CPIC loses automatic bid to postseason

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 30, 2014 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Qualifying for the postseason has become a little more tenuous for Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference teams this calendar school year.

Though the league has four members, it doesn't have the required number in either classification to earn an automatic bid to the playoffs. Realignment and increased enrollment forced the departure of former CPIC members Oakwood and Epiphany, who each moved into a new conference in July.

Wayne Country Day and Greenfield, two of the original CPIC charter schools, are joined by fellow 1-A member Pope John Paul II Catholic HS of Greenville. Freedom Christian remains in the league, but is a 2-A school according to its latest enrollment numbers -- more than 20 students above the cutoff for 1-A schools.

Three schools, according to N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association by-laws, are not enough to keep the AQ. The decision has forced athletics directors from WCDS, Greenfield and Pope John Paul to improve their non-conference schedules in every sport to help increase their chances of earning at-large bids to the postseason.

"We are having to go out and play teams that we normally don't play," WCDS athletics director Michael Taylor said. "It will be a tough test for our coaches and athletes, but in the long run, I think it will make us better. We are going to play schools that traditionally get into the playoffs year in and year out."

It's been a season of change for Taylor.

Now in his 12th year as AD, he had to hire new coaches in tennis and cross country. Joann Logan, who guided the Chargers to the NCISAA 1-A girls' dual-team tennis crown last fall, decided not to return. Goldsboro Country Club pro Mark Phillips will direct the girls' and boys' tennis teams.

Rob Glass replaces Joe Mitchell as head cross country coach.

"Mark has been working with some of our girls and boys all summer on the tennis courts, and Rob has been involved with cross country here at the school for years," Taylor said. "We have a great coaching staff with lots of knowledge in their particular areas. I am very lucky to get to work with all my coaches."

Taylor expects more than 100 student-athletes to try out for the boys' soccer, volleyball, girls' tennis and cross country teams when practice officially begins later this week.

Wayne Country Day finished fifth overall in the NCISAA 1-A Wells Fargo Cup standings last year.

In addition to his AD and baseball coaching duties, Taylor has been selected to serve on a six-member panel that will choose the next executive director of the NCISAA. Chuck Carter will step down June 30 after a long tenure in that position.

Taylor will represent all ADs on the 1-A level.

"I've got some viewpoints that are shared by fellow schools, and there are some schools that don't have the same viewpoints," Taylor said. "It's going to be interesting."