news-record.com

THE INTERVIEW WITH FAITH JOHNSON
High Point Christian, senior, swimming

Faith Johnson, 17, is the reigning NCISAA Class 3-A state champion in the 50 freestyle (23.00 seconds) and 100 freestyle (50.31) and is the 2011 News & Record All-Area girls swimmer of the year. Johnson, who signed with Tennessee, has qualified for the Olympic trials in both events. She competes for STAR Aquatics year-round.

Q: When did you first get into swimming, and what made you stick with it?
A: When I was 5 is when I first had lessons and I just always loved water. It’s kind of like my little escape in a way.

Q: What was it like winning two state championships and receiving so many accolades last season?
A: It’s just always been very rewarding. I’m blessed and so happy that I’ve been given these talents. It’s just another thing to keep me going.

Q: What are your expectations for yourself heading into the high school postseason?
A: I really want to go and get the two state two records that are left, those two that I didn’t get last year (at the state meet). I was really close last year in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Since I’m going to Tennessee next year and I have (Olympic) trials this summer, I really want to finish the high school season with my year-round team really strong so I have a head start going into next year with Tennessee.

Q: You compete with STAR Aquatic year-round. How did you first hear about that organization?
A: By word of mouth. I heard they were really big on technique and everything. And my shoulders were really messed up when I wanted to change programs, so I was told by a lot of people to check it out and I did and I absolutely loved it.

Q: What was wrong with your shoulders?
A: I had an overbalance muscularly front to back, my back muscles weren’t strong enough and I was having knots all down my back. It was awful. I went through a lot of physical therapy and I had to redo my whole swimming program by starting with a little bit of yardage and build my way up without having pain.

Q: How do you get prepared to compete in a big event?
A: I have to mentally prepare. I talk to a sports psych guy every week. That’s how I mentally prepare. I just have to stay focused and trust my coaches to get my physically prepared for it. I usually pick what we talk about, but we talk about things from motivation to goal-setting to what’s going on and how I can control my attitude in certain situations and all that stuff. It’s been a big help. I’ve been doing it for a couple of years now and I can tell a major difference in my attitude and everything.

Q: How so?
A: I can usually stay more calm in certain situations. I used to have a temper. Now I can just take it with a grain of salt and go on and be happier in general.

Q: What has been your most memorable swimming experience?
A: When I was 12 at Southern Zone in Texas. It’s like each state picks seven people from each age group and we go. I was swimming the 100 free and I really wanted to break a minute in long course. … As soon as the race ended, the first thing I looked for was if there was a “1” in front of the time and there wasn’t and all my teammates came running up to me screaming “Good job, good job!” I’ve always had time goals but breaking a minute in freestyle is kind a big goal for everyone, and … I had done short course a while ago, and I really just wanted to do it long course.

Q: What is the different between competitive long course and short course swimming?
A: You have to have a lot more endurance for long course, because you don’t have that little split second of a break with the turn, and it’s harder to maintain your stroke because you get more tired and your stroke starts to fall apart a little bit.

Q: I would think that short course might be more difficult because you have to make that turn as opposed to just staying straight, but that’s not the case, huh?
A: For me it’s not, but some people like long course better, so it kind of depends on the person.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Greensboro Aquatic Center?
A: I really like it. It’s a great pool to get to train at when I get to train there. And it’s a nice facility to have around here. Some of the other places I train at are not as great and fantastic as the Aquatic Center.

Q: Do you have any superstitions or any routines that you follow?
A: I have my pre-race routine, but I don’t really have any superstitions. I always pop my back before I swim. I don’t even know why. I have a specific thing I go through. I usually start out sitting behind the blocks and a couple of heats before I swim I’ll jump around and shake out my muscles, and I kind of use the block to pop my back, and I take a lot of deep breaths and focus, and I usually fiddle with my goggles a whole lot.

Q: Is there anything you have to eat or drink on the day of a meet?
A: I always drink Gatorade now. It used to be Vitamin Water, but I switched to Gatorade. I think it was just from swimming outside. I was told I needed a lot more electrolytes and more substance to what I was drinking, so ever since then I started drinking Gatorade all the time.

Q: What’s your favorite flavor?
A: We go to Sam’s and I like the Fierce package, and it’s strawberry, melon and grape. I think strawberry and melon are my favorite.

