Simmons, Walker named ECC players-of-the-year in respective sports

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 21, 2012 9:53 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

News-Argus Sports Editor

Charles B. Aycock senior Tara Simmons and sophomore Ashton Walker were named the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference player-of-the-year in women's golf and women's tennis, respectively, for the fall sports season.

Simmons led the Golden Falcons to the ECC regular-season title and claimed the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state golf championship for the second consecutive year. She has signed a national letter-of-intent to continue her golfing career at Ivy League member Dartmouth College.

Walker posted a sterling 31-2 record in singles play and became the first Golden Falcon to reach the NCHSAA semifinals since Raychel Batts in 2004. Walker helped lead Aycock to the eastern semifinals in the NCHSAA dual-team playoffs.

"Ashton had a phenomenal sophomore season," CBA head coach Luke Vail said. "She always plays with confidence and determination, which can carry you a long way."

Aycock's Roger Rhodes was named the ECC women's golf coach-of-the-year. The Golden Falcons' men's cross country team shared the ECC team sportsmanship award with North Lenoir.

Craig Hassell received the ECC women's tennis coach-of-the-year award. Eastern Wayne finished unbeaten in league play and captured its fifth conference championship in the last six years.

The Warriors received the team sportsmanship award in men's soccer and shared the honor with Cleveland in varsity football. Eastern Wayne's women's cross country team emerged a tri-winner of the team sportsmanship plaque along with Southern Wayne and North Lenoir.

North Lenoir was the sportsmanship recipient in volleyball.

Regular-season championships in football, women's cross country and volleyball, and top-tier finishes in women's tennis and men's cross country propelled Triton to a 39.5-32.5 advantage over Cleveland in the Wells Fargo ECC Cup fall sports standings.

Cleveland won the regular-season title in men's soccer.

Aycock, which won a league championship in women's golf, is third with 31.5 points. South Johnston, the ECC men's cross country champion, is fourth overall with 29.5 points.

Eastern Wayne (21.5 points), North Lenoir (20) and Southern Wayne (18.5) round out the seven-team league.