Coronavirus Coverage
MIXXER is using its talent and tools to produce protective equipment for hospitals
Alan Shelton, MIXXER’s founder and executive director, hasn’t stopped tinkering. After the decision to close in March, the 48-year-old’s makerspace became ground zero for a push to fabricate personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and nurses fighting on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brett Bodine’s fond memories of a site he described as second in difficulty to Darlington Raceway, South Carolina’s track famously dubbed “too tough to tame,” likely came flooding back. The eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series held its finale run at the North Wilkesboro 160 — a virtual model of that storied track — on Saturday.
Wake Forest students and fans find a new way to ‘GameDay’ with ESPN
Cars, trucks and SUVs, trunks and hatches open, spaced roughly 6 feet apart on a drizzly Saturday morning. A large digital screen, supported by a frame of metal beams and up against three white shipping containers used for a makeshift drive-in movie theater during COVID-19, streamed the long-renowned college football pregame show.
The coronavirus has posed its challenges — in particular, the NCAA’s move to impose a dead period on in-person recruiting until the end of May. Of course, these days, the extent of interactions between coaches and high school standouts includes those video streams, texts, Twitter messages, emails, and phone calls that line Nate Hampton’s daily routine.
Justin Watts spends those working hours, away from App State’s campus because of the coronavirus outbreak, in the basement of his home. He let out a laugh, describing the combination of a mancave and a toy room for his 10-year-old son, Chase, and eight-year-old daughter, Kendall. And if Watts’ wife, Lauren, needs an exercise space in the mornings, count on him migrating to the kitchen.
Feature Stories
Michael Copeland Sr. attended Atkins from 1966 to 1969. As a guard on the basketball team his senior year, he helped the Camels win an N.C. High School Athletic Association title over Asheville in Class 4-A — the division comprised of the largest schools. But it wasn’t just any championship. Atkins was the first Black school to win the title as a member of the NCHSAA, which had desegregated after a contentious vote only a few years before.
Catman II — Son aims to build on father’s legacy as the biggest Panthers fan in the world
Greg Good Jr. was about to embark on his first trek to Bank of America Stadium in the outfit his father made famous. Greg Good Sr. died in July at age 62.
West Forsyth’s Jared Wilson wasn’t going to play football until his mom made him. She was right.
Jared Wilson tried to resist, but a debate with his mother was bound to be a losing battle.
Family time: Gregg enjoying experience in Street Stock with his son
Every morning, Billy Gregg recalls all those years spent at the racetrack with his father — both sitting in the stands and behind the wheel.
Virginia Tech men’s basketball team becomes an extension of family for 11-year old Hokies fan
Dani Jo Hearl has congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system that affects breathing. She’s suffered from it since birth and wears a ventilator while she sleeps to prevent her from losing oxygen.
Thunderbirds hockey: A fan experience like no other
It’s no secret hockey has a rocky past in Winston-Salem, with nine teams attempting to forge successful seasons in the area since 1973. But the Carolina Thunderbirds have worked to provide a fan experience unlike any other in professional sports around the Piedmont Triad in their first year of play. With the $8 base price for one ticket, fans can experience the perks of going to an NHL or American Hockey League game — with a unique twist — for less than the cost of going to a movie.
What was initially a running joke morphed into a brand for five East Surry linemen — the “Fat Cowboys,” as they were hash tagged in a post to Evan Morris’ Instagram page on Sept. 5. A group that rarely got the credit for victories, helped the top-seeded Cardinals to a rematch against No. 1 Tarboro in the NCHSAA Class 1-AA championship for the second straight season at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham.
Concussion Research Stories
From athlete to researcher: Flood, a former Wake Forest football player, is studying concussions
Though his two-year career with the Demon Deacons ended in 2016, Will Flood hasn’t left Winston-Salem. Actually, he can still be found on campus — maybe more so in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter downtown.
It was a freak accident — the odds were at least 100 million to one.
Concussion research takes center stage at inaugural sports medicine summit
Buddy Curry’s story wasn’t about a fumble recovery or pick-six. Standing behind a podium on the fifth floor of the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education in Winston-Salem on Sunday morning, the 60-year-old Greenville native described a concussion he sustained on a big tackle and the lack of concern from staff and players at the time.
College Recruiting Coverage
The 6-foot junior point guard’s schedule has been full with appearances from Division I basketball programs. Coaches representing schools from the ACC, SEC — you name it — have come to the Piedmont Triad to meet with the Walkertown standout, whether it’s observing him on the court or stopping by for an in-home visit.
Walkertown’s Jalen Cone commits to Hokies, forgoes his senior season in high school
Jalen Cone was handed his six-month-old daughter, Ivy Faithe Cone. As she sat in his arms, Cone unbuttoned the front of her outfit to reveal a maroon shirt with a white and burnt orange “VT” emblazoned across the chest. After more than a month of buzz, Cone had chosen Virginia Tech.
Parkland was the only high school in Forsyth County holding its first official football practice of the season during the mid-afternoon hours, and Lee Kpogba, a senior outside linebacker, was eager to start his final year with the Mustangs. In many ways, the sport was life changing, opening up doors for the 17-year-old to become a team leader and gain a handful of Division I offers.
Prep football 2018: Coleman Reich entering final season with Ledford as threat anywhere on the field
Coleman Reich just has a passion for the team atmosphere. It’s worked enough to where he received a scholarship offer from North Carolina in June 2017, following it up with a verbal commitment two months later. Finding athletic success in nearly every season of his time at Ledford, Reich can’t wait to see what the season holds in a sport he’s loved since an early age.
Ledford’s Reich sheds light on decision to decommit from UNC, sign early with Coastal Carolina
Coleman Reich had less than a month to make a decision, and his hope of involvement in the early signing period briefly hung in the balance.
Davie County’s Peyton Hampton set to serve country, play football after early signing with Army
Two glossy black football helmets sat on each end of the table. One was a variant of what Peyton Hampton wore as a four-year starter with the War Eagles, the letters “DC” sprawled across the side in bold orange. The other was a piece of the uniform he could expect to wear in just a few months.
MiKenzie Harvin hopes her basketball success at Lexington carries over to Navy
MiKenzie Harvin is on the path to fulfilling a dream she’s had since middle school.
North Carolina’s powder blue and white just might be the most common colors in Jefferson Boaz’s wardrobe.
The interest was there, but college programs just weren’t biting.
Game Stories
No. 2 East Forsyth defeated No. 4 Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in the NCHSAA Class 4-A championship game. The Eagles, having won their first state title since 1992 just last year, defended it for another season.
Bishop McGuinness beats Winston-Salem Prep to advance to playoffs, first win over Phoenix since 2009
It was a victory that had been a long time coming for Bishop McGuinness. The Villains hadn’t defeated Winston-Salem Prep — the defending state champion — since Feb. 27, 2009. Bishop McGuinness went on to claim the Class 1-A title over Weldon that season.
Top-seeded North Stokes trailed by two runs to No. 3 seed Robbinsville going into the bottom of the seventh inning. That is, until Carley Gravely, stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second.
The Ledford football team looked like a well-oiled machine in what was arguably its most complete game this season, as Coach Chris Adams broke down the team’s performance near midfield after the game.