Q: What does it take to compete at such a high level? What do you do to train?
A: It just takes a lot of dedication and focus. I have a great team to train with and a great coach and I always have to keep positive so I can train my absolute hardest all the time. I swim six days a week and I lift two days a week and I also have the sports psych. So it takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s all worth it in the long run.

Q: Why did you decide to continue your swimming career and education at Tennessee?
A: Just the relationships I know I can form there. And I absolutely love the coach. And when I was talking to the person in charge of kinesiology, she seemed like she was so on top of everything and it just felt like the right place to go.

Q: What’s something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
A: Most people who only know me by seeing my black-and-white picture in the newspaper don’t know I have red hair.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: I have a pet bird, which is kind of weird. It’s a cockatiel. She’s really polite. She doesn’t ever chirp until after I get up, because she’s in my room, so she’s really nice and quiet for the most part. Her name is Nikki. I’ve had her since after fourth grade. I usually just give her birdseed, but she really likes eggs, which I find really funny. And little noodles. She likes to get into things sometimes and just steal my food. She’s allowed out. She’s usually in her cage, but we’ll open the door.

Q: What kind of music do you enjoy?
A: I love hip hop and rap. Chris Brown is my all-time favorite. I actually really like Usher, even though he’s kind of old, and Ne-Yo. I don’t really bring my iPod to meets. I’ll listen to it on the car ride there. I’ve only been to once concert in my life, and that was when I was really little and I don’t hardly remember it.

Q: What bothers you more than anything else?
A: I have really bad road rage. So I guess just people driving, when they’re acting stupid, that bothers me. I got into a wreck recently, but that was partially because I couldn’t see anything because my windows were really foggy.

Q: What happened?
A: I was pulling out of my neighborhood and my windows were really foggy. And it was a combination of I was already frustrated and I pulled out slowly and a car was coming and tore the bumped off my car. It kind of tore the whole front off of my car, actually. I drive a BMW, so the hood was fine, but the whole underside was just like gone.

Q: Were you OK?
A: I’m pretty sure I cried for like three hours after that. My mom was in the car with me. We were all OK and the other car didn’t have too much damage because I just caught the back end of him. Technically, it was my fault because I was pulling out, but it’s debatable because I think he was going too fast. My bumper was all the way across the road.

Q: So were you able to still drive the car?
A: I could still drive it. I was going to the doctor’s. So I drove it up there. And it was actually so I could be released back to swimming after my concussion, so, yeah…

Q: Oh my goodness. How did you get the concussion?
A: The day before winter nationals started, we went down there and they had the pool open for warm-ups … and this guy was swimming butterfly toward me and hit me in the head and I got a concussion from it. And then I had to swim the rest of the meet with a concussion, so that was fun. I got out after that happened, because I wasn’t feeling too well and my head was really hurting. Then at dinner my vision was getting a little messed up. Then the next day I hit my head on a beam. So that didn’t help matters. I wasn’t too far off my times and I still made the finals at nationals, so I was pretty happy with how I did, considering I had a concussion.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time, other than swimming?
A: With what little free time I have, I’m generally really tired, so I watch a lot of TV, I guess. I watch NCIS. I record them, so I watch those and occasionally random movies that come on. 

That ankle belongs to Western Alamance junior Eric Greene, the 2011 NCHSAA Class 3-A state singles tournament runner-up and a News & Record All-Area first-team selection.

Greene, who went 13-1 at No. 1 singles last season, said he fractured his ankle playing basketball in gym class today.

“I can walk on it. I went to the doctor and they said I chipped a bone. They called it an avulsion fracture,” said Greene, who was planning to compete in a U.S. Tennis Association tournament in Greensboro this weekend.

Greene said he’ll be in a boot and use crutches for the next three weeks to a month, but he intends to play tennis for the Warriors this season.

Spring practice begins Monday.

“It could have” been much worse, Greene said. “They said if I kept on walking around for another day or so that I probably would’ve had to have surgery. It’s a good thing I went to the doctor.” 

Rockingham County center Autumn Carter and Western Guilford guard-forward Brittany Clency have been selected to represent North Carolina in the 2012 N.C./S.C. All-Star Classic on March 17 at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Carter (6-foot-5), an Elon signee, averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds a game as a junior, and is posting similar numbers for the Cougars this season. Clency (5-8) averages 22 points a game for the Hornets. She’s scored at least 30 points three times this season, including 39 in a victory against Page on Dec. 9. She hit nine 3-pointers in a victory against Ragsdale on Dec. 5.

