I just learned a few minutes ago that at 7:15 tonight before the South Stanly varsity football game, there will be a special ceremony honoring the memories of Austin Burleson and Hunter Mauldin.
I didn't know the two students that died in the car crash Wednesday, but Hunter Mauldin's mother and grandparents have both worked as newspaper deliverers for the Stanly News and Press. In fact, Lynn and Trudy Maske continue to deliver the paper, and delivered yesterday's edition, which included a story on the death of their grandson. Just the thought of having to deliver that kind of news hitting so close to home for them is so very sad.
Tonight will be a much different atmosphere as it is the first South Stanly athletic activity since the tragedy occurred, and it is likely that the tone of things will be different.
Sports has a way of uniting communities, and having gone to high school in a small community in Hayesville, I remember how a group of young women rallied the support of hundreds in the chase of state championship glory.
In the case of South Stanly, the community's support for the baseball team in their playoff runs in 2009 and this past spring show how important the school is to the community.
Tonight won't be easy for any of us.
CHAPEL HILL-- The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors completed its spring Board meeting on Wednesday at the NCHSAA offices.
Among the major items was the decision to return additional monies to the NCHSAA member schools, to preserve the Student Services program and a change in the preseason conditioning requirements for football.
The Board voted to make a one-time payment of one thousand dollars to each member school for the 2010-11 academic year to assist schools in these challenging economic times. The Board also voted that for the next four years, 25% of the dollar surcharge on tickets designed to go to the NCHSAA Endowment will be directed to the member schools. Other changes the Board had made at earlier Board meetings in terms of percentages of money kept for playoffs and travel reiumbursement has meant that an additional $125,000 has been sent to the member schools.
The Board also approved an projected adjusted budget for the NCHSAA Student Services program that the Association will absorb if the current funding that has come from the General Assembly is not continued for next year.
"The Board had a very productive meeting over the past two days, highlighted by the fact that the NCHSAA is doing all that is possible to help the membership in these tough economic times," said Davis Whitfield, commissioner. "In addition, to approve the funding of our student-services program because of the wonderful programming it provides related to integrity, teamwork, sportsmanship, healthy lifestyle choices and producing positive citizens is a big step."
Other items included:
--all fall sports will now be able to begin practice on July 30 for 2011
--background checks were approved to be made by the NCHSAA on all those who register to officiate in the program
--live streaming of regular season games, including football and basketball, was approved
--some changes in wrestling weigh in and weight management procedures; recommend adjustment in weekly weigh in procedure; once matches begin, match weigh ins should be used and must be entered into OPC within 24 hours of match; mandated Friday weigh ins up to beginning of regular season competition; if no matches in a week, must have a weigh in during the week; if wrestler absent and does not weigh in at match, must have one during week
--baseball and softball now have the identical off season skill development rules as other sports, with the removal of "grandfather" clause for skill development for baseball and softball, so now all sports would have the same restrictions relative to out of season rules and regulations
--the NCHSAA will no longer sanction all-star games, as many other states have already gotten out of that business, but will continue to endorse the North Carolina Coaches Association events; information will be posted on web site relative for players, parents and coaches to consider when playing in an event of this nature; senior still must have completed eligibility in that sport, and play in no more than two games (football or basketball) during the school year
-- approved request to allow wrestling for 3A, 2A and 4A all to wrestle on Thursday of state individual wrestling championships
--approved addition to Handbook about sports in which the NCHSAA does not have a championship: "Even though such sports are not sanctioned by the NCHSAA, member schools should work, wherever possible, to adhere to the ideals and guidelines established by the NCHSAA for their member schools in sports which they do sanction. The need to promote sportsmanship, to protect instructional time, or the physiological and emotional needs of maturing teens should not disappear simply because it is not a sport sanctioned by the NCHSAA."
