George Hoyle, Sr. Retires as KVA Volleyball Coach

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For George Hoyle, Sr., the head volleyball coach at Kerr-Vance Academy for the last four years, his love of volleyball started with his daughter and club volleyball teams and came full circle with his son, KVA Athletic Director George Hoyle, Jr., as the varsity volleyball program earned back-to-back NCISAA state championships over the last two seasons.

With only seven losses in four years, a 106-7 record, Hoyle said, “It absolutely started with the players and the devotion they put in.  Great players make a great coach.  We were in the gym three days a week working, but it’s got to be fun.  It has to be fun or you’re not going to win.  And we made it fun.”

Hoyle said, “It’s been a wonderful six years I’ve been there (as assistant and head coach).  I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Check out the audio of our full interview here.

And now new coaches have been named, according the the Kerr-Vance Facebook page.  The social media account for The Spartans says, “We are thrilled to announce the hiring of our new Varsity and JV Women’s Volleyball Coaches – Casey Ellington and Debra Medlin.

“Head Coach – Casey Ellington a native of Granville County played volleyball at William Peace University and has recently coached at the club level locally.

“Assistant Coach – Debra Medlin previously served as the Head Coach at C.E. Jordan High School from 1989 through 2000. She also recently served as a coach at Person County High School and Middle School.”

Hoyle felt like it was the right time to retire.  He said, “We have a lot of the pieces to the puzzle for a new coach to come in…and they’re not going to skip a beat.  They are going to have a good team.”

As to working alongside his son, George Hoyle, Sr. said, “It’s a lot of fun working with him.  Made a lot of memories there.  That just doesn’t happen to a lot of people.  All those were great.  It was a lot of fun working with him.  It was really special.”

In continuing to speak of George Hoyle, Jr., the elder Hoyle said, “He does a great job, and I’m very proud of everything he’s accomplished.  Going to miss that part of sure.”

Hoyle said success starts in the off season.  “It starts in the off season.  Everything starts in the off season.  You’ve got to put in the preparation in the summer and winter months to be successful when the season comes around, and that’s what the girls have done at Kerr-Vance.”

For sure, love comes into it as well.   “I love coaching and love youth sports more than anything.  I absolutely love high school and college.  I love to watch and be around it.  I have been coaching youth sports since 2003.  That’s a long time,” Hoyle said.

In one sport or another, Hoyle has been a coach, mentor and grounds keeper year round for decades.

Hoyle started to coach as an assistant under William Hoyle, who is distant kin, and George said, “William was great.  I love him to death, and of those championships, it all started with him being there.  And I appreciate everything he taught me about the game, and I started to love it at that point.”

For Hoyle and his family, they achieve by the most honest means.  Hard work, dedication, gentleness, grace, intelligence.  Congratulations to Kerr-Vance Volleyball and retired head coach George Hoyle, Sr.

Cameron Hope Breedlove

Cameron Ford Breedlove Named KVA Varsity Girls Tennis Coach

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Kerr Vance Academy has named alumna Cameron Ford Breedlove coach of its varsity girls tennis team.

Breedlove played on the KVA tennis team her seventh through twelfth-grade years and said she was “excited to be back as the coach.” Upon graduating KVA, Breedlove attended William Peace University in Raleigh.

Breedlove said former classmate George Hoyle, Jr., who now serves as athletic director for KVA, knew of her love for tennis and reached out when the coaching position became available.

Losing five seniors to graduation last year, Breedlove will have her work cut out for her coaching a younger team limited in practice ability due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With four girls returning, Breedlove hopes to recruit more players for the upcoming season.

“The team is younger; however, these are very talented girls with great skills who have been playing for a while,” Breedlove said.

To hear the interview with Breedlove in its entirety, click on the play button above.

Kerr Vance Academy has named alumna Cameron Ford Breedlove coach of its varsity girls tennis team.

NCHSAA

NCHSAA Delays Start of Fall Sports Season Until at Least September 1

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, NCHSAA

On Tuesday, Governor Cooper announced the reopening plan for the 2020-2021 school year. He also indicated that the NCHSAA would be making the decisions relative to sports. The NCHSAA Board of Directors approved the following rule and calendar changes:

  • The start of NCHSAA fall sports is delayed until at least September 1.
  • The first five (5) student days of the 2020-2021 school year will be designated as a “dead period” for ALL sports, allowing school staff to focus on the start of school.
  • NCHSAA Phase One of the summer conditioning and workouts will continue until further notice.

