CHAPEL HILL– The North Carolina High School Athletic Association will be recognized by the University of North Carolina on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.
The North Carolina-Wake Forest football game, which kicks off at 7 pm, has been designated as the 31st annual NCHSAA Day. The university actually spearheaded the founding of the NCHSAA in 1913.
Special halftime activities will highlight NCHSAA Day. The winners of the Wells Fargo Cup for the 2014-15 academic year, symbolic of the best overall interscholastic sports program in the state, will be honored. The winners include Kernersville Bishop McGuinness in the 1-A classification, Carrboro among 2-A schools, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in the 3-A classification, and there was a tie for the top spot in the 4-A class between Green Hope of Cary and Apex in the 4-A class.
In addition, the newest members of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame will be recognized. They include:
–Gil Bowman of Fayetteville had an outstanding career of over 40 years at Terry Sanford High School, primarily coaching women’s basketball and tennis. His basketball teams earned 463 victories and three trips to NCHSAA finals and his tennis records were amazing: 532-40 at one point in men’s dual team tennis and 339-36 in women’s tennis.
— Mac Cumbo of Flat Rock compiled an impressive slate as a high school coach as well as an administrator. After a stint at the junior high level he coached football at both Edneyville and then North Henderson. He served on the Boards of Directors of the NCHSAA, the North Carolina Coaches Association as well as the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association.
–Suzanne Grayson of Kings Mountain was an outstanding coach and athletic administrator during her career in Cleveland County. She coached at both Kings Mountain and Crest, winning state titles in both volleyball and softball. Her teams won over 400 volleyball matches and better than 200 softball games.
–Dr. Bill Harrison of Fayetteville has been an outstanding school administrator and very involved as a leader of the NCHSAA, including two stints as president. He has served as a superintendent in several systems, currently in Alamance-Burlington, and also is a former chairman of the State Board of education and senior advisor to the governor.
–Sherry Norris of Chapel Hill has been one of North Carolina’s top coaches in volleyball and women’s basketball for many years. She has had a great career at Chapel Hill High School, including winning state championships in both sports and is currently the all-time leader in volleyball victories with 739 wins.
–the late Dave Price of Charlotte, who passed away in Macrh of this year, was a brilliant high school men’s basketball coach during his career in Charlotte, including building South Mecklenburg into a basketball power, winning four NCHSAA state titles there in a 20-year span and earning 321 wins against 167 losses before heading to Providence Day.
–Dr. Tim Taft of Chapel Hill made a unique contribution to the NCHSAA through his work in sports medicine during a 35-yer career on the faculty of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina. He was team physician and senior orthopedic surgeon for a number of UNC teams for many years and has also been a team physician at the Olympics Games.
–Jimmy Tillman of Wilson was a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal at a variety of high schools, including Rosewood, Lucama, Wilson Beddingfield, SouthWest Edgecombe and Wilson Fike. He also enjoyed an excellent career as a game official, calling high school basketball and softball for almost 20 years.
This is the 30th group of inductees to join the prestigious hall, bringing to 171 the number of individuals enshrined.
These eight will formally be inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame next spring during the Hall’s annual banquet and induction ceremonies at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.
“We appreciate the university's willingness to recognize the North Carolina High School Athletic Association on this occasion,” says Que Tucker, interim commissioner of the NCHSAA.
