Kings Mountain Herald

YMCA pool now open for members and non-members

The pool is now open at the YMCA. There are several safety measures in place to comply with the new state guidelines to keep everyone safe.

Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 12 pm – 6 pm The pool is available for YMCA members beginning at 12 pm and for community members from 2 pm – 6 pm.

• Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm

• Sunday: 2 pm – 6 pm

• Cost: $3 per guest and free for YMCA members

The YMCA is offering swim lessons whether you prefer group or private lessons. We have both options available throughout July and August. There are swim lessons available in the evenings throughout the week for kids ages 3 – 14. Session times vary between 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm.

• Group Swim Lessons: $35 for members or $55 for non-members.

• Private Swim Lessons: $50 for members or $85 for non-members.

• Financial Assistance is available upon request.

The YMCA is also offering birthday parties at the pool with a maximum of 20 guests. For more information please contact Aquatics Director, Michael Peeler at 704.669.3687.

Be sure to social distance while at the pool. There will be a limited capacity of 60 people total at the pool and only 35 in the pool; so be sure to get a spot! We ask that families limit their pool visit to 2 hours to accommodate capacity guidelines.

Please note that we will not have any chairs or picnic tables available. Be sure to bring your own chair! Also, you will need to bring your own US Coast Guard approved life jackets and puddle jumpers. We have lifeguards on duty to ensure a fun and safe time.

Sponsors needed for KMTD golf, KMTD auction will be held online

The annual Kings Mountain Touchdown Club golf tournament will be played August 7 at Kings Mountain Country Club.

All proceeds will go toward the athletic facility upgrades at Kings Mountain High School, which included artificial turf and other improvements to John Gamble Stadium and new tennis courts and a locker room/rest room facility.

There is still a real need for tournament sponsors. Sponsorships are $100 for silver, $250 for gold, $500 for platinum and $1,000 for diamond.

All persons wishing to help the tournament should call 704-466-7214.

Because of social distancing regulations, president David Brinkley also reports the usual pre-tournament meal will be cancelled and the annual auction will be held online. The club will begin advertising the items shortly but they will include things such as vacations, golf trips a signed basketball from Coach Rick Barnes, a signed football and helmet from Coach Dabo Swinney and several foursomes for golf. In all there should be about 50 items to bid on.

The auction will begin on Thursday, August 6 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and continue all-day Friday and Saturday up to 6 p.m.

Persons will be able to bid and also post upset bids online.

For more information on the tournament and auction, contact Harold Farris.

Schools may begin conditioning July 6

As of now, Kings Mountain and other area high schools will be able to begin outside fall sports conditioning July 6.

Athletes were driving by the high school Monday through Wednesday of this week to pick up information from their coaches.

Next week is a dead week for all North Carolina High School Athletic Association members. During that time there can be no type of workouts or conditioning.

All athletic teams are required to obey safe distancing policies as well as having no more than 25 people in a single group, including coaches. That number probably won’t affect any sport except football but KMHS has enough practice and playing fields to safely obey the requirements.

All teams are limited to 90 minutes a day. Until further notice, fans are not allowed to attend

Screen shot 2020 06 25 at 11.51.36 am — KMHS rising senior linebacker “Day Day” Wilson has committed to play football at the University of Missouri

Mountaineer football star Day Day Wilson commits to play collegiately at Missouri

Kings Mountain High football standout Dameon “Day Day” Wilson Sunday afternoon officially committed to continue his career at the University of Missouri.

Wilson, a rising senior and an all-star linebacker for the Mountaineers for the past three seasons, joins teammate Kobe Paysour at the next level. Paysour, a wide receiver, earlier committed to the University of North Carolina.

Wilson gave his fans, who watched live on Facebook, an anxious moment when he started taking off an outer sweatshirt to make his official announcement. He revealed a University of North Carolina shirt, but then took it off to show a Mizzou shirt.

Wilson was offered by some of the top football schools in the nation, including North and South Carolina, Kentucky and NC State. But, he said he just had a great feeling about playing in the SEC in general, and Missouri in particular.

“They’re just great people out there,” he said. “They have a great coaching staff. I just felt like it is the place for me.”

One of the coaches that recruited him to Mizzou was former Crest athlete Charlie Harbison, who is Missouri’s assistant head coach.

“A lot of their coaches were at Appalachian State last year when they beat both North Carolina and South Carolina,” Wilson noted.

In making his announcement, Wilson said “I just want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me the ability to play.”

Wilson is the son of James and Rachelle Wilson. His older brothers, Trevon and Javari, also played football at Kings Mountain.

Wilson, who had a team-high 123 tackles last year, has been a part of the winningest era in KMHS history the past three seasons. The Mountaineers barely missed going to the state championship game last fall when they fell in the Western championship to Charlotte Catholic, 56-49, in a state record seven overtimes.

With the uncertainty of the Covid 19 situation, Wilson hopes his high school football career isn’t over. The Mountaineers are expected to begin light preseason workouts July 6.

“We hope to get to play this season, and win the state championship,” he said.

— KM Herald