The council voted 4-0 in support of the Hemby Road location behind the Providence Volunteer Fire Department instead of the Weddington Matthews Road location behind the Weddington Corners shopping center during their Monday, May 13, meeting. The resolution is non-binding, Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Barry said, and council’s opinion could change in the future depending on any additional information town leaders receive.

“The Union County Board of Commissioners passed a motion stating that the two sites were equivalent and they would like for (Weddington town council) to provide them with some preference,” Barry said. “… Based on the info we had at this time our preference would be to put it on the Hemby site, but we don’t hold ourselves bound to that decision.”

Before moving ahead with construction, Union County Public Works must go through the Weddington zoning process, which includes another public information meeting in addition to the meeting already held.  No meetings will be scheduled until Public Works submits a formal zoning petition to the town, and residents have a chance to comment about the proposed locations.

According to Public Works Director Ed Goscicki, the water tower locations were chosen based on the need for higher pressure in the northern part of town and to help provide enough water to the growing population.  Cost estimates for the Hemby Road location are around $375,000 for the 1.5 million-gallon tower, and the Weddington Matthews Road location could cost around $500,000.  Both locations have willing property sellers, and the county has a 60-day option on the properties.

Many Weddington residents raised concerns about the two locations during the initial meeting with Public Works, but Goscicki said there was no better location between the two – only the least protested location.  More than 20 of the 40 people present showed support for the Hemby Road site during the meeting with Public Works, with others supporting the Weddington Matthews Road site and the Kings Property site, which is no longer an option for the project.

Those in favor of the Hemby Road site did not want the tower disrupting the Weddington Corners shopping center or being the first thing seen when driving into town.  The water tower will be around 180 feet tall regardless of the location, with the Hemby Road location being slightly shorter due to high elevation in that area.

Construction is not scheduled to begin until later this year, and the tower will take around a year and half to be completed and start functioning.  Public Works has looked at projects 30 years out and says there should not be a need for another water tower during that time.

The Union County Board of Commissioners should discuss the Weddington water tower during their next meeting on Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Union County Government Center, 500 N. Main St. in Monroe.

Town manager Joe Fivas made a quick pass through his proposed budget Tuesday night, May 14, that looks to continue a number of projects made possible in part by the 4-cent tax increase proposed during last year’s budget talks – namely a number of sidewalk projects, largely funded by air quality grants; road additions and improvements as part of the town’s Pathways 2 Progress initiative; and the Chestnut and Crooked Creek at Indian Trail parks.

The proposed budget includes the $35,000 for a law enforcement needs assessment Mayor Michael Alvarez recently asked for and town council members and Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey supported. The budget does not include money for additional deputies at this time, with council having passed on a suggestion to add deputies in anticipation of the needs assessment’s findings. If the assessment remains part of the proposed budget when it’s approved, potentially on June 11, town leaders will discuss exactly what the assessment will target. It’s anticipated to show Indian Trail officials how many more, if any, deputies are needed to keep residents safe and improve response times to where town council wants them to be. Council members then would have to vote on how to fund any additional deputies, at a cost of around $80,000 per deputy.

The budget proposed on Tuesday night does not include any money for a town community center, which as discussed could include an Indian Trail town hall. Councilman Chris King, a proponent of the community center, said he will bring the topic up for discussion once the budget is adopted, meaning it likely won’t be pushed onto the 2013-14 fiscal budget.

Fivas, speaking on the potential costs of a community center after presenting his budget, said the town already has $1.4 million set aside for such a project, which would likely cost $3 million to $5 million. If town council agreed on a five-year loan for the project, Fivas said payments would start at between $800,000 to $900,000 a year and decrease over time. A 10-year loan would leave the town paying around $500,000 a year, decreasing each year, and a 15-year loan would start at $350,000. Council did not give any feedback Tuesday night on the center other than King’s comment about discussing the project at a later date.

Council did not instruct Fivas to make any changes to his proposed budget on Tuesday night, though they could between now and a scheduled vote in June. The public workshop, scheduled for May 28, also could result in changes, as could a discussed feedback session Alvarez may hold before the June vote.

