School Sports

Southern Nash running back Jackson Vick (26), fending off a Heritage defender during a March 6 game in Wake Forest, has verbally committed to N.C. State University as a defensive back.

Edmundson, Vick commit to NC State

By Paul Durham

| July 12, 2021

Former Southern Nash High star running back Zonovan “Bam” Knight wasn’t the first Firebird to play f...

Cooper named to Academic All-Area Team

From staff reports

| July 7, 2021

Southern Nash High two-sport standout Kierstin Cooper has been named to The Wilson Times’ Farris & T...

Randy Pridgen, shown working on an East Wake High student-athlete, has been an athletic trainer since 1979. Pridgen was recently inducted into the North Carolina Athletic Trainer Association hall of fame for his years of service both as a trainer and an instructor.

East Wake athletic trainer honored

By Paul Durham

| June 28, 2021

There’s no telling how many ankles Randy Pridgen has taped over the last four decades, but that’s ju...

Southern Nash High senior Trey Mizzelle, center, signs to play baseball at Lenoir Community College as he's flanked by his parents, Tracy and Sharon Mizzelle of Middlesex, during a signing ceremony at Southern Nash on June 7.

Firebirds’ Mizzelle gets chance at Lenoir Community College

By Paul Durham

| June 24, 2021

When the door opened for Trey Mizzelle, the recent Southern Nash High graduate walked through it. ...

Brian Batchelor goes over a drill during a Southern Nash High football preseason practice on Aug. 2, 2019. Batchelor, a 1997 Southern Nash graduate, was named as the Firebirds' new head coach on June 7, succeeding longtime head coach Brian Foster.

Batchelor takes over at Southern Nash

By Paul Durham

| June 20, 2021

Brian Batchelor didn’t know it, but he was destined to be the next varsity football head coach at So...

Brian Foster watches from the sideline as Southern Nash assistant coaches and players signal a touchdown in an April 3 game against Rocky Mount at Firebird Stadium. Of the eight assistant coaches on Foster’s staff, seven, including his oldest son Zack, were his former players. One of those, Brian Batchelor, will succeed Foster as head coach following his retirement the first week of June.

COMMENTARY

Foster leaves legacy of love for Firebirds

By Paul Durham

| June 19, 2021

For Brian Foster, as a football coach and teacher, it always came down to doing the right thing. And...

Southern Nash’s Jackson Vick, breaking into the clear for a long run during a game against Rocky Mount on April 3 at Firebird Stadium, is The Wilson Times All-Area Offensive Player of the Year after leading the area with 1,072 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Sheldon Vick | Special to the Times

Firebirds' Vick excels in starring role

By Paul Durham

| June 15, 2021

Jackson Vick’s time had come in the Southern Nash offensive backfield, and the speedy junior running...

SOUTHERN NASH ROUNDUP

Firebirds claim tri-match at Southeast Raleigh

From staff reports

| June 13, 2021

RALEIGH — Southern Nash wrapped up regular-season wrestling action by defeating both its 4-A Cap 7 C...

Newly named Southern Nash High School varsity football coach Brian Batchelor talks to one of his Firebirds on the field. Batchelor takes the reins from longtime coach Brian Foster, who's led the team since 1998 and served as an assistant from 1990-97.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Southern Nash taps Batchelor as new head football coach

By Lindell J. Kay

| June 7, 2021

Southern Nash High School has named Brian Batchelor as its new head varsity football coach. Batchelo...

Southern Nash High senior Darrin Bailey, front right, recently signed to run track and play basketball at William Peace University. Witnessing the signing are, clockwise from bottom right, cousin Bailey Lucas, grandmother Edith Bailey, Firebirds basketball coach and athletic director Robbie Kennedy, Southern Nash principal Hugh Scott, track assistant coach Buddy Williams and track head coach Sterling Leonard.

Firebirds’ Bailey to run, hoop at William Peace

By Paul Durham

| June 5, 2021

Blessed with an array of athletic talents, Southern Nash High senior Darrin Bailey is happy to not h...

