Hampton County looking forward to the future

Neill Kirkpatrick • August 13, 2024

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By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Varnville – The Hampton County Hurricanes in their first year of competition captured eight region championships in Football, Girls Tennis, Girls x-country, Boys x-country, Boys basketball, Girls Soccer, Boys Track and Girls Track, they won lower state titles in boys and girls track and field and played for the lower state championships in football and boys’ basketball so you could say it was a great start for a new school that figures to be on of the top programs in the state in class AA for years to come.

Heading up the athletic program is long time Wade Hampton coach Rob Hanna. Hanna wears a lot of hats as he is the Athletic Director, head football coach and the boys’ track and field coach.

Hanna led the Hurricane football team to a 12-2/4-0 record, a region championship and a spot in the lower state championship game. He did one better in track and field as his team won the lower state championship. The track and field team placed fifth at the state meet.

“The biggest reason for our success was that the coaches and players bought into what we were trying to do to bring the two communities together (Estill and Wade Hampton). The coaches in all sports did an outstanding job of getting the message across to the kids. I could not be prouder of the job everyone did this year,” said Hanna.

Coaching the girl’s track and field team is Myrriah Hanna. Her girls also captured a lower state championship before finishing in sixth at the class AA state meet. She also coaches the x-country teams. The girls placed sixth and the boy’s placed 14^th at the state x-country meets after winning the region 6AA crown.

Romon Gray led the boys’ basketball team to another lower state championship game appearance after winning another region championship. His team finished the year 25-6/8-0 and has compiled a record of 128-43 over the past eight years.

Leading the volleyball team and girls’ basketball team to the playoffs was head coach Anthony Elam. The girls’ basketball team made it into the second round of the class AA playoffs while the volleyball made a first-round exit.

Steve Crosby’s girls’ tennis team advanced into the second round of the playoffs after winning the region while Barry Whittington won another region championship in girls’ soccer to advance to the class AA playoffs.

Baseball head coach Cody McCollum led his team to the district five tournament while Jesse Rooker led his boys’ soccer team to a playoff berth.

”There is a lot of excitement for the program, not just for the athletic programs, but our school as well. ” said coach Hanna. “I am fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff both in football and the other sports. The coaches are committed to the kids, the school, and the community. I m excited for the future and the direction the we are headed.”

Now with year one being in the books the Hurricanes can look forward to getting into a new as they have begun construction on a new school and new athletic facilities which will bring more excitement to Varnville and to Hurricane athletics.

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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.