SportsTalk: Johnny Yount of Vance Charter and Mike Joyner of Kerr Vance

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Johnny Yount and Mike Joyner are used to success. They expect it.

Vance Charter Girls Soccer Coach Johnny Yount and his team are coming off a playoff run. The Knights were eliminated on Wednesday night with a 2-0 loss to Hobbton.  While they didn’t make to the state finals, Yount was happy with his team which will be losing five seniors to graduation. Next year he will have another senior heavy team with six girls on the roster plus a strong class of freshmen will be moving up as well. “Give it your best and demand it from everyone around you,” Yount said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. Those are the words he tells his team. No doubt next year’s Vance Charter Girls Soccer team will hear those words many times during the season.

Speaking of Hobbton, that’s a school familiar to Mike Joyner, Kerr Vance Academy Athletic director. It’s one of several schools where Joyner has been involved with athletics. He recently spent 8 1/2 years as athletic director at Wake Forest High School and six years as the head baseball coach. This year he retired, or so he thought. “I was retired for seven hours. I worked a basketball game at Wake Forest, slept seven hours and worked a basketball game the next night for KVA,” Joyner said. He said it was tough leaving the kids at Wake Forest but he had to make the right decision for his family and step back. Wake Forest fielded 32 teams where Kerr Vance fields nine. His duties don’t include coaching at KVA so he can actually get home at a normal time and spend time with family.  He says the difference from working in public schools as opposed to private schools is the closeness of the relationships. “It’s more of a family atmosphere,” Joyner said. At KVA he actually gets to spend time with the kids and that was something he was unable to do at Wake Forest.

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SportsTalk: Ryan Parker of Vance Charter Talks About Lacrosse and His Future

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Ryan Parker has had a lacrosse stick in his hand since he was about seven years old.  Now a senior at Vance Charter, that experience has paid off as the Knights went to the state playoffs this season compiling a 13-6 record. With 116 points on the season, Parker finished as one of the top scorers in the state.  He started playing in his yard with his brother and credits him along with his coaches Dan and Dennis Sandlin for his love of the game and to his success.

The road has not always been an easy one. During his freshmen year, Vance Charter didn’t have enough players to field a team and during his sophomore year the Knights only had the opportunity to play in four games before cv-19 caused the team, like many others, to close up shop. During Parker’s junior year, fall sports were pushed to spring and that meant Parker was playing and practicing lacrosse and soccer at the same time, but all of that hard work paid off in his senior year with the Knights making the state lacrosse playoffs. “It was our best season,” Parker said. “The team bonded.  We have a sense of brotherhood,” Parker added.

Parker is hoping to eventually become part of a Division I program and would love to go to Jacksonville University, but for now he will be heading to ECU in the fall and is planning to play club lacrosse.  Parker will majoring in marketing and sales.

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SportsTalk: Coach Bunn Talks Vance Charter Softball, Friday’s Game

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Could this be the year that Vance Charter’s Softball team advances beyond the quarter finals?  Head coach Brian Bunn would like to think so.  This is the third trip to the quarter finals for the Knights. With a team heavily laden with seven seniors, Bunn and his team will have the chance to advance tomorrow (Friday) at Oxford Park when Vance Charter takes on Perquimans County. While Perquimans is obviously a good team to have made it this far in the playoffs, they are young and Bunn hopes his team’s experience will pay off tomorrow.

“It’s been an awesome, awesome experience,” Bunn said of working with the seniors. “It’s a coach’s dream, these seniors to lead the team,” Bunn continued. The Knights have taken that experience and used it to go undefeated in the conference this season and those seven seniors have a combined 47-10 record over their varsity career. One of the reasons the Knights have been so successful is they aren’t easily rattled.  “No matter what happens, they keep their composure,” Bunn explained.  Bunn said, while the girls on the team have a lot of fun, they also know when to get serious and practices can get quite intense. Six of those seven intense seniors will be moving on to play at the college level next year.

In addition to senior leadership, Bunn says scheduling non-conference powerhouses like East Alamance and East Wake has helped toughen up his team and contributed to the Knights winning twelve of the last thirteen games. The Knights hope those winning ways continue.

Tomorrow night’s game at Oxford Park between the Vance Charter Knights and Perquimans Co. gets underway at 5pm and tickets are only $7.

