Sports

Iron Horse program matures, readies to climb mountaintop

Philip Simmons High School football coach Eric Bendig remembers the first football practice in 2017. The Iron Horses fielded only a junior varsity team that season as Bendig and crew poured a foundation for the future. “That first practice in 2017 was something that doesn’t really compare...

‘Strike The Stone’

#StrikeTheStone is a hashtag the Bishop England High School football team uses on its social media platforms. Bishops’ coach Logan Hall said the term originated with Jamey Chadwell, a former coach at Charleston Southern University who has been the head coach at Liberty University for the...

Pigskin Pick ’Em kicks off with start of college and high school football

Think you know football? Prove it. Compete against your neighbors and local business owners as you cheer on your favorite teams. Welcome to the 2025 Pigskin Pick ’Em Challenge, the friendliest (and most fun) competition in town. Each week, you’ll pick the winners and go head-to-head with...

Offshore fishing yields excitement and a beautiful sailfish bounty

For most of the summer, extreme heat and rough sea conditions have limited my offshore fishing. With Brody (the amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog) being 10 years old, I try to shelter him for tough fishing conditions. On Saturday, the offshore forecast was calm. So, my son...

Iron Horse cross country runners ready to defend state titles

There are some impressive numbers attached to the Philip Simmons High School cross country program as it begins its ninth year of competition. Josh Michael, who coaches both the boys’ and girls’ teams, reports that each squad has 40 runners. “That’s 80 runners, and our enrollment is...

BE girls’ tennis team driven, fueled by last year’s championship

If there were a Mount Rushmore of high school tennis coaches and great players in the Palmetto State, Kristin Fleming Arnold would be a sure lock for one of the four spots. Fleming Arnold is the coach of the ultra-successful Bishop England High School tennis program and has led both the...

Rediscovering a forgotten fishing lure

Sometimes, I get bored fishing a Z-Man Finesse TRD on a 1/10th-ounce NedLockZ jig. However, it is hard to stop using the lure because it consistently catches fish. So, the other day, I looked through my tackle box to find another lure to try. The only other soft plastic lure in my...

BE’s Quinn Mahoney to play at Campbell; DI basketball standout shines at tourney

Quinn Mahoney’s athletic ability and excellent work habits continue to pay dividends. Mahoney, Bishop England High School’s record-setting quarterback, recently committed to play for Campbell University, in Buies Creek, North Carolina. The university, with an enrollment of 5,000...

Local flounder population in decline

The other day, Brody, the amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog, asked me why we don’t catch flounder anymore. I explained that flounder populations in North Carolina and South Carolina are in decline, so there are fewer flounder available for us to catch. Then I added that if he...

Iron Horses stress player focus as gridiron practice gets underway

Eric Bendig built the Philip Simmons High School football team into a fine-tuned machine in just seven seasons. The coach led the Iron Horses to a 47-27 record, two region championships, and six playoff appearances. Not only that, Bendig has used a no-nonsense approach to build the program...