Vance County High School

Vance County Vipers Football Using Quarantine To Transition

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WIZS SportsTalk (M-F at 1pm) with host Trey Snide and co-host Ron Noel recently featured the first-year head varsity football coach of the Vance County Vipers, Hunter Jenks.

Jenks said the first year has been a lot of good. He said, “The whole world is dealing with changes, and with changes, you just have to be open minded and make the most of it. Of what we’ve been able to do, I’ve been very pleased and excited to just start the process moving forward.”

At this moment he thinks the team is right where it needs to be as he and the other coaches try to keep the terminology familiar, like it was in the past. “One of the things we try to believe in is continual improvement and realizing everyday if you get a little bit better, then we might not be were we want to be right now, but we’ll get there,” Jenks said.

The coach thinks he has tremendous talent on his team in the younger grades. As for the seniors and returning players, names like Saimir Best, Tra’On Lyons, Kevon Burton will be familiar. Jenks said, “I’m really excited. I think we have talent in all four grades. We have some people who have really used quarantine to their advantage, and are going to be completely different players than they were last year.”

The Vipers’ season starts February 26. Vance County Friday Night Football on WIZS will be live with the play by play.

In the second segment of the show, Trey and Ron discussed the outstanding recruiting class UNC football was able to land.

Press play…

 

Crossroads Christian School

Crossroads Christian School’s Haley Patterson, Hope Macklin, Justice Simmons

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On Friday, Dec. 11, three seniors from Crossroads Christian School, Haley Patterson, Hope Macklin, and Justice Simmons, discussed their senior season in women’s basketball and about the leadership role for female athletics.

Each Friday on WIZS SportsTalk, host Trey Snide presents the weekly Coach’s Corner segment.

Click here for the latest show audio.

Simmons said some of the new rules are weird, but “I’m pretty grateful that I still get to play basketball.”  Macklin more or less agreed and said, “It’s not the ideal situation…a lot of other schools in our area are just done with sports completely.”  Patterson said, “I feel like it’s not the situation we wanted to be in, but it still gives us an opportunity as seniors to have our last basketball season with all the girls.”

Click the Logo to Hear the Show Audio

On the positive said, they indicate they have grown closer together and that there has been less pressure with no fans around.

As leaders, the hardest part for these players has been the inability to socialize out of school and the lack of drive because of the overall situation and, of course, wearing a mask while playing and practicing.

NCHSAA

NCHSAA Conference Realignment Draft Unprecedented

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The first NCHSAA conference realignment draft features an unprecedented number of division splits.

WIZS SportsTalk hosts Trey Snide and Ron Noel covered the first draft of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association conference realignment Thursday, Dec 10th at 1pm.

You can listen back by clicking play here…

And be sure to listen to the show live M-F at one o’clock.

Before discussing the realignment, George Marshall, athletic director and head men’s basketball coach at Henderson Collegiate, appeared on the show.  He said the basketball practices have gone well and players are following all safety protocols.  As you know, he said, “In all practices and games, students are required to wear masks.”

Marshall said the team was trying to get back to levels attained last year.  He said the senior class last year was huge in that they were the school’s second graduating class and in what they meant to the younger players.

As for the class of 2021, Marshall said, “(The) class has taken some big steps with leadership, and we feel really confident about the juniors as well.”

With an unprecedented number of split conferences in the first NCHSAA draft of conference realignment, Henderson Collegiate and Vance Charter find themselves in conference 11 which also includes Eno River, Oxford Prep, Roxboro Community and Voyager Academy.

Most conferences are finding their member institutions to be close by, when it comes to driving distances.

Vance County is in conference 17 with Bunn, Louisburg, Nash Central, Franklinton (3A), Northern Nash (3A), Rocky Mount (3A) and Southern Nash (3A).

As for Granville County Schools, they’re in conference 18 which features Granville Central, South Granville, J.F. Webb, Bartlett Yancey, Durham School of the Arts (3A), Person (3A) and Southern Durham (3A)

Warren County will be more to the east, in conference 9 which also includes KIPP Pride, Northampton County, NW Halifax, Rocky Mount Prep, SE Halifax and Weldon.

Schools have until January 8th to request changes, and a second draft will come out mid-January for the NCHSAA.

For a list of all conferences, click here.

Tar Heels Football Season Recap; Miami Preview; Jones Angell with Trey Snide

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The UNC Tar Heels Football team hosts Miami Saturday, Dec. 12 at 3:30.  Airtime on WIZS with Jones Angell and the entire Tar Heel Sports Network is 2:30pm.  Listen Local at 1450 AM / 100.1 FM / Click on Listen Live at WIZS.com if you are within 70 miles of Henderson.

In Friday’s edition of SportsTalk on WIZS at 1pm, Angell joined host Trey Snide.  To listen back to that audio click here.

Angel said it’s pretty impressive to see this rapid level of growth from last year to this year.  “The steps forward that Carolina has taken are really really impressive.  National Signing Day is next week.  Carolina expects to bring in a top-15 national recruiting class.  It’ll be one of their best ones ever,” he said.

The momentum is there.  The process is occurring for UNC.

