We’re getting very close to the postseason for all minor sports. Iredell has several teams capable of making the deepest of playoff runs.
The following are my top-five picks from the county to win an NCHSAA state championship this fall (No. 1 being the most likely):
No. 5: North Iredell’s volleyball team
The Raiders boast plenty of talent. Stephanie Bennett, Taylor Clendenin and Molly Rhyne are solid at the net. Anna Wells is a quality setter. North Iredell’s serve receive and defense has to improve, though, in order to reach the final.
No. 4: Lake Norman's girls cross country team
The Wildcats returned three of their top four runners from last year’s squad. Alexa Van Epern, Kaitlyn Ferguson and Jessica Fedorka helped garner a ninth-place finish at the 2006 3A state championship meet. Lake Norman added two strong freshmen, who are running productively this season. Asheville T.C. Roberson will be favored to capture the title.
No. 3: West Iredell's volleyball team
The Warriors have been a consistent contender for almost an eternity now. They’ve advanced to the regional final four times in the last 10 years and made one state championship appearance. West Iredell might not be quite as good as last year, when it probably should’ve won the title. (West blew a healthy lead late in the fifth game of its third-round playoff match and lost to eventual champion Southwest Guilford). Seniors Marrissa Church, Megan Courson and Bria James lead another gifted lineup. No doubt, the Warriors have a shot to claim that elusive championship.
No. 2: Lake Norman’s boys soccer team
The Wildcats have given us no reason yet to believe they won’t win their second straight 3A state championship. They’ve won all of their games this season, most of them handily. Last week, top-ranked Lake Norman triumphed 2-1 on the road at perennial power Charlotte Catholic, currently ranked second. The Wildcats rallied to do it. Pretty impressive stuff. Lake Norman is skilled at every position. Highlighting a savvy cast of players is forward Matt Foxx, midfielder Ryan Mertes and defender Matt Gwilt. Lake Norman will be a tough out in the playoffs. That’s for sure.
No. 1: Mooresville’s boys cross country team
If the Blue Devils’ top seven runners stay injury-free, Mooresville will repeat, and it won’t even be close. Without question, they’re built for another 3A state championship run. Last weekend, they competed in the McDonald’s Invitational in Richmond, Va. Mooresville placed ninth in a field featuring 21 of the Southeast’s top teams. Patrick Campbell led the way, clocking in at 15 minutes, 44 seconds -- good enough for fourth place. Josh Cox, Nathan Craig, Chase Martin, Joseph Newman, and Graham and Jordan Sledge are strong as well and probably make Mooresville too talented to overcome this November.
Blue Devils will go back-to-back.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Repeat in store for Wildcats?
I figured losing all but one of its starting defenders -- not to mention the county player of the year -- would be too much for Lake Norman's boys soccer team to overcome in its quest to win another state championship.
I think I'm going to be wrong. Big time.
The Wildcats are playing as crisp as they did last season, when they captured the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state title and completed a perfect 27-0 season.
The win streak is 39 games following Monday's 3-1 victory over Northwest Cabarrus which decided who took over first place outright in the North Piedmont Conference.
Top-ranked Lake Norman is at second-ranked Charlotte Catholic on Thursday. If the Wildcats triumph in that affair, I say Iredell County is destined to have its first back-to-back NCHSAA state champion since the Statesville girls tennis team won in 1999 and repeated in 2000.
I think I'm going to be wrong. Big time.
The Wildcats are playing as crisp as they did last season, when they captured the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state title and completed a perfect 27-0 season.
The win streak is 39 games following Monday's 3-1 victory over Northwest Cabarrus which decided who took over first place outright in the North Piedmont Conference.
Top-ranked Lake Norman is at second-ranked Charlotte Catholic on Thursday. If the Wildcats triumph in that affair, I say Iredell County is destined to have its first back-to-back NCHSAA state champion since the Statesville girls tennis team won in 1999 and repeated in 2000.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
It's great to be a Mountaineer
Big Blue who?
