Wilcox finds her home at ECU

Battlefield Notebook

Date published: 2/7/2007

By ADAM HIMMELSBACH

When Riverbend senior Bailey Wilcox suffered an injury during her freshman soccer season at Chancellor, she had no idea how it would affect her college choice.

Wilcox, who would like to pursue a career in sports medicine, said she spoke to former Chancellor athletic trainer David Haun about the profession.

Haun, who is now the Chargers' girls soccer coach, previously worked as an athletic trainer at East Carolina University. Wilcox said Haun often spoke about his time at East Carolina, and she became intrigued.

Along the way, she turned into one of the area's top soccer players.

And after making a pair of visits to East Carolina, Wilcox says she committed to join the Pirates next season.

"It's definitely somewhere I want to be," Wilcox said. "It has a beach and a big, spirited campus. It's really enthusiastic about the different teams."

Wilcox, who plays striker, was The Free Lance-Star's co-player of the year last season along with her teammate Carly Sullivan.

The duo led the Bears to the Group AA state semifinals.

With her college decision behind her, Wilcox is looking forward to focusing on bringing the Bears a state championship this year.

"It's a big relief," she said. "It's really nice to know that regardless of what happens and how I do and how the team does, I already have plans made for next year."

East Carolina, which is a member of Conference USA, went 10-8-2 last season. The Pirates' four top scorers last season included two freshmen and a sophomore.

Wilcox said she expects to play either striker or center midfield next season. Practice starts Aug. 8, but Wilcox plans to arrive on campus one week early.

"I'm so happy for her," Riverbend coach Becca Berry said. "I know that's where her heart was set; that's where she wanted to go all along."

Courtland's Monae Waller won the high jump at the prestigious Colgate Games, which were held last weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Waller completed a personal-best jump of 5-feet 4 inches, which was 2 inches better than the second-place finisher.

"It was amazing," Waller said. "I want to go out with a bang."

Waller's jump earned her a $500 college scholarship. Waller will compete in the Battlefield District track meet, which starts Feb. 14.

CLEMONS CHOOSES CNU

James Monroe linebacker/cornerback Anthony Clemons will play football for Christopher Newport University in the fall, Jackets coach Rich Serbay said.

Clemons was a second-team All-Battlefield District pick for the Jackets, who reached the Group AA state semifinals last season.

"He did a great job for us," Jackets coach Rich Serbay said. "He's got a lot of potential at the college level."

Serbay said Clemons expects to play either cornerback or outside linebacker for Christopher Newport. The senior was James Monroe's third leading tackler.

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442 ahimmelsbach@freelancestar .com

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Date published: 2/7/2007