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Kerr-Vance Academy
The Daily Dispatch
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Spartan golf playing for third straight title By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
With two straight state titles under their belts, Kerr-Vance golf is loaded for bear and poised to make another run. The stellar Spartan golf program lost two All-State golfers to graduation — Levi Coleman and Bryan Rainey — but still retains a lot of key players. Beau Cutts and Ben O’Geary, who finished No. 1 and No. 2 respectively at the state meet in Southern Pines last year, both return, as does All-State golfer Tripp Watkins. “I think that Beau is our clear-cut (No. 1),” said Dave Carrier, who co-coaches the team with Sam Brummitt, “and then with Tripp and Ben... they can play No. 1
The Kerr-Vance golf team — front row (L to R): John Allen, Daniel Burnette, Brad Edwards, Ben O'Geary and Gray Parrish; back row: head coach David Carrier, Brandon Dickerson, Beau Cutts, Russ Boyd, Sonny Burnette and Tripp Watkins. for 90 percent of the teams in the state.” Carrier said that behind
great score as well.” his top three are “a host of “We just have a lot of other guys that on any given day... can go out and shoot a depth,” he said.
The golf team moves up into the ranks of the 2A this season, and with that may come more difficult competition. “We’re excited because we’re moving up to 2A, and I think the level of golf is definitely a big step up. There are a lot of good players and our conference is really good,” said Carrier, adding that there are strong teams throughout the state in addition to the Eastern Plains Independent Conference. In fact, one of KVA’s biggest competitors is among the ranks of the EPIC. Arendell Parrott is the defending 2A state champion. “We know we’re going to have to really be playing our best to make a run at it this year, but we feel like we’ve got as good a chance as anybody,” said Carrier.
Cutts said that while repeating as an individual champion would be nice, the team title is most important. “I’d like to win (the individual title) again too, but first of all as a team, I’d like to win it for back-to-back-toback,” he said. Cutts took a couple of months off from golf during the winter, as snowy weather limited any time on the course. But the Wake Forest golf commit stayed in shape playing for the varsity boys’ basketball team, something Cutts thinks has helped. “I think it’s just kind of got my mind off things and I’m right back into it now,” he said. Contact the writer at erobinson@ hendersondispatch.com.
Spartan netters competing for EPIC By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Kerr-Vance’s Emily Adkins plays the ball off her chest in this April 2009 file photo.
Kerr-Vance’s tennis team is hoping to repeat or improve upon the success of last season, when they won a conference title and finished fourth in the state. The Spartans are moving up from the Coastal to the Eastern Plains Independent Conference in the 2A classification, but most of the same faces remain
from the 2009 squad. “We still have no seniors, but everybody’s back from last year except for one player,” said KVA coach Dave Donaldson. Donaldson’s team this year consists of several juniors, sophomores, one freshman and a couple of eighth graders. “We’re going to be pretty solid. We did well with this same crew last year,” Donaldson said.
The No. 1 spot will likely be filled with Mark Falkner or Dalton Crews. No. 3 and 4 will be Will Bugg and Dylan Ellington, and No. 5 and 6 will be Zack King and either Sam Long or Dustin Evans, Donaldson said. Donaldson admitted his team is heading into “uncharted waters” in the new EPIC. Based upon the strength of the girls’ programs in the fall, he’s ex-
pecting tough competition from Arendell Parrott and Rocky Mount Academy. “Obviously it’s a much bigger pond,” Donaldson said. “We feel like we’re going to be competitive. We’re going to shoot to win the conference title.” “We feel like we’ll be right in there for it this year.” Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
Youthful track squad to compete in third year Runner-up soccer team returns several By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
Kerr-Vance’s soccer squad features a few more freshmen this year, but returns a lot of experience from last year’s state runner-up team. “I’m not sure exactly... where everybody’s going to be position-wise, but we do have experience at every position,” said KVA coach Amy Steg. Seniors Laura Kilian and Winnie Irvin anchor the defense, with returners Haleigh Meffert and Emily Adkins manning the wings. Elizabeth Hill will patrol the midfield. “We did lose Chrissy MacInnes on defense, which we’ll definitely miss her, but we have returning players at every defensive position,” Steg said. This year’s team consists of seven freshman, while last year’s team had just two. Steg feels that this will be beneficial in the next few years. Steg said one freshman in particular has her excited. Jessica Darnell was in the goal for the JV team last year, and will assume the role for the varsity squad this spring. Steg called her a physically and mentally strong soccer player. “(She) did a really nice job goalkeeping for the JV team, and I think she’s going to be a real asset to us the next few years,” she said. Steg admitted that the team is in a bit of a rebuilding stage with the young team moving up to the ranks of the 2A. “I’m very hopeful,” she said. “I think we’ve got a lot of talented girls, but I’m just not sure, being new to this conference, what to really expect.” Steg is expecting harder competition from the new Eastern Plains Independent Conference. “I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a more challenging year,” she said. “I still think we can be pretty successful if everything comes together quickly.” Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
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In its third year, KerrVance track has shown some growth, but the team is still very young. Devonnne Smith is the lone high-schooler on the team. The rest are seventh and eighth graders. Last year, KVA finished
the season with two athletes on the track team. This year, six dressed for team pictures. “That shows you that interest is growing a little bit at the school, and I’m excited that all of them except for one are new to it,” said KVA coach Greg Carswell. Carswell said he was pleased that at least two of his athletes ran cross
country in the fall. “I think that’s going to translate well for them to run... the mile, the 800m and the two-mile on the track team,” he said. This season, KVA will compete in the long jump among the field events, and possibly shot put and discus. Carswell said he hasn’t had a chance to time his
Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
Spartan softball features young group By ERIC S. ROBINSON Dispatch Sports Editor
Numbers may be an issue for Kerr-Vance softball early this season — only nine dressed for team pictures. But coach Pat Pulley isn’t overly concerned with the numbers. “I always told (KVA Athletic Director Rick Frampton): give me nine players, we’ll make a ball team,” she said. In their first year under Pulley, the Lady Spartans rolled through the regular season, notching just one loss. But their season ended with tough losses at the NCISAA state tournament in Buies Creek to Lawrence Academy and Hobgood Academy. Pulley’s young team may include a middle-schooler or
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two, and a few not returning from last year’s team, but the coach is confident in the abilities of the ones she has. “We’ve got some young ones. I think Kerr-Vance has a reputation of a young softball team every year,” said Pulley. “Defensively, we’re pretty strong. We haven’t been able to be outside very much to work bats and stuff too much.” The team is moving out of the Coastal Plains Independent Conference and into to the Eastern Plains Independent Conference among the 2A ranks. Last year, new EPIC
members Arendell Parrott and Halifax Academy both made it to the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. The Spartans are familiar with Rocky Mount Academy, having played them last season.
“I think the schedule this year’s tougher, but we’re going to do what we can do,” said Pulley. “We’re going to take pride in what we’re doing.” Contact the writer at erobinson@ hendersondispatch.com.
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runners in practice, with the season just starting. The plan is to have the athletes try out different events until they find the right fit. “Just from what I’ve seen in practice, I’m impressed that we’re going to have some good distance runners,” said Carswell.
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