Southern Nash’s Darrin Bailey (1) shoots over Lamont Batts of Fike during a Feb. 5 game at Fike. The Firebirds are the newest addition to the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament, rekindling some of the relationship with Wilson County programs torn apart by NCHSAA realignment.

COMMENTARY

Southern Nash a seamless addition to tourney field

By Jimmy Lewis

| June 5, 2021

Although the 3-A Big East Conference as we know it is breaking up as a result of North Carolina High...

Firebirds beat Falcons, Warriors in tri-match

From staff reports

| June 5, 2021

PIKEVILLE — Southern Nash won three of the contested five matches against host C.B. Aycock and the F...

Jadel Davis of Southern Nash attempts to control Zametrie Bagley of Fike during their 182-pound match in the 3-A Big East Conference tournament Friday. Davis won both of his matches to place first in the division.

Firebirds claim 2 Big East wrestling titles

By Jimmy Lewis

| May 29, 2021

A season-long diet of tri-matches for 3-A Big East Conference wrestling programs was granted a tempo...

Southern Nash's Jordan Vick (4) drives to the basket during a Jan. 26 3-A Big East Conference game at Hunt. The Firebirds will be the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament's new out-of-county guest starting with the 2021-22 season after NCHSAA realignment moved Smithfield-Selma into the same league with Hunt and Fike.

Firebirds to join Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament

By Jimmy Lewis

| May 28, 2021

WILSON — When the Farris & Farris Holiday Tournament makes its return to the area sports scene in De...

Southern Nash’s Taylor Bailey, shown making contact with the ball during a March 30 game at Hunt, was named 3-A Big East Conference Co-Player of the Year after leading the Ladybirds to their third straight conference title.

Ladybirds’ Bailey shares Big East honor

By Jimmy Lewis

| May 24, 2021

The mantle of leadership approached both Taylor Bailey of Southern Nash and Madison Mercer of Hunt d...

SOUTHERN NASH ROUNDUP

Red Rams double up on Firebirds

From staff reports

| May 24, 2021

FRANKLINTON — Despite a solo home run from sophomore Landen Baker, the Southern Nash High varsity ba...

Hunt’s James Harrison, left, grabs Southern Nash wrestler Jackson Wall's leg in their 195-pound match during Wednesday's triangular match.

Firebirds take 2 in Hunt triangular match

From staff reports

| May 21, 2021

WILSON — A tough season staggered forward for the Hunt High wrestling team as the Warriors came up e...

McCalston leads Firebirds to Nash County Championship

From staff reports

| May 19, 2021

ROCKY MOUNT — Behind Jalen McCalston’s three first-place showings, the Southern Nash High boys track...

Southern Nash High senior Kathryn Robinson, center, sits with her parents, William, left, and Janet Robinson of Spring Hope after signing to play soccer at Louisburg College.

Ladybirds’ Robinson lands in goal for Louisburg

By Paul Durham

| May 14, 2021

From the time she was put in goal during a recreation league soccer game as a youngster, Southern Na...

Hunt third baseman Jarrett Aycock (23) tags out Firebirds courtesy runner Mason Wells to end the bottom of the fifth inning during Thursday's 3-A Big East Conference game at Southern Nash. The Warriors won 11-7 to maintain sole possession of first place.

Waddell, Hunt offense complete sweep of Firebirds

From staff reports

| May 14, 2021

For the second time in a week, the Hunt High varsity baseball team’s offense allowed it to remain at...

Local News

Police arrest 18 in sweeping drug probe

By Lindell J. Kay

| July 24, 2021

ROCKY MOUNT — City police working together with local and federal authorities have made 18 arrests a...

The Nash County Board of Elections is housed inside the Nash County Agricultural Center at 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville.

Candidate files for Bailey town board seat

From staff reports

| July 24, 2021

NASHVILLE — Southern Nash County voters will see at least one candidate’s name for every office on t...

Nunery appointed Rocky Mount’s interim spokesman

For The Enterprise

| July 24, 2021

ROCKY MOUNT — City Manager Rochelle Small-Toney has appointed Jessie Nunery to serve as interim dire...