FEATURE: Taylor works to change WCDS image

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on November 27, 2016 8:44 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

The old baggage had to go.

Wayne Country Day needed to toss aside the image of an athletic program mired in mediocrity and inconsistency. Opposing teams constantly -- and openly -- voiced their observations that certain Charger teams lacked sportsmanship.

The athletics department needed to mirror the classroom standards.

Backed by headmaster Todd Anderson, new athletics director Michael Taylor compiled a lengthy "to-do" list during his first day on the job. He wanted WCDS to be competitive in all sports, see the student-athletes demonstrate class in the sports arena and make good choices on and off the field.

"We wanted to show people that we do things the right way," Taylor said.

The next task?

What to do about enrollment.

Upon Taylor's arrival, there were 70 students in the high school. Coaches had to recruit students from seventh and eighth grade to help field varsity teams. The youth served as a disadvantage when the Chargers competed against programs that had more athletes to choose from among their upperclassmen.

The coaching door began to revolve.

That led to Taylor's next obstacle.

He, along with Anderson, began an aggressive search to find teachers and coaches who could execute the importance of academics in unison. Student-athletes had to meet the high standards and understand that getting ready for the world beyond high school held more importance than sports scholarships.

Daily and diligent work not only strengthened the students' minds in a positive fashion, but also taught them life lessons -- how to win with class, how to lose with class, how to show good sportsmanship.

Check.

But the plan was half done.

Taylor needed to revamp the coaching staff once enrollment spiked.

Basketball, baseball and swimming remained stable.

He called former WCDS tennis coach Joann Logan out of retirement. Taylor "fired" himself as head coach when Steve Ellis, Kevin Martin and Paul Casey came aboard to guide the soccer program. Hayleigh Wilhade and Mike Bolechowski took over the volleyball program, which qualified for the state playoffs this season.

Cross country and boys' and girls' outdoor track were added.

At last count, 90 percent of the high school student population participate in three sports; at least 75 percent in two sports; and 50 percent in three sports.

"Now we have close to 130 kids in our high school," Taylor said. "(And) having consistency among our coaching staff became the number one priority. Looking at what our kids do in the classroom parallels what we do in athletics.

"Those are the type of coaches I've always wanted here at our school. We're finally getting to the point where I'm getting all of that in place. It's taken a little bit of time to do it...having consistency among our coaches across the board."

The new banners hanging in the gymnasium are testaments of Taylor's endeavors.

Since his arrival, the Chargers have played for 12 N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A state championships and won eight -- four straight in girls' dual-team tennis and one each in baseball, boys' soccer, girls' cross country and girls' basketball. A total of 70 athletes have earned NCISAA All-State honors in nine different sports.

The crowning moment of Taylor's career came last season when the Chargers won the 2015-16 NCISAA Class 1-A Wells Fargo Cup for the first time in school history. One year earlier, WCDS placed among the top three.

"It took us 11 years to do it," Taylor said.

After nearly a four-decade stay in the prestigious and highly-competitive Coastal Plains Independent Conference, the Chargers will join the 2-A ranks in 2018-19. Additional sports such as football and lacrosse could be added, but Taylor said he didn't want to take away from the success the school's current sports are having now.

Facility upgrades have been discussed.

"The future is to continue to compete at a high level with all of our teams," he said. "It's going to be tough, but as we continue to grow as a school, I think we'll be able to grow our athletic department as well."