Thinking big picture

Fall sports season is rolling around, even though it's still oppressively hot outside.

This time of year, I always begin to wonder: Which team, or teams, has the best shot of bringing a state championship back to Iredell County. [Fall has been particularly good to us here lately.]

KEEP AN EYE ON THEM: Three-time county runner of the year Alexa Van Epern returns for her senior season to lead a talented Lake Norman girls cross country team. Kaitlyn Ferguson and rising sophomores Jenny Gallagher and Rebecca Roman all finished inside the top 40 at last year's state championship meet, paving the way to the Wildcats' fourth-place finish. A note of interest: State champion Asheville Roberson graduated its two best runners, both of whom placed in the top five at the state meet.


QUEST FOR 3: Lake Norman's boys soccer team and Mooresville's boys cross country team will be pursuing a third consecutive state title. Both have immense voids to fill. Lake Norman graduated forward Matt Foxx, midfielder Ryan Mertes and defender Matt Gwilt, all of whom were named all-state last year, when the Wildcats capped back-to-back undefeated seasons with a second straight 3A state championship. Mooresville lost Patrick Campbell and Nathan Craig, who are now going to be running at North Carolina State and Brigham Young, respectively. If I had to pick which team I thought had the better chance to extend the streak, I'd take Mooresville because of the Blue Devils' stockpile of developing distance runners.

DIG THIS: North Iredell's volleyball team could be scary good. The Raiders will have one of the best front lines in the area -- perhaps region or state -- in outside hitter Molly Rhyne and middle blocker Taylor Clendenin. The duo helped the Raiders earn a piece of the 2007 North Piedmont Conference title. They shared it with eventual 3A state runner-up West Iredell. The Warriors graduated three marquee starters from that squad, opening the door for North Iredell to make a run at the state title this season. For the Raiders to become a legitimate championship contender, I believe three things must happen: (1.) There has to be a commitment to great defense, because a potent offense will only take you so far; (2.) They need to cultivate a pin-point accurate setter to replace Anna Wells, who graduated; and (3.) There must be confidence amongst teammates that they're good enough to go all the way, and a determination to see it through.