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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24 UCW MAY 9-15, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS Cape Fear wins major NCHSAA award by EARL VAUGHAN JR. EARL VAUGHAN JR., Sports Editor. COMMENTS? EarlUCWSports@ gmail.com. 910-364-6638. Cape Fear High School athletic director Matt McLean isn't the type who struggles to find words when putting sentences together. But the news that Cape Fear won the Exemplary School Award from the N.C. High School Athletic Association left him grasping for the accurate super- latives to put the honor in perspective. "It's probably the highest honor professionally I've ever been a part of,'' said McLean of the award. It was presented to Cape Fear at the annual meeting of the NCHSAA last ursday at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. It was the day's second major award for Cape Fear. Also honored was Colt boys and girls golf coach Todd Edge, who was the Region 4 winner of the Eight Who Make A Difference Award. at honor is presented to one school representative from each of the NCHSAA's eight geographic districts. e award is based on ex- emplary sportsmanship, dedication and commitment to athletics. What makes the Exemplary School Award presented to Cape Fear unique is it's not just from the NCHSAA. It is a cooperative effort between three of the state's major high school athletic organizations, the NCHSAA, the N.C. Coaches Asso- ciation and the N.C. Athletic Directors Association. Cape Fear receives a $1,000 cash prize and a ban- ner to display at the school. ose are the tangible benefits of the prize, but what the title means goes far beyond that in McLean's mind. "To be called the best by the three organizations that support your mission of educating kids through athletics is a big honor,'' McLean said. He noted Cape Fear is coming up on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the school and there have been highs and lows along the way. e names that have been associated with Cape Fear athletics over the years have been numerous. McLean clicked off a few, like David Pugh, the first athletic director, and track coach Rita Wiggs, along with Leon Brock, Doris Howard, Fred McDaniel, Mark Heil, Jim Hall, Ronnie Luck and Maria Nessen. When McLean interviewed for the job at Cape Fear, he talked about making the athletic program reach the same heights as other programs in the school, like the marching band and the fine arts program. "We have talented kids,'' he said. "We have hardworking coaches. We have parents and community members that support our school. "ey value the lessons that kids learn through edu- cation-based athletics. ey value the work our coaches do. Our coaches work incred- ibly hard. Almost all of our varsity head coaches have completed NCHSAA accredi- tation and have their scholastic coach certificates. Folks are willing to do the work, and they are being rewarded for that hard work.'' McLean added that Edge is an example of the kind of committed coaches Cape Fear has on its staff. "He communicates well with players and parents,'' McLean said. "He's a problem solver, somebody who has coached multiple sports and coached boys and girls exceptionally well.'' In addition to coaching boys and girls golf, Edge oversees the girls' weightlifting program at Cape Fear. He even does the little things, McLean said. e morning before he went to the Cumberland County Schools central office to be honored locally for winning the Eight Who Make A Difference Award, Edge swept the gym floor while dressed in his suit and tie for the ceremony. "He'll do the extra little thing to improve his teams,'' McLean said. "Incredibly professional. He's up there on the Mount Rushmore of coaches at Cape Fear, and in Cumberland County as far as I'm concerned. "If he could coach 20 teams, I would love it.'' e athletes at Cape Fear clearly appreciate the contributions Edge and his fellow coaches make to the school. Chris Matthews, who played foot- ball and wrestled for Cape Fear, said the award lets people know how well- organized and well-staffed the Cape Fear athletic program is. "It speaks volumes for everybody, baseball, softball, football, basketball, volleyball, all the teams at Cape Fear,'' he said. "It's a major honor and accomplishment, and it definitely puts Cape Fear on the map. Matthews said the coaches at Cape Fear know their subjects and get players to do what they ask, not just to do it because someone is telling them to. "It's for a greater goal than personal gain,'' he said. "It's for the gain of an entire organization. at speaks volumes to how good they are. ey do a superb job of stating what needs to be done and getting players to do it.'' Lauren Adams, who plays volleyball and softball for the Colts, said the award shows how hard both the players and coaches at the school work and how the coaches care for the players on and off the field. "e coaches for these sports are very encouraging and uplifting,'' she said. "ey are very serious. ey make sure we get all of our stuff done on the field and in the classroom. It improves us as players as well.'' In a press release on the award, NCHSAA com- missioner Que Tucker said Cape Fear was a truly deserving recipient of the honor and had demon- strated a commitment to education and excellence second to none among its peers in North Carolina. "Athletic director Matt McLean and his staff are truly leading the way in student engagement and achievement,'' Tucker said. "We are very proud of their hard work and dedication to education-based athletics and the NCHSAA.'' Cape Fear golf coach Todd Edge Chris Matthews Lauren Adams Attention Students: Let Your Voice Be Heard Get published in our award-winning community newspaper Up & Coming Weekly Send in your feature articles, editorials, short stories, movie and music reviews or original poetry and artwork to: highschoolhighlights@upandcomingweekly.com Subject line: High School Highlights Please include your photo and school information.