sports7
wingspan • may 20, 2011
NFL teams make good picks in draft
Michael Turlington Sports Editor
I
he first round of the National Football League draft was very entertaining and provided a number of surprises. Here are the winners, losers and surprise picks from the first round: Winners: The Detroit Lions must have been shocked Camen Royse when Nick Fairley dropped to their pick. The Lions realized the dominance their defensive line could display with the talents of Fairley joining Ndamukong Suh and Kyle Vanden Bosch, and they couldn’t resist.... The New Orleans Saints lucked out drafting the sliding California defensive end Cameron Jordan and then traded back into the first round to get Ingram, who is going to give the Saints’ offense yet another dimension. Ingram can be a top back in the NFL someday. Losers: In my opinion, Newton was not the correct solution to the disaster of the Carolina Panthers. He needs time to develop and talent around him. If they had drafted Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green, they would have instantly made their current quarterbacks better and their offense more explosive. Overall, however, teams drafted very well in the first round; there were a lot of quality picks and hardly any losers. Surprises: I was shocked when the Cleveland Browns traded the sixth overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons. The pick of Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones was intriguing. If the Falcons believe they are just one playmaker short of a Super Bowl quality team, then this pick was the right one. They better hope so.... Christian Ponder’s going to the Minnesota Vikings was a shocker. He was taken much higher than projected. I don’t have a problem with this pick if the Vikings truly believe he is their franchise quarterback; only time will tell.... And Gabbert going to the Jacksonville Jaguars? No one predicted that. I am not a strong believer in Gabbert as a franchise quarterback, but with the opportunity to sit behind David Garrard for a few years, Jacksonville can groom their quarterback of the future.
n the first round of the playoffs, the Falcons’ hopes for a playoff run came to an end with a 5-3 loss to Fred T. Foard. West got down early and was able to cut the lead to one run, but the team was never able to take a lead. West finished the season with a 16-9 record (9-5 WNCAC). “We made some mistakes early, and we never could catch back up,” senior Cameron Brogden said. “It was a disappointing loss for the end of the season.” Even though the Falcons’ playoff appearance was disappointing, most of the season was successful, team members said. The team finished second in the conference and had several big wins. Their biggest win came against Hendersonville on April 16. In the sixth inning, West sent 16 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs. The team ended up winning the game 21-9. “Last year, we lost to Hendersonville, and we wanted to make sure that we didn’t lose again,” Brogden said. “The beginning of the game was close, but when we scored 11 runs in the sixth inning, we put the game away.”
Over spring break, the Falcons won all three of their games against Asheville, Hendersonville and Enka. West ran a baseball camp in the mornings for elementary through middle school students and played games in the evening. In their final game of spring break, West beat Enka 6-1. “All three games over spring break were big for our team, and it was important for us to win them,” Brogden said. “It was exciting to beat Enka because they beat us last year. It was also a big day for the campers because after the game, they got to come out on the field and help us clean up.” In the final regular season game of the year, West beat Hendersonville a second time, 12-0. The game was only five innings because the Falcons were leading by more than 10 runs. “We played well in the regular season,” senior Ryan Gordon said. “We were able to get home field advantage in the state playoffs, but we did not pull out the win. Our team came together at the end of the season, but we fell apart in the playoff game.” Defense was a key to the season, some of the players said. “When our team hit well and scored lots of runs early in the Record: game, our defense held on for the win,” Brogden said.
16-9
Soccer team loses in first round of playoffs Collin Armstrong Feature Writer
In her high school soccer career, Owenby has interacted and become well acquainted with many other players from different schools. “Beating East Henderson was probably the s the clock wound down in the first round of the women’s soccer team’s state playoff best moment in the season because they were game against Hickory, the Lady Falcons such a county rival,” Owenby said. “I have grown up with a lot of the girls, so it feels realized that defeat was eminent. good to have bragging rights.” They were struck with sadness The season, The team made it into the and the realization that their seaoverall, has been playoffs after a tough 2-1 loss son and, for some, their soccer really successful, I against East Henderson on secareers were over. night. “After playing soccer for believe. Everyone nior “Even though we lost, our so long, it seemed like it really on the team has senior night will be a game that couldn’t be the end,” senior Carly I will remember for a long time. Owenby said. “The season, overstepped up and I got a yellow card and also all, has been really successful, I exceeded my scored,” Owenby said. “For sebelieve. Everyone on the team nior night, my mom made me has stepped up and exceeded my expectations. expectations.” Carly Owenby a poster that had my very first The team will lose nine sesenior soccer pictures and had pictures from all of my soccer seasons. It niors to graduation. was very sad realizing that I have “This year I have really improved on my leadership skills,” Owenby said. played for that long and my high “Being a senior, you have to step up and become school career is almost over.” In the first round of the Record: a leader. Our team has gone through a lot on and off the field. It has taken a lot for all of us to stand playoffs, West lost to Hickory, 2-1. by each other.”