The town’s proposed budget’s larger projects are mostly “infrastructure driven,” Fivas said Tuesday night, referring to the road and sidewalk projects that allow the town to “start down the pathway of tacking some of those traffic congestion issues,” and the two parks. The town manager credited the efficiency of staff – some 30 employees in Indian Trail compared to hundreds in similarly sized towns like Monroe and Matthews – for being able to present a balanced budget with an 18.5-cent per $100 of taxable property tax rate. The next lowest tax rate for a city of similar size to Indian Trail in the state is in Matthews, at 30.25 cents. Matthews has proposed a 2-cent tax increase this year.

Part of that is due to funding created by the town’s new deal with Waste Pro for solid waste services. The contract will save the town $2.5 million over five years. But the town also is able to keep its tax rate low, Fivas pointed out, due to the “concerning” amount of money the town relies on from intergovernmental coffers compared to other towns.

“If something happened with those state revenues … that will cause a huge disproportionate impact in Indian Trail,” Fivas said. The state is currently considering some bills that could impact the amount of state funding Indian Trail gets, though Fivas said other sources could supplement that money. “Our dependence on intergovernmental funds is concerning to staff,” the presentation read Tuesday night.

Fivas also was clear Tuesday night that the town’s flat tax rate doesn’t leave a lot of room for new projects in Indian Trail – though the recently created capital reserve fund is already working on a number of issues.  “We have a lot of needs,” Fivas said, pointing to a six-year capital investment plan that includes several items the town may eventually approve.

The proposed budget should be available on the town’s website as of Thursday, May 16, Fivas said Tuesday night. Copies also will be available at the Union West Regional Library.

Town council also heard an update on design of the Chestnut Park, which is currently under construction. Council saw design drawings that show the four tennis court and four sand volleyball courts separated by a quad that could be used for musical performances or a farmers’ market. Council members said they were pleased with designs at this point and instructed the developer to continue work. The park could open later this year.

Find more information on the budget and park project at the town’s website, www.indiantrailnc.org.

Council members reviewed the proposed budget, which is almost $8 million, on Tuesday, May 14. Town manager Mike McLaurin discussed the spending package and his recommendations to commissioners, though no residents commented on the proposal at the meeting.  The Thursday workshop is one of two meetings where town leaders hope to get more input. The first was held Wednesday, May 15.

“As we move forward, this town is no longer a small town.  It’s a growing, thriving town and we are going to have to … start to look several years in advance,” McLaurin said, foreshadowing possible future spending the town could consider.

Taxes for residents will stay at 34 cents per $100, with solid waste fees remaining at $40 per year, although some departments will see an increase in their budget for the coming year.

The Waxhaw Police Department could see a large increase in their budget, with a proposed $1,750,999, in order to fund the new police facility commissioners are currently working on.  The police department also is requesting the replacement of two vehicles.

Another increase that could be seen in the coming year’s budget is a 3.5 percent increase in pay for the mayor and board of commissioners, something McLaurin said hasn’t happened in many years.

“The bottom line is that it’s been several years since we’ve had an increase, and just the amount of work that I see and the staff sees … like everybody, you deserve to be fairly compensated for that,” McLaurin said.

Currently, the board of commissioners is scheduled to vote on the 2013-14 budget during their May 28 meeting, almost a month before the June 30 deadline, at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum of the Waxhaws, 8215 Waxhaw Hwy.  A copy of the proposed budget is available on the town’s website at www.waxhaw.com. Click on “Administration – Finance and Budget” under the “Departments” tab.

The students have won awards in national choral competitions, traveled the country to perform in prestigious music festivals and gained international recognition thanks to their partnership with a sister school in China, all in the last four years.

Getting to share their gift and love for music with the world is something the young performers said has become one of the most important aspects of their high school career.

The Marvin Ridge High School Women’s Ensemble is a group of about 20 to 25 female students who audition and perform together throughout the year at schools, country clubs, malls and other venues. Under the direction of choral teacher Deborah Lutz, the ensemble also has set its own high bar through venturing beyond the community and making a mark both nationally and internationally.

Seniors Madeleine Cutrone, Jordan Hodges, Meghan Rutowski, Katherine Judge and Maddy Hardy have been a part of the ensemble since their freshman year and have seen what difference being able to express themselves through music has made in their own lives.

“To find yourself and be able to express yourself and not worry about being shy is the big thing we’ve gotten out of it,” Meghan said.

