Central Carolina Community College receives sportsmanship award

Posted
Updated:

As it gears up for basketball and volleyball season, the Central Carolina Community College athletics program has earned a regional award that reflects quite well on its student-athletes.

Early this month, the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region 10 awarded CCCC a 2019-20 Sportsmanship Award for “showing outstanding respect for both opposing teams and officials” while staying ejection-free during the entire athletic year, according to a letter from the association.

CCCC, which has campuses in Chatham County along with Harnett and Lee, sponsors five sports at the junior college level: men’s basketball, women’s basketball, cross country, volleyball and men’s golf.

“I know our coaches and athletic director set the expectation of excellent sportsmanship beginning with the first try-out and continuing throughout the season — and all of our teams delivered,” CCCC president Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said in a statement. “I am proud of our student-athletes and enjoy watching them compete and represent us so well.”

Added Jonathan Hockaday, the school’s athletic director: “While our coaching staff and I encourage our players to show respect to opposing teams, coaches, officials and fans, the credit goes to our student-athletes for achieving this award. We are honored to have received this and look forward to carrying this on for years to come.”

The nod from the NJCAA’s Region 10, where CCCC competes at the Division III level with other schools across the South, comes as the Cougars prepare for their first live action in nearly a year.

In reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, CCCC didn’t hold a fall 2020 cross country season or compete in any golf events. Both of its basketball teams and its volleyball team, though, are weeks away from starting their 2021 seasons, which the NJCAA delayed until January over the summer.

The men’s basketball team opens its season on the road at Guilford Tech on Jan. 22, the women’s basketball team starts off at home against Patrick Henry on Jan. 20 and the volleyball team hosts Fayetteville Tech on Jan. 25 to start its season. For full schedules, visit cccc.edu/sports.

Reporter Chapel Fowler can be reached at cfowler@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @chapelfowler.