Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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JUNE 5-11, 2019 UCW 25 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Gary Weller Foundation boosts student scholarship awards by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Sandhills All-Conference baseball by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Sandhills All-Conference softball by EARL VAUGHAN JR. After being in operation for less than two years, the Gary Weller Foundation has enjoyed rapid growth that allowed it to triple the amount of money it awarded in its annual scholarships. After presenting two $500 scholarships a year ago, the foundation awarded a pair of $1,500 scholarships to stu- dents at Pine Forest High School this year. The winners were Allyssa Rancour of the girls soccer team and Tanner Hendricks of the boys soccer team. The award is presented to student-athletes at Pine Forest who had to overcome adversity, befitting of a scholarship presented in honor of Weller, the former Pine Forest football coach. Weller sustained mul- tiple serious injuries some years ago when he was run over by a driver in a stolen vehicle. Cumberland County Commissioner Jimmy Keefe is a Pine Forest graduate and one of the organizers of the Gary Weller Foundation. He said the founda- tion was able to dramatically increase the amount of the scholarship awarded this year because of a highly successful Trojan Challenge obstacle course competition that was held last fall. "We're hoping to increase it next year, hopefully with a second annual Trojan Challenge,'' Keefe said. Keefe said much of the credit for the success of the foundation has to go to Weller, his story and the positive attitude that has carried him through adversity. "Gary has made a lot of friends in this community and has always been an advocate for young people,'' Keefe said. "He continued on after his coaching days, supporting the commu- nity and the young. It's more Gary than me or anybody else on the committee.'' In addition to another Trojan Challenge, Keefe said the committee is looking at other ways to raise money for future scholarships. They've floated an idea of holding a coaching clinic for local high school, mid- dle school and recreation league coaches, possibly using veteran coaches from the area as clinicians or speakers. "We'd have a symposium and questions and answers,'' Keefe said. "If we did that, we might be doing it during the sum- mer, another way to keep the Gary Weller Foundation in the public eye as we go throughout the year.'' There are several ways to contact the Weller Foundation about making a contribution or learning more about the organization. Email info@trojanchallenge.org, visit the website at www.trojanchallenge.org, or visit the Facebook page, The Gary Weller Foundation. Tanner Hendricks Allyssa Rancour Alex Reyna Carlie Myrtle Jamiese Alston Here is the Sandhills Athletic Conference baseball team as chosen by the league's head coaches. Player of the year: Bryce Calcutt, Pinecrest Pitcher of the year: Hunter Parris, Richmond Senior Coach of the year: Jeff Hewitt, Pinecrest First team: • Pinecrest — Elliot Embler, Nick Phantom, Jacob Zimmerman, Davis Wilson, Pres Ostert • Jack Britt — Chase Jernigan, Alex Reyna, Kevin Sentell • Purnell Swett — Zachary Carter, Jalyn McIntyre, Jeremiah Locklear • Lumberton — Parks Ledwell • Richmond Senior — Cameron Carraway, Jake Ransom, Tyler Bass, Brett Young, Garet Weigman • Scotland — Stewart Evans, Matt Sellers, Michael Johnson, Nic Callahan • Hoke County — Liam Miller • Seventy-First — Jamiese Alston Here is the Sandhills Athletic Conference softball team as chosen by the league's head coaches. Pitcher of the year: Morgan Britt, Lumberton and Greyson Way, Richmond Senior Player of the year: Carlie Myrtle, Jack Britt Coach of the year: Wendy Wallace, Richmond Senior First team: • Richmond Senior — Savannah Lampley, Taylor Parrish, Aliyah Swiney, Payton Chappell, Kayla Hawkins • Jack Britt — Jessica McRae, Alyssa Brown, Catie McGrath • Lumberton — Madison Canada, Ashley Prevatte, Kasey West • Purnell Swett — JaiLeana Deese, Chandra Locklear, Katlyn Jones, Trinity Locklear • Scotland — Olivia Hyatt, Taylor Whitley • Hoke County — Ina Womack, Kiya Locklear • Pinecrest — Katelyn Chisholm, Hannah Spinali • Seventy-First — Lacey Henry DK Sports 1/4h BRINGING YOU THE BEST IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS Check NCPrepSports.net for playoff details. & 6-8pm MONDAY Congratulations to all the participants in SPRING sports!