PREPS: Wayne Christian shelves football for 2018 season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 20, 2018 5:51 AM

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Mike Buddin insists it's not the "death penalty," but Wayne Christian will not field an 8-man football team this fall.

Lack of interest and the dwindling number of total boys attending the school prompted the decision.

Buddin said there was an interest in forming a "co-op" team with Community Christian in Wilson. But that idea lost its footing when 15 prospective players attended a CCS preseason meeting earlier this week.

Wayne Christian plans to pack away the equipment and try again in 2019.

The Eagles started a football program from scratch in 2015. One year later, WCS received its first-ever bid to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I 8-man playoffs.

The judgment to cancel the season disappointed Buddin.

But football isn't the only sport that has kept the athletics director on his toes.

Rick Moore announced his retirement as head varsity volleyball coach, capping a career that spanned nearly three decades and included travel-ball stints. He stepped down to spend more time with his family.

Moore's last two teams compiled a total of 41 wins, won a pair of Coastal Plains Independent Conference championships and reached the elite eight of the NCISAA 1-A playoffs. His 2016 squad advanced to the final four.

Jessica Rowe has been named Moore's successor.

Michael Richards, from Havelock, is taking over the cross country teams.

Wayne Christian claimed the NCISAA 1-A girls' team state title last year, led by distance specialist Paige Court. An eighth-grader, Court placed third overall among 79 individuals who competed in the meet.

Rising freshman Eli Winders emerged as the boys' highest finisher.

Charles B. Aycock alum Patrick Schultze is the new head varsity boys' soccer coach. The Eagles filed a 4-7-1 record last season and are projected to return 13 players, according to their 2017 roster on MaxPreps.com.

Buddin will continue as the head golf coach.