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Monday, May 03, 2010 10:20 AM The voters have spoken Hesmer, Deans, '04 Warriors win Best of Decade By Paul Durham | Sports Editor With an astonishing total of 131,521 votes cast, the voters have spoken and the results are final in The Wilson Times/Thomas Drug Store Best of the Decade contest. The search for the Player, Coach and Team of the Decade turned into a dramatic finish in two of the categories just as the voting results were taken out of public view at www.wilsontimes.com at midnight Wednesday. Former Hunt High three-sport star and current professional soccer player William Hesmer produced the largest vote total with 35,280 for a whopping 55.24 percent of the votes in the category. Hesmer, the 2000 Wilson Daily Times Athlete of the Year, gained more than 30,000 of those votes in the final 48 hours of the contest. He vaulted from third place to easily dominate fellow former Warrior Allen Corbett (6,335 votes) and former Fike multi-sport star Tramicka James (5,110). The Player of the Decade balloting brought the strongest turnout with 63,866 votes cast for 30 candidates. The Coach of the Decade had a similar late surge as Wilson Christian Academy volleyball coach Malcolm Deans obliterated what had been a back-and-forth race between Hunt football Randy Raper and Fike distance running coach Tom Griffith. Deans moved into third position early last week then shot to the front with heavy support Thursday afternoon. Deans finished with 22,960 votes to garner 42.58 percent of the total 53,918 votes cast. Raper was second with 10,155 votes (18.83 percent) with Griffith third with 8,745 (16.22 percent). Finally, in the Team of the Decade voting, the 2004 Hunt football team took a very early lead and maintained it throughout to handily outpoint the 2002 Fike football team. The '04 Warriors picked up 6,601 votes or 48.05 percent of the 13,737 cast in the category. The '02 Fike football team, a state runner-up like the Warriors, got 2,355 (17.17 percent) while the 2005-06 Beddingfield girls basketball, which won the state 3-A title in unbeaten fashion, was third with 1,866 votes (13.58 percent). Each winner will receive a plaque from The Wilson Times and contest sponsor Thomas Drug Store proclaiming their accomplishment. Each will be the topic of a feature story in the Times later this week. Determining the best player, coach or team of any particular era is a highly subjective task. There rarely is a consensus decision reached and the debate could run infinitely. Each candidate that appeared on the Best of the Decade ballot was deserving or his, her or their spot.
So for that, we say congratulations not only to Hesmer, Deans and the '04 Warriors but also to the voters, who made this contest a resounding success. Now, did you ever wonder who might be Wilson's greatest athlete ever...? paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808 Features |
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Really? said...
Winning six straight state titles at any level...whether it be private or public school...is astonishing. If it were so easy, why isn't being done everywhere? Please do not belittle a great coach (or WCA) because he chooses to teach his craft at a private school.
Friday, May 07, 2010 at 2:54 AM
TO: i dont know about that said...Winning six straight state titles at any level...whether it be private or public school...is astonishing. If it were so easy, why isn't being done everywhere? Please do not belittle a great coach (or WCA) because he chooses to teach his craft at a private school.
Friday, May 07, 2010 at 2:54 AM
Have you ever played in a game against one of Coach Deans teams? Have you even seen one of Coach Deans teams play? Regardless of how big or small a school may be or whether it's public or private, 7 straight State Championships in ANY sport is phenomenal. An accomplishment of that magnitude speaks to the strength of the program and the coach who developed that program.
Friday, May 07, 2010 at 12:06 AM
its private school girls volleyball. how hard can it be
Wednesday, May 05, 2010 at 11:50 PM
There were some great coaches among the list of nominees; several who would have made great choices. Of the three categories, this one made the most sense. What Coach Deans has done at WCA is remarkable! Over the last decade, he has been the best. Congratulations Malcolm!
Monday, May 03, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Way to go Coach Deans!!! Well deserved!! Very proud to have you @ WCA!!
Monday, May 03, 2010 at 2:54 PM
