Tag Archive for: #vancecountyvipers

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vipers Prepare For Orange

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Vance County High School Football Coach Aaron Elliott discusses preparations for this week’s game against Orange.

The Coaches Corner continues with Vance County Football Head Coach Aaron Elliott on SportsTalk with Scout Hughes and George Hoyle on WIZS.

The Vipers pulled out a close one against Rocky Mount last Friday night defeating Rocky Mount on the road, 23-22. Vance County Head Man Aaron Elliott believes that his team did alright. “We were able to squeak out with a win. Wins are hard to come by. You know it’s easy to lose, hard to win. Being able to win and finishing the game was a plus, but overall we still made some mistakes that we have been working on all week as far as basic fundamentals. We are getting those things cleaned up, hopefully, it’ll show on Friday.”

Even early on in the season, Vance County and Coach Elliott knew that Rocky Mount would give Vance County a tougher matchup but that didn’t change the team’s mindset. Coach said that they knew Rocky Mount being a 3A school would make it a tougher game than Warren County was and that Rocky Mount took advantage of Vance and their mistakes early on last Friday night but he’s glad Vance County pulled out the win.

Looking ahead to Orange, Coach says, “We have cleaned some things up.” And even though Vance County beat Orange last year, Coach Elliott says that they are still treating this game just like it’s any other game. Coach also gives an insight as to what Orange might do as far as their offensive scheme, “Going into this game we are expecting them to throw the ball. But based on film, what we’ve been able to see the past two weeks is that they have been really successful running the ball. They have a running back that rushed for almost 140 yards against Chapel Hill last week so we’ve got to be able to have an answer for him…we’ve got to have an answer for whatever they give us.” 

Scout and George also asked for an update about if Vance County had rescheduled a game to take the place of Granville Central, who last month had announced that they were canceling their Varsity and Junior Varsity football seasons for 2024. “We had a conference meeting about it and if we can’t find a team to play then we can use that game as a win by forfeit. But we are still trying to find a team. We are still looking. We’ve reached out to Virginia a little bit. It’s gonna be hard to find another game.” 

As the Vipers move to Friday’s game against Orange, Coach’s message to the fans is clear. “Just make that drive to Hillsborough and support us if they can. I know we’ve been on the road, but we had a good showing at Rocky Mount last Friday, hopefully we can do it again this Friday.” 

Sounds good to us Coach! Go Vipers!

Vance County travels to Orange for Week 3 of the 2024 season Friday, September 6th and you can hear all the action on WIZS 1450AM, 100.1FM, and online at wizs.com with pregame starting at 6:50 p.m. and kickoff thereafter at 7:00 p.m.

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Vance County High School

Vance County Vipers Getting It Done, From Admin To Students

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Editor’s note: This Viper Highlights is the first in a series of updates from Vance County Schools’ Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin to help inform, update and educate the community about what’s going on at Vance County High School. Read, enjoy and learn about the school’s administrative team and what its students are up to.

Vance County High School stands as a beacon of innovation and opportunity, where education extends far beyond the classroom walls. With dedicated leadership, a diverse and comprehensive curriculum and a commitment to hands-on learning and real-world experiences, VCHS prepares students not only for academic success but also for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in their careers and lives. As students graduate from VCHS, they carry with them not only knowledge and skills, but also a sense of purpose and readiness to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond. Through various initiatives, partnerships, and outreach programs, VCHS actively contributes to the betterment of the community, fostering a culture of service, empathy, and collaboration. Truly, VCHS is shaping the leaders of tomorrow, instilling in them the values of excellence, integrity, and service, while positively impacting Vance County, the community they call home.

Principal Leading with Vision and Dedication 

Principal Dr. Nealie Whitt, III has been instrumental in driving positive change since assuming his role over a year ago. Renowned for his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to student success, Whitt has earned the respect and admiration of the entire school community. His approachable demeanor and genuine concern for the welfare of students and staff alike have fostered a strong sense of community within the school. Through active engagement with students and support for the staff, Whitt has created an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Students and staff have spoken highly of Whitt’s dedication and support, affirming the positive impact he has made. His efforts to meet students’ needs and ensure their comfort and safety continued to be respected and praised by many. Whitt’s influence extends beyond academics, with a dedicated focus on supporting all aspects of student life, including athletics. His equal support for both men’s and women’s sports has not gone unnoticed, further solidifying his status as a beloved figure within the school. Whitt remains committed to fostering academic excellence, inclusivity, and empowering students to realize their full potential, ensuring that Vance County High School continues to thrive under his leadership.

