After another year of athletics, West Pine Middle School once again celebrated championship success across multiple sports. West Pine Wildcats captured Moore/Lee Middle School conference championships in boys cross country, golf, volleyball, and girls basketball.
The school also found success on the sidelines as West Pine’s cheerleading team earned first place at the conference cheer competition, adding another title to the athletic year.
Volleyball coach Jessica Cade praised her team’s determination during another championship run.
“This volleyball season was a remarkable testament to the grit and heart of our athletes, as we finished with an impressive 9-1 record and a Conference Championship for West Pine Middle School for the second consecutive year,” Cade said. “What made this particular year so special was the unwavering resolve of every player on the roster. We faced several high-stakes matches that came down to the wire, but the girls never gave up, showing an incredible ability to persevere and stay composed under pressure.”
Cade said the team’s chemistry and resilience played a major role in continuing the program’s championship streak.
“Their success was about their commitment to working together and pushing through every challenge as a team,” Cade said. “I couldn’t be prouder of how they fought for one another to keep our championship streak alive.”
Girls basketball and golf coach Joey Chapman also reflected on the success of two dominant programs during the school year.
The girls basketball team finished undefeated at 10-0 for the second consecutive season, winning games by an average of 9.1 points while averaging 36.5 points per contest.
Chapman highlighted the team’s balance and improvement throughout the season, noting that 15 of the team’s 17 players scored during the year and that nearly every game featured between nine and 13 different scorers.
Chapman said the team’s work ethic in practice helped set the tone for its success on the court.
“Our practice energy this season was what set the tone for all of our games,” Chapman said. “The girls were always challenging themselves and each other to be just a little bit better than they were the previous day and that translated into our games and the way we played in them.”
He also praised the team’s commitment in the classroom.
“All players on the team are also stand-outs in the classroom, never having to worry about discipline issues and knowing that all of the girls are always on top of their schoolwork maintaining As and Bs all year long,” Chapman said.
West Pine’s golf team also put together an undefeated championship season, winning all five conference matches by an average of 11.25 strokes per match. The Mustangs averaged 39.3 strokes per player and had at least five golfers score in every event.
The team consistently dominated the competition, producing the overall medalist or co-medalist in every match while placing every golfer inside the top 12 in each event. Chapman also noted the team recorded a season-low score of 3-under par (33) at Pinehurst No. 6.
At the middle school state championship, West Pine placed fourth and fifth overall between its two competing teams and was the only school to place five golfers inside the top 32 out of more than 80 competitors.
“The success of our team comes from how much the kids like playing the game with each other, how much they truly love the game, and how hard the kids practice and push each other during the season,” Chapman said. “Also, the outstanding outside-of-school tournament play that all of my players do helps prepare them for success.”
Chapman added that the golf team also excelled academically throughout the season, maintaining strong grades while representing the school well on and off the course.
The championship performances highlighted the commitment of the student-athletes and coaches who helped make this season memorable. From the first practices of the fall to the final games of the spring season, West Pine athletes continued to set the standard for success both on and off the field.
Feature photo: Basketball champs.
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~Article by Curtis Self, a Sandhills Sentinel reporter and owner of Moore Daily Sports. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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