VGCC Announces Athletics Program
Vance-Granville Community College officials recently announced plans to field four athletic teams under the “Vanguards” banner during the 2008-09 year: men’s basketball and women’s volleyball in the fall, and men’s and women’s golf teams starting in the spring. The college’s Board of Trustees approved the first budget for the intercollegiate athletics program at its July 21 meeting. In May, the Board approved VGCC’s joining the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
In 2007-2008, VGCC fielded a men’s basketball team that did not play within the NJCAA but successfully played other colleges and prep schools as an independent club. Coached by Louisburg resident Avery Wilson, the Vanguards finished the regular season with a 12-4 overall record, and went undefeated (9-0) at home. Wilson will return to coach the Vanguards as the program moves to a new level.
In men’s basketball, the VGCC Vanguards will compete in Region 10 of the NJCAA’s Division II. Other North Carolina colleges that play in Division II include Surry Community College, Rockingham Community College and Lenoir Community College. In addition to the competitive men’s basketball team, Student Activities Coordinator/Athletic Director Peyton Boyd plans to organize a developmental basketball club team as well as other intramural sports opportunities. Approximately 15 male students will play on each basketball team, and approximately 15 female students will play on the volleyball team.
Home basketball and volleyball games will be played at Aycock Recreation Complex in Henderson. VGCC golf teams will play and practice at Henderson Country Club. “We appreciated Western Vance High School hosting our basketball team last year,” Boyd said. This year, WVHS will be the site for basketball practices and the developmental basketball team.
To be eligible to participate in athletics, students must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 semester hours) in a VGCC curriculum program and meet NJCAA requirements, such as a minimum 2.0 grade point average. Anyone interested in becoming a VGCC athlete or coach should contact Peyton Boyd at (252) 738-3445. Boyd noted that the athletics program is just one aspect of the college’s student activities, which also include a choir and various clubs. “Statistics show that active, involved students do better in the classroom,” Boyd said. He added that sports have been added based on student demand, and that VGCC’s participation in intercollegiate athletics will benefit not only students, but also the community and the local economy.
Schedules and other information concerning VGCC athletics will be posted to the college web site ( vgcc.springerstudios.net/Athletics/ ).