The Dream Team: VCHS Assistant Principals 

Assisting Whitt in his mission are the exceptional assistant principals, McShell Edmonds,. Scott Corrente, Orlando Terry, and Michael Terry, collectively referred to as the Dream Team. Their dedication to student success and growth exemplifies excellence in education and unwavering support for the school community. Edmonds leads the 9th Grade

Academy, setting a standard of dedication and commitment, while earning admiration from students for her tireless efforts. She is committed to ensuring academic achievement for students and serves as a compassionate mentor. Corrente, overseeing sophomore administration, has a friendly demeanor and inspirational presence, serving not only as an administrator but also as a trusted confidant and mentor to students. O. Terry, responsible for junior class administration, is lauded for his nurturing nature and the welcoming environment he fosters, likened to a caring guardian by students. Completing this stellar lineup is M. Terry, the senior class administrator, known for his warmth, wit and genuine concern for students’ well-being, while playing a pivotal role in shaping academic and career pathways. Together, this team empowers students and cultivates a supportive environment where every individual can thrive, leaving a lasting impact on the entire school community.

Dedicated Teachers and Staff 

The profound commitment to student success at VCHS is evident through the unwavering dedication of its teachers and staff. Beyond their daily responsibilities, they invest their time and energy into shaping the academic and personal growth of their students, fostering a supportive community where every member plays a vital role. Whether it is counselors offering invaluable guidance, teachers providing extra help, or custodians ensuring a safe environment, the collective efforts of the VCHS team create an atmosphere of learning and growth.

VCHS: Where Education Extends Beyond the Classroom Walls 

At Vance County High School, education transcends traditional boundaries, offering a comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for both academic excellence and real-world success. The school offers a diverse array of educational opportunities including Career and Technical Education courses that include Culinary Arts Applications, Early Childhood Development and Services, Law and Justice, Plant Systems, Carpentry, Automotive Services, Biomedical Technology, Entrepreneurship, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Computer Science Principles, Food and Nutrition, and Career Management. Additionally, students have opportunities to pursue art, journalism, theater, chorus, band, and ROTC, empowering students to explore a wide range of interests and career pathways. Additionally, VCHS students have internship opportunities in local daycare centers, providing students with valuable real-world experience and further enhancing their readiness for the workforce. This robust curriculum ensures that VCHS students graduate well-prepared for the challenges of the future, equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in their chosen fields and make meaningful contributions to society.

Our Students: VCHS Class of 2024, Vipers are College Bound 

The VCHS Class of 2024 is demonstrating remarkable initiative and ambition in the college application process. With 103 seniors having submitted at least one application and 63 applying to three or more colleges, their proactive approach reflects a commitment to exploring diverse opportunities. Out of 201 seniors, a total of 687 applications have been sent out, resulting in 319 acceptances thus far. As decision letters continue to arrive, the VCHS community eagerly anticipates celebrating the success of these college-bound Vipers, poised to make their mark on the world with determination and ambition.

Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Viper Football Starts Spring Workouts

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Football may be months away but the Vance County Vipers are busy with preparations as they start Spring workouts. Coach Aaron Elliott is back for his second season and is the only coach in the school’s history to return after their initial year. “We have been wide open for Spring workouts with great numbers. We had 45 kids on Monday. A lot more than we expected,” Elliott said, on Thursday’s SportsTalk.

The team is returning a number of star players from last year’s playoff team including all of last year’s starting linebackers. One of those returning players is Tashon Alston. Alston is also getting looks from division one schools. South Carolina has made an offer to Alston. “It felt good. It felt awesome to hear about the offer,” Alston said while joining his coach on the show.

Elliott is also pleased that his entire coaching staff from last season has remained intact and, while pleased with all of the players and coaches that are returning, he is also excited about new faces to the program. For the first time the Vipers now have a weight training instructor. “That was the missing piece to the puzzle,” Elliott said.

The Vipers will practice through the end of next week and then take a break for exams and graduation before ramping back up in June.

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SportsTalk: Local High School Programs Struggling With Bad Weather

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Talk to Ray Noel, Athletic Director at Vance County High School, or Mike Joyner, Athletic Director at Kerr Vance Academy, and both men will tell you the same thing.  Weather has slowed Spring sports to a crawl.  “We need games,” said Ray Noel on Thursday’s SportsTalk.  “The weather has been unforgiving,” Noel added.  Vance County’s softball team is currently 1-4 but failed to get in games with Louisburg High this week because of the wet conditions. The baseball team has only played one game this season, a win against Triangle Science and Math over a week ago.