The All-Star Classic girls game tips off at 6:30 p.m., with the boys game to follow. Smith forward Tracy Gathings was selected for the boys roster,which was released last weekend.

The complete girls roster:

2012 North Carolina-South Carolina Basketball
North Carolina Women
Name / Position / Height / School / High school coach
Dana Brown / G / 5-7 / Enloe / Pina Baker-Hunt
Autumn Carter / C / 6-5 / Rockingham County / Woody Wall
Brittany Clency / G-F / 5-8 / Western Guilford / Shonna Polk
Sidney Cook / G-F / 6-2 / South View / Brent Barker
Alexus Cooper / G / 5-8 / Rocky Mount / Pamela Gainey
Travonda Haddock / G-F / 5-8 / Jones Senior / Debbie Philyaw
Shannon Hines / G / 5-7 / Rutherfordton-Spindale Central / Darius Fuller
Tia Hudgins / F / 5-8 / Rocky Mount / Pamela Gainey
Katisha Hyman / G / 5-5 / Southside / William Lake
Ciara Morris / G-F / 5-11 / South View / Brent Barker

Head Coach: Jerry Murray (Draughn HS)
Assistant Coach: Debbie Philyaw (Jones County HS)

How can we expect Congress to balance the budget when our representatives don’t even get the simple details of a high school football game right?

U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-Guilford), who has served North Carolina’s sixth district since 1985, recently honored the NCHSAA state champion Page and Northern Guilford high school football teams by inserting congratulatory statements in the Congressional Record – the official journal of House and Senate proceedings.

But, minor detail, part of the statement was inaccurate.

Specifically, this part:

“Garner High began to gain momentum and cut the lead to seven points in the third quarter, but Pirates quarterback James Summers, answered with a 54-yard touchdown on the very next play. This display of athleticism and determination earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player award.”

The yardage was incorrect.

And the play didn’t result in a touchdown.

Here’s what actually happened:

After Garner scored two quick TDs to cut its third-quarter deficit to 21-14, Summers took Page’s next snap from the shotgun and ran around left end for 55 yards to the Garner 24. Page scored six plays later when Shaun Workinger scored his second TD from the 2.

Coble, 80, is seeking election to a 15th term in Congress. He was hospitalized for two weeks, from mid- to late-December, because of an upper respiratory illness.

Page won its state title on Dec. 3.

Here’s the news release in its entirety:

Coble recognizes high school football champions

Honors Northern Guilford and Page football teams

February 7, 2012

For immediate release

(Washington, D.C.)----While the Super Bowl may have just been completed, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) is still thinking football as he honors two high schools in his congressional district for winning state championships. Congressman Coble inserted congratulatory statements in the Congressional Record – the official journal of House and Senate proceedings – to highlight the football titles captured by Northern Guilford and Page High Schools.

“We are always excited when young people from the 6th District accomplish great things,” Rep. Coble stated. “We have a tradition in our office where we honor any high school in our district that has captured a state championship. This year, both Page and Northern Guilford were crowned as state football champs in their respective divisions. We are pleased to honor both the Nighthawks and the Pirates for bringing statewide glory to their schools.”

Congressman Coble’s complete statements for both Northern Guilford and Page High Schools are listed below:

Northern Guilford Nighthawks

“Mr. Speaker, for the second consecutive year, a high school located in the Sixth District of North Carolina, has captured a Class 3-AA state championship. The Northern Guilford Nighthawks won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championship, defeating Boiling Springs Crest, 31-7, on December 3, 2011.

“Northern Guilford scored first but only had a six point lead going into the second half. Nineteen unanswered points, in the third quarter, was too substantial for Boiling Springs Crest to overcome.
‘I know I get credit,’ Northern Guilford Coach Johnny Roscoe told the (Greensboro) News & Record, ‘But it’s the assistant coaches and the players. They’re the ones who really do it, and I can’t say enough about them.’

