REALIGNMENT: Goldsboro, Spring Creek now placed in separate conferences

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 23, 2016 8:58 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Just when you though the Rubik's Cube was the biggest brain teaser back in the day, the latest N.C. High School Athletic Association realignment has become a headache itself.

Especially to Heath Whitfield, athletics director at Spring Creek.

The newest proposal kept the Gators in the bruising East Central 2-A Conference, but moved Goldsboro into a league that spans five different counties.

"Nothing is close to what we recommended," said Whitfield, who wanted to remain with Goldsboro and join the Lenoir County schools along with Greene Central.

Whitfield, who had met twice with several ADs, submitted the new proposal before the Jan. 8 deadline. He surmised it would be more cost effective travel-wise and not interfere with valuable classroom time.

The original realignment, based on the new 20-30-30-20 model, had SC and Goldsboro placed in a nine-team league that included James Kenan, Wallace-Rose Hill, Clinton, East Bladen, East Duplin, Midway and West Bladen. Should that conference stay intact, SC and Goldsboro each face at least a two-hour drive -- one way -- to the Bladen County schools.

East Bladen is close to Whiteville. West Bladen borders Columbus County.

"(The Association) has probably had so many different scenarios sent their way, who knows what they are going to do," a displeased Whitfield said. "I know Dean Sauls, when we met the last time, and (Wayne County Superintendent) Dr. Dunsmore, I think they are going to do everything they can to keep us and Goldsboro in the same conference ... regardless of what that is.

"We're the northern-most school when you take Goldsboro out of it. The closest school now would be East Duplin, which is at least a 30-minute drive. (Other than that) we're going to have to travel quite a bit."

Whitfield hopes the Association grants the school's request to stay with Goldsboro and join the Lenoir County schools along with Greene Central. Goldsboro and South Lenoir are just 14 miles from Seven Springs.

The Lenoir schools are a half-hour drive.

The alignment makes sense geographically and the games should draw good crowds which would help gate receipts. Football is considered the "cash cow" for most high schools, particularly those in rural sections of northeastern, eastern and southeastern North Carolina.

"I'm as confused as the next guy," Whitfield said. "I don't know what the solution is ... don't know what else we can do."

Goldsboro developed rivalries with every school and renewed one -- Kinston -- that has played to sold-out gymnasiums during basketball season each of the past three years in the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference. GHS athletics director Dwight Sutton, however, did not like seeing Washington and West Craven added to the mix.

Sutton favored the new proposal that placed the Cougars in the Eastern Plains 2-A which includes Beddingfield, Farmville Central, Nash Central, North Johnston, North Pitt and SouthWest Edgecombe.

A little more travel would be required and classroom time, especially for athletes who attend the Wayne School of Engineering -- which is on a different class schedule -- will get reduced.

"I'm glad because of the transportation issue (and) I guess we'll be making some new rivalries," said Sutton, who depends on either 15 or 16 home games in football and basketball combined to cover the athletic department's expenses.

"Goldsboro has always played whoever, whenever and wherever. I just didn't want to get on a bus and go 1 1/2 hours to West Bladen, an hour to Washington and about 1 1/2 hours to West Craven. It's about the safety of the kids and getting them home so they can get their homework done.

"I do feel bad for Spring Creek."

The Association sent out questionnaires regarding realignment before it began to devise new conferences. Sutton and Whitfield both said "we wanted to stay where we are."

The 20-30-30-20 model created more 2-A and 3-A schools, and reduced the number of 4-A and 1-A schools. Spring Creek has one of the lowest average daily membership (ADM) enrollments in 2-A.

"I don't see the logic when you have two schools in one county with one school going toward Wilmington and the other heading toward Nash County," Sutton said. "I'm not on the committee. At the end of the day, there has to be some common sense and I guess they (the Association) have an argument for what they've done. I hope they get it worked out.

"At the end of the day for us it's about being able to compete and be successful, and have fun."