Chapin wins state title in girls lacrosse; several other sports win region titles

David Shelton • May 9, 2024

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Chapin – It took a few years but the Chapin High girls lacrosse team finally returned to the top spot in Class AAAAA.

Chapin (18-2) defeated Fort Mill, 13-4, to win the AAAAA state championship. It was their first title since winning in 2019, though the program remained one of the top contenders every year. On their way to the championship, Chapin defeated two-time defending state champion Wando in the Lower State finals. Their win over Fort Mill was their second this season, having defeated the Upper State champs during the regular season.

“These girls have worked so hard for this, for four years, and to see it come to fruition is amazing,” Chapin coach Raven Thomas said. “We knew we were state champions as soon as the open season started. We purposely played the toughest schedule we’ve ever seen so that every game would be just as hard as the state finals.

“We’ve been cut short so many times before there was nothing that was going to get in this team’s way today, We went out to win every quarter.”

Senior Ava Grace Collins scored three goals in the championship, finishing this season with 96 goals and 25 assists. She is considered the top AAAAA player in the state.

“This feels so amazing, to be able to accomplish this with my best friends,” Collins said. “We have been working so hard for this. It feels surreal. Just so proud of every player because they work so hard too.”

Brooke Holmes also scored three times, all in the first half, to finish her season with 77 goals and 22 assists. Senior Jules Brown scored four times in the second half and finished the season with 70 goals and a team-high 40 assists.

“After we beat Wando we knew that we could win today,” Brown said. “We came into this game really confident because we had beaten them in season. Confidence came a very long way for us this year. We knew that if we played the way we played on Tuesday (vs. Wando) we were unstoppable. We finally did it.”

Chapin’s baseball and softball teams each won the region 4-AAAAA championship this season. Both, however, are coming through the loser’s bracket in the playoffs. The softball team suffered an upset loss to Cane Bay, 2-0, in their playoff opener. The baseball team lost a second-round game to West Ashley. Both teams were still alive at presstime.

The boys and girls soccer teams also won region titles.

The boys team lost in the second-round of the playoffs to J.L. Mann. Junior Wyatt Jordan led the team with 15 goals this season.

The girls team advanced to a third-round matchup with defending state champion Wando on May 4, Chapin carried a 21-2-2 record into that contest.

Senior Darcy Ahern scored 25 goals with 18 assists this season while sophomore Lila Bowers added 24 goals and 14 assists.

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

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.