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SportsTalk: Vance Charter Womens Soccer Heads To Playoffs

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In only his second year at the helm of the Vance Charter Knights Women’s Soccer team, Coach Johnny Yount has his team in the playoffs. While he’s happy they are in the playoffs, he is aware that work is still to be done to get the team where he wants them to be. “We need to be passing better, and we have had low energy,” Yount said of his team.  The Knight’s regular season record is 6-8-3 overall and 4-5-1 in the conference. That puts them at 12th in Division 1 A East. “That’s not exactly where we want to be,” Yount said of their current position.

Throughout the season the team has relied on seniors Riley Fuller and Makenzie Montgomery. Fuller, who is playing on a bad knee, will likely have to have surgery at some point. In addition to the senior leadership, the Knights have also had solid play from freshmen Katherine Suther and Sarah Ranes. That solid play contributed to 0-0 game against the powerful North Carolina School of Science and Math. That game is one that Young points to as a highlight of the season.

One of Yount’s big keys is sportsmanship. Win, lose or draw, Yount wants his players to be able to hold their heads high. That sportsmanship will likely help these students with the lessons they learn in life long after they leave the playing field.

At this point, it might feel like they have left the playing field since they haven’t played a game in three weeks. Due to the playoff schedule changing, it has meant that the Knights have only been able to practice. With spring break, prom and the end of the school year approaching, Yount says it’s a challenge to keep kids focused. The team has been practicing three days a week and considered attempting to schedule some additional games during the layoff but a fear of risking injury in a meaningless game just prior to the playoffs made the decision not to play easier.

The break from the field will only last a couple more days. “We hope to have a home game on Monday,” Yount said on today’s SportsTalk with George Hoyle and John C. Rose.  The Knights have yet to find out who the opposition will be but should know very soon.

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SportsTalk: KVA Looking For A Fifth Baseball State Championship

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The last four years has found the Kerr Vance Academy Spartans baseball team standing on top of the heap at the end of the year.  Four state championships is quite the accomplishment for any team in any sport but KVA and Head Baseball Coach Mike Rigsbee are ready to climb to the top again this season.  Rigsbee’s team posted a 10-5 regular season record and a 3-3 conference record.  With a double bye going into the playoffs, KVA won’t know until late Thursday who they will play in the playoffs or when they will play for that matter.  The weather forecast isn’t looking good for a possible Saturday game so if the weather turns foul, pardon the pun, then another time will have to be found. If the weather cooperates KVA will play at home.

Coach Rigsbee is happy so far.  He said, “I’m very pleased with how the team is progressing.” He relies on his seniors to power the Spartans to victory.  One of those seniors, Shane Musselman, leads the state with .571 batting average. Rigsbee has worked with many of his seniors since 7th grade and that experience helps KVA when facing bigger schools like Rocky Mount, which is undefeated this season.  Rigsbee says playing tougher opponents during the regular season keeps his team sharp. “We say ‘Don’t take a pitch off’,” Rigsbee said. That also applies to those who are on the bench because, as Rigsbee says, you never know when you will be called upon to get into the game.

KVA is coming off a 5-4 loss to Halifax Academy but have won 5 of their last 6 games. He gives much credit for the continued success of KVA’s program to the support his team and school receive from the community and also says local youth programs have helped KVA over the years.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Head For State Playoffs

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Dixon High School in Onslow County will be taking to the road for their first round state playoff softball matchup against the Vance Co. Vipers.  The Vipers have had a long road as well but not because of travel. The team, coached by Jordan Garrett Wilder, got off to a slow start but built momentum as the season as moved along. At one point the Vipers put together a five game winning streak finishing the regular season with an 8-6 record overall and 7-2 in the conference finishing second to South Granville.  The game, which will be played in Henderson, is scheduled to start at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon.

“We are hoping for a good practice and be ready for tomorrow’s game,” Wilder said.  The final regular season game was to have happened Friday night but was canceled due to the weather. An extra day off may help the Vipers to be ready for the contest against Dixon.

Wilder said her seniors, such as Madison Ayscue and Jasmine Richardson, have been a big reason why the Vipers have been successful this season. “She can play anywhere you put her,” Wilder said of Richardson. She not only leads the team in batting average but also has 15 stolen bases to her credit this year.  Richardson’s ability to play anywhere will help the Vipers tomorrow as the team suffered an injury in a game last week against South Granville when an infielder got cleated and will miss 10 days.

Seniors are not the only reason the Vipers qualified for the playoffs.  Wilder also spoke of the success that sophomore pitcher Blake Vick has had this year. Vick has racked up over 100 strike outs this season.

