Beaufort winter sports showing solid success

David Shelton • February 15, 2025

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By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Beaufort - Though not perfect, the 2024-25 winter sports season at Beaufort High has had plenty of success overall.

Beaufort competes in Class AAAA and will be a playoff team in girls basketball and wrestling. As of Feb. 1, the wrestling team was already involved in the state duals tournament. The Eagles were seeded fifth in the Lower State bracket and were ranked as high as No.13 in the statewide rankings of AAAA.

Beaufort opened the duals tournament with a win over Midland Valley but the season ended in round two as the Eagles lost to No. 4 seed Gilbert.

The end of the state duals competition is not the end of the wrestling season. Next up is the state individual tournament where wrestlers seek to win state titles in their weight classes.

A favorite to medal from Beaufort is senior Antonio McKnight, who has qualified for the state individual tournament for a third time. McKnight is ranked as the No. 2 144-pounder in Class AAAA and is projected to contend for the gold.

Sophomore Colton Freeman also is a qualifier at 215-pounds where he ranked No. 7 in AAAA.

The girls basketball team also will be headed to the AAAA state playoffs. With four games remaining, Beaufort is 5-1 in region 7-AAAA and 12-7 overall. Beaufort is assured of a top three finish in the region standings, which would land them in the postseason.

Freshman Jania Heyward has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game this season. Junior Zaria Coaxum average 8.5 points per game while eighth-grader Daleah LaBoard adds about five points per game.

Junior Carson Crosby is averaging 7.4 rebounds to go with 4.4 points while senior Davarirah Sumter averages nearly six rebounds and five points per game.

The roster is quite young this season with only one other senior, Johanna Laney. Other juniors include Zaniyah Reynolds-Morgan, Claire McDaniel, and D’Asya Lowery.

Sophomores include Savannah Lanham and Faith Blevins. Freshmen Erin Crosby and Deja Singleton round out the 2024-25 roster.

The boys basketball team likely won’t make the playoffs after posting just one win in their first 16 games, including an 0-6 record in the region.

Senior Samari Bonds leads the Eagles in scoring at 13.6 points per game while adding 6.2 rebounds per game. Senior Amani Cleckley averages 12.1 points and junior Jason Frazier adds 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing.

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By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

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.