I'm not going to say I knew Appalachian State would go into the Big House on Saturday, shock the world and beat Michigan. That would be a lie. But I'm not going to sit idle either and miss relishing the Mountaineers' 34-32 victory over the most prestigious college football program in country.
Incredible.
Where are the naysayers now? You know, the ones who downplayed the significance of Appalachian's back-to-back national championships because they came at the Division I-AA and Football Championship Subdivision level.
My co-worker Brad Norman -- like me, an Appalachian State graduate -- put it best: No more Division II cracks. No more comments about our junior varsity title.
Maybe now others around the country will learn how to pronounce Appalachian State correctly.
I'm not going to say I knew Appalachian State would go into the Big House on Saturday, shock the world and beat Michigan. That would be a lie. But I'm not going to sit idle either and miss relishing the Mountaineers' 34-32 victory over the most prestigious college football program in country.
Incredible.
Where are the naysayers now? You know, the ones who downplayed the significance of Appalachian's back-to-back national championships because they came at the Division I-AA and Football Championship Subdivision level.
My co-worker Brad Norman -- like me, an Appalachian State graduate -- put it best: No more Division II cracks. No more comments about our junior varsity title.
Maybe now others around the country will learn how to pronounce Appalachian State correctly.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Lake Norman soccer continues its winning ways
Matt Foxx is a force to be reckoned with. He proved it again on Monday night, leading the Lake Norman boys soccer team to a convincing 5-0 win over West Iredell.
Foxx netted four goals, tying the school record for scores in a game. His performance overshadowed a crisp offensive display by the entire Lake Norman team, which is off to a fast start in its 3A state title defense.
"We're just trying to keep a level head and keep winning," said midfielder Corey Evans, who assisted two goals against West Iredell.
So far, so good.
Lake Norman, which won all 27 of its games last season, improved to 3-0. The Wildcats have outscored their first three opponents 14-1, and they don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Foxx netted four goals, tying the school record for scores in a game. His performance overshadowed a crisp offensive display by the entire Lake Norman team, which is off to a fast start in its 3A state title defense.
"We're just trying to keep a level head and keep winning," said midfielder Corey Evans, who assisted two goals against West Iredell.
So far, so good.
Lake Norman, which won all 27 of its games last season, improved to 3-0. The Wildcats have outscored their first three opponents 14-1, and they don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Blowout football win (89-0) a defenseless act
We're two weeks into the high school football season and already we have a You Should Be Ashamed of Yourself award winner.
Defending 2A state champion Burlington Cummings must have thought it was a good idea to run up the score on Friday night, because the Cavaliers hung nearly 100 points on the scoreboard. They roughed up Carrboro, a first-year school located on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, 89-0.
Is that really necessary?
You would expect a perennial power such as Cummings to show some class.
I suppose beating county foe Southern Alamance 57-6 the first week wasn't enough for the Cavaliers. And I'm sure they had to one-up rival Graham, which shut out Carrboro 47-0 the opening week.
Actually, more like double-up -- the score. Almost had it, guys. You were a field goal and a safety shy.
Shame on Cummings. That's ridiculous.
Defending 2A state champion Burlington Cummings must have thought it was a good idea to run up the score on Friday night, because the Cavaliers hung nearly 100 points on the scoreboard. They roughed up Carrboro, a first-year school located on the outskirts of Chapel Hill, 89-0.
Is that really necessary?
You would expect a perennial power such as Cummings to show some class.
I suppose beating county foe Southern Alamance 57-6 the first week wasn't enough for the Cavaliers. And I'm sure they had to one-up rival Graham, which shut out Carrboro 47-0 the opening week.
Actually, more like double-up -- the score. Almost had it, guys. You were a field goal and a safety shy.
Shame on Cummings. That's ridiculous.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Warriors running back has night to remember
Had popular TV sports broadcaster Keith Jackson been calling the action Friday night at West Iredell, he would have worn out the phrase "Whoa, Nellie!" like Warriors running back Bobby Morrison wore out the Forbush Falcons defense.
Morrison was unbelievable, carrying the ball 16 times for a whopping 274 yards. His dashes included touchdown runs of 67, 43 and 71 yards. The single-game rushing total broke the school record previously held by Chris McCormick. In 2004, McCormick posted 264 yards against South Iredell.
