North Meck names new football coach

North Mecklenburg High has hired Brad Baker as it's new football coach. Baker has spent the past six seasons at Mooresville High as the Blue Devils' offensive line coach.

Prior to Mooresville, Baker spent four years teaching and coaching at Reidsville in Rockingham County.

The head coaching job is the first for Baker, who will teach history at North Meck beginning in April.

Postseason update (Feb. 21)

North Mecklenburg coach Duane Lewis presents a commemorative ball to Shivaughn Wiggins after he scored his 1,000th point as a Viking. Courtesy of Kevin Wilson

Wiggins reaches milestone
North Meck's Shivaughn Wiggins scored his 1,000th point at the school. Wiggins, who spent his first two years at Lake Norman Charter, has been at the school for two seasons. Wiggins led North Meck by scoring 30 points Monday against Myers Park.

The senior has averaged 25.4 points and 4.2 assists per game for the 22-5 Vikings. North Meck will travel to I-Meck rivals West Charlotte for a second-round playoff game Wednesday.

Basketball

Here are the scores for local teams (in bold):

Boys
1A
Lake Norman Charter def. Albemarle 55-48
2A
East Lincoln def. Piedmont 66-60
Salisbury def. North Lincoln 63-47
4A
West Charlotte def. Mooresville 77-52
North Meck def. Myers Park 63-50

Girls
1A
Lake Norman Charter def. North Rowan 46-33
2A
Bandys def. Central Davidson 97-46
Salisbury def. South Iredell 81-45
North Lincoln def. Owen 80-50
4A
Hough def. South Caldwell 39-33
Hopewell def. Olympic 43-31
McDowell def. North Meck 75-54

These are the second-round match-ups (to be played Wednesday):

Boys

1A

Monroe at Lake Norman Charter, 7 p.m.

2A

Lexington at East Lincoln, 7 p.m.

4A

North Meck at West Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Girls
1A
Monroe at Lake Norman Charter, 7 p.m.
2A
Thomasville at Bandys, 7 p.m.
North Lincoln def. Pisgah, 7 p.m.
4A
Hough at Myers Park, 7 p.m.
Butler at Hopewell, 7 p.m.

Wrestling
The Lake Norman area had several regional champions this past weekend. The top four finishers at the regional meets will compete in the state championships, which will take place Thursday to Friday in Greensboro.

Here is a list of regional champions:

2A
- Moses Boyter, East Lincoln sophomore: 132 pounds
- Jeremy Tarleton, East Lincoln junior: 152 pounds.

4A

- Sam Crisp, Mooresville junior: 106 pounds.

- Cody Karns, Lake Norman junior: 113 pounds.

- Jordan Thompson, Hough freshman: 152 pounds.

- Palmer Maples, Hough junior: 160 pounds.

- Zach Brown, Mooresville senior: 285 pounds.

For full regional results and state qualifier lists, go here.

Updated I-Meck 4A and SPC 1A/2A brackets (Feb. 16)

I-Meck 4A

Girls (semifinals played Thursday at Mallard Creek):

No. 5 North Meck vs. No. 1 Hopewell, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Mallard Creek vs. No. 2 Hough, 7:30 p.m.

Boys (finals played Friday at Mallard Creek):

No. 3 Mallard Creek vs. No. 1 West Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.


Southern Piedmont 1A/2A

Girls (final played Friday at North Lincoln):

No. 2 Lake Norman Charter vs. No. 1 North Lincoln, 6 p.m.

Boys (final played Friday at North Lincoln):

No. 2 Lincolnton vs. No. 1 Highland Tech, 7:30 p.m.


* Tie-breaker between East Lincoln and North Lincoln will be played Thursday at Lincolnton.

Lake Norman area athletes earn 12 titles

Hough's girls had an impressive performance at last weekend's 4A swimming and diving state meet. The Huskies won the state championship by scoring 314 points - 124 more than second-place Cary Panther Creek - at the meet.

