Wingate men have won 10 of their last 12 games

The Wingate University Bulldogs basketball team improved to 15-6 overall, 11-2 in South Atlantic Conference play, following a 78-65 home win over Newberry on Feb. 13.

Wingate has won 10 of their last 12 games since Christmas break, with each victory coming by at least 10 points. The Bulldogs round out the home schedule by facing league title contenders Anderson (Feb. 20) and Lincoln Memorial (Feb. 27) in Cuddy Arena.

Women’s Soccer hires new coach: Chip Wiggins has been hired as the head women’s soccer coach at Wingate and was introduced at a press conference on campus earlier this month.

Wiggins takes over a Bulldogs squad coming off two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, and he returns to Wingate after previously serving two stints as assistant coach in Wingate’s soccer program.

The 19-year coaching veteran replaces Gary Curneen, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Cincinnati last month. He had guided Wingate’s soccer club to a 95-48-9 mark over eight years as head coach, including the 2011 SAC tournament championship.

Prep swimming

State finals: Several local athletes competed at the N.C. High School Athletic Association swimming state championship meet on Feb. 9 in Raleigh.

Parkwood freshman Lexi Souther, the Southern Carolina Conference swimmer of the year, finished fifth in the 3A championship finals of the 100-yard backstroke. Marvin Ridge qualified several swimmers for the 3A state meet, taking second place team honors in the girls championship and fifth place in the boys.

In the 1A/2A division, Cuthbertson junior Allie Everhart finished fifth in the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 individual medley. She teamed with sister Kristin Everhart, Kristen Pounds and Kimberly Parnell to finish 13th in the 400 freestyle relay. The Piedmont girls relay team of Cori Burdette, Miranda Seegars, Katy Griffin and Hannah Teague finished 15th in the 200 freestyle relay.

Piedmont High

Third round: Piedmont’s wrestling team got to the third round of the dual team state tournament with wins over T.W. Andrews and Pisgah in the opening night of action.

In a second round 39-13 win over Pisgah, senior Parker Von Egidy improved to 50-0 for the season with a 38-second pin in the 182-pound weight class. The Panthers are attempting to repeat as dual team state champions. Von Egidy, who has signed to wrestle at Missouri, and others will have a chance to compete for individual state championships at the Greensboro Coliseum Feb. 28-March 2.

Sun Valley High

Zimmerman to Berea College: Senior Jacquie Zimmerman will play soccer at Berea College in Kentucky this fall.

The Mountaineers are an NAIA program coached by Cary Tsamas and compete in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Jacquie spent much of her childhood growing up in Kenya as the daughter of missionary parents, Paul and Karen Zimmerman.

Widely known for the quality of its academic programs, Berea College was the South’s first interracial and coeducational college. The school awards all students full, four-year tuition scholarships. In addition to competing on the soccer field, Zimmerman also plays for the Spartans’ basketball team.

Compiled by Daniel Smith