1-A conference. The Ironmen and the Yellow Jackets join Hendersonville, Polk County, Maiden and Highland Tech to form the new Southern Foothills 1-A. Pre-season talk identifies Maiden and Hendersonville as the teams to beat in the Southern Foothills with Bessemer City, Cherryville and Polk County questionable. Mike Crawford at Bessemer City and Steve Wilson at Cherryville are expected to field young, but improved teams while Polk could experience an off year. The Wolverines of Jeff Wilson lost nearly a dozen seniors to graduation. Coached by former West Lincoln star Lanny Ford, High- land - Gaston's newest school - Cherryville head coach Steve Wilson gives a pep talk to his Ironmen during a recent workout. Wilson will start his second year at Cherryville when the Ironmen open on August 24 at Bunker Hill. will field only a junior varsity squad this year with the varsity seeing play in 2002. That Maiden at Henderson- ville game on October 12 should be a mountain showdown for first place in the Southern Foothills. In the post-season coaches and media poll from last year, Maiden finished third and Hendersonville fourth among GRIFFIN DRUG CENTER Friendly Hometown Service, Free City-Wide Delivery Soda Fountain, Greeting Cards, Russell Stover & Whitman Candies We Accept Most Prescription Cards Serving Kings Mountain Since 1919 129 Mountain Street; Kings Mountain, NC 28086 PHONE (704) 739-4721 the state's 1-A ranks. Gaston County's remaining high schools form the new Big South 3-A Conference. Ashbrook, East Gaston and Hunter Huss fall from the 4-A ranks to join 3-A teams North Gaston, Forestview and South Point to create one of the most competitive conferences in the state. East Lincoln's Mustangs make up the seventh member of the Big South 3-A. At first glance, South Point is the team to beat in the Big South 3-A , but East Lincoln, Forest- view and North Gaston could be a handful for the Red Raiders. Ashbrook could be a surprise contender and East Gaston and Hunter Huss should be im- proved. Kings Mountain - a former member of the storied South- western 3-A loop - will play county rivals Burns and Crest along with R-S Central, Hickory, Fred T. Foard and St. Stephens in the new Southwestern Foothills 3-A. Crest will surely be the team to beat in the Southwestern Foothills as the Chargers have made a name for themselves over the past several years in the tough 4-A ranks. Crest won state 4-A titles in 1994 and 1996 and dominated play over the past four seasons in the North- western 4-A. Lincolnton and West Lincoln join one of the most competitive 2-A loops in North Carolina. See Beginning, Page 9 THE CONFERENCES Here's a look at the four new conferences that Gaston County area teams call home this year. SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS 1-A Bessemer City Cherryville Hendersonville Maiden Polk County Highland Tech BIG SOUTH 3-A South Point Forestview East Gaston Hunter Huss Ashbrook North Gaston East Lincoln SOUTHWESTERN FOOTHILLS 3-A Kings Mountain Burns Crest R-S Central Hickory Fred T. Foard St. Stephens MIDWEST 2-A Chase Lincolnton West Lincoln Shelby East Rutherford Bandys Bunker Hill Newton-Conover
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Aug. 30, 2001, edition 2
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