“The Northern Guilford Nighthawks finished their season with a 14-1 record and went undefeated, 7-0, in league play. The NCHSAA offensive and defensive players of the game were Nighthawks Daniel Downing and Scooter Mooney. T.J. Logan received the game’s Most Valuable Player award with a five touchdown performance. None of these accolades would have been obtained without the hard work and determination from teammates Tre Purcell, Cameron Harris, Brett Welch, Austin Hoke, John McBeth, Ryan Dirks, Nick Jones, Austin Coltrane, Mark Mitchell, Avery Cooper, Shaquille Fields, Burney Sindab, Justin Timmons, Chris Ripberger, Malik Parker, Robert Willcox, Rory Bergen, Bernard Sindab, T.J. Ruff, Trip Dunn, Trevon Cooper, Frankie Lollis, Ryan Johnston, Trevor McKee, Austin Simmons, Max Klietsch, Tripp West, Blaine Jones, Eric Hong, Josh Steele, Kamen Smith, Chris Forlano, Trevor Beck, Rashad Martin, Sam Parker, Andrew Keen, Bryan Iddings, Taylor Rumley, Molick Scott, Josh Moore, Alex Hasler, and Carlos Williams.

“The Nighthawks could not have achieved the state championship without the leadership of Head Coach Johnny Roscoe and his outstanding staff, including J.R. Troutman, Brian Thomas, Lee Meekins, Ben Hepler, Justin Davis, Todd Sharp, Tim Bagamary, Richard Burton, and Chris Shaffer. In addition, those aiding the title hunt were Stacy Corne (Cheerleading), Ed Kimbrough (Band Director), Ashlyn Thomas and Jenna Livingston (Video), Britt Thomas (ball boy), Kirstin Shepperson (Team Physician), Justin Ollis (Trainer), Kalyn Wadsworth and K.T. Song (UNCG Athletic Training Interns), Mercedes Wiglesworth, Sydney Monroe and Taylor Phillips (Student Trainers), Perry Johnson (Manager) and a special thanks to Mrs. Jane Roscoe.

“Congratulations are also deserved for those who supported the football program at Northern Guilford throughout its successful season, including Principal Will Laine, Assistant Principals Doug Foutty, Kris Vecchione, and Travis Ward, as well as Athletic Director Brian Thomas.

“Once more, on behalf of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we congratulate the Northern Guilford High School football team, along with the faculty, staff and students for their championship season. While everyone remembers the first time they achieved a major accomplishment, the Nighthawks proved that the second time is as sweet as the first.”

Page Pirates

“Mr. Speaker, the saying that good things come to those who wait can be applied to the fans of the Walter H. Page High School football team. Page fans have been waiting since 1985 for their football team to capture a state championship. The Pirates completed a 15-0 perfect season with the title win, on December 3, 2011. I would like to take this time to recognize Page High School’s football team, located in the Sixth District of North Carolina, for winning the Class 4-AA state championship. The Page Pirates defeated Garner High, 35-21, in front of more than 10,000 fans at BB&T Field in Winston Salem.

“The Pirates took the lead in the second quarter and never looked back. ‘Our kids believed they were supposed to be here, and I believe they not only deserve to be here, but to win it, and we did,’ Page Coach Kevin Gillespie told the (Greensboro) News & Record. The program’s undefeated 15-0 record solidifies both his and the players’ beliefs.

“Garner High began to gain momentum and cut the lead to seven points in the third quarter, but Pirates quarterback James Summers, answered with a 54-yard touchdown on the very next play. This display of athleticism and determination earned him the game’s Most Valuable Player award. All members of the Page football team contributed to the perfect season, including Jalen Gavin, Carter Stanley, Jonathan Lynch, Kysung Young, Brian Spain, Jarvis Small, Orlando Hatfield, Blake Hickman, Carter Greene, Jordan Putnam, Thomas Little, Christian Cranford, Marcus Demery, Ed Britt, Ryan Jackson, William Henry, Savon Wall, Shedrick Pate, Drew Rogers, Devonta Hooker, Kahlil Wilson, Evan Roer, A.J. Capel, Shaun Workinger, Grant Brewer, Eric Kelly, Justin Smith, Tim Wharton, Lorenzo Featherston, DeAnthony Brooks, Chance Maness, Ventura Anthony, Jacob Green, Anthony Hope, Chris Hamrick, Arrius McCain, David Jennings, Jaxon Cummings, Jonathan Smith, Kemp Young, Andrew Lamore, Dishon Stewart, Isaiah Towns, Rasheen Wall, Lewis Jones, Alex Alverez, Matt Mayfield, Tevin Morrison, Chris Mosley, and Tommy Laughon.