Commissioner Que Tucker provides the following statement at this time.

“For now, we believe these steps provide hope for our student-athletes, and the possibility for playing fall sports We know that many decisions are being made relative to the reopening plan your school(s) will follow. After each LEA has had an opportunity to formalize and finalize those reopening plans, the NCHSAA Staff will survey the membership to determine how sports should and/or can fit into the various models that will exist across the state. Please understand this delayed start date is not “in cement” and can be delayed even further if we do not have improved data from DHHS, or some other reason exists for delaying further into September or beyond.

We acknowledge that playing certain sports are more problematic at any time without a vaccine; however, we remain in consultation with our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) members, and they believe we can and should offer a sports program, with all necessary modifications, delays, etc. In the coming weeks, we will continue working with the SMAC as we plan our next steps for the fall, as well as determining when equipment could be shared—i.e. balls— and/or if we can move into Phase 2 of the summer workouts/conditioning.

Each NCHSAA Board Member believes in the value of education-based athletics and is committed to SAFELY offering a fall, winter, and spring sports program during this school year; however, there is also a commitment to the health and safety of students and coaches. Towards this end, we all will continue to follow the guidance of the Department of Health and Human Services relative to the data and how we all safely move forward.

East Wake Football League

East Wake Football League Postpones Fall Season, Looks to Spring

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-Press Release, East Wake Football League

The East Wake Football League (EWFL) is committed to ensuring a positive youth football experience and sharing a long history of competitive youth football in the seven (7) county area. Due to the growing concerns about COVID-19, the Board of Directors of the EWFL has decided to postpone the 2020 Tackle Football and Cheer season.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented health and safety concerns that, in our opinion, make it difficult to have a season and keep players, coaches and families safe.

As an alternative, the Board will begin to design a Spring football season for our teams that would begin in early 2021. We will share more information as plans develop.

“The safety of our athletes is our first priority, and we will follow the guidance of the CDC and the State of North Carolina as we think about the next steps of our League,’ said Jeff Clark, League Commissioner.

About the East Wake Football League: The EWFL is a North Carolina 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to youth football in North Carolina. The EWFL is an independent league that currently consists of 18 affiliated organizations with three (3) teams each from 6 to 14 years in age. The EWFL has served the youth football community for over 50 years. More information may be found at www.ewfl-football.com.

ACC Fall Olympic Sports Delayed

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Greensboro, N.C. (theACC.com) – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today that each of its fall Olympic Sports will delay the start of competition until at least September 1. The decision allows each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process.

The delay in competition includes all exhibition and non-conference games in the sports of men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball.

The decision was unanimously approved by the ACC Board of Directors.

ACC institutions will continue with their respective return to competition protocols in anticipation of a fall season. Any rescheduling of contests will also be determined by each school.

The league continues to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on fall schedules and competitions with the understanding that there may be future changes, and that the priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 9, 2020
@theACC
Skills and Drills

‘Skills & Drills’ Videos Designed to Keep Youth Athletes Physically Active

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-Information courtesy Tara Goolsby, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Program Superintendent

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are so many restrictions currently placed on youth athletics. Henderson-Vance Recreation & Parks Department’s number one priority is the safety of our citizens. While we don’t recommend partaking in group competition at this time, we also understand the importance that staying physically active has on your overall health.

Because of this, Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks will be working with coaches to put together skills and drills videos that your child can use to help develop their skills right at home. We will post links to our videos regularly on the Henderson-Vance Athletics Facebook page (click here) starting Friday, July 10, 2020.

For more information, please contact Darius Pitt at (252) 438-3408 (dpitt@ci.henderson.nc.us).

VCS Athletics Update

Vance Co. Schools Delays Opening of Summer Athletic Conditioning

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools continues to evaluate the timing of returning to athletics. VCS understands that summer workouts and conditioning are important; however, due to continued concerns regarding COVID-19, the opening of athletic workouts will be delayed to no earlier than July 20, 2020.

