Rocky Mount Spring Sports Banquet

Rocky Mount High School recently held their sports banquet in the school gymnasium. The Booster Club hosted a nice evening for the Gyphon athletes, serving chicken and barbeque plates before the awards were handed out.

Hats off to the Boosters for their continued support of Gryphon athletics. If you're not a Booster Club member and have a son or daughter involved in one the school athletic programs, please think about joining. The booster club relies on support and participation of parents for their success, and in turn, the success of Gryphon athletics.

One last pat on the back for a few members of the wrestling team, and one more reminder of how we all need to embrace each and every day we wake up.

Francisco Alfaro was named the NEW 6 Conference MOW (Most Outstanding Wrestler), which is the equivalent of "Player of the Year" in most other sports. Nice little cap to the end of a great high school career.

Alfaro and Dedrick Silver were named co-MOW's (MVP's) by coach Jermaine Jones, while Guy Williamson garnered the "coach's award". Here's one last look at Alfaro, Silver and Williamson's four years at Rocky Mount High - who were Jones' first wrestlers he coached from Freshmen to Seniors:

Alfaro/Silver/Williamson 4-year File:

12-time Regional Qualifiers
5-time State Qualifiers
11-time Conference Placers
4-time Conference Champions
10-time All-Area Selections
2 Team Conference Champions
3-time Team State Qualifiers
341 Individual Match Victories

Pretty good coaching there, Mr. Jones.

Contributing to some of those team accomplishments was Grant Wilson, who also wrestled 4 years for the Gryphons. An emotional Jones and Athletic Director Mike Gainey presented Grant's framed singlet (jersey) to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson during the awards presentation. The team had signed the matting encircling Grant's memory, hoping it would help keep his memory alive.

As the Wilson's came up to accept the gift, Jones and the team exchanged emotionally charged and lovingly given handshakes and hugs with their fallen teammate's parents. The student-athletes of Rocky Mount High School, parents and coaching staffs rose to their feet, applauded, and - unashamedly - wiped the tears from their eyes.

I need to send out Special Congratulations to Chris Pittman, who received the Juan Chesson Award and Erica Wesonga, who garnered several awards, including Female Student athlete of the Year.

I had the good fortune of playing baseball for years with Chris. Erica and I were teammates for 3 years on the Cross-Country team.

***Chris is now living here on campus at UNCP, not too far from me, as a red-shirt freshman football player. He and Nick Harrison are both on the Braves' Football roster this fall.