Princeton, N. Duplin add sports to respective athletic programs

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

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

CALYPSO -- A genuine interest prompted athletics directors from Princeton and North Duplin to each add a new sport to their respective programs this fall.

North Duplin, on the heels of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, officially announced it will field the school's first-ever boys' soccer team in early September. The decision gives the Rebels participation in every Carolina 1-A Conference-sponsored sport with the exception of wrestling.

"We have everything that everybody else offers, which is pretty good for a school our size," North Duplin AD Ricky Edwards said. "There has been right much interest in it. We're really excited about it and we'll see what happens."

Edwards said James Foster will serve as head coach. He'll be assisted by retired Marine Tim Lavassie and Julio Mora, whose two sons -- Julio and Emiliano -- each played football for the Rebels.

Juan Bravo replaces Foster as head cross country coach.

"The response has been really good," said Foster, who is conducting a three-day mini camp before practice officially begins Friday evening.

"In the spring when we had our interest meeting, we had about 40 boys show up. We had 15 show up for the parent-player meeting (Monday)."

The Rebels will play a conference-only schedule this fall. They launch their inaugural season Sept. 3 at home against Neuse Charter. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at H.E. Grubbs Field.

Kim Wolfe will direct the girls' soccer program.

Numerous parents have approached Marty Gurganus about fielding girls' and boys' tennis teams during his tenure as Princeton AD. Gurganus talked with administrators and met twice with the student body to "test the waters."

The interest was there.

"We didn't have a huge number of girls, but we had enough that we can step out in space and see what happens," Gurganus said. "Tennis is a great sport and we want to give our kids the opportunity to play a sport who might not play the other sports we offer. We felt like it was something that is good for our kids and will help our conference."

Gurganus said Christy Klein, who played at Charles B. Aycock, has been named head coach.

Princeton does not have on-campus tennis courts. The team will practice and play its matches at the Smithfield Recreation Center. Gurganus said a discussion to build courts on campus will occur sometime in the future.

"It's a leap of faith," Gurganus said.