While exercising their musical talent and creativity, the group also has received accolades from national music critics. The ensemble placed first in the 2010 Heritage Music Festival, an annual national competition. The girls took a trip to Williamsburg, Va., where they sang three classical pieces for judges and were chosen among a pool of other women’s ensembles from across the United States.

After that victory, the group was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall as part of a larger ensemble of nationally recognized student performers. Ten students from the women’s ensemble traveled to New York City in April 2010 to perform at the prestigious music hall where the experience, the girls said, was like no other.

“It’s just something that you can’t put into words, an experience like that,” Jordan Hodges said. “So many world-renowned people have (performed) there … it’s something so incredible.”

The 2011-12 school year was a year of growth for the ensemble, as there were a handful of veteran members who left and new members who joined. So Lutz, the choral director, spent time working with the students, training them to gel as an ensemble.

“She’s so committed … it’s almost contagious,” Madeleine Cutrone said of Lutz. “It just makes you want to work even harder.”

The year of hard work paid off, the girls said, as this school year has seen the ensemble once again place first in a national competition, receive another invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall and perform for millions of viewers via a Chinese television network.

Marvin Ridge has a sister school in China and delegates from the school who visited the U.S. saw the women’s ensemble perform a song in Chinese during a Confucius Institute event in uptown Charlotte last fall. Impressed with the girls’ performance, the delegates invited them to perform again in a pre-recording aired on a national Chinese network. An estimated 400 million Chinese viewers watched the performance, the girls
said.

“Opportunities to sing in places that aren’t our school are hard to come by,” Maddy Hardy said. “So this opportunity to sing for millions of people in a country that we’ve never been to, halfway across the world … the idea was a little hard to fathom that something so big could happen to us.”

The ensemble also traveled to New Orleans in April, where they competed again in the Heritage Music Festival. After a first-place win, the girls received another invitation to perform in Carnegie Hall, which the ensemble will do next year.

Although the girls are proud of all their accomplishments, the most important thing about being a part of the women’s ensemble is the bond they’ve developed with each other and with Lutz.

“We really can’t say enough about her,” Katherine Judge said. “She’s so easy to talk to, she’s always helping you … her room has become our second home.”

The Monroe girls track and field team: 2013 N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1A champs

The Redhawks finished with 103 points, well ahead of runner-up Winston-Salem Prep (42).

While last year’s title was largely powered by a pair of stars – Jamie Glenn (now at Appalachian State) and Janieyah “Ladybug” Collins (East Carolina) – Monroe coach Nichole Jackson said this season’s championship took a more widespread effort.

“Overall, we were excited for the kids to experience a team season that wasn’t just riding the coattails of some superstars,” said Jackson. “Kids all over were contributing.

“They’re such different wins. (Glenn and Collins) were such great examples, and I think they helped motivate the younger kids. This year, it was kind of nice to see kids on that podium and know they were able to be a part of it and not just celebrate it.”

That’s not to say that this year’s performance was without its standouts. Junior Reneazia Collins earned Co-Most Valuable Performer honors after taking home three gold medals. She set a meet record in the 400-meter dash (56.28 seconds), shattering the previous mark of 57.40. She also earned wins in the 200 meters (25.47) and the 100 hurdles (15.52).

Jackson said she was surprised by Collins’ performance since she spent the early part of the season in a walking boot with an injured ankle. Collins returned to action on March 27.

“She had just over a month to get ready for a state meet,” Jackson said. “When you lose three weeks of training, when you come back, it’s not like you’re coming back full steam. She came back and not only did she have impressive times, she proved what a competitor she is.”

Kendall Cox also collected an individual win by leaping 17 feet, 10 inches, more than a foot better than the next-closest competitor. She also took third place in the 100 (12.54) and fourth in the 200 (26.44).

Collins and Cox also were joined by Julice Crowder and Zasha Barrett on the Redhawks’ 4×200 relay team, which won gold in 1 minute, 42.66 seconds. Daya Jordan, Simone Gwehi, Asha Jordan and Crowder teamed to place second in the 4×100 (49.73), while the foursome of Daya Jordan, Shikima Gainey, Gwehi and Barrett  posted a silver effort in the 4×400 (4:12.17).

Asha Jordan added a bronze medal in the shot put (34-6.5), and Akeyra Hailey (16.77) took fourth place in the 100 hurdles. Gainey added a fifth-place finish in the 300 hurdles (48.76). Crowder took sixth place in the 100 (12.95). Barrett was sixth in the 400 (1:00.58), and Bria Roddy was sixth in the discus (97-9).