VCS will continue to monitor health and safety data, in consultation with NCDHHS and GVPH, to ensure student-athletes are able to safely return.

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Public Schools Delays Athletic Skills Development Training

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

With guidance from the NCDHHS and the NCHSAA, Granville County Public Schools had planned to begin athletic skill development training for high school sports on Monday, July 6, 2020.

However, given the increased rate of positive COVID 19 cases throughout our community and state, this date will now be delayed until Monday, July 20, 2020.

This new date is consistent with those of some neighboring school districts and schools that are in our athletic conferences.  This delay will also allow additional time to refine and strengthen our staff training and the implementation of local and state-mandated screening and cleaning protocols and practices.

When skill development begins, it will be limited in scope per NCHSAA regulations and restricted to outside activities only.  All GCPS buildings remain closed to the public and students this summer.

As we get more guidance from our Governor and the NCHSAA, we will update you on any necessary adjustments involving our athletic programs.

GCPS believes strongly in the value of our athletic programs as positive influences on the lives of our student-athletes. We will continue to monitor and plan for ways to resume these activities as soon as possible while keeping the health and safety of our students and staff a top priority.

Coach's Corner Logo

Coach’s Corner 07/01/20: Orange Co. Speedway Hopeful Fans Can Return for July Race

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Terry Deal, director of operations at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC, appeared on WIZS Coach’s Corner Wednesday.

With two races on the 2020 schedule canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, and one held without fans, Deal is hopeful the next scheduled OCS race on Saturday, July 18, will be a-go with at least some fans in attendance.

The July race is scheduled for the day after the end of NC Governor Roy Cooper’s three-week extension of the Safer at Home Phase 2 plan.

“We had a race without fans, and that’s just not a very good way to race. We hope to have some fans in some capacity at the next race, whether that be at 50 percent or whatever the new rules are at the time,” said Deal.

If the July 18 race is canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, Deal said the OCS will look forward to August for scheduled races and shows. To view the race schedule, please visit the newly-designed OCS website at www.ocstrack.net.

“We are holding up as good as anyone else considering the circumstances,” Deal said. “We are just taking it day by day and seeing how it goes.”

Listen to today’s Coach’s Corner audio by clicking the play button above.

Coach's Corner Logo

Coach’s Corner 06/30/20: Hunter Jenks Named New VCHS Head Football Coach

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-Press Release, Vance County High School

The Vance County Board of Education has approved Hunter Jenks as the new head football coach at Vance County High School. He will also teach physical education at the school. 

Coach Jenks makes his way to Vance County with an impressive background as both a player and a coach. A Wake Forest native, Jenks was a standout four-sport letterman at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School before playing college football as an offensive lineman at Elon University. At Clayton, Coach Jenks took over for a Comets program coming off a 3-8 season and recorded a 28-10 record over three seasons including a 13-1 record in 2017. That season, he led the Comets to an undefeated regular season and a Greater Neuse 3A Conference Championship before falling 38-31 to Eastern Guilford in the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs. 

Coach Jenks was recognized as the Greater Neuse Conference and Johnston County Coach of the Year in 2017 for his efforts. He has also coached 31 players who have earned athletic scholarships and multiple participants in the Border Bowl, Shrine Bowl, East-West All-Star Game, USA Bowl, Under Armour All-American Game, and U.S. Army All-American Game. 

“We had many outstanding candidates, but it became clearly apparent that Hunter Jenks is the right person to lead our football program,” Athletic Director Joe Sharrow said of the coaching search. “Coach Jenks is a great leader and a proven coach who will serve as a tremendous role model for our students. He is football savvy, has a passion for teaching, and has demonstrated the ability to establish positive relationships with students, staff, parents, and community members. I have no doubt he will be a strong addition to the Viper family.” 

Jenks will replace Darry Ragland, who resigned in January after leading the Vipers to a 13-10 record over two seasons. The Vipers graduated seventeen seniors and are expecting many new contributors at key positions. 

“I am excited and honored to be the next head coach at Vance County,” Jenks said in a statement. “Growing up and coaching in the area, I know the potential Vance County has in football. When it’s safe and allowed, I very much look forward to developing relationships with the players, families, and community members.” 

The Vipers are hopeful to open the 2020 football season as scheduled on the road at Bunn High School on August 21.