The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK Women's Basketball Lands Star Senior Point Guard NC State women's basketball landed Jonesboro (Ga.) Lovejoy High senior point guard Genesis Bryant Sept. 9. ESPN HoopGurlz ranks the 5-8 Bryant as the No. 24 point guard and No. 83 overall player in the country. She named to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's first-team all-state squad in both 2018 and 2019 for AAAAAA. The Clayton News also named her their girls' basketball Player of the Year. Bryant helped Lovejoy High to a 29-4 record and an appearance in the state title game, where it fell 52-45 to Sugar Hill (Ga.) Lanier on March 9, 2019. She averaged 17.4 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game and was named the Region 4-AAAAAA Co-Player of the Year. She shot 41 percent on three-pointers and 84 percent at the free throw line. The Wolfpack is expected to have five remaining scholarships available for the class of 2020, following Bryant's commitment. The squad features five seniors this season for head coach Wes Moore. Geiger, who has coached at NC State since 1979, will be in- ducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame Dec. 17. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK Madison Hargrave Added To Gymnastics Staff NC State has added former North Carolina gym- nast Madison Hargrave as a volunteer assistant this season. Hargrave was a two-time All-EAGL performer at UNC, and was particu- larly strong on the v a u l t a n d f l o o r routine, ear ning all-league honors last year. The West- field, Ind., native was also named to the 2019 EAGL All-Scholastic squad and earned all-conference tournament four times. "I'm excited to add Madison as a volunteer coach to the NC State gymnastics staff," NCSU head coach Kim Landrus said. "As a recent gradu- ate, she will bring a wealth of high-level collegiate experience to the program. She will have an in- tegral role both in and out of the gym, including developing that polished look on floor exercise and balance beam. "Madison's passion for the sport and motivation to grow professionally spoke volumes through- out the interview process." NC State Baseball Hires Joey Holcomb NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent hired former UNCG assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Joey Holcomb Aug. 14. Holcomb spent the last seven seasons as an assistant coach, including the last four as a recruiting coordinator for the Spartans. "Coach Holcomb will be a welcomed addition to our program," Avent said. "He brings a proven track record from UNCG, where they recruited student athletes of high character and developed them into winners both on and off the field." Holcomb helped UNCG post some of its best numbers nationally in several offensive categories. The Spartans hit above .320 for three consecutive seasons (2016-18). "I am truly grateful for this opportunity to join the NC State baseball family," Holcomb said. "This program is viewed as one of the best in college baseball, and that is a testament to the hard work and leadership of Coach Avent and his staff. "I am extremely excited to learn from this staff and work with some of the best players across the country." Under Holcomb's guidance, the Spartans offense broke school records in batting average, hits, runs batted in, doubles, triples and on-base percentage. Longtime Coach Rollie Geiger Earns Hall Of Fame Induction Legendary NC State track and field and cross country coach Rollie Geiger will be in- ducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Coaches Hall of Fame Dec. 17. Geiger is one of six coaches who will be honored at the 2019 USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Grande Lakes Resort & Spa in Orlando, Fla. The USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame recognizes coaches who have brought great distinction to themselves, their institutions and to the sports of cross country and track and field. NC State's men's and women's cross country squads have combined to win 34 ACC team championships and 21 individual league titles since he joined the Wolfpack staff in 1979. Geiger turned the NC State women's cross country team over to Laurie Henes in 2006, but had coached his women's teams to 15 top-10 finishes at the AIAW or NCAA Champi- onships, and to national titles in 1979 and 1980. The women won seven consecutive ACC championships from 1987-93 and claimed 20 of 26 ACC titles from the time women's cross country was added as a championship sport in 1978 until Henes took over. The Wolfpack has won 15 ACC men's cross country team titles under Geiger's leadership, with the latest coming in 2011. His men's teams have earned 10 national top-10 finishes, including a third-place mark in 1999 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Geiger is a 28-time ACC Cross Country Coach of the Year and seven-time NCAA South- east Regional Coach of the Year honoree. After serving as distance coach for the track and field teams from 1979-84, Geiger was elevated to head coach in 1984. His men's track and field squads have won eight ACC team titles during his tenure. HARGRAVE