Monroe’s other state qualifiers included Kiana Staton, Amilya Mitchell, Dazia McLendon, Tyriona Houston and Dasia Funderburk.

While Jackson said Monroe’s 2012 Class 1A title will always hold a special place in her heart, this year’s state championship might say more about the program’s progress.

“The first one for a school, a program overall, that was very special,” said Jackson. “But to do it again, you’re like, ‘OK, we’re here, and we’re believing.’

“It’s been a process. We’re a small school. Union County has grown, so there’s new zoning and it’s hard to get kids out. It’s hard to build your program, so (it was nice) to see these kids buying into it and participating. The seniors were crying at the end of the meet, even though we were celebrating such a happy thing.”

And hopefully, said Jackson, the win will mean more big things for the Redhawks.

“I think the things they learned by being a part of it will far outlast the times they were able to put up (at the meet),” she said. “To do it again, I feel like (this championship) will have a more lasting effect.”

The intersection of Old Monroe and Waxhaw Indian Trail roads already is a problem for drivers in the morning and evening rush hours. Some Indian Trail leaders worry a planned apartment complex nearby will only add to the problems even with an upgrade planned for the busy Old Monroe Road in the near future. The apartment complex is one of two currently planned for the town.

The projects – 216 units on 17 acres at 4500 Old Monroe Road and 144 units on more than 19.5 acres at 1609 Wesley Chapel-Stouts Road – would burden those two roads and others in Indian Trail if approved by the town, council member Chris King said. Town council must approve rezoning the land before the developers can start work and King already has been joined by Councilman David Waddell in voicing concern.

“Our infrastructure is not prepared for that kind of dwelling,” King said of the two projects. Though he acknowledged the apartment complexes and more residents could be good for local businesses, King said the developers have a long way to go before they’ll get his support on a rezoning vote.

“Unless they can produce some compelling evidence that is going to prove to me that, as a result of these apartment complexes, traffic will actually get better and that property values in the area will go up … they won’t have a chance to win me over during the rezoning process,” King said. “If they want to ante up and help widen Old Monroe Road, that might change things.”

The Old Monroe Road project, named Glenn Oaks, also would include two 8,250-square-foot retail buildings, according to the proposal developers Cameron Helms and Larry Sagehorn submitted to the town’s planning department.  The complex would go near the proposed home for a Family Dollar store on Old Monroe Road across the street from Heritage Funeral Home, and Helms said he is in negotiations with several well-known establishments “excited and looking forward to bringing their dining and retail options to Indian Trail” if the apartment complex is approved.

“Feedback from the business sector has been very positive,” Helms said in an email. “With this site being surrounded by commercial property and located in the town center, they love the thought of residents being able to walk to their place of business.”

As for traffic, Helms said he understands the concerns.

“Having lived on Old Monroe for close to 40 years and running a business here, I understand the traffic as well as anyone,” he said. “ … At an approximate cost (of) around $300,000, we will do what is required by NCDOT and meet or exceed the recommendations of the traffic impact study.”

The study, conducted by Progressive Design Group in April, said the project would significantly contribute to a decline in service at the intersection of Old Monroe and Waxhaw Indian Trail roads – an intersection already considered to be close to capacity. The project, which the study estimated would add 2,301 vehicle trips per day to area roads, would contribute to the intersection dropping from an E level of service grade to a F grade by 2018.

“The results of the capacity analysis indicate the need for major roadway improvements in order to bring the intersection of Old Monroe Road at Waxhaw Indian Trail Road to an acceptable level of service,” the report said.

While acknowledging that Old Monroe Road is scheduled to be widened from Interstate 485 to Waxhaw Indian Trail Road starting in 2018, the report said additional improvements are needed from the developer – including a westbound 100-foot-long left-turn lane on Old Monroe Road and a southbound 50-foot-long turn lane on Waxhaw Indian Trail Road.

The other proposed project, the Apartments By The Lake, would go at the corner of Wesley Chapel-Stouts and Rogers roads. A traffic analysis for the project was not available and developer Jimmy Bostic could not be reached for comment by press deadline.