Hough was led by Emily Allen, who claimed a title in the 100-yard freestyle, and Whitney Timberlake, who won the 1-meter diving championship. Allen was also part of the state-championship winning 200-yard medley relay, along with Alexandria Kitches, Ally Dupay and Heather Merritts, as well as the 400-yard freestyle relay with Kathryn O'Brien, Heather Merritt and Payton Schrum, that also won a title.

On the boys' side, Hough also had some success to finish as state runners-up behind Providence. Peter Brumm claimed the 200-yard freestyle title and anchored the 400-yard freestyle relay team that also won a state championship for the Huskies. The senior was joined by Patrick Cowley, John Manchester and Andrew Botelho on the relay team. Hough's Charles Mitchell also won the 1-meter diving title.

Lake Norman's Logan Heck also had a good meet for the fourth-place Wildcats. The senior won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle state titles. His teammate, Reed Wheeler, won the 100-yard backstroke championship.

1A/2A state meet

For a second year in a row, Lake Norman Charter's boys and girls finished second at the 1A/2A state swimming and diving meet last week.

The Knights' boys were led by Chris Cardwell, who won a share of the state championship in the 100-yard backstroke and was part of state title-winning 200-yard medley relay.  Jake Koferl,  Brian Piccirilli and Brian Davis joined Cardwell in the relay team. Lake Norman Charter's boys, which scored 267.5, finished behind state champions Carrboro in the standings. 

On the girls' side, Lake Norman Charter, which was led by diver Adyson Lowe's title in the 1-meter competition, finished with 238 points - 140 points behind repeat state champs Raleigh Charter.

This is how other Lake Norman area teams performed at last week's meets:

4A results
Girls
1. Hough
21. Lake Norman
26. North Mecklenburg

Boys
2. Hough
4. Lake Norman
29. North Mecklenburg
39. Hopewell

1A/2A results

Girls

2. Lake Norman Charter
6. South Iredell

9. East Lincoln

11. North Lincoln

24. Bandys

25. Lincoln Charter

37. Pine Lake Prep

Boys

2. Lake Norman Charter
6. North Lincoln

11. Lincoln Charter

14. East Lincoln

15. South Iredell

Basketball tournaments ready to tip off

The I-Meck 4A basketball tournament tip off later today at Mallard Creek. Here is today's schedule:

Boys:

No. 7 Lake Norman vs. No. 2 North Meck, 4 p.m.

No. 6 Hopewell vs. No. 3 Mallard Creek, 5:20 p.m.

No. 5 Vance vs. No. 4 Mooresville, 6:45 p.m.

No. 8 Hough vs. No. 1 West Charlotte, 8 p.m.

Girls:

No. 7 Vance vs. No. 2 Hough, 4 p.m.

No. 6 Lake Norman vs. No. 3 Mallard Creek, 5:20 p.m.

No. 5 North Meck vs. No. 4 West Charlotte, 6:45 p.m.

No. 8 Mooresville vs. No. 1 Hopewell, 8 p.m.

The Southern Piedmont 1A/2A tournaments also begin today. First-round games will be played at the higher seeds. North Lincoln will host semifinals and finals. The winners of the boys' games will play again tomorrow, while the girls take the court against Wednesday. Both finals are Friday.

Here is today's line-up:

Boys:

No. 7  Bessemer City at  No. 2 Lincolnton, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 Cherryville at No. 3 East Lincoln, 7 p.m.

No. 5 Lake Norman Charter at No. 4 North Lincoln 7:30 p.m.

No. 8 West Lincoln at No. 1 Highland Tech, 7 p.m.

Girls:

No. 7  East Lincoln at  No. 2 Lake Norman Charter, 7 p.m.

No. 6 Cherryville at No. 3 Lincolnton, 6 p.m.

No. 5 Highland Tech at No. 4 West Lincoln, 7 p.m.

No. 8 Bessemer City at No. 1 North Lincoln, 6 p.m.

North Lincoln names football coach

David Maness, a native of Whitmire, S.C., was named North Lincoln High’s new football coach.

