Saturday, January 18, 2025

			
				                                The 25th annual Pickle Drop will be held Tuesday, Dec. 31, in Mount Olive.

25th annual ‘Pickle Drop’ will be held at UMO Dec. 31

MOUNT OLIVE — The New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop has been named among the 10 best New Year’s Eve Drops for 2024, for the second year in a row.

Athlete of the Week

Athlete: Emerson Gomez

FCA Winter Classic: WCDS, Wayne Prep reach title game

Travel down Wayne Country Day Road and turn right at the “T” onto Patetown Road.


			
				                                Wayne Christian’s Justin Weaver (35) gets fouled from behind by a Rosewood defender during first-period action Friday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

FCA Winter Classic: Talented WCDS, EW to meet in one semifinal

Two-time defending Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic champion Wayne Country Day cruised into the semifinals Friday afternoon.


			
				                                Southern Wayne players have a chat near midcourt during a recent game. The Saints open the 2024 FCA Classic against Wayne Prep Academy on Friday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

FCA Winter Classic: Local teams battle in 3-day affair

One wouldn’t argue if organizers of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Winter Classic changed its annual boys’ basketball holiday tournament to … oh, let’s say … the Wayne Country Day Invitational.


			
				                                WCC’s 2024 Employees of the Year, pictured from left to right, are Director of College Transfer Advising Center Peyton Dawson, Adjunct Dental Hygiene Instructor Carrie Wildman, Cooperative High School Programs Specialist Lisa Rich, and Lead Housekeeper Thomas Dortch. (Courtesy photo)

WCC recognizes Employee of the Year award winners

GOLDSBORO — Wayne Community College honored its top employees of 2024 at its annual employee appreciation ceremony.


			
				                                North Duplin sophomore Tristyn Blust waits at the scorer’s table to enter a recent game. The Rebels are 4-2 after a 38-point win over Spring Creek on Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

Prep roundup: Rebels, Gators split contests on hardwood

CALYPSO — Once rivals on the Carolina 1A Conference scene for nearly two decades, North Duplin and Spring Creek wrapped up their regular-season series on the hardwood Friday evening.


			
				                                Southern Wayne heavyweight Bryce Sanders waits for the restart during second-period action against Corinth-Holders’ Clifton Allen. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

King feels team ‘got better’ at USAF Eagle Invitational

GOLDSBORO — The results don’t indicate Southern Wayne’s efforts on the wrestling mat Saturday.


			
				                                Eastern Wayne’s Michael Bailey (11) fouls Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott from behind on a breakaway play. Elliott scored 19 points in the Saints’ loss. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)

Bitter rivals stage chaotic, insane game at “The Halo”

DUDLEY — A disastrous start quickly destroyed Southern Wayne’s game plan Friday evening.