Wilder said the team’s slow start was due to some players  never having played the sport but she was looking for athletes that could grasp the rules and the game.  She and her staff have taken those players and crafted them into a winning program. One that is getting noticed too.  Even the coaches at South Granville told Wilder the Vipers are heading in the right direction.

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SportsTalk: Vance Charter Lacrosse Prepares For State Playoffs

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Three years ago there was no varsity lacrosse team at Vance Charter. Their first season consisted of only four games and their second season was only eight games, but this year the Knights won the conference championship. It’s also been a bit of a family affair for the school. The lacrosse team is coached by Dennis Sandlin, his son, Dan Sandlin, is an assistant coach, and sophomore Gavyn Sandlin is one of the team’s leaders. “It’s nice to have it all in the family,” Dan Sandlin said on Thursday’s SportsTalk on WIZS at 12:30 p.m.

Team leaders Gavyn Sandlin and Ryan Parker have both scored over 100 points this season with Sandlin being number one in the entire state and Parker tied for second. “They wouldn’t be where they are if it weren’t for the rest of the team,” Dan Sandlin said. He credits much of the Knights’ success to players committing to off season leagues during the summer and winter months. The commitment has paid off this season and Dan Sandlin thinks the team in now peaking at the right time as they start the state playoffs on Tuesday.

Wednesday night the Knights finished off the regular season with non-conference opponent Seaforth High School, and the Knights won 16-11 and finished the regular season with a 13-6 record. According to Dan Sandlin, the victory was the team’s most complete game.

One of the keys to why the Knights have been so successful is the mindset the team has. “We are all in all the time,” Dan Sandlin says and that has caught on with the rest of the team. “I couldn’t be happier with where we are,” Sandlin added.

While things are moving in the right direction for the Knights, Sandlin would love to see growth for lacrosse in the area. It’s an expensive sport and coaches are hard to find but he still would like to see the growth come to more rural areas.

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Knights Lacrosse Win in Overtime One Day; Become Conference Champions the Next

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— article submitted by Vance Charter School

The Vance Charter Knights Varsity Men’s Lacrosse team had another strong showing with 2 more wins added to their record. On April 21, the Knights traveled to Cary Christian, which proved to be exciting from beginning to end. Cary Christian took an early lead, but the Knights quickly made a comeback by half-time. The game was tied 8-8 at the end of the third quarter and went into overtime when it was 11-11 at the end of 4th quarter.

The defense held strong throughout the night, with Junior Lucas Satterwhite tallying 19 saves. Daniel Mangum, Ayden Callahan, Johnny Kilian and Davis Suther all provided strong support for their goalie on the defensive end. Jacob Seaman won 19 face-offs on the nights, though the one going into overtime would prove to be the most critical, getting the ball into the hands of the offense. The game-winning goal was scored by Gavyn Sandlin during over-time, with the Knights winning 12-11.

This game, though non-conference, will go down in history for Vance Charter, as two of the Vance Charter Knights scored their 100th point on the season. Ryan Parker and Gavyn Sandlin, both reached the 100th point in a single season milestone during this game.

Gavyn Sandlin and Ryan Parker, both scoring 100 points this season during the April 21st game against Cary Christian.

Scoring for the night was Sophomore Gavyn Sandlin (5G, 1A), Senior Ryan Parker (2G, 3A), Junior Christian Bean (2G), Senior Wyatt Yount (1G, 1A), Junior Jahlaine Scottland (1G) and Junior Sam Frazier (1G). The team had much to celebrate as they prepared for the final conference game on April 22 against Voyager.

The Knights hosted their final conference game of the season on April 22 at home. The Knights kicked off the evening honoring their seven seniors: Wyatt Yount, Davis Suther, Nathan Care, Jacob Seaman, Ryan Parker, Ayden Callahan and Hyson Ferguson.

The Knights controlled the game from the opening whistle, outscoring their opponents 16-1. Jacob Seaman dominated the face-offs, winning 15 of the 18. This put the offense in control of the game for much of the evening. Scoring for the night was Sophomore Gavyn Sandlin (4G, 6A), Senior Ryan Parker (6G, 2A), Senior Wyatt Yount (3G), Junior Sam Frazier (1G, 3A), Senior Davis Suther (1G), Senior Ayden Callahan (1G) and Junior Christian Bean (1A).