He received his B. S. in physical education from South Carolina and an Master of Education from The Citadel. Maness began his coaching career in 1971 as head baseball coach and assistant football coach at Wagener Salley High (S.C.).  In 1973, he was appointed head football coach and athletic director at Wagener Salley.  From there he began tenures at West Hardeeville High (S.C.) and Aynor High (S.C.).  At Aynor he attained 132 wins, nine region championships and 13 playoff teams in 22 years.

Maness. Courtesy of the S.C.
Athletic Coaches' Association.

In 2000, Maness was named offensive coordinator at Carvers Bay High (S.C). for five years. There he was 46-15 and reached the AA State Championship in 2002.  Since 2005, he has served as offensive coordinator at different schools, including last year at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida.


His honors include 1989 Region 5 Coach of the Year for football, 1989 assistant football coach for the Shrine Bowl, 1988 Region 5 Football Coach of the Year, 1987 Region 5 Football Coach of the Year, 1987 District 11 Football Officials’ Coach of the Year, 1987 WBTW Coach of the Year, 1986 Head Football Coach of the North/South All-Star Game, 1984 Region 4 Football Coach of the Year, 1983 District 11 Football Official’s Coach of the Year, 1979 Region 5 Football Coach of the Year, 1996 South Carolina Golf Coach of the Year, 1999 North/South Head Golf Coach of the Year, 1994, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 Region Golf Coach of the Year.  Maness was also the president of the S.C. Athletic Coaches’ Association in 1986.  He also served as game athletic director for the North/South All-Star Football Game from 1995-1998.

Devils barely miss state title meet


Mooresville reached the regional final Thursday, but barely missed making the state championship match, losing to a strong Parkland team 34-31. The Blue Devils defeated Independence, Davie and Sun Valley to reach the regional finals.

Lady Titans win I-Meck titles

The Hopewell girls claimed their third consecutive I-Meck regular-season championship last week. The Lady Titans, who won their last five games to finish 12-2 in I-Meck play, were aided by Mallard Creek, which defeated Hough in the regular-season finale. Both finished 11-3.

Lake Norman area athletes prepare for state's indoor meets

Five Lake Norman area teams will have athletes competing at Saturday's N.C. High School Athletic Association state indoor track and field meets at UNC Chapel Hill's Eddie Smith Field House.

North Lincoln and South Iredell will participate in the 1A/2A/3A meet, which kick off at 9 a.m., while Lake Norman, Mooresville and North Mecklenburg will compete in the 4A meet, which starts at 4 p.m.

Here is a list of the local athletes participating by school:

1A/2A/3A

North Lincoln: Allie Castro (girls’ 1,000-meter run, 1,600-meter run, 3,200-meter run), Savannah Fornshell (girls’ 3,200-meter run), Morgan Ellis (girls’ 3,200-meter run), Caitlin Potter (girls’ 1,000-meter run),  girls’ 4x800 relay, Andrew Fea (boys’ 3,200-meter run), Chris Boyle (boys’ 3,200-meter run), German Perez (boys’ 1,600-meter run), boys’ 4x800 relay.

South Iredell: Kevin Little (boys’ 55-meter hurdles).

4A

Lake Norman: Michael Rupinski (boys’ 500-meter dash 1,000-meter run), Patrick Sheehan (boys’ 3,200-meter run), Kelsie Rubino (girls’ 500-meter dash, 1,000-meter run, 1,600-meter run, 3,200-meter run), Taylor Sweet (girls’ 1,600-meter run)

Mooresville: Tyler Bell (boys’ 55-meter hurdles, triple jump), Kendrick Johnson (boys’ high jump), Elizabeth Rodes (girls’ pole vault).

North Mecklenburg:  Michael Parkins (boys’ 500-meter dash), Nicholas Lawson (boys’ 500-meter dash), Christopher Thompson (boys’ 55-meter dash), Terrance Clyburn (boys’ 55-meter dash), Morgan Anderson (boys’ 55-meter dash), Melissa Helms (girls’ 55-meter hurdles, 500-meter dash), Jhatanah Thomas (girls’ triple jump), Sabrina Moores (girls’ 55-meter dash, 300-meter dash), Trikeria Johnson (girls’ 500-meter dash),  girls’ 4x400 relay.

