Gryphons Win Big East Wells Fargo Cup AGAIN

Mike Gainey Announced tonight at the end of the year sports banquet that Rocky Mount High School had won the Big East Wells Fargo Cup for the fourth year in a row as the best all round sports program.

Paul Lilley who had so much hardware by night's end that he needed a u-haul truck to carry his awards home won the Male Athlete of the Year award.  He was joined by Tia Hudgins who was voted by the coaches as was Lilley as the best all round female athlete.

The most prestigious award when it comes to being a student athlete went to Caroline Bell and Will Crumpler who were the winners as the Top Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the year.

The Juan Chesson Award winner which was presented by Martha Proctor and is named for former Gryphon Juan Chesson who has over come the most to achieve was Holly Fryer.  I think most people know that Holly has been battling Cancer for about three years now but she has not allowed the cancer to keep her off the athletic field and on top of that she is a member of the 2011-2012 Scholar Athletes.  What many of you may not know is Holly goes to Chapel Hill every Monday for Chemo treatments and yet she has endured   this spring on the soccer team and in the class room.

The Triple Crown winners and award honoring the most well rounded athletes were Precious White a Volleyball, Basketball and softball player and Paul Lilley soccer, Cross Country, Indoor track and spring track.

The stars of the show was the basketball team as each member received their State Championship rings.  Mike Gainey proudly announced that all  seniors on this years team will all be attending college either because of academics of athletic scholarships.

Paul Lilley was presented a State Champions ring for his winning the indoor mile championship.  Assistant coach Nick Winkel who has his name on two of the state champions banners that hang in the gym received another for coaching Paul as well as head coach Dee Anna Davis who has during her coaching career at Rocky Mount coached both of them..

Former Gryphon coach Walt Wiggins was  there as a surprise to present Linwood Weeks a Gryphon Assistant Principal who was an all star football player in his playing days and award as he is retiring from Education in August.