Honeycutt Resigns at Wilmington Hoggard

Wilmington Hoggard women's tennis coach Gwen Honeycutt has announced that she will be retiring as the