“Credit must be given to Head Coach Kevin Gillespie and his staff, including Norman Weeks, Gordon Hagen, Todd Halkyer, Cody Page, Wilson Helms, Chris Ferguson, Kevin Harris, Earl Sams, Jesse Britt, Malcolm Parker, Mark Raynor and Russell Mills, for the success and growth these young men accomplished this season.

“Additionally deserving credit are Principal Marilyn Foley, Athletic Director Rusty Lee, Nikki Kennedy (Trainer), and Jeremy Godwin (Statistician).

“They may have waited 27 years, but winning with a perfect record was worth the wait. Again, on behalf of the Sixth District on North Carolina, we congratulate the Page High School football program, along with the faculty, staff, students and supportive community for their championship season.” 

Smith forward Tracy Gathings is one of 10 boys basketball players from North Carolina, and the only one from the Greensboro area to be selected to play in the N.C./S.C. All-Star Classic on March 17 at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Gathings is averaging 19.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Golden Eagles.

The boys game will follow the girls game. The roster for the girls, who will begin play at 6:30 p.m., has yet to be released.

Festivities will begin with a 3-point shooting contest and dunk contest at 7 p.m. March 16.

The complete North Carolina roster:

Name / Pos. / Ht / Wt / School / High School Coach
Braeshaun Dozier / G / 6'1 / 185 / Reagan / Howard West
Elon Edwards / G / 5'11 / 170 / Rose / James Rankin
Carlton Ford / G / 6'1 / 180 / Westover / George Stackhouse
Tracy Gathings / F / 6'5 / 205 / B.L. / Smith / Brian Jones
Terrill Hilliard / F / 6'6 / 188 / Rocky Mount / Michael Gainey
Denzel Ingram / G / 6'0 / 172 / Chapel Hill / Todd Morgan
Kendall Knorr / G / 6'3 / 185 / Concord / Scott Brewer
Shawn Lester / G / 6'3 / 185 / Mooresville / Mikel Micklow
Zeb Richardson / F / 6'8 / 200 / Ashe County / Marc Payne
Joshua Smith / F / 6'8 / 253 / Olympic / Ty Baumgardner

Head Coach: Howard West (Reagan HS)
Assistant Coach: Michael Gainey (Rocky Mount HS)

Wesleyan’s home boys basketball game against Arden Christ School at 4:30 p.m. Saturday will be televised on WMYV Channel 48, Dish Network/DIRECT TV Channel 48 and Time Warner Cable Channel 15.

Wesleyan features sophomore guard-forward Theo Pinson, the No. 2-ranked player in his class by ESPN, Florida State signee Montay Brandon and another Division I talent in sophomore guard JaQuel Richmond.

Christ School, which previously featured all three of Duke’s Plumlee brothers, are led by junior power forward Shannon Hale, who is committed to Alabama.  

State champion pole vaulters Sydney White and Austin Vegas of East Forsyth signed national letters of intent Monday to continue their athletic careers in college. White signed with Wake Forest.  Vegas, the 2011 News & Record boys track and field athlete of the year, signed with William and Mary.  

Each won championships at the Class 4-A “winter” track and field meet last year, with Vegas posting a mark of 14 feet, 6 inches and White vaulting 12 feet, 2 inches for her crown.

White vaulted 12-8, the third-best mark in the nation among girls this season, on Jan. 21 at the Reno Pole Vault Summit. Her personal best is 13-1.5.

Vegas' top vault this season was 15-0 on Jan. 7 at the Durham Striders High School Indoor Opener in Chapel Hill. His personal best is 15-6.  

THE INTERVIEW WITH ZENA LOVETTE
Southwest Guilford, senior, girls basketball

Zena Lovette, 17, starts at point guard for the Cowgirls and led the team to a 30-2 record and NCHSAA Class 4-A state championship last season. She’s averaged 14.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.2 steals and three assists this season, despite missing two games and being limited in four others because of a sprained foot. Southwest is 17-4 overall and 9-0 in the Piedmont Triad 4-A Conference. Lovette has verbally committed to Campbell University, where she plans to join Southwest teammate Jessica Pone, last season’s state title game MVP, who has already signed with the Camels.

