Meredith Lombardi, who guided Fred T. Foard High to a state volleyball title this season — the Tigers have won back-to-back crowns and eight in school history — has been selected the top female coach in the state by the North Caroina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA)./FRED T. FOARD PHOTO
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
CHAPEL HILL – Meredith Lombardi, head volleyball coach at Fred T. Foard High, has been named the state’s top coach of female sport by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).
The NCHSAA released its annual awards by a press release and video on Wednesday, and it will announce the state’s male and female athlete of the year in a special video session on July 6 (www.nchsaa.org).
Lombardi led the Tigers to a state 3A volleyball title this season, the school’s eighth (https://hobbsdailyreport.com/high-school-volleyball/state-2a-volleyball-foard-rolls-over-mcmichael-repeats-with-8th-state-title-in-school-history/)
Other local winners of NCHSAA awards:
— Winning scholarships that ran from $500 to $5,000 were Angela Allen of North Lincoln, Jamie Richard of Fred T. Foard, Miller Phillips of North Lincoln and Jack Thomas Speaks of Hibriten.
Speaks won a regional scholarship and also a state scholarship.
— Ron Turner, a former head football coach at Bunker Hill and assistant at Alexander Central, won a Homer Thompson Eight Who Make A Difference award for Region 7.
— Former South Iredell girls’ basketball coach Sandra Torrence received a retiree award. She continues to work as a conference administrator (North Piedmont 3A).
— Trent Lowman, former head football coach at Bandys and now head football coach at East Surry, was recognized as Football Coach of the Year for Section 3 of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
Section 3 is comprised of the states in the southeastern part of the country.
COACHING AWARDS
DORIS HOWARD FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Meredith Lombardi, Fred T. Foard Volleyball
HARVEY REID MALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Larry Williford, Farmville Central boys’ basketball
DAVE HARRIS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Jason Amy, Northwood
BOB DEATON PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Jerry Simmons, New Bern
BOB MCRAE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR
Rodney Shotwell, Rockingham County Schools
TIM STEVENS MEDIA REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR
Dean Hensley, Hendersonville Times-News
ELTON HAWLEY ATHLETIC TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Carrie Powell, Swain County
DR. TIM TAFT MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Dr. Heath Thornton, Wake Forest Baptist Health
PARTNER AND CORPORATE AWARDS
The NCHSAA annually recognizes individuals and corporate partners who support the mission, vision, schools and values of the Association:
TRADITION AWARD
Mort’s Trophies & Awards, Inc. – Jere Morton, III
MORRIS WALKER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
The Shoen Family Foundation – Berry Gainey Shoen & Sam Shoen
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR AWARD
Carolina Panthers
COMMISSIONER’S CUP
The Commissioner’s Cup Awards highlight community service by NCHSAA teams and athletic programs. Teams identify a community need, host a service project to meet that need, and submit a video to the NCHSAA detailing the project and its impact. Each of the eight winners will receive a $1,000 stipend for their schools and will be presented with their Cup at the 2021 Regional Meeting in their respective regions.
Winners are: Lincoln Charter, Pender County, Princeton, Franklin, Mount Pleasant, North Henderson, Cox Mill and Winston-Salem Reynolds
TONY SIMEON COURAGE AWARD
Madelyn Wilson, Apex Friendship
She is a senior volleyball player who faced a difficult and long battle with cancer. Wilson was diagnosed with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma twice, missing her sophomore and junior seasons. She returned for her senior year, completing the season and thriving, eventually signing with Wofford College to continue her volleyball career.
During her treatments, Wilson was active in raising money for Duke Children’s Hospital and donated her hair before starting chemo treatments. She blogged and documented her entire journey as a way to help others going through similar treatments and trials.
LifeSaver Citation
The LifeSaver Citation was created to recognize Licensed athletic trainers and others in the field of emergency and sports medicine who demonstrate excellence and preparedness during the most crucial moments of an emergency.
The awards will be presented during the Athletic Trainer Session at the N.C. Coaches Clinic in Greensboro on July 19.
This year’s winners are: Frank Sanchez, head athletic trainer at Pinecrest; Morgan Krout, assistant athletic trainer at Pinecrest; Katie Romano, head athletic trainer at Winston-Salem Atkins.
Sanchez and Krout were instrumental in providing care to save the life of Juliette Suh, a runner from Fayetteville who collapsed near the end of a cross country race.
Pinecrest coach Bob Curtin will receive a LifeSaver Certificate to recognize his contributions to their efforts.
Romano’s quick and decisive actions helped save the life of a junior varsity boys’ soccer player at Winston-Salem Atkins, Pablo Hortal. He collapsed while warming up for practice. Winston-Salem Atkins soccer coach Dylan Collier will also be recognized with a Life Saver Certificate for his efforts to save the life of his collapsed student.
HOMER THOMPSON EIGHT WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
An award presented annually, one selection in each of the state’s eight regions, based on the recipients’ virtue and commitment to sportsmanship, leadership and a positive, dedicated approach to coaching.
