CHARLOTTE — Students from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Charlotte competed in the second annual St. Jerome Book Battle April 25 at the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Fine Arts Center in Charlotte. The reading competition is unique to the Diocese of Charlotte and was established by the diocese’s Catholic Schools Office to promote truth, goodness and beauty through reading literature.
The day consisted of two competitions, one for fourth- and fifth-graders and another for middle school students, who have been reading from a set of 15 books each.
After several preliminary quiz bowl-like rounds of 12 questions each, the two teams with the highest scores competed against each other in a final championship round.
St. Gabriel School won the fourth- and fifth-grade competition in the championship rounds against St. Ann School. Holy Trinity Middle School won the middle school competition against Our Lady of the Assumption School.
Other Catholic schools in the competition included Our Lady of Grace, Our Lady of Mercy, Sacred Heart, St. Leo, St. Mark, St. Matthew and St. Patrick.
Sponsors of the competition included TAN Books, Good & True Media and Bright Wings: Children’s Books.
Brian and Kevin Gallagher of TAN Books spoke at the event and donated a set of books to the schools of the winning teams. Bright Wings: Children’s Books helped determine the selected books.
— Annie Ferguson
The 2024 Bishop McGuinness golf team took home the Northwest Piedmont Conference title on April 25 and finished second in the regional match May 7, qualifying them for the state competition. Pictured at the conference championship are (back row, left to right) Sam Sherrill, Jack-Jack Freeman, William Grissom, Burns Handy, Johnathon Riccobon, Cooper Hough, and (front row, left to right) Liam Wolschon and Miles Grabik.KERNERSVILLE — One may be the loneliest number, but it has certainly received a lot of attention for its integral role in Bishop McGuinness High School’s 2024 golf season.
On April 25, the Villains not only earned the No. 1 position in the Northwest Piedmont Conference, they did so by just one stroke – 347 to Cornerstone Charter Academy’s 348 – at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
And if that weren’t enough, just one day earlier junior William Grissom made a hole-in-one on the third hole of a nine-hole home match at Pine Knolls Golf Club in Kernersville, winning the match with a one under 35 score.
Coach Kaila Tuccio says she’s never seen a high school player accomplish this rare feat.
“It was really special for William. The team was so excited to congratulate him,” she says. “To me, that was the best part – seeing how excited they were for William, asking him to recap the hole, his thoughts before, during and afterward, what club he used, and how it happened.”
Tuccio credits the team’s success not only with skill on the course but also to the sense of camaraderie on display after Grissom’s hole-in-one.
“They love to support and cheer one another on. Having a strong sense of being a team and what that encompasses really sets them apart,” she says. “At the championship, the boys were cheering each other on as they each finished the 18 holes.”
Freshman Jack-Jack Freeman added two more No. 1 stats to the Bishop McGuinness season. After shooting a remarkable 77, he was the medalist for the conference championship and won the conference’s Player of the Year award. He finished the game with a birdie on the 18th hole. Freeman, Grissom and junior Sam Sherrill made the all-conference team.
“It’s been an incredible first season at Bishop McGuinness and winning Player of the Year was such an honor, but what I really love is being part of this team,” Freeman says. We push each other to be better, and that team golf mentality has been really fun.”
After three rain delays, the team took second place in a tough regional match May 7 in Elkin. Bishop McGuinness, one of 10 teams, shot a 337. Their results qualified them for the state competition to be held May 13-14 at 7 Lakes Golf Club near Pinehurst.
Tuccio says she loves coaching this group of young golfers.
“They have great sportsmanship and are respectful on and off the golf course,” she adds. “They always support each other and make it fun."
— Annie Ferguson. Photos by John Bunyea and provided.
Sam Sherrill, Jack-Jack Freeman, William Grissom, Burns Handy, Johnathon Riccobon and Cooper Hough celebrate their No. 1 position in the Northwest Piedmont Conference after their championship win April 25 at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
After three rain delays, the Bishop McGuinness golf team won second place in the regional match May 7 at Cedarbrook Country Club in Elkin.