As usual, Carolina Academy competing well in fall

David Shelton • October 18, 2024

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Carolina Academy Girls Tennis team

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Lake City – As is the case every year, the fall sports teams at Carolina Academy have been competing well and look forward to extending their seasons into the SCISA state playoffs over the next few weeks in October.

Carolina Academy teams navigated their regular seasons into the month of October, For SCISA teams, the state playoffs begin almost immediately and several state champions will be crowned before November arrives.

One program that is an annual contender for a state championship is the girls tennis program. Despite roster turnover from year to year, the Bobcats always seem to put a strong team on the court. Much of that success is due to a strong commitment to the younger players as Carolina will traditionally have as many as 20 players competing on the varsity and middle school levels.

Carolina Academy completed the regular season in late September with an 11-2 overall record. At press time, they were preparing for a first-round match in the SCISA Class AA state tournament on Oct. 7.

Junior Carlie Anne Smith has held down the No. 1 singles position this fall while also working in No. 1 doubles. Her doubles partner Allie Keith Coker, the lone senior on the team this season. Coker also plays No. 2 singles.

Junior Blythe Smith plays No. 3 singles and works in No. 2 doubles. Junior Savannah McCutcheon plays No. 4 singles and teams up with Smith in doubles.

At No. 5 singles is eighth-grader Kylie Lyerly and seventh-grader Harper Drew Richardson plays No. 6 singles. The duo forms the No. 3 doubles team as well.

The younger tennis team posted an undefeated record as a jayvee team. Eighth-grader Madelyn Matthews played No. 1 singles this season and sixth-grader Anna Scott Johnson was at two singles. Sixth-grader Ava Johnson was third in the singles ladder, followed by eighth-grader Mary Kearston Hanna at No. 4.

Eighth-grader Scarlett Evans and seventh-grader Maecy Gamble played five and six singles, respectively.

The girls golf team also expects a postseason opportunity at the SCISA state tournament later this month. Members of the unit this fall include senior Angelina Drost, sophomore Maggie Hunt, freshman Caden Collins, and eighth-graders Lexi Goff and Kelsie Smith.

The volleyball team enters the final few contests of the regular season with a winning record and looks to finish strong to earn a playoff spot.

Members of the team include senior Jada Carsten, juniors Jennifer Vargas, Alana Altman, Abby McCutcheon and Raeley Frye; and eighth-graders Natalie Braveboy, Ella Ham and Paisley McCutcheon.

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By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.