Q: What are Southwest's team goals for this season?
A: We want to win the conference title again this year, win all our playoff games and repeat as state champs.

Q: What are your individual goals for this season?
A: I would like to be conference player of the year again. I was (voted most outstanding player) at states last year, so I’d like to do that again if we make it back. I want to play in college and go pro so that someday I can have my jersey retired at Southwest Guilford.

Q: What are your strengths as player?
A: I penetrate well, I’ve gotten better at shooting threes, and I shoot free throws well.

Q: What are your team’s strengths?
A: Seeing the open man. We like to help make each other look good.

Q: What things can you improve on as a team?
A: We need to improve our rebounding, especially on the offensive end. Our free throws need to get better, and better communication.

Q: What things can you improve on as an individual?
A: I need to work on driving to the left and not getting frustrated during games when things aren’t going my way.

Q: How do you think your experience from winning last year’s state title has helped you this season?
A: It gives us the right mentality. We have confidence that we can make it back to the states and win again.

Q: Do you feel a lot of pressure to repeat?
A: Yeah, I do. Everyone is after us this year since we won last year.

Q: After being named the most outstanding player in the championship game last season, do you feel pressure to be a star?
A: Yeah, I kind of do. This year a lot of the coaches we face know me so they play a box-and-one defense to try to shut me down.

Q: When did you start playing basketball?
A: My daddy got me started. I played rec league when I was 7 and started playing AAU ball when I was 9.

Q: Who are some of the players who inspired you?
A: When I was younger I liked to watch Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. But I don’t model my game after any one person, really.

Q: Do you have any superstitions?
A: Nope.

Q: Do you prefer Gatorade or Powerade?
A: Gatorade. Yellow is my favorite. Maybe red, too.

Q: What’s something that not many people know about you?
A: I look up to my sister for everything. She is 19. She goes to WSSU and we are just really close. We have a connection. I can just go to her or talk to her about anything.

Q: What kind of music do you have on your iPod?
A: Honestly, I don’t even have an iPod. I’m not a big music person. I mean, I’ll listen to the radio if someone has it on but that’s about it.

Q: What are your favorite hobbies?
A: I just like to hang with my friends. But I like to watch SpongeBob when I’m at home.

Q: What’s your favorite subject in school?
A: I like math.

Q: What are your plans for college?
A: I’m verbally committed to Campbell and want to major in graphic design.

– Brian Carrington, Special to the News & Record 

Wesleyan Christian Academy point guard Montay Brandon is among 600 high school seniors nationally to be nominated for the 2012 McDonald’s All American Games.

The Florida State signee is the No. 11-ranked point guard in the country by Rivals.com. He’s the No. 11-ranked small forward in the country by Scout.com.

Brandon (6-foot-6, 195 pounds) is among three basketball players from the Triad to be nominated. The others are power forward Cinmeon Bowers and point guard Jevon Thomas of Quality Education Academy. The complete list of nominees is available at www.mcdaag.com.

McDonald’s will name the final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls during the 2012 McDonald’s All American Selection Show at 5 p.m. Thursday on ESPNU.

The 35th annual boys game will tip-off at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 from Chicago’s United Center and will be broadcast on ESPN. Immediately preceding the boys game is the 11th annual McDonald’s All American girls game, which tips-off at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

Proceeds from ticket sales of both games will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicago and Northwest Indiana. 

Seeding for the N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs, which is following a revamped procedure being conducted on a one-year trial basis, will take place Feb. 18.

A new "pod" system similar to the one used in the football playoffs is being tested. And at the regionals, teams will not be re-seeded as in the past.

The brackets in each of the four classifications will consist of 64 teams, including automatic qualifiers (half the teams in each conference, plus one) and wildcards (six in Class 1-A, two in 4-A, none in 2-A or 3-A).

All qualifiers will then be divided into four sections of 16 teams (East, Mideast, Midwest, West) by longitude. Seeds will then be established for each 16-team “pod” based on conference finish and overall record. The No. 1 seed will play No. 16, No. 2 will play No. 15, and so on, with the higher seed hosting.

The sectional finals and regional finals are between Feb. 28 and March 3 in Greensboro and Fayetteville.