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North Carolina Sports Awards Event Overview

Aug 7, 2024

North Carolina Sports Network Inaugural Event Summary

Hosted by Mike Wadell and David Glenn

Overview

  • Launched over a year ago, NCSN has produced over 1,200 pieces of original content, hosted two dozen live events, and built a subscriber base of 12,000+ on YouTube.
  • Created the North Carolina Sports Awards named “The Pinies” to celebrate excellence in North Carolina sports.
  • The event covered Team of the Year, Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, Event of the Year, and Moment of the Year.
  • Acknowledged foundational support from the North Carolina Pork Council, contributing $10 billion annually to the state economy and 44,000 jobs.

Achievements

  • YouTube Success: Gained over 10,000 subscribers in three months, now past 12,000, ranking in the top 2% globally.
  • Social Media: Twitter account ranks in the top 1% globally; expanded social media presence.

Year in Review

  • Sports Highlights in 2023-24: Significant achievements across high school, college, and professional sports in North Carolina.
  • Notable Athletes: NC State's Payton Wilson, UNC's RJ Davis, Wake Forest's Chase Burns, Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho, Charlotte Hornets' Brandon Miller, NASCAR's William Byron, North Carolina Courage’s Caroline Suris, golfer Bryson DeChambeau, and rising golf star Akshay Bhatia.

Key Awards and Recipients

Athlete of the Year: Payton Wilson (NC State)

  • Won the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award, highlighting his excellence as a linebacker.
  • Contributed to NC State’s football success, now in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Team of the Year: NC State Men’s Basketball

  • Won the ACC title for the first time since 1987 and reached the Final Four, beating both Duke and UNC.
  • Coach Kevin Keats and players DJ Burns, Michael O’Connell, and DJ Horne highlighted.

Moment of the Year: Michael O’Connell’s Buzzer-Beater

  • Key three-pointer in the ACC tournament semi-finals against Virginia, leading to NC State’s eventual ACC Championship and Final Four appearance.

Event of the Year: Ally Tip-Off in Charlotte

  • Featured women’s basketball teams Iowa and Virginia Tech, drawing more than 15,000 fans, the highest-attended regular-season women’s event in NC history.
  • Upcoming double-header announced with Iowa vs. Virginia Tech and South Carolina vs. NC State.

Coach of the Year: Erin Matson (UNC Field Hockey)

  • Led UNC to ACC Championship and NCAA title in her first year as head coach at age 23.
  • Previously a four-time national champion and three-time National Player of the Year as a player.

Sponsors and Partners

  • Lawson Insurance Group: Expertise in insurance services, family-owned, community-oriented.
  • EXL Moving and Storage: Award-winning moving services in NC.
  • Sport Clips: Extensive locations, support in various sports events.
  • Organize for Success: Helps businesses and individuals manage time and objectives effectively.
  • Jimmy’s Bar and King Neptune Restaurant: Popular destinations in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
  • The Oak Scratch Kitchen and Bourbon Bar: Renowned establishment in Raleigh.
  • The Original Salt Works: Iconic diner in Wilmington.
  • Michael Borard at Stifel: Financial services and investment planning.

Conclusion

  • Looking forward to another exciting year of sports in North Carolina with continued coverage and engagement across platforms.
  • Special thanks to all partners, sponsors, and the dedicated team behind NCSN.

Full transcript