Teammates Render, Allen continue different sports at the same college

By David Williams
Published in Sports on May 3, 2004 1:55 PM

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Micheal Render and Josh Allen have been playing ball together since they were nine years old.

The game wasn't important back then -- football, baseball, basketball -- the two were regular teammates.

While both played several sports through their careers at Rosewood High School, Render and Allen began to find their way down different paths as they got older.

Render became a standout pitcher for the baseball Eagles, sporting a 2.74 career ERA and proving versatile by playing first base, outfield and designated hitter.

Allen saw his stock rise in football. He was a four-year letterman and a two-year starter at free safety for Rosewood, third on the team in tackles last season with 84 solos, five pass breakups and two interceptions. He was a News-Argus first team All-Area selection this past season.

The pair still play their games together -- Allen is Render's catcher on the baseball team -- but it was clear their athletic fortunes were in different directions.

But when colleges came calling, the pair ended up with the same choice.

Both Render and Allen will be attending North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount next fall after signing grants-in-aid.

Render chose the Battling Bishops after considering Louisburg College and Guilford College. Allen considered Averett College and Wesleyan, but made his decision after a short consultation with Render.

"Mikey had made his decision about a month ago," said Allen. "Wesleyan was on top of my list as well. He came over to my house on Sunday and said, 'I'm going to Wesleyan.'

"By the time we got done talking, we decided to room together."

Render, the son of Walter and Valerie Render of Goldsboro, plans to study physical education at Wesleyan. Allen, the son of Andy and Jeanne Allen of Goldsboro, will study chemistry and may go to medical school.

"But I may just stay in chemistry because I like chemistry so much," he said.

Allen won one of only five Trustee scholarships from North Carolina Wesleyan, which are based on academic excellence.

Render said Wesleyan coach Charlie Long did not outline any specific plans for him right from the start.

"I guess a couple years of JV, then on to varsity," he said.

"Wesleyan doesn't know all they are getting," said Rosewood coach Scott Adams. "He's a good player, a good teammate, and a good person. He comes from a good family. He's represented Rosewood in an exemplary way."

Allen is one of many parts of a first-year Division III football program at Wesleyan, under the direction of coach Jack Ginn.

"Coach Barrow and the coaches here always talked about building a bridge and adding wood to the bridge that others have built before you," Allen said. "It's exciting to be starting a bridge."

"Josh is a good representative of many good free safeties that have come through Rosewood in the last several years," said Rosewood football coach Daniel Barrow. "He's been very solid in a key position for our defense."

Allen said the personal contact Wesleyan kept up during the recruiting process impressed him.

"The coaches make you feel important," he said. "Coach Henniger (secondary coach) called me a lot."

Both Render and Allen said the small-school environment they saw at Wesleyan reminded them of the small-school environment they grew up in at Rosewood.

"It's a small, close-knit school," said Render. "The staff are nice."

Render and Allen both thanked their coaches and their dads for supporting their interests in sports throughout their younger years. Both said the community support at Rosewood for sports made games a community event in which everyone played a part.

Barrow, the school's athletic director, noted that both Render and Allen represent the best in a student-athlete.

"They are what Rosewood athletics is all about," he said.