N.C. High School Athletic Association augments fall sports schedule

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on October 18, 2016 9:57 AM

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Coaches and athletics directors in eastern North Carolina received the reprieve they had been waiting for on Monday afternoon.

The N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Directors and Que Tucker, commissioner, made the difficult decision to move playoff dates due to historic flooding from Hurricane Matthew.

"The logistics of moving the fall championship dates, especially this close to the events are complex; however, we must do everything in our power to do what is best for our student-athletes in the state," Tucker said. "Keeping our young people safe as we try to minimize risk of injury must be paramount in our decisions."

The N.C. Department of Transportation reported Monday that in excess of 50 roads in just Wayne County alone are in need of repair. Flash flooding created sinkholes and washed away some parts of highways, particularly in the southern region near the Neuse River that severely impacted the Grantham and Seven Springs areas.

Wayne County Public Schools acknowledged that several roads remained close, which means that DOT workers will establish new routes through detours. Some of the roadways and bridges make take either weeks or months to make safe for travelers.

Late last week, the Association granted schools permission to begin practice Monday.

Tucker's initial intent was to keep the original playoff dates intact. But the devastation from Matthew, which forced thousands of residents to flee their homes for shelters, called for a new plan of action.

An extra week has been allotted for football and volleyball. The football playoffs begin Nov. 18. The new schedule helps teams in Wayne, Lenoir, Greene, Craven and Duplin counties avoid playing two games within one week.

"It helps us not to have to play three games in seven days," North Duplin head football coach Hugh Martin said. "That would have been especially difficult for us with so many two-way players. We still plan to play Princeton this Thursday."

The volleyball playoffs start Oct. 26. Teams that continue to advance could play as many as five matches in an eight-day period. The state final is Nov. 5.

Opening-round playoff matches for boys' soccer start Nov. 5.

No changes were made in women's golf, which began regional play Monday. The cross country regional and state championships schedules were not altered.

"We are pleased with the decisions made by the NCHSAA," said Dean Sauls, assistant superintendent for WCPS said. "It provides time for our student-athletes to get back in a normal routine. I am happy for our Wayne County athletes to have another day or two to get ready for playoffs in soccer, volleyball, tennis and cross country.

"Football will benefit greatly by adding a week to the season. I expect the various conferences to meet this week and finalize schedules. I will add that Wayne County is in much better shape to move forward than our neighbors in Greene, Lenoir, Pitt and Craven."