Union Power held the first of two planned forums Tuesday, May 8, to meet with residents and receive feedback before drafting options for the new power line connecting Weddington and Marvin. The power company says the line is a necessity due to growth in western Union County over the last 10 years.  The new power line, like those that run along streets on power poles, has to be added between the two towns’ substations to prevent the infrastructure from being overwhelmed and potentially causing mass power outages in Weddington and Marvin.

Union Power officials hope the meetings, which follow a mailing to area property owners explaining why the line is necessary, help paint a better picture of what an acceptable path for the line would be. The company has already surveyed the area looking for landmarks that need to be avoided and is now looking for public input before finalizing any plans.

Trish Standon, a Lake Forest Preserve resident, said she was concerned about the line’s potential impact on the health of area residents and to property values.

“I don’t think there has been any conclusive evidence as to whether there are negative (health) effects,” Standon said. “There also is a negative effect on property values.  For the town of Weddington to get a water tower and power lines it’s going to bring the essence of the town down.”

Union Power tried to address the health concerns at Tuesday’s meeting with graphics showing there are more electromagnetic radiation, or EMFs, coming from a cell phone, fan or hairdryer than from the type of power line they plan to construct.

Another resident on Tuesday was more concerned about the aesthetics of the project.

“There are so many obstacles like creeks and streams and ponds in Weddington you don’t want to disturb,” said Steve Westphall, who lives in Aero Plantation in Weddington.  “(Union Power) just needs to balance the needs of power and the desire for natural beauty.”

The next meeting will be held in late summer or early fall to get resident feedback on 15 to 20 possible routes for the line.  Union Power leaders say cost is not an obstacle at this point. They’re more concerned about finding the best route.

Union Power leaders say the project must happen some time soon – no matter what path is chosen. The demand for electricity in central and western Union County has increased more than 30 percent since 2004. And with only one 100,000-volt transmission line serving the area, a problem with the line could cause simultaneous power outages at all five power substations in the area, which could affect up to 16,000 people.

Union Power hopes to have a path chosen by the end of 2013.  The line should be up and running by 2016. Union Power leaders will not have to go through a rezoning process or receive approval from the council in either Weddington or Marvin before constructing the line.

A notice will be sent before the next meeting to all residents living within the project’s 10.2-square-mile zone.

Many residents at Tuesday’s meeting also were concerned about the new water tower, which will either be located near the Weddington Corners shopping center on Weddington Road or off of Hemby Road behind the Providence Volunteer Fire Department.  Both Union Power and Union County Public Works say the additions are necessary with the growth seen in Weddington and the increase in pressure on both utilities.  Public Works hopes to chose a location for the tower within the next month.

The agreement, which lays out the first half of the renovation project, authorizes Weddington to provide up to $220,000 to the fire department for the intial phase. Council members said the final price may be lower, quoting an earlier estimate of around $197,000. The $220,000 number was approved in case the actual renovations are more than the estimate town leaders were given, Councilmember Pamela Hadley said.

This agreement only sets aside money for renovations of the back building on the property, though the main building also needs renovations because it is not up to code. The back building must be completed before renovations start on the main building so firefighters have a place to stay while on duty. Council has yet to receive an estimate on the second phase of the project. The fire department must make a formal request to the town for the main building work before discussions start on an agreement.

The Providence Fire Department will present invoices for the work on the rear building and the town will write a check directly to the Providence VFD. The town will not be responsible for paying vendors directly.

After work is complete on both facilities, the property and building – currently owned by Providence VFD  – will become a town asset and be leased back to the fire department.

“Normally you just give the fire department (money) and they renovate the building and they still own it.  What we are doing is saying the taxpayers are going to own that building,” Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Barry said.  “… Then we are going to rent the building back on a long-term lease to (the fire department).”

Weddington officials budgeted $50,000 in the 2012-13 budget for the fire department’s capital needs. All new expenditures for the project do not have to be worked out prior to the approval of the new budget, which must be completed by July 1.  Weddington has given the fire department $51,559 so far for upgrades to the sprinklers and water main systems and $5,300 for the tap-on fee, which comes from Union County Public Works for use of county water.

All payments made so far to the fire department are part of the $220,000, and both items already paid for will not have to be done again when renovating the main building.

“Basically this (roughly) $55,000 of the $197,000 will not have to be spent on the front building,” Hadley said.