Rain is not the only problem.  Wet conditions that persist long after the rain stops is also an issue for those on the baseball or softball diamond.  The cool cloudy conditions have not allowed for much drying of the fields this week.  Soccer at Vance County can deal with some wet conditions and the Vipers’ girls soccer team is 0-2 in the conference but are playing hard.  The squad has two seniors and are coming off of a split with Louisburg High School in non-conference play.

Noel also looks forward to the beginning of track season.  The Vipers’ track team has it’s first meet scheduled for March 29th.

Meanwhile, over at Kerr Vance Academy the boys’ baseball team is 1-2.  “We are young but we will be ok,” Joyner said.  The school’s first conference game is scheduled for Friday.  KVA has already had two baseball games rained out.  Soccer has had one game rained out, and the golf team has yet to tee it up this year due to inclement weather.

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Aaron Elliott Looks Back On Vipers Season

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The Vance County Vipers were eliminated from the state high school football playoffs last week by Southern Durham, but the Vipers have nothing to be ashamed of after finishing 7-4.  According to Coach Aaron Elliott, turnovers and weather were factors in the loss. Some of the turnovers were weather related as rain continued on and off throughout the game. Elliott also said some questionable calls were likely a factor as well. “We had a fumble recovery for a touchdown that was called back by an early whistle,” Elliott said.  “It’s all part of the game,” he continued.

The Vipers will lose 14 seniors, but Elliott feels that will be overcome by incoming players from the JV squad next season. Additionally, his coaching philosophy will have a whole off-season to be absorbed by players both new and returning.  “We play together as a family. When your players trust and believe in you they will do anything,” Coach Elliott said on Wednesday’s SportsTalk with Bill Harris and George Hoyle.

With both running backs and the entire offensive line returning, the Vipers will have an excellent core for the 2023 season.

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Listen to Vipers Football – Coach Elliott And Vipers Building Confidence

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Listen Local at 1450 AM / 100.1 FM or anywhere on your connected device or speaker at WIZS.com and Tunein.

Say “Alexa” or “Hey Google” and then “Listen to WIZS.com on Tunein.”  Or click here with any device to Listen Live online (https://player.listenlive.co/53101).

You can hear the growing confidence in his voice.  Vance County High Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott has reason to be confident; in the last 6 quarters, the Vipers have allowed only 7 points while putting 82 on the scoreboard.  The Vipers shut out Carrboro last week 54-0. Elliott attributes the win to practicing. “We had our best week of practice all season last week,” Elliott said. One thing that has helped his team understand the importance of practice was having a Duke University linebackers coach talk to the players about its importance.

Even though Elliott and his players have confidence, he couldn’t foresee the Vipers rolling up 54 points against Carrboro. “You couldn’t predict that they would play as well as they did,” Elliott said.  Quarterback Nazir Garrett threw seven touchdowns in the game which ties him for third all-time in the North Carolina high school record books.

The Vipers will have to put that win behind them and focus on this week’s opponent, South Granville.  The Vikings are 2-4 and coming off a 7-6 win against Southern Durham. “They have a great running back averaging over 175 yards per game,” Elliott said.  While the Vikings pose a challenge, Elliott still feels confident that the Vipers are where they need to be. “We are playing together, everything is clicking,” stated Elliott on Thursday’s SportsTalk on WIZS.

Vance County Friday Night Football on WIZS begins at 6:50 p.m. Friday night with kickoff from Creedmoor at 7 p.m.

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Vance Vipers Defeated Carrboro Thursday Night 54-0

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Vance County High School’s varsity home football game against Carrboro High School was moved to Thursday, September 29th due to weather concerns.

The Vipers won 54 – 0.

 

Vance County High School

Vance County Defeated Jordan Friday Night By One Point

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Vance County defeated Jordan Friday night 28 to 27.  The Vipers trailed 20-nothing but fought back and took their first lead inside a minute to go.  Vance County High School thwarted Jordan’s final drive with excellent defense to secure the win.  The Vipers move the 3-2 on the year and start conference play this week.  Tune in Monday at 12:30 p.m. on SportsTalk for a full recap.

