The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Sports

Related Photos

  • Cofield (Courtesy photo)

    Cofield.jpg
June 20, 2012

Cofield helps in Ethiopia with Duke linemen

Correspondent Van Holland

TARBORO — Tarboro native and current Duke Blue Devils offensive lineman Takoby Cofield and his Blue Devils linemen teammates traveled overseas to Ethiopia in May to help out and build up a village to help install wells to houses in a community. The trip was 10 days long.

It was different for Cofield all around, because he had never been out the country before.

While they were there they helped drill a freshwater well, volunteered at an orphanage and held a sports camp for kids.

There were a number of culture shocks along the way for some of the players.

The team had to adjust to a lot of different things, including the scale of poverty, the heat and the food.

While visiting orphanages and playing sports with kids in Ethiopia the main point of the trip was the well construction. That took place over two plus days, with the offensive linemen finishing one well and then starting another. The group of players finished a well that was close to the house where one woman lives with her five children. She had recently lost her husband.

The trip was to do the community service part and also for the linemen to bond as a team and be ready for the upcoming 2012 season. Whether or not that helped the unit remains to be seen, but they sure went through difficult decisions while in Ethiopia with all the different culture changes that they had to face and came out on top.

The trip was set up by lineman Dave Harding. He spent part of his child hood in Jordan. His grandparents worked as missionaries and his family use to take trips to Africa before Harding arrived at Duke. The segment of the Ethiopia trip was to purify the water and help others get water after digging wells.

According to the Blue Devils website, since the linemen's return to Durham, members of the group say they have enjoyed sharing their experiences in Ethiopia with other teammates and coaches. The offensive linemen also hope that the bonds they strengthened with one another during the course of the trip will be manifested in training camp during their summer work outs and on the field when they begin their 2012 season against FIU on September 1 at home.

Text Only
Sports
  • THS-Relay-Teams.jpg Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals

    Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.

    May 16, 2013 2 Photos

  • 10lb-Carp.jpg BIG FISH

    Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Trey-Radford.jpg Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars

    CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
    Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning.

    May 15, 2013 2 Photos

  • Cougars finish 7th in state golf match

    The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.

    May 15, 2013

  • Trey-Radford.jpg Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn

    BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.

    May 13, 2013 2 Photos

  • Reggie-Bess.jpg Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach

    The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • Glen-Sasser.jpg Tarboro native inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame

    Tarboro native and Tarboro High graduate Martin "Glenn" Sasser was inducted into The Greater Wilimington Sports Hall of Fame Sunday.
    Sasser was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams during his high school career. He was also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game in 1960 and then played in the East-West game in 1961.

    May 10, 2013 1 Photo

  • 16 under softball tryouts

    The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be holding tryouts for 16-under girls fast-pitch softball. The tryouts will takes place Monday and wednesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field three.

    May 10, 2013

  • Coach-Jenkins.jpg Lady Vikings ousted from playoffs by Pirates

    WENDELL – After beating teams handily all season, the Tarboro Lady Vikings had the rolls reversed against them Wednesday in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state playoffs. The Corinth Holders Lady Pirates controlled the ball the entire match and had a fast paced offense that seemed to be unstoppable. They knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs by beating them 9-0 in only 43 minutes of action.

    May 9, 2013 1 Photo

  • East-Coast-Celtics.jpg AAU BASKETBALL

    The East Coast Celtics 15-under AAU basketball team went undefeated in USBA Spring Shootout tournament in Durham April 5-7. The Celtics went 5-0 and this was the third tournament they won. They play May 17-19 in Fayetteville. The Celtics are a combination of players from Tarboro, Rocky Mount and Wilson. They will have a car wash in June in Tarboro and location is to be determined. Senior citizens 60-years of age or older will get their cars washed for free. If you are interested contact Coach Ryan Jones at 252-907-2893.

    May 9, 2013 1 Photo