HICKORY GROVE HIRES NEW FOOTBALL COACH

Hickory Grove Christian School is proud to announce that Dan Devine will become the new head football coach.  He takes over for Coach Bryan Turner who helped start the program 5 years ago.  Last year was the schools first year of varsity level football.  Last years team finished with 4 wins and 6 losses.

Coach Devine grew up in New York.  He is a two-time state champion football player, all conference and all section football player at Yorktown High School.  He attended Chowan University where he was an All ODAC Offensive Lineman.  He began his coaching career at his high school alma mater where he was in charge of strength and conditioning.  After working there for three years, he and his family moved to North Carolina where he served as a special education teacher and offensive line coach at Hopewell High School.  After two years, he was promoted to Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach.  The two years under Coach Devine, Hopewell averaged 1200 yards rushing per year and was in the top 15 in the state in rushing both years.  Hopewell made three straight playoff appearances from 2005-2007.  He has coached at least 10 Division 1 athletes as well as other student athletes that moved on to the next level.

Coach Devine is married to his wife Maud and they have a son, Ethan, who is six months old.  He will teach math in the high school.  We are excited to welcome Coach Devine and his family to the Hickory Grove family!

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU—AIR FORCE THAT IS

This is a poster that can be found in the Senior Lounge of the Annex Building.  This poster celebrates senior Cole Smith and his decision to attend the Air Force Academy.  Not only will he attend, but because of his outstanding senior swim season, he will be one of the top freshman on the Academy’s swim team.  Only a month ago, did he secure a place on the team.  The coach at Air Force gave Cole swim times that he needed to beat to make the team.  Cole beat the time at the NCISAA State Swim Meet on February 18 when he captured the state championship in the 200 free event.

Later in meets for the MAC swim team (his year round program), he improved on his 200 free time and also exceeded his times in the 200 fly and 200 Individual Medley. The application process for the Academy is a lot more tedious than that of most colleges and universities.  The Academy has a two step process:  the first process is the standard application process.  This includes letters of recommendations from teachers and administrators.  The Air Force asked for specific recommendations from science, math, and English teachers.  High School Principal, Will Rice, provided the administrative recommendation.  The Air Force was also very interested in his extra-curricular activities.  Besides his involvement with swimming, Cole’s time is filled with the responsibilities of the Student Body President of the high school, and is actively involved with the Boy Scouts.  Cole received his Eagle Scout this year. The second phase of the process is obtaining a Congressional Nomination.  This involves the exhaustive work of filling out forms and a grueling interview with members of the U.S. Congress and their staffs.  Cole received Congressional Nominations from both Sue Myrick and Richard Burr. Cole had always been interested in serving his country.  He talked with ’06 Hickory Grove graduate Lyndon Bartlett about his experiences at the Air Force Academy.  This continued to peak his interest.  He has since met two swimmers from the Air Force who are training here in Charlotte for the Olympics.  His conversations with them has him “all fired up” about his future. While the Air Force was Cole’s top choice, he also applied to and was accepted at the University of South Carolina and at Grove City College.  Grove City is the top Division 3 swim school in America, and Cole was their top recruit!  However, when the Air Force acceptance letter came in January, he never looked back. With an estimated value of $387,000, the Air Force is very selective of who they accept.  This year 9,200 people applied, and only 1,600 were selected.  Cole plans to major in physics upon completion of Basic Training. We are so proud of Cole and excited about this new adventure in his life!

HICKORY GROVE TO HOST WEIGHT TRAINING CLINIC

The Athletic Department of Hickory Grove Christian School along with the staff of Bigger Faster Stronger will be conducting a weight training clinic open to all student-athletes on Monday, January 21.  The clinic will be from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the newly constructed fieldhouse.  This will be the first event in the new facility.  While the facility is still in its skeleton stage, we are excited to get students in the facility to see the progress.  The fieldhouse will eventually hold two locker rooms,restrooms and shower areas, weight room, and coaches offices.  This facility will add a lot to our outdoor sports and benefit every one through the use of the weight room.

Bigger Faster Stronger has a staff of 35 clinicians who conduct athletic training clinics in every state and also abroad.  Last year BFS gave over 300 clinics!  For the past 29 years BFS has helped teams come out on top.  Schools that host a BFS clinic will average 2 more football wins, three more basketball wins, three more baseball wins, and 20 percent more overall victories for all of their athletic teams.  Often this happens in the very next school year!

The cost of the clinic is $30.00 per student.  Students can register anytime in the Athletic Office.  Dress for the event will be workout clothes and shoes.  Participants will need to bring a bag lunch for the day.

We are excited about exposing our athletes to this program.  This will be a great opportunity for all to learn and experience what it takes to achieve their very best.  Please call the athletic department with any questions.

NICK TRULL SCORES 1,000 POINTS

Nick Trull became Hickory Grove Christian School’s first basketball player to score 1,000 points for a career.  He accomplished this milestone in the 2007 Metrolina Athletic Conference Tournament on February 15, 2007 vs. First Assembly Christian School.  Nick scored 31 points vs. First Assembly to help lead the Lions to the Championship Game of the MAC Tournament.  Nick finished the year with All-Conference honors by averaging 22 points per game.

HICKORY GROVE HIRES NEW BASEBALL COACH

Hickory Grove Christian School is proud to announce the hiring of Ronnie Bost as the schools new varsity baseball coach.  Coach Bost replaces Scott Sweatt who coached the team for the last 7 years.  For the last 5 years, the baseball team has reached the NCISAA State Playoffs, and in 2004 won the NCISAA 2A State Championship.  Last year, the team finished with a 16-4 record and lost in the first round of the NCISAA 3A playoffs to Providence Day School.

Coach Ronnie Bost graduated from Central Cabarrus High School in 1997.  He received such post season honors at Central Cabarrus as all-conference, all-state, and was named Player of the Year in the Southern Piedmont Conference.  After graduating from Central Cabarrus, Ronnie was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the eleventh round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft.

Ronnie spent 4 years as a left hand pitcher with the Blue Jays organization before his career was cut short due to injury.  After his playing career, he began to dive into the coaching aspect of the game.  He has spent the last 6 years as an assistant coach at Pfeiffer University.  During his time with Pfeiffer, the Falcons have won 3 conference championships and have been a nationally recognized program.  While at Pfeiffer he also served as a pitching coach for the Stanly Pirates in the Southern Collegiate League.

Fall Athletes Receive Post Season Recognition

Hickory Grove Christian School had 8 student-athletes receive all-conference or all-state recognition as a result of their performances in the Fall season.  These students led our teams and represented our school in such a way that makes us proud.  Each one of these athletes has dedicated themselves to more than just playing a sport, but excelling in that sport.  These honors are a direct result of the time, effort, and sacrifice that it takes to be the best.  We are proud of all our fall athletes, and especially to these, we say congratulations and thank you for a great season of memories!