GOLDSBORO, N.C. — The Eastern Wayne High School soccer program has two major reasons to celebrate as the Warriors prepare for their first home state playoff game in more than two decades.
Dick’s Sporting Goods has awarded Eastern Wayne High School an $8,000 grant to support its soccer program, providing much-needed funding for equipment and uniforms as the team celebrates one of its most successful seasons in years.
The grant will be officially recognized during a special check presentation on Monday, November 2, at 6:45 p.m. at the Eastern Wayne High School football field. Representatives from Dick’s Sporting Goods, including district leadership, will join local school system central office staff for the presentation.
The ceremony will take place just before Eastern Wayne hosts Southwest Edgecombe in the first round of the state soccer playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The playoff appearance marks a major milestone for the Warriors, who have not reached the postseason in more than a decade. It will also be the school’s first home playoff game since the early 2000s.
The excitement comes after a remarkable turnaround for the Eastern Wayne soccer program over the past three seasons.
When the current coach, Donta Lewis took over the program, the Warriors finished with a 1-17 record. The following season, Eastern Wayne improved to 5-11-3. This season, the Warriors have posted an impressive 11-5-1 record, demonstrating the program’s continued growth and determination.
While the team’s success on the field has been significant, the program has faced challenges with aging equipment and limited resources.
Some of the soccer goals currently used by the program are more than 20 years old, and the team has needed updated uniforms and other equipment.
The $8,000 grant from Dick’s Sporting Goods will help address those longstanding needs and provide student-athletes with improved resources as the program continues to develop.
The Eastern Wayne coach expressed appreciation for the company’s investment in the school’s athletes, emphasizing that the grant represents much more than financial assistance.
“This is bigger than new goals and uniforms. It is about building a program, creating opportunities, restoring pride, and showing our student-athletes what is possible when a community invests in them,” Coach Lewis said.
The coach also credited the team’s growth over the past three seasons as evidence of what can be accomplished through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to building a competitive program.
With a historic playoff appearance, a home postseason matchup, and a major investment in its future, Eastern Wayne soccer is celebrating a new chapter in Warriors athletics.
The community is invited to support the Warriors on Monday evening as they celebrate the grant presentation before taking the field against Southwest Edgecombe.
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