A
“
”
12-8-2
On the Green Senior team captain Chase Davis contemplates the trajectory of the ball at a match against East Henderson at Etowah Valley Country Club. The Falcons won the match.
Golf ends season at regionals Hailey Johns Asst. Opinion Editor
S
enior Chase Davis tried to clear his head as he slid a golf club from his bag and into his hand. He placed his club behind the ball that rested on the tee and took his first swing at the regional tournament at River Bend YMCA Golf Club in Shelby on May 2. Proudly, he looked up to see the tiny white ball fly through the warm spring air and land on the green inches away from the hole. As a senior, this would be one of his final matches as captain of the men’s golf team. “It’s just like there’s a little thrill to it,” Davis said. “For most people it’s boring, but whenever I hit a good shot or make a putt, it’s a good feeling and it’s fun. I enjoy it; I work at a golf course because of it, and I hang out with other golf people.” At the regional tournament, the men’s golf team had a combined total of 324. Davis shot a 76, sophomore David Capps shot a 77, sophomore Jordan Kitchen shot an 89 and sophomore Adrian Brinkley shot an 82. Davis felt the team played well, but he found it disappointing to not be going to state. “We didn’t play terribly, but we didn’t play really well,” Davis said. “It was kind of disappointing because my high school golf career is over. Personally, I know I could have shot better, and if I were just two strokes lower, I would have been going to state. Stupid mistakes in golf get everybody. I missed maybe two putts; I missed four that I probably should have made, and two that I definitely could have made.” The team finished eighth at the regional match. Although Davis said he always expected to play well, he believes that practice and hard work contributed to the team’s success. “The more you play and the more you practice then the better you get. Normally, in the men’s golf season you get better throughout the year,” Davis said. “I wasn’t really worried about it going into conference because we’re better than Franklin and East and I knew we could beat them.”
Team loses to Asheville
A
Camen Royse Sports Editor
s rain started pouring, the men’s tennis team walked off the court. After the team’s six straight match losses against Asheville in the first round of the playoffs, the Falcons’ season had come to an
end.
Photo by Heidi Brickhouse
T
Baseball team out of playoffs
Photo by Haley Glatzer
Cheap Seats
Full Swing Before a home match against Franklin, senior Michael Aamodt hits a forehand shot. The Falcons dominated the conference match, 8-1.
“In our last match, we got beat pretty handily,” sophomore Collin Armstrong said. “We never really had a chance because they were very talented. We played hard and gave our best effort, but they got the best of us.” The team finished with a record of 9-7 (9-3 WNCAC), with a particularly strong performance against Brevard. When we played Brevard at their courts, we did great. We beat them by one game,” Armstrong said. “We weren’t favored in that match, but we still did really well and came out with the win. It was really intense, but in the end we came away with the victory.” Seniors Graham Pate, Zane McGhee and Michael Aamodt led the team and helped develop the underclassman talent along with new head coach Allen Combs. “The seniors guided the team. They were very good players, and we wouldn’t have done as well without them. They were a great asset to our team, and they won a lot of key doubles matches,” Armstrong said. “They told us what we did wrong and cheered us on and were just very good moral support.” The team did especially well in conference play, winning matches against East Henderson, Tuscola and Franklin. Armstrong believes the team can have another successful year next season. “This season we improved and continued from where we left off last year,” Armstrong said. “Next season, our players must step up to fill in the holes left by Record: the seniors, but I believe we can do it. It will take work, but we should have a solid season next year.”
9-7
Salon 104 World Class Haircolor
Tues-Sat 9am-8pm
104 South Main Street Hendersonville, NC 28792
i’m lovin’ it Great Food Served Fast & Friendly!
salon / 828-692-8411
McDonald’s 1909 Four Seasons Blvd. Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-697-6493
goldwell, phyto, redken, framesi, bedhead makeup line
PAWN OUTLET Henderson County’s Oldest & Largest
SERVICE IS OUR SPECIALTY 136 Henderson Crossing Hendersonville, NC 28792 (828) 696-9636
McDonald’s 630 Spartanburg Hwy. Hendersonville. NC 28792 828-697-1672 McDonald’s 101 Commercial Blvd. McDonald’s (1-26 & Upward Rd.) 251 Asheville Hwy. Flat Rock, NC 28731 Brevard, NC 28712 828-692-4411 828-884-2244 McDonald’s at Wal-Mart 250 Highlands Sq. Drive Hendersonville, NC 28792 828-692-7881
I’m your Neighborhood State Farm Agent “Call me for all your insurance needs.”
State Farm Insurance Companies Home Office: Bloomington, Il.