NCHSAA Releases Third Draft of 25-26 Conference Assignments

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Written by: Vic Ramsey

Published: January 12, 2025

On Monday, March 3rd, the NCHSAA Board of Directors met at its offices in Chapel Hill and heard appeals from schools asking for changes in their conference assignments. After hearing presentations from the schools, the Board of Directors voted on each proposal, denying the majority and approving only four changes.

• Cardinal Gibbons was granted an exception to move from 6A to 7A, while remaining in the same conference. 
• Swansboro was granted a move to the 5A conference currently including schools such as Dixon and Croatan. Swansboro will be the only 6A school in that conference.
• NCSSM-Durham was allowed to join a conference in the Raleigh-Durham area, forming a 1A/2A/3A split of mostly charter schools in the Raleigh metro area.
• Fourteen schools in the northwestern section of the state were reconfigured into two conferences, one a 2A/3A/4A split and the other a 3A/4A combo.

After hearing all appeals, and voting on each, the Board adopted the final conference assignments for the new realignment period. A copy of that final report is available on the NCHSAA website. 

The number of conferences remained 64, with all but 10 being split conferences. There are now 11 three-way splits and 43 two-way splits.

The vast majority of schools find themselves in split conferences.

• 68 schools are in single-class conferences
• 290 schools are in two-way splits
• 83 are in three-way splits

Seventeen schools are now "singletons"; that is, a school which is the only school of its classification in a given conference.

The prevalence of split conferences is true in all eight classifications, and is testimony to the fact that the Realignment Committee prioritized geography and natural rivalry over grouping schools of similar size.

The NCHSAA Board of Directors will now turn its attention to the work of its Bylaw Task Force, which is developing the playoff structure for individual and team sports, as well as the 2025-26 sports calendar.

This article has been updated to reflect the third draft of the conference assignments released by the NCHSAA on February 14th.

Donald Clark Inducted into NC Tennis Hall of Fame

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Written by: Vic Ramsey

Published: February 19, 2025

2025 NC Tennis Hall of Fame Class: Donald Clark, Don Flow, Janet Moseley, Ashley Rhoney

At a lavish ceremony on Saturday, February 1st, capping off this year's Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst Resort, the North Carolina Tennis Foundation inducted Donald Clark into its NC Tennis Hall of Fame.

An avid tennis player himself, Coach Clark began coaching tennis at Greene Central High School in 1988, taking the job "for a year" after being promised a baseball position the following year. The baseball position never materialized, and Donald began a 26-year tenure coaching tennis at the school. 

Greene Central was not a tennis powerhouse. His first men's team went 7-14, and his first two women's teams went 0-32 combined. But patience and hard work paid off. In 1994, Greene Central won a women's conference championship for the first time, beginning a streak of twenty straight conference championships. 

Coach Clark's 1998 women's team reached the state championship match, the first of seven consecutive second place finishes before finally winning the first of two state championships in 2005. Greene Central's men's team, meanwhile, went to four consecutive state finals from 2002-2005. 

In 2013, Clark retired from Greene Central and continued his teaching and coaching career at Arendell Parrott Academy and now, teaching at John Paul II Catholic High School in Greenville, he serves as the women's tennis coach at C.B. Aycock High School. In 2023, Coach Clark celebrated his 700th win, and he's still counting.

Donald Clark and wife, Dela, with members of the Greene Central tennis family
Coach Clark fueled the impressive run of success at Greene Central by helping to build an outstanding USTA program in Snow Hill, serving as both a USTA tournament director and referee for many years. He also helped inspire the construction of a 12-court tennis facility adjacent to Greene Central, the largest high school tennis faciiity in the state.

In 2007, Coach Clark helped found the NC High School Tennis Coaches Association, and served as its initial president for twelve years. He is currently serving as Vice President. In that capacity, Donald has been a consistent advocate for coaches, players, and parents from every corner of the state.

And, in 2020, Coach Clark was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.

On behalf of the NCHSTCA, we extend our sincere congratulations to our friend and founder, Donald Clark.

Well done!

 

2025 Realignment Survey

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Written by: Vic Ramsey

Published: February 13, 2025

In January, the NCHSTCA conducted a survey of NC high school tennis coaches with regard to several issues concerning the 2025 realignment to eight classifications. 

Ninety-two coaches responded to the survey, from all areas of the state and from all eight future classifications. We believe the results reflect an accurate picture of the feelings and beliefs of NC high school tennis coaches, and we have shared these results with NCHSAA staff.

Read more: 2025 Realignment Survey