Council will hold a public hearing for any interested residents to answer all questions and listen to concerns before signing an agreement for the renovations to the main building.  Town leaders will set a date for the meeting after receiving the estimate from the Providence VFD.

Seven-year-old Jane Richard (Above) lost her left leg and her 8-year-old brother, Martin, in the Boston Marathon bombing. Weddington High School will host a special dance event Monday, May 13, to benefit the family.

Seven-year-old Jane Richard was an avid Irish step dancer until the April 15 bombing took her left leg and left her in critical condition in a Massachusetts hospital. Jane’s 8-year-old brother, Martin, was killed in the bombing and her mom, Denise, also injured, remains in critical condition. Her father, Bill, was running in the marathon and was not injured.

The family’s story hit home for Weddington teacher Kevin McGee, whose daughter is an Irish step dancer and is about the same age as Jane. McGee talked to students in his global awareness class about doing something to help, and students stepped up to the plate to put a dent in the Richard family’s mounting medical bills of more than $1 million.

On Monday, May 13, the school will host Dance Out for Jane from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the school auditorium, 4901 Monroe Weddington Road. The event will feature dancers from Rince na h’Eirann School of Irish Dance, The Walsh Kelley School of Traditional Irish Dancing and several other dance schools throughout Union County and the Charlotte region. Tickets cost $5 and will be available at the door.

“We didn’t have to do this as a project. We’re doing it just because our class wanted to,” said Maddy Muhlsteff, the 16-year-old Weddington High School junior who’s helping organize the event. “All of us are pretty horrified that something that horrible will happen to a small child (and) all of us have been talking about wanting to help people in the accident.”

The class began organizing the event last Monday and, so far, things have fallen into place, Maddy said. The two Irish dance schools immediately agreed to help and the school is securing sponsorships from local businesses, she said.

Because the class feels this event is extremely important, the students have put  their global awareness studies on hold temporarily to focus on organizing and promoting the project. They’ve been making flyers, hanging posters, calling businesses to recruit sponsorships and making sure all aspects of the event fall into place.

Maddy said they’re learning just as much about being global citizens through reaching out to others in need even though they’ve set their textbooks aside.

“That’s probably the reason we’re getting it done faster and done so well; if we were doing a lot of schoolwork, we probably wouldn’t have as much motivation,” she said. “But we’re learning about (global awareness) in class” through organizing Dance Out for Jane, she added.

Planning the event goes beyond the classroom, Maddy said – it’s changing the students’ lives, as well.

“It’s putting all of us more in a good mood,” she said. “We’re so much happier now that we can help some way … we’re amazed that we can make a difference in someone’s life.”

Maddy said the school hopes to raise at least $30,000 through the event. Tickets cost $5 and the students will welcome any donations from event goers and area businesses who want to help. All proceeds go directly to the Richard Family Fund.

The school also is looking for sponsors to donate water and snacks for the dancers. For more information on the event or how to become a sponsor, call the school at 704-708-5530. Find more about the Richard Family Fund on the nonprofit’s website, www.RichardFamilyFund.org.

Cuthbertson senior Maurice Little posted the state’s fastest time in the 200-meter dash (21.44 seconds) this season.

Yet he’s been chasing it all season.

On March 7, during a Cuthbertson home meet against Monroe, Forest Hills and Piedmont, Little ran the 200-meter dash in a blistering 21.44 seconds, giving him his second individual win of the day after posting an 11.2 in the 100.

Little said the effort took even him by surprise.

“When I was going into that race, I was a little nervous because there were good athletes at that race,” recalled
Little. “As soon as I got to the blocks, my coach told me to keep my head down, and I kept my head down through the whole race.

“When I got to the finish line and I saw my time, I was just in shock to see it.”

It turns out that Little’s time was more valuable than just a single win. More than two months since that performance, Little’s time has yet to be topped by anyone in the state, according to athletic.net. In fact, it’s tied for the 16th-best time in the nation.

Cuthbertson coach Nicola Roark is a little less surprised. For her, Little’s success lies in his mechanics.

“An advantage for Maurice is he comes out of the blocks really, really well,” Roark said. “He’s a great starter, which is why he starts both of our relays, too. He’s really consistent, and he knows how to get out of those blocks.”

