I am a fan of wrestling like I never have been before. Sure when I was younger I liked Rick Flair, the Million Dollar Man, and Jimmy Superfly Snooka, but I’m not talking about that kind of Wrestling.  I’m talking about the Seahawks led by Coach Mike Newton. They provided the Seahawk faithful with a heart pounding, fist pumping ride all the way to the State Championship Match vs. East Side High School. They eventually lost the match, but gained a fan in me. Mike Newton has his boys ready to compete. More importantly, he emphasizes sportsmanship in a sport that is known for its’ brutishness.  Kudos to Mike and all of our Seahawk Wrestlers for an outstanding year. State AAA Runner UP!

On the Hardwood, Dave Greenberg and his crew were Region co-champs and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before bowing out to a very strong Darlington squad. Congratulations to Dave and the girls for a great season!

On Tuesday January 27, Hilton Head High School will honor it’s own State Champions Girl’s Tennis and Girl’s Cross Country with the presentation of their State Championship rings.  The ceremony will take place in between the girls and boys basketball game vs. Bluffton.  Also, we will honor the AAA State players of the year in Volleyball and Tennis, Carly Ledbetter and Brooke Ferry, with commemorative banners.  Come on out to the rivalry game and watch our Champions being crowned!

Coming Home week festivities were fun and colorful.  During the week, the Seahawks soared to victory in several key events.  The week got started right with a thrilling, intensity packed wrestling win at Bluffton High School.  The win set up the Seahawks with a chance to win the region at home at 7:00 Wednesday Jan. 28 vs. Battery Creek.   I’ll be there.  The girl’s Basketball Team made a statement in our region by knocking off North Charleston Sat. night and we crowned our Coming Home King-Chaz Perry.

Until next time,

Lew Kent

The Athletic Department at Hilton Head Island High School would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!  The Basketball Teams and the Wrestling Team will be up and going over the break.  The boys are hosting the Hilton Oceanfront Resort Classic for boys basketball on the 19th-21, and then head to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida for the Beach Blowout 26-28.  The Girls Basketball Team will be in two tournaments.  The Savannah Holiday Classic  19-21 and Lady Islanders Tournament 27-29.  Wrestling is in Chapel Hill, NC for the Tiger Classic from 20-23 and host the Seahawk Duals on the 29th and 30th.  The Seahawks Girl’s Basketball Team is of to a great start, and recently honored Samantha Aiken for scoring her 1,000 point.  Congratulations Samantha!!  See you all next year!!

Lew Kent

The afterglow of our Historic fall season is still with me as the transition into the winter season.  Indoor sports, hardwood, wrestling mats and jump shots are taking up most of my thoughts.  The wrestling team is hoping to build upon last years’ 2nd place finish in the State and the Basketball Teams have just begun their journey.  I wish them well and hope to see all of our fans out supporting our fine student athletes.  Just as the weather turns cold outside, the action inside is heats up!  See you at the game.  Lew Kent

It was at Sahuaro High School in Tucson Arizona in the Spring of 1982 when our Baseball Team won the State Championship. I’ll never forget that feeling of accomplishment and pure joy after we secured the last out.  We didn’t receive any special rings or trophies for our achievement.  We didn’t care.  We had the memories of all of the hours of BP and ground balls and conditioning, all of those hours spent with my Coach and my best friends working to get better.  The clutch hits, the laughter, the nicknames, that is what is burned into my heart and memory. 

This past weekend in Columbia, I witnessed our Seahawk Athletes experience their own Sate Championship feeling.  Girls Tennis, Girls Cross Country won State Titles and Boys Cross Country and Volleyball were State Runners Up.  As I was driving home after attending all of the days events, I couldn’t help but think of the faces of : Jack Felix straining to get up the hill, Brooke Ferry deep in concentration, Carly Ledbetter ready for a kill, Coach Wrightson like a kid at Christmas, Mike and Sally Manesiotis proud as peacocks.  Congratulations to all of our participants and their parents for an awesome day, but remember, the day was built on many previous days of hard work and determination, laughter and comraderie, and probably a few funny nicknames.  

Lew Kent

The Fall season is rapping up and it is great to be a Seahawk!

Volleyball is one win away from going to the State Championships.  Cross Country is at the Sand Hills Course on Saturday with a great shot at the State Title.  Tennis is headed to Lexington to defend their State Title on Friday and Saturday.  Football opens up their run to the State Title at home vs. South Aiken on Friday.  Congratulations to Volleyball, Cross Country, Tennis and Football on their 2008 Region VIII Championships.  Go Hawks!

I don’t know about you, but fall is my favorite time of year.  We have so many sports that are in season at the same time, it satisfies my hunger for competition.  Baseball Playoffs-Go Dodgers!, College and H.S Football, Hockey, and all of the fall sports that we offer here at HHIHS.  It is a smorgasbord of sports.  I like it when the weather cools down a bit, and you can go bike riding or running and not feel like atmosphere is pressing down upon you shoulders.  I also like it when you can open your windows at home at night, it saves on the light bill.  I hope you to see you all at Homecoming this week!  Lew Kent

  Even thought we are in the middle of Fall it is time to look ahead toward Winter Sports.  With that in mind, Greg Elliott is offering  a youth Basketball Camp.  For details contact Coach Elliott @ Greg.Elliott@beaufort.k12.sc.us .

We’ve had a great couple of weeks in and around the Nest with big wins in all of our Fall Sports.  The weather has turned cooler and there is electricity in the air surrounding our teams, as they drive for Region and State Championships .  I am somewhat sad that this MLB regular season has come to an end, and with it the end of Yankee Stadium.  I took my family there this past summer and I’m sure that it is a memory that they will never forget.  My Small Fry Baseball Team is off and running and my family is at full throttle.  I hope to see you at any one of our many events.  Lew Kent