James Kennan leads Wachovia Cup standings

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 13, 2009 1:46 PM

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CHAPEL HILL -- James Kenan has emerged the front-runner in the race for the 2008-09 Wachovia Conference Cup among Super Six 1-A teams after the completion of the fall sports season.

The Tigers claimed their third straight regular-season football championship and captured the men's soccer title, giving them a 15-14 edge over Midway. The Raiders emerged the top team in women's volleyball and finished second to James Kenan in football.

Hobbton and Union are tied for third with 10 points. Lakewood is next with nine, followed by Wallace-Rose Hill with two. The Bulldogs fired head football coach Glenn Sellers after finishing the season with 10 consecutive defeats.

On the Carolina 1-A Conference scene, North Johnston is the leader after seizing regular-season crowns in volleyball and football; and tying with Spring Creek for the top spot in women's tennis. The Panthers have a 19.5-16 edge over the Gators.

Spring Creek won the men's soccer title and completed the first-ever unbeaten season in program history. The Gators spent much of the year ranked among the top 10 teams in the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association poll.

Princeton and Ayden-Grifton share third place with 12 points apiece. Rosewood is next with 9.5 and North Duplin has seven.

In the Eastern Plains 2-A ranks, Tarboro holds the early advantage after picking up regular-season championships in football, men's soccer and women's cross country. The Vikings have 26 points.

Greene Central, which captured yet another regular-season crown in women's tennis, shares second place with North Pitt and Farmville Central. All three schools have 21 points apiece.

North Lenoir is a close fifth with 19 points. Goldsboro, which finished second in football, has 10 points.

During its final year in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play, Wilson Hunt picked up three championships during the fall -- men's soccer (tie with Charles B. Aycock), women's volleyball and men's cross country. The Warriors earned 69 points for their efforts.

Eastern Wayne repeated as the women's tennis champion and emerged victorious in women's cross country. The Warriors trail Hunt by four points and have an eight-point edge over Southern Wayne, which collected the women's golf title.

One-half point separates Wilson Beddingfield (56.5) and C.B. Aycock (56), which earned an unprecedented fourth consecutive regular-season championship in men's soccer. Kinston is a distant sixth with 29.5 points.

Wachovia has sponsored the conference awards program since 1980.