LOCAL ROUNDUP: Carolina Core FC adds Gregiore, Polanco
Jan. 23—HIGH POINT — Carolina Core FC has added in recent days a pair of players to its inaugural roster. The team will open play this spring at Truist Point.
The team has signed defender Cristian "Kiki" Gregoire and striker David Polanco.
Gregoire, who is 18 years old and from Michigan, joins the club after spending the previous season with the Barcelona Academy in Arizona. Gregoire is a notable addition, mainly for his composure on the ball and ability to make timely decisions while serving as a defensive leader.
Polanco, who is 24 years and from Florida, joins the club after spending the previous season with Barry University in Florida. Barry went 13-5-1 last season and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division II tournament.
Polanco totaled 25 goals and three assists in his career and was selected 2023 Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Year, SSC Tournament MVP, and South Region Player of the Year.
Polanco was also named to the Third-Team All-American in consecutive years (2022 and 2023) and comes to High Point with European and South American club soccer experience, as well as previously being a part of the U.S. Youth National Team setup.
CAROLINA CORE FC PARTNERS WITH DEUTERMAN LAW GROUP
HIGH POINT — Carolina Core FC, an independent club that will join MLS NEXT Pro in 2024, has partnered with the Deuterman Law Group, a leading North Carolina injury law firm, as a foundational sponsor.
The club is set to begin preseason training Jan. 29.
The multi-year agreement designates Deuterman Law Group as an official signature sponsor and the official law firm of the team. The law firm's name and logo will be prominently displayed on the backs of the Carolina Core FC's and CCFC Academy's training tops. These tops will be worn by the professional and youth players throughout training sessions and match warmups.
Deuterman, which has offices in Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Durham, will also be featured on the scoreboard and signage at the stadium.
ROCKERS SET GAME TIMES
HIGH POINT — The High Point Rockers have set game times for this upcoming baseball season.
Home games scheduled for Tuesday through Saturday will begin at 6:35 p.m. Sunday games will start at 4:05 p.m. These are the same times as the 2023 season.
The Rockers will host two day games this season — Wednesday, May 15, against Lexington at 11:05 a.m. for Education Day and Wednesday, July 10, against Lexington at 12:05 p.m. for Camp Day.
The Rockers are set to open the 2024 season at Lexington on Thursday, April 25. Their home opener will be Tuesday, April 30, against the Charleston Dirty Birds.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
WRESTLING
CENTRAL CAROLINA 1A/2A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
TYRO — Thomasville and East Davidson combined to have 19 wrestlers place in their weight class — including eight champions — to highlight the Central Carolina 1A/2A Conference wrestling championship Saturday West Davidson.
Thomasville's BJ Sivongxey (106 pounds), Angel Sanchez (113), Josue Gomez (126) and Taj Gabriel (215), as well as East's Christian Peace (120), Joseph Myers (150), Landon Hill (175) and Foster Warren (190) won weight-class titles.
Also placing in the top three were: Thomasville's Dontae Smith (132), Eriberto Torres (157) and Owen Callicutt (175), as well as East's Cameron Jollie (106) and Jayson Justus (second, 138) in second place; and Thomasville's Alexis Perez (144), Ramiro Gutierrez (165) and Elijah McNeair (190), as well as East's Nakii Brown (113), Jose Escobar (132) and Javier Martinez (285) in third place.
SWIMMING
AT GREENSBORO AQUATIC CENTER
GREENSBORO — Wesleyan Christian won 10 of 12 team matchups during last week's swim meet hosted by Greensboro Day at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
The Trojans beat Westchester Country Day 51-42, Caldwell 83-3, Grace Christian 66-24, Greensboro Day 59-35 and Cornerstone Charter 47-46 but lost against Calvary Day 55-39 on the boys side. They beat Caldwell 68-10, Calvary 49-41, Cornerstone 53-36, Grace Christian 68-12 and Westchester 72-17 but lost against Greensboro Day 57.50-32.50.
Westchester beat Grace Christian 51-26 and Caldwell 70-3 and tied Greensboro Day 46-46 but lost 51-42 against Wesleyan, 48-37 against Cornerstone and 55-37 against Calvary on the boys side. It beat Caldwell 48-13 but lost 77-12 against Greensboro Day, 74-14 against Calvary, 68-17 against Cornerstone, 72-17 against Wesleyan and 38-33 against Grace Christian.
Winning events were: Wesleyan's Colt Wallace (boys 200 freestyle, 2:11.14) and AK Gill (girls 50 freestyle, 26.19; girls 500 freestyle, 5:41.91), as well as Westchester's Ben Hunsberger (boys 50 freestyle, 22.52), Davis Williams (boys 500 freestyle, 5:37.23) and the boys 400 freestyle relay (Hunsberger, Lukas Stofferis, Ben Daniel, Williams; 3:50.53).
Placing in the top three were: Wesleyan's Katy Stevens (third — girls 200 IM, 2:32.52; second — girls 100 breaststroke, 1:19.09), Micah Willard (third — boys 200 IM, 2:31.24), Braeden Smith (second — boys 100 butterfly, 1:05.21; third — boys 100 backstroke, 1:06.77), Elle Gardner (second — girls 100 freestyle, 1:00.04), Molly King (third — girls 500 freestyle, 6:08.82), as well the girls 200 medley (third, 2:05.65), girls 200 freestyle (second, 1:52.82) and boys 400 freestyle (second, 3:55.61) relays;
Westchester's Stofferis (second — boys 200 freestyle, 2:20.19), Hunsberger (second — boys 500 freestyle, 5:47.10) and the boys 200 medley (third, 1:58.19) and girls 400 freestyle (third, 5:20.21) relays.