For more qualifiers, check out N.C. Runners' complete 1A/2A/3A and 4A entry lists.

Four Lake Norman teams make dual team wrestling playoffs

Several Lake Norman area teams - 4A's Lake Norman and Mooresville as well as 2A's East Lincoln and Bandys -  made the N.C. High School Athletic Association's dual team wrestling playoffs. First- and second-round dual match-ups will take place Tuesday. Regional matches are slated for Thursday while the state championships are scheduled for Saturday.

Here are the western parts of the 4A and 2A brackets (local teams in bold):

4A

At Jack Britt High

No. 1 West Johnston(20-4)  vs. No. 2 Jack Britt (18-3)

No. 1 Sanderson(20-3) vs. WC Hoke (19-6)

At West Forsyth High

No. 1 Southeast Guilford (21-2) vs. WC East Forsyth (20-5)

No. 1 Lake Norman (29-4) vs. No. 2 West Forsyth (32-9)

At Parkland High

No. 1 T.C. Roberson (29-4) vs. No. 2 Dudley (21-4)

No. 1 Parkland (45-0) vs. No. 2 Ardrey Kell (12-5)

At Mooresville High

No. 1 Davie (26-2) vs. No. 1 Alexander Central (20-13)

No. 1 Independence (26-10) vs. No. 2 Mooresville (30-8)

At Sun Valley High

No. 1 Sun Valley (33-7) vs. No. 2 Northwest Guildford (28-2)

No. 1 East Gaston (10-5) vs. WC Porter Ridge (29-7)

2A

At East Lincoln High

No. 1 East Lincoln (14-9) vs. No. 2 Wheatmore (21-9)

No. 1 Owen (14-5) vs. WC Pisgah (14-2)

At Salisbury High

No. 1 Piedmont (33-0) vs. No. 2 Salisbury (6-6)

No. 1 North Surry (33-1) vs. No. 1 Randleman (15-5)

At North Henderson High

No. 1 Thomasville (26-11) vs. No. 2 Bandys (17-11)

No. 1 North Henderson (22-8) vs. WC T.W. Andrews (12-4)

At Newton-Conover High

No. 1 Newton-Conover (38-2) vs. No. 1 Ashe (18-12)

No. 1 Chase (23-8) vs. No. 2 Cuthbertson (10-20)

For the full brackets , check out the NCHSAA's website.

Huskies lead the way for area's 4A teams

Hough's girls won the 4A West regional swimming title, while the Husky boys were second to lead Lake Norman area teams.

Lake Norman finished fourth in the boys' side, while the Lady Wildcats were fifth.

Hough's Peter Brumm (200-yard freestyle), Ally Dupay (200-yard individual medley, 100-yard breaststroke), Whitney Timberlake (1-meter diving), Charles Mitchell (1-yard diving), Emily Allen (100-yard freestyle), John Manchester (500-yard freestyle) and Heather Merritt (100-yard backstroke) all won regional titles.

Lake Norman's Logan Heck (50-, 100-yard freestyle) and Reed Wheeler (100-yard backstroke) also won events, as did North Mecklenburg's Molly Sanborn (5000-yard freestyle).

For more details, check out the Observer's story on the meet or check out the NCHSAA's full PDF results.

Here are finals standings for local teams:

Girls

1. Hough 432.5
5. Lake Norman 179
10. North Mecklenburg 62
17. Mooresville 13

Boys

2. Hough 362.5
4. Lake Norman 241
12. North Mecklenburg 43
13. Mooresville 39
16. Hopewell 33

Knights sweep 1A/2A regionals

Lake Norman Charter's boys and girls both won the 1A/2A West regional titles this past weekend. For more, check out the full results.

Here are finals standings for local teams:

Girls

1. Lake Norman Charter 325
5. South Iredell 141
7. North Lincoln 135
8. East Lincoln 122.5
13. Lincoln Charter 63
17. Pine Lake Prep 44
19. Bandys 37

Boys

1. Lake Norman Charter 318
4. North Lincoln 182
8. South Iredell 84
9. Lincoln Charter 80
10. East Lincoln 73.5
21. Pine Lake Prep 21