N&O high school sports area expanding
Less than a decade ago, some of the top high school football teams in The News & Observer’s area rankings were Rocky Mount, Greenville’s J.H. Rose and Wilson’s Hunt and Fike High.
In some ways, we’re turning back the clock.
This fall, players and schools from 17 counties, including many east of the Triangle, will be eligible for The News & Observer’s high school honors, like rankings, area stat leaders, postseason awards and The N&O Cup.
There are some changes that come with incorporating more schools.
Our area top 15 rankings will expand to a top 25 and the All-Metro teams are now All-Area.
We’re excited about telling the stories of more high school athletes.
In the meantime, we’re looking for some freelance writers and photographers located in some of the new N&O coverage area counties, particularly to the East. Contact me at my email above if you are interested.
The News & Observer’s high school sports coverage area for 2016-2017:
North
Franklin: Franklinton, Bunn, Louisburg.
Warren: Warren County.
Vance: Northern Vance, Southern Vance, Crossroads Christian, Kerr-Vance.
Granville: J.F. Webb, South Granville, Granville Central, Falls Lake Academy, Oxford Prep.
Person: Person, Roxboro Community.
Triangle
Johnston: Clayton, West Johnston, Cleveland, Corinth Holders, Smithfield-Selma, South Johnston, North Johnston, Neuse Charter, Princeton.
Orange: East Chapel Hill, Cedar Ridge, Chapel Hill, Orange, Carrboro, Carolina Friends.
Durham: Hillside, Jordan, Northern Durham, Riverside, Southern Durham, Durham School of the Arts, N.C. School of Science and Math, Kestrel Heights, Research Triangle, Voyager Academy, Durham Academy, Trinity Durham-Chapel Hill, Cresset Christian, Liberty Christian, Faith Assembly Christian, Mt. Zion.
Wake: Apex, Apex Friendship, Athens Drive, Broughton, Cardinal Gibbons, Cary, East Wake, Enloe, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Green Hope, Heritage, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Leesville Road, Millbrook, Panther Creek, Rolesville, Sanderson, Southeast Raleigh, Wake Forest, Wakefield, East Wake Academy, Franklin Academy, Raleigh Charter, Cary Academy, North Raleigh Christian, Ravenscroft, Saint Mary’s Wake Christian, Cary Christian, Grace Christian Raleigh, St. David’s, Trinity Academy Raleigh, Friendship Christian, Hilltop Christian, Neuse Christian, Raleigh Christian, St. Thomas More, Word of God.
South
Moore: Pinecrest, Union Pines, North Moore, The O’Neal School.
Lee: Lee County, Southern Lee, Grace Christian Sanford, Southern Lee.
Harnett: Overhills, Harnett Central, Triton, Western Harnett, Cape Fear Christian.
Chatham: Northwood, Jordan-Matthews, Chatham Central, Chatham Charter, Woods Charter.
East
Wayne: C.B. Aycock, Eastern Wayne, Southern Wayne, Goldsboro, Rosewood, Spring Creek, Faith Christian Goldsboro, Wayne Christian, Wayne Country Day.
Nash: Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount, Southern Nash, Rocky Mount Prep, Faith Christian Rocky Mount, Rocky Mount Academy.
Pitt: D.H. Conley, J.H. Rose, South Central, Ayden-Grifton, Farmville Central, North Pitt, Greenville Christian, Oakwood School, Pope John Paul IV.
Wilson: Fike, Hunt, Beddingfield, Community Christian, Greenfield School, Wilson Christian.
J. Mike Blake: 919-460-2606, @JMBpreps
This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 1:00 AM with the headline "N&O high school sports area expanding."