Region 1 – Lisa Perry (Gates County), track and field and cross country coach
Region 2 – Caroline Warmack (West Craven), assistant volleyball coach
Region 3 – Michael Mosely (SouthWest Edgecombe), boys’ basketball coach
Region 4 – Sandy Yarborough (Southern Lee), cheerleading coach
Region 5 – Daniel Villa (High Point Central), boys’ soccer coach
Region 6 – Lavar Batts, Sr. (Concord Robinson), boys’ basketball coach
Region 7 – Ron Turner (Wilkes Central), head football coach
Region 8 – Michelle Wagaman (Asheville Roberson), volleyball coach
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Annually recognizes those who work behind the scenes to benefit the schools and students of the NCHSAA.
The 2021 winner is Brad Allen of Lumberton, an NFL official whose background includes serving as a regional supervisor of officials for the NCHSAA.
BUD PHILLIPS RETIREE AWARDS
An award presented annually to honor individuals who continue to serve the NCHSAA and its member schools into and through their retirement years.
Winners are: Marty Stanly of Kernersville and Sandra Torrence of Mooresville.
Both are conference administrators, Stanly in the Central Piedmont 4A and Torrence with the North Piedmont 3A.
COMMISSIONER’S CHOICE AWARDS
An award presented for merit for extraordinary service to the state’s high school athletic program as selected by NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker.
Winners are: Susan McDonald from McDonald & Associates and the NCHSAA’s auditing firm, Blackman & Sloop.
FOUR-TIME INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS
An award presented to student-athletes who win a state individual championship in four consecutive years.
In 2021, these are the winners:
— First Flight’s Katherine Schuester won a fourth straight girls’ golf title in 1A/2A. She will play golf at Clemson.
— Parkwood’s Kaylee Hamblin completed a four-year sweep of the 3A 100 Breaststroke. She trimmed her winning time by nearly three seconds over her four years in high school.
2020-2021 NCHSAA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
The NCHSAA provides scholarship support to deserving student-athletes across a wide variety of classifications and qualifications.
Awards range from $500 to $5,000 and are given based on the criteria for each award. This year’s winners:
CHARLIE ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP – Angela Allen (N. Lincoln), Landon Hiatt (N. Surry)
WILBURN CLARY MEDAL – Charlotte Fullbright (Raleigh Broughton), Jamie Richard (Fred T. Foard)
PAT GAINEY STUDENT AWARD – Makenzie Lyall (Alleghany), Dylan Potter (Pamlico)
WILLIE BRADSHAW MEMORIAL REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP – Katherine Nguyen (W. Brunswick), Kahlia Hargett (Kinston), Justice Jason (Clayton), Lily Lin (E. Bladen), Nyree Bell (Fayetteville Smith), Maya Douglas (Independence), Dorien Starnes (Burns), Isiah Golden (Olympic), Miles Phillips (N. Lincoln), Xavier Rogers (Rocky River), Jack Thomas Spears (Hibriten), Linaysha Pagan (Robbinsville), Lillian Perez-Cornatzer (Avery County), Devoria Boykins (E. Rutherford), Jerome Gibson (N. Henderson)
WILLIE BRADSHAW MEMORIAL STATE SCHOLARSHIP: Lily Lin (E. Bladen), Jack Thomas Spears (Hibriten)
NCHSAA LACROSSE SCHOLARSHIP – Lily Barger (Weddington), Jackson Hicks (Greensboro Grimsley)
TONY CULLEN SCHOLARSHIP – Amelia Lester (Wake Forest) & Joseph Annetta (Holly Springs)
NCHSAA/NFHS SECTION 3 COACHES OF THE YEAR (2019-20)
Coaches selected as the best in NFHS Section 3, comprised of the states in the southeastern part of the country:
Girls’ swimming and diving: Meredith Lindblom (Green Hope)
Boys’ indoor track and field: Rick Spencer (Weddington)
Boys’ cross country: Joan Mabe (Chapel Hill)
Wrestling: Justin Harty (Northern Guilford)
Football: Trent Lowman (E. Surry)
NCHSAA/NFHS STATE COACHES OF THE YEAR (2019-20)
Cheerleading/Spirit – Angela Stage (Davie)
Girls’ basketball – Rachel Clark (Southeast Guilford)
Boys’ basketball– George Stackhouse (Fayetteville Westover)
Volleyball – Karl Redelfs (Green Hope)
Girls’ golf – Moses Smith (Cox Mill)
Boys’ soccer – Rick Pittarelli (Wake Forest)
Girls’ cross country – Kirk Walsh (Cuthbertson)
Girls’ tennis – Jessica Eblen (Hendersonville)
Boys’ swimming and diving — Greggor Zoltners (Chapel Hill)
Girls’ indoor track and field — Donald Davis (Burlington Cummings)
2021 TOBY WEBB OUTSTANDING COACH AWARDS
An award given annually to one male and one female coach with a minimum of 10 years of experience who have made outstanding contributions to the success of high school athletics at the school, in the community and beyond.
The winners are: Dee Hardy of Fayetteville Smith and John Kirby of Eastern Alamance.
