Thursday afternoon at Newsome fields, Randy Wrenn and Jeane Newsome the widow of coach Mike Newsome presented the 1st Annual "Team Mike" Coach Mike Newsome scholarships to three area high school seniors.
The late coach Mike Newsome, who devoted so much of himself to the youth of the Roanoke Valley for nearly 50 years as a coach passed away January 16th 2015 at the age of 67. Friends came together to form "Team Mike" and find ways to honor the late coach Newsome and keep his memories alive.
So starting this year it was decided to award a scholarship in his name to three area senior athlete students from high schools where coach Newsome coached.
Newsome coached the Varsity softball team at Halifax Academy for five seasons (99 - 03) with a NCISSA 1A State Championship. Newsome started and coached the Varsity softball team at KIPP High for four season (11-14) with a 1A Tar Roanoke Conference championship and conference coach of the year in 2013. Newsome coached the Varsity Roanoke Rapids Women's basketball team for one season (04 - 05) before a Heart attack sidelined him.
2016 Halifax Academy senior Brooke Robertson has been named as the 1st Annual Halifax Academy "Team Mike" Coach Mike Newsome scholarship award winner. Halifax Academy current head softball coach Steve Hamill stated, "Brooke is very deserving of this award. She is a hard worker with a good personality. Robertson on her receiving this award stated, " I am honored to be chosen as one of the three winners for the Mike Newsome scholarship. To get a scholarship in memory of Mike Newsome was pretty cool. If you knew him he was one of the kindest individual I've known. He loved softball and loved the kids even more. He always encouraged me and I will forever remember that." Robertson will be attending Campbell University in the fall.
2016 KIPP High senior Latajah (Tay) Jones has been named as the 1st Annual KIPP High "Team Mike" Coach Mike Newsome scholarship award winner. Current KIPP High softball coach David Cieslinski stated, "As coach Newsome was Tays favorite coach, I know she is estatic. This scholarship will help Ms Jones get that college education she has been working towards her whole hs career. Very proud that Tay can further her college studies." Jones on her receiving this award stated, " I am honored as are my parents are and we want to thank Randy Wrenn and Team Mike for this award. Coach was always special to my family," Jones will be attending Louisburg College in the Fall.
2016 Roanoke Rapids High senior Jordan Carpenter has been named as the 1st Annual Roanoke Rapids High "Team Mike" Coach Mike Newsome scholarship award winner. Current Roanoke Rapids women's basketball coach Jim Whitmire stated, " She is a leader on the court and off the court. She exemplifies all the traits any coach would want in a student athlete, student, friend and daughter. Coach Newsome meant a great deal to the youth of the Roanoke Rapids area. He was also very instrumental in my decision to take the coaching job at the school. No better way to honor the memory of Coach Newsome but assist the future of one of the best products of his influence. I am very proud of Jordan and have been honored to have coached her and watched her develop into a fine young lady. I am sure this award will be returned ten fold in the form of how she will pay it forward." Carpenter on her receiving this award stated, "I feel very honored to receive this award that was created in Coach Newsome 's memory. He had a love for the game and a love for life and I was fortunate to have known him and had the opportunity to play for him." Carpenter will be attending ECU this Fall.
"Team Mike" organizer Randy Wrenn stated, "This scholarship award is just another way to honor the Late coach and also honor several senior athletes and schools Mike was part of for years. Coach was always willing to give his time to the kids in the Roanoke Valley. I guess that is part where I get my drive because all the kids need to have fun and smile. Thanks to all the help in these fundraiser for "Team Mike", with a special thanks to supporters in every event (Davis Body Shop, Discount Tire of Roanoke Rapids, TD Sports, Lynch's Signs and Graphics, 1800Flagpole.com, Roanoke Cinemas, Today's Electronics, Clary's Speedway, Roanoke Rapids Parks and Recreation and the Northampton County Wellness Complex).
Coach Newsome's widow Jeane stated, "I want to thank Randy Wrenn and those that helped him with the fund raiser events in Mike's memory. It was very nice to be asked to participate in the presentation of the scholarships to these three young ladies. Mike would be so happy to see this. He loved all of "his girls".