But Little, who has a scholarship offer from Mount Olive College, has had a difficult time matching that performance, which flies in the face of conventional track wisdom, which states that athletes typically improve as the season wears on. And with the Class 2A Western Regional meet taking place at North Stokes High on Saturday, May 11, the hope for Little is that he’s peaking when it matters most.

It’s a little baffling to Little that his best performance came in his first track meet of the spring.

“It felt a little backward for me,” said Little. “Usually I’ll run a slower time (at first), but I guess I just had a good day, and I just went out there and did my best.”

It helped, ironically, that he couldn’t work on that race during the winter season, when sprinters are limited to competing in the 100 and 300 meters. Little said that while the 300 wasn’t his favorite race, it’s helped him this spring as he’s typically running his fastest once he hits the 200-meter mark.

“In the 300, I basically started out at 50 percent, then I’d start building up at the 200 and I’d go full-out and just keep it going,” said Little, who added that his endurance has improved since training in the 300.
“I feel more prepared to go full-out (throughout the entire 200 meters this spring).”

But thus far, Little has been held back by injuries. He suffered a hamstring strain in the middle of the winter season. Just as he was feeling recovered, he injured his back while coming out of the blocks during one of the meets immediately following his season-opening performance. As a result, Little posted a time of 23.64. He’s steadily improved on that time since, however, recording efforts of 23.44, 22.97 and 22.54.

But the hamstring strain has persisted this spring, intermittently tightening up during races. It hasn’t been enough to scratch him from a meet, but it’s kept him from pushing to meet his mark. Instead, he’s opted to err on the side of caution with the postseason approaching.

“I’ve felt good for a couple of weeks,” said Little, who estimated that his hamstring feels about 95 percent healed. “At practice, after I do a couple of runs, my hamstring will start hurting a little bit, so I’ll sit out and ice it because I don’t want to hurt it for regionals.

“It’s been kind of hard for me because I like to go hard at every track meet. Now that I’m dealing with an injury, I have to go not too hard because I don’t want to tear anything, so I just try to maintain my speed. I still go hard sometimes, but not all the time.

But Little also said he understands the time for waiting to duplicate his early-season performance is past with regionals and, if he qualifies, next week’s Class 2A meet on the horizon.

Along with Little, the Cavs are taking a strong contingent of athletes to the regional meet and stand a chance at doing extremely well. On the boys team, Cuthbertson basketball standout Isiah Cureton has been a pleasant surprise as a new competitor in the triple jump. The 6-foot-4 Cureton has competed in four meets, with his best effort being 41 feet, 11.5 inches. However, Roark noted that Cureton has leaped 43-11 in recent practices, which would rank sixth in the state this season, according to athletic.net.

Cole Bernard has recorded four wins this season in the boys 800 meters and another in the 1,600, while Chris Duchateau has been one of the county’s top 400 runners all season. Danny Sodano also should give the Cavs a lift in the distance events.

In the girls meet, Roark is expecting strong performances from Mikaela Seibert (triple jump, long jump and 400), Nikolette Hurrinus (100, 200, 400), Liz Wood (pole vault), Tyneshia Walker (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles) and Morgan Carlson (high jump), among others.

“We’ve got them everywhere,” said Roark. “They’re really progressing to new heights. It’s unbelievable.”

None of the other Cavs have the opportunity that Little does, however, which is to finish the season the way he started: with the best performance in North Carolina. Ending on top is one thing, but starting, and staying, as the state’s best is a goal Little said is driving him.

For Little, it’s not a matter of boisterously professing his dominance, said Roark. Little isn’t the type to subscribe to the glitzy – he doesn’t wear golden spikes, as many famous sprinters do. With Little, there’s no chest-thumping or victory laps.

“Maurice works so hard, he’s fantastic,” said Roark, who described Little as “a pleaser.”

But if he can match, or top, his early season performance, Little will have made the perfect statement.

“I just give it all I’ve got on the track,” said Little. “Once it’s track day, I come out here to tell everybody, ‘I’m Maurice Little, and I’m about to show out for the Cuthbertson fans.’ That’s what I try to do every track meet. I want to go 100 percent for everybody.

“I feel like I’m ready. I’m just ready to compete with the other athletes (this) week. I’m going to try to go in there and get a good time down and try not to come out of the blocks slow, but come out fast and try to go through all the way.”

And that could be the best moment of all.