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SportsTalk: Elliott And Allred Preview Vipers Vs. Jordan

After losing the last two games to powerful Durham schools, 2-2 Vance County makes another trip down I-85 to battle 1-3 Jordan High School in the final non-conference game of the season. While no coach likes to lose, Vance Co. Head Coach Aaron Elliott felt much better about his team after last week’s 28 – 20 loss to Northern Durham. “We went toe to toe with a good Durham football team,” Elliot said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. “We were able to establish a run game,” Elliott continued. The Vipers had been a heavily pass oriented team, but with the loss of quarterback Nazir Garrett, the Vipers had to find a running game. Last week they did. Elliott feels there is a good chance that Garrett may be back for the game tomorrow night and, if so, the Vipers will have a better balanced offense that won’t have to rely exclusively on Garrett to throw the ball.

Jordan Coach Justin Allred, who was also on SportsTalk Thursday, alluded to the Viper’s double threat. “It’s like watching two different teams,” Allred said. Jordan is coming off a 34-14 loss to Southeast Guilford, but he feels the tough non-conference schedule has helped. “It’s a chance to test our squad,” said Allred. Jordan is also a very balanced team capable of both running and throwing the ball, but he says his biggest concern about the Vipers is team speed which he described as incredible. Jordan does have one thing in its favor other teams haven’t and that is Athletic Director Joe Sharrow.  Until this year, Sharrow had been athletic director at Vance County High School, and Coach Allred has been able to use Sharrow’s knowledge to help him prepare for Friday night’s matchup.

Airtime is 6:50  p.m. with kickoff at 7 p.m. for Vance County Friday Night Football here on WIZS.

Listen Local on 1450 AM / 100.1 FM or click on Listen Live at wizs.com (https://player.listenlive.co/53101).

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Vance County High School

SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

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The first football game of the season tends to be a little ragged around the edges, and according to Vance County High School Head Football Coach Aaron Elliott, this was true of the Vipers in their season opening four point win over the rival Eagles in Warren County last Friday night.  Twelve penalties totaling 95 yards is something the Vipers can ill afford to have happen this week when the school hosts Roanoke Rapids who beat Northampton County last week by the score of 48 -16.

“They are very disciplined,” Elliott said of Roanoke Rapids. Elliott said that after looking at the film of the Northampton game, the Vipers can expect to see a Wing-T offense and a heavy dose of the running game.  This might be good for the Vipers as they held Warren Co. to minus 46 yards rushing last week.

Click to hear full audio of Coach Elliott – SportsTalk: Vance County High Welcomes Roanoke Rapids Friday Night

Elliott said the Warren County game was very emotional at kick off, as it was his first as head coach, but after the game and the victory, despite the mistakes, it was very fulfilling. Those mistakes cannot be repeated Friday night if the Vipers want to move to 2 – 0 on the season. “We have to keep players accountable for mistakes,” Elliott said.  In addition to the penalties, Vance Co. muffed a punt that gave Warren Co. a short field and a touchdown. In contrast, Roanoke Rapids had a total of three penalties last week.

Roanoke Rapids nor Vance Co. suffered any injuries and both teams should be a full strength when they hit the field at 7pm Friday night. Vance Co. Friday Night Football will broadcast the game live beginning at 6:50pm with the pre-game show.

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SportsTalk: Ray Noel Prepares For AD Position At VCHS

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Ray Noel said he’s looking forward to his new job as athletic director at Vance County High School, but right now, he’s focused on his closing out the school year at Granville Central High School, where he will still be athletic director until the end of June.

July 1 marks his first day in Vance County, and Noel said he’s excited about the new opportunity.

When his teams faced Vance County High School’s teams, Noel said he noticed how close and tight-knit the community seemed to be.

He told David “Doc” Harris, Bill Harris and John C. Rose on Monday’s Sports Talk that really made a lasting impression on him.

“I’d see the turnouts for sports in Vance County,” he said, adding that he looks forward to being part of an athletic program that receives such positive support.

But Noel said he values his 15 years at Granville Central High School – he took a job there upon graduation from Averett University – and will miss the relationships that he has developed with staff during his time there.

Noel takes over the AD position from Joe Sharrow, who announced in April that he would be leaving VCS, took the AD position at Jordan High School in Durham.

“I hope to continue the success that Mr. Sharrow had and take it to the next level if we can,” Noel said.

It’s important for student athletes to be recognized for their efforts, Noel said, and there are a number of athletes at VCHS who will get a lot of attention on social media and elsewhere for their accomplishments in sports.

But, he acknowledged, not everybody who plays high school sports makes it to the next level of sports. Quality, stable athletic programs are important to help students be successful after high school, he said. “We want them to be good men and women out in the job force,” Noel said.

 

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