Johnston Sports Council needs at-large rep
The Johnston County Sports Council is currently seeking applicants for an at-large representative engaged in sports tournaments, sports organizations, sports promotion or facilities development located in Johnston County.
The mission of the Sports Council is to bring together Parks & Recreation Departments and county-wide sports organizations to attract a wide range of sports tournaments and events to Johnston County, market the county as a leisure sports destination, as well as, provide services to promote area visitor-related businesses.
Appointments are for three-year terms. Each member of the Committee serves until his successor is duly appointed and terms shall be effective Jan. 1 of each year. The regular meetings of the Committee are held at the offices of the Johnston County Visitors Bureau on the third Wednesday of each odd numbered month at noon for the purpose of any business.
Applications are due to the Johnston County Visitors Bureau by Feb. 1 and can either be picked up at their office or downloaded online at johnstoncountync.org/sportscouncil. Send completed applications to 235-A E. Market St., Smithfield, NC 27577. For more info, call Donna Bailey-Taylor at 919-989-8687.
Booker joins Fort Scott football program
Former South Johnston High School standout quarterback Michael Booker has joined the football program at Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College.
Booker is expected to enter spring practice as the No. 1 candidate to quarterback the Greyhounds’ squad.
Fort Scott is nationally known for sending players onto four-year programs. Since 2008, at least 20 Greyhounds per season have moved onto a four-year college program. Seventeen former Fort Scott players later played in the NFL.
Corinth Holders soccer coaches honored
Corinth Holders High School boys soccer coaches Brent Walston and John Asmussen have been recognized for their leadership on the soccer pitch.
Walston has been named as a coach for the North Carolina squad in the annual Clash of the Carolinas match this summer in South Carolina. The match annually pits the best prep players from North Carolina against the best from South Carolina in a match at Blackbaud Stadium at Daniel Island, S.C. A date for this year’s match has not been set.
Walston, who previously coached at North Johnston, has won 53 matches in his three seasons at Corinth Holders. The Pirates (53-18-5 under Walston) have never had a losing season in their brief history, and qualified for the playoffs in all three of those seasons.
John Asmussen, the Corinth Holders boys junior varsity head soccer coach and varsity assistant coach, has been named the Fall 2012 2A State Assistant Soccer Coach of the Year by the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.
Asmussen helped lead the Pirates to the fourth round of the state 2A playoffs this season and is a former head coach at Clayton and North Johnston. He led Clayton to a 23-2 season in 2006.
Asmussen will receive his award on Jan. 27 in Greensboro at the NCSCA boys Fall 2012 All-State awards ceremony.
Corinth Holders senior midfielder Melecio Rubio-Villagran will also be recognized at the ceremony. He was a member of the 2A All-State team.
Walston was also named regional coach of the year by the NCSCA.
Mount Olive track team has Johnston ties, high expectations
Six Johnston County athletes are a part of the Mount Olive College’s track and field teams which were picked as the preseason favorite in Conference Carolinas.
The Mount Olive men’s team includes South Johnston grads Cirilo Perez, Stedmond Hampton and Donavann Thornton. Princeton alum Cameron Braswell is also on the squad.
The women’s team includes Princeton’s Tiffine Battle and Logan Shirley a North Johnston grad.
Hampton, a freshman, set a 300-meter school record during the indoor season.
