Of Note: Gryphons duo finishes second in state

Rocky Mount High’s Kate Gray and Lindsay Thomas finished as runners-up at the NCHSAA 3-A state girls’ tennis doubles championship Saturday in Burlington.

Gray and Thomas lost to Chapel Hill’s Tori Helpingstine and Hannah Kimbrough, 6-1, 6-2.

The duo was one of two Gryphons doubles teams to compete in the tournament. Rocky Mount High’s Addie Keeter and Caroline Nelson lost to Charlotte Catholic’s Mary Kathryn Ferebee and Kelly Tomlin, 6-2, 7-5, in Friday’s first round.

“We hoped that switching to this team (Gray/Thomas) would give them a chance to make the second day at states, and it did,” Gryphons coach Barry Nethercutt wrote in an e-mail. “Chapel Hill was in 4-A last year, so they are still a level in talent above most 3-As. Lindsay and Kate played hard, and I am really proud of all four girls.”

Cofield, Dobbins

named to Shrine Bowl

Tarboro’s Takoby Cofield and Southern Nash’s Phillip Dobbins have been named to the North Carolina roster for the 73rd annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas football game.

Cofield, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound senior offensive lineman, made a verbal commitment during the summer to play for Duke. He helped pace the Vikings to the NCHSAA 2-A state championship game last season.

“What’s most impressive is his development as a person from his freshman year to now,” Tarboro coach Jeff Craddock said of Cofield. “He’s worked so hard for four years. He has earned his Division I scholarship and the right to play in the Shrine Bowl. It couldn’t happen to a better kid.”

Dobbins, a 6-foot-3, 261-pound senior offensive lineman, has helped the Firebirds to a 7-3 record this season. The contest will be played at 1 p.m., Dec. 19 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

Nash Central sweeps

regional XC meets

Nash Central completed a sweep of the NCHSAA 3-A Eastern Regional boys’ and girls’ cross country meets Saturday at Boyd Lee Park in Winterville.

The Bulldogs won their third consecutive regional title in the boys’ race. West Carteret, Jacksonville White Oak, Greenville Conley and Wilson Fike finished behind Nash Central. Will Bass and Tevin Richardson finished first and second in the race for the Bulldogs, while Jeremy Judd crossed the finish line in sixth place.

The Nash Central girls’ squad captured their first regional championship by finishing ahead of West Carteret, White Oak, Rocky Mount High and Wilson Fike. Nash Central’s Natalie Rich finished third in the girls’ race, while teammate Ashley Batten and Casey Warren finished fifth and eighth, respectively.

The Bulldogs and the Rocky Mount girls’ squad will compete at the 3-A state championship on Saturday at Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem.

The boys’ race will begin at 2 p.m. followed by the girls’ meet at 3 p.m.

“We were excited about winning our conference, but to win the region made it a double-pleasure,” Nash Central coach Brian Winham said.

Brondyke named to

finalists list

Falls Road Baptist senior Evan Brondyke has been named a finalist for the N.C. Wendy’s High School Heisman award.

Brondyke participates in boys’ soccer, cross country, basketball and baseball for the Crusaders. One male and one female winner will be announced Nov. 7.

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9951 or jhnunery@coxnc.com