Rosewood leads Carolina Conference Cup chase after fall season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 17, 2011 11:19 PM

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Rosewood wore the "bridesmaid" tag during the fall sports season in Class 1-A Carolina Conference, but has emerged the overall leader in the chase for the league's Wells Fargo Conference Cup.

The Eagles finished runner-up in four sports -- volleyball, women's tennis, men's soccer and women's cross country. Rosewood holds a 26-24 advantage over archrival Princeton.

"We have won the Cup the past two years," said RHS athletics director Robert Britt. "It has become something that is important to our coaches and athletes. To be leading after the fall sports (season) without winning a conference championship shows how competitive we were in all of our fall sports.

"It definitely is a tribute to our athletes and coaches."

The Bulldogs claimed conference championships in volleyball, and men's and women's cross country.

"I am very proud of our fall sports and what we were able to accomplish," said first-year Princeton athletics director Marty Gurganus. "Our football team improved from last year and set some things in place for success in the future. Our boys' soccer team made it to the playoffs and experienced our first-ever playoff win.

"Cross country qualified for the state championships, and our volleyball team went undefeated in conference (play) and made it to the fourth round of the state playoffs. (We) had a great fall season."

Spring Creek, which won its fourth straight men's soccer crown, and took the women's tennis title, is third overall with 19 points. North Duplin (15.5 points), Goldsboro (14.5) and Ayden-Grifton (14) round out the six-team league.

Charles B. Aycock trails Triton 36-33 after the fall sports season.

The Golden Falcons captured Eastern Carolina 3-A titles in women's golf and women's soccer, and finished runner-up in volleyball. Triton seized three ECC championships -- football, volleyball and women's cross country.

"We had a very good fall," said CBA athletics director Charles Davis. "Hopefully, this winter we can close the gap on Triton even more."

South Johnston, which collected league crowns in men's soccer and men's cross country, compiled 30 points. Cleveland (24.5 points), Eastern Wayne (22), North Lenoir (15.5) and Southern Wayne (13) complete the field.

James Kenan is the Tri-County 1-A leader with 23 points after runner-up finishes in men's soccer and football during the fall. Union has 21 points. Four teams -- Hobbton, Lakewood, Pender and Heide Trask -- share third place with 18 points.

Wallace-Rose Hill and Midway have 17 points apiece.

The Wells Fargo Conference Cup, co-sponsored by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholatic athletic performance within their respective conferences. Points are awarded based on participation and standings in conference play, and each conference determines its own method of awarding points.