Angell said, “You can really put an exclamation point on it here with a win here Saturday because I think it’s a win that would give you some national attention.”

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CLICK THE COACH’S CORNER LOGO FOR AUDIO OF JONES ANGELL WITH TREY SNIDE

Crossroads Christian School

Sports Talk 12/01/20: Crossroads Christian Temporarily Halts Basketball Season

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

With questions surrounding mask requirements for student-athletes and health concerns, the Crossroads Christian School Colts have temporarily halted the men’s basketball season.

CCS Athletic Director Scottie Richardson said the decision was based solely on what is right for the players. “The decision came down to the health of our student-athletes, period,” said Richardson. “We just don’t have enough information on the status of playing a sport like basketball and wearing masks. Instead of just allowing it without doing our due diligence of understanding the risks involved with how it couples with asthma, breathing issues, heart issues from birth, etc., we decided to pause the sport for two weeks.”

Richardson further explained that several players have inhalers, are diabetic or have other underlying health issues that could potentially make playing sports in a mask more difficult.

In guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the wearing of masks during athletic activities, Richardson said the agency recognizes that “masks may be challenging for players (especially younger players) to wear while playing sports” and “masks should not be placed on anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious.”

The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) recently announced plans for officials to extend timeouts, quarter breaks and halftime to allow for additional recovery time for playing in masks.

Basketball activities are expected to resume at CCS on Monday, December 7, 2020, with the team spending the first week back on the court in shooting drills, walk-through drills, etc.

According to Richardson, games and full-speed practices will remain paused until more information is gathered from the NCISAA and NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). Games canceled for COVID issues or concerns are counted as “no contests.”

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Coach’s Corner 11/13/20: Fresh Off Win Against Duke, Tar Heels Face Wake Forest

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Jones Angell, the voice of UNC Football, joined Trey Snide on the WIZS Coach’s Corner Show Friday to discuss the Tar Heel’s impressive win over the Duke Blue Devils and to provide a preview for the upcoming match against Wake Forest.

“Most of the attention, and probably deservedly so, was on the offense because it was so good,” said Angell. “Carolina’s offense has been good and has been getting even better as this year has gone along. For them to score on their first seven possessions of the game is pretty impressive.”

Jones continued, “The offense was relentless, but I did think the Carolina defense took some steps. As the defense and special teams continue to grow, the more consistent these sides of the ball can be, and the better chance Carolina has of being a really, really good team.”

The Tar Heels play the Demon Deacons at home on Saturday, November 14 at 12 p.m.

Click Play to Hear More From Angell on the Tar Heels:

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Sports Talk 11/12/20: Granville Central’s Terence Harcum Signs With App State

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

After signing his letter of intent to play basketball at Appalachian State University, Terence Harcum, a senior from Granville Central High School, joined WIZS’ Trey Snide and Ron Noel to discuss what the day meant to him and his family.

Click play to hear the Sports Talk audio…

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Sports Talk 11/10/20: Mako’s Sports Partnerships; VCHS Begins Football Workouts

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

In the first segment of WIZS Sports Talk, Chad Price, Founder/CEO of Mako Medical, discussed Mako’s partnership with the ACC and Big South.

In the second segment, Hunter Jenks, head football coach of Vance County High School discussed the start of workouts for the Vipers.

Click play to hear the Sports Talk audio…

 

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Sports Talk 11/3/20: VCHS Phases-In Sports; KVA Women’s Tennis Wraps Season

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

Joe Sharrow, assistant principal and athletic director for Vance County High School (VCHS), and Cameron Breedlove, head coach for Kerr Vance Academy (KVA) Varsity Women’s Tennis, joined WIZS Sports Talk on Tuesday.

In the first segment, Sharrow discussed the staggered phase-in of athletics at VCHS (click here for schedule).

In the second segment, Breedlove discussed her first season as coach of the KVA Spartans.

A KVA alumna, Breedlove said she was proud of her team of five, including two new players, who finished the season with a 3-8 record.

“I’m excited to see all of them grow and continue to develop as players, especially the two who were brand new,” said Breedlove. “It was really cool to see them go from not knowing anything about the sport to being able to play matches by themselves.”

Click play to hear the Sports Talk audio…

VCS High School Athletic Schedule

Vance Co. Schools Begins Staggered Phase-In of High School Athletics

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools will permit a staggered phase-in of high school athletics beginning the week of November 2, 2020, as outlined in the schedule included below. This phase-in is consistent with expectations outlined by the NC High School Athletic Association and endorsed by the Vance County Board of Education.

Student-athletes involved in volleyball, cross country, cheerleading, basketball, football or swimming, along with their parent/guardian, MUST attend a required virtual orientation meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. All high school students will receive a zoom link in their school email. This meeting will provide important information for our student-athletes and their parents.

Should you have any questions, please contact the High School Athletic Director, Joe Sharrow at (252) 430-6000 or by email at jsharrow@vcs.k12.nc.us. The latest information will be updated on the VCHS website (www.vcs.k12.nc.us/vchs).

A decision regarding middle school athletics will be announced in the near future.