This victory kept the Knights undefeated in conference play, crowing them the Northern Lakes Conference Champions for the first time in the history of the program. The conference is made up of Voyager Academy, JF Webb High School, Roxboro Community and Vance Charter.

The Knights will look to keep their winning streak alive with their final regular season game on Wednesday, April 28 against Seaforth High School.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Sharrow Stepping Down; Looks Back Over Four Years Of VCHS Athletics

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UPDATED: 4/8/22 at 6:30 p.m.

On Friday, April 8, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director of Vance County High School Joe Sharrow announced via his personal Facebook page that he was stepping down from his position. Just the day prior, Sharrow joined WIZS SportsTalk to reflect on the first four years of VCHS as an institution.  His announcement and the story written of his memories of recent years continues below.

If there were five highlights from the past four years in your job or profession what would they be? This question was asked of Vance County High School’s Assistant Principle and Athletic Director on Thursday’s SportsTalk. He didn’t waste anytime coming up with those five things either. Sharrow’s first highlight was the Vipers’ 2018 men’s and women’s basketball season. “That was a turning point at bringing the school together,” Sharrow said. 2018 was the first season after the consolidation of Northern and Southern Vance high schools. Both girls and boys won a conference championship that year and made a strong run in the playoffs.  “It was a special season,” according to Sharrow.

The second highlight to make the list was being able to work with basketball coach Wilton Baskett for his final two seasons. Baskett won his 400th game while coaching at Vance County High School. “He was two steps ahead of everyone,” Sharrow said of Baskett.

Sharrow’s third highlight was the football team. While the Viper’s have had ups and downs on the gridiron, Sharrow points to the team making the playoffs two of the last three seasons. “We are looking to get over that next hump,” Sharrow said. That next hump would be a victory against Southern Durham, which has been the best team in the conference. The Vipers already have the game circled on next season’s football schedule.

Fourth on Sharrow’s list is Amani Foster. She started her high school volleyball career at Northern Vance and finished at Vance County as the holder of four state records including the all time leader in kills. She is the only volleyball player in the state to ever reach 2000 kills. “She is a once in a generation player,” Sharrow said.

Lastly on the list was the Viper’s victory over an undefeated South Granville softball team who were coming off a championship run.

Sharrow also gave an honorable mention of sorts to the volleyball team’s 2018 playoff win against East Duplin which was the school’s first ever playoff win in any sport.

In addition to working as athletic director, Sharrow also is an assistant principal. Being in that position has allowed Sharrow to work on the bigger picture for Vance County High School such as organizing the Weights and Conditioning classes that helps athletes. “We have more kids in the weight room now than anytime in the last ten years,” Sharrow said.  As an assistant principal he is able to help athletes with the NCAA Clearing House and help them prepare for an atletic career at the college level.

Sharrow also says he has a dream of establishing a Vance County Sports Hall of Fame. Sharrow said if that were to happen Amani Foster would be one who should be recognized as Sharrow called Foster “The greatest athlete to ever come from Vance County.”

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance High School Begins Search For New Football Coach

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Last season saw the Vance Co. High School Vipers football team reach the state playoffs and were looking to more great seasons with Coach Wilbur Pender at the controls but that all changed this week with the announcement that Pender is retiring from education to spend more time with his family.  The school’s athletic director, Joe Sharrow, said players and everyone at the school was shocked and disappointed at Pender’s decision but understood his need to spend more time with his family.

It’s been the same story the last several seasons at Vance Co. High School as the last four coaches have stayed one season before moving on to another school, or in Pender’s case, retiring.  Sharrow did say that because of the football team’s success finding a new coach will be somewhat easier this off season and they hope to have someone in place before the school year is out. “There is interest from high level coaches,” Sharrow said.  “We want someone who is the right fit who will commit themselves and who will stick around,” Sharrow continued. “Where are the Wilton Basketts, the Randy Long’s, the Dave Jennings, or the Mark Perry’s?” Sharrow asked, referencing previous coaches who spent many years in their positions at Northern and Southern Vance and Vance Co. High School.

And while the school’s football program has had success this past season Sharrow is looking for a coach to build on that success. The school’s athletic programs are still recovering from the pandemic and struggled to find enough students to field teams which is only now returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Sharrow says he is now just building a team to search for the new coach which will include Principal Rey Horner. Sharrow also said the players will be consulted.  They will give him feedback on what has worked for them with previous coaches and with any luck Sharrow and his search team will find someone who is qualified and will commit to continuing to improve the Vance County Vipers football program.

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