Built like a rock and lightning quick like the Road Runner, Morrison could have piled on more yards in the Warriors' 51-0 romp over Forbush. The 5-foot-9, 189-pound senior had a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter called back because of a penalty.
Mercifully, he was taken out early in the fourth quarter after his 19-yard jaunt put him into the West Iredell record book -- again. Morrison established records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns in a season (25) as a junior.
Afterward, Morrison thanked his offensive line and receivers for how well they cleared paths. The words may have sounded rehearsed, but they were unquestionably sincere.
Congratulations, Bobby. Your performance was exceptional. Your attitude? Even better.
Morrison was unbelievable, carrying the ball 16 times for a whopping 274 yards. His dashes included touchdown runs of 67, 43 and 71 yards. The single-game rushing total broke the school record previously held by Chris McCormick. In 2004, McCormick posted 264 yards against South Iredell.
Built like a rock and lightning quick like the Road Runner, Morrison could have piled on more yards in the Warriors' 51-0 romp over Forbush. The 5-foot-9, 189-pound senior had a 71-yard touchdown run in the second quarter called back because of a penalty.
Mercifully, he was taken out early in the fourth quarter after his 19-yard jaunt put him into the West Iredell record book -- again. Morrison established records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns in a season (25) as a junior.
Afterward, Morrison thanked his offensive line and receivers for how well they cleared paths. The words may have sounded rehearsed, but they were unquestionably sincere.
Congratulations, Bobby. Your performance was exceptional. Your attitude? Even better.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Ready for some football, high school style
Sixteen days and counting until the bands play and the teams take the field.
The 2007 high school football season got under way on Monday with the first official day of practice.
Excitement reigned at Iredell County's six schools. Everybody is unbeaten. The possibilities are endless.
Some thoughts:
1.) I don't think South Iredell will have the kind of dropoff a lot of people think the Vikings will have this season after losing their coach and starting quarterback following a remarkable run in 2006. Last year, the Vikings went 8-6 and reached the third round of the 2AA state playoffs -- the farthest South Iredell had ever advanced in the postseason. South Iredell returns a lot of talent at the skill positions and its linemen are bigger. New coach Ed Masterton seems to have installed a fun-looking offense, so don't sleep on the Vikings.
2.) Can't wait to see what West Iredell running back Bobby Morrison has in store for an encore. Morrison set school records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns (25) in 2006. It's no coincidence that the Warriors posted the second-best regular-season record (9-2) in school history.
3.) Don't be surprised if you see Statesville make a dramatic improvement. Coming off a winless 2005 campaign, the Greyhounds went 2-9 in 2006, Randall Gusler's first season. They were competitive in many of their losses. I look for Statesville to win at least five games this year. Maybe six or seven to creep over .500 for the first time since 2003.
The 2007 high school football season got under way on Monday with the first official day of practice.
Excitement reigned at Iredell County's six schools. Everybody is unbeaten. The possibilities are endless.
Some thoughts:
1.) I don't think South Iredell will have the kind of dropoff a lot of people think the Vikings will have this season after losing their coach and starting quarterback following a remarkable run in 2006. Last year, the Vikings went 8-6 and reached the third round of the 2AA state playoffs -- the farthest South Iredell had ever advanced in the postseason. South Iredell returns a lot of talent at the skill positions and its linemen are bigger. New coach Ed Masterton seems to have installed a fun-looking offense, so don't sleep on the Vikings.
2.) Can't wait to see what West Iredell running back Bobby Morrison has in store for an encore. Morrison set school records for points in a season (190) and rushing touchdowns (25) in 2006. It's no coincidence that the Warriors posted the second-best regular-season record (9-2) in school history.
3.) Don't be surprised if you see Statesville make a dramatic improvement. Coming off a winless 2005 campaign, the Greyhounds went 2-9 in 2006, Randall Gusler's first season. They were competitive in many of their losses. I look for Statesville to win at least five games this year. Maybe six or seven to creep over .500 for the first time since 2003.
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