VGCC reports progress of Athletics program

At the July 20 meeting of the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees, Gene Purvis, the college’s Vice President of Student Affairs, gave board members a review of the first full year of the VGCC Vanguards athletics program .

In 2008, VGCC joined the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Since then, two sports have been introduced for students — men’s basketball and golf . Plans for the coming year include continuing the successful basketball program, elevating golf from a club sport to the NJCAA level and adding women’s volleyball at the NJCAA level.

Purvis reported that athletes this year achieved a slightly higher grade point average (GPA) and carried a heavier course load than the average VGCC student. All students except one who competed in athletics during the spring 2009 semester are either returning to VGCC this year or have transferred to another college or university.

Basketball head coach Avery Wilson of Louisburg has signed five of his players from last year to return, and he has also secured commitments from players who hail from near (Oxford, Louisburg, Durham, Raleigh) and far (Virginia and South Carolina).

Both the golf team, coached by Frank Hester of Henderson, and the new women’s volleyball team, coached by Ellis Crews of Oxford, are actively recruiting athletes. Informal volleyball workouts have already begun, and the first season is scheduled to begin in early September. New golfers are slated to join several returning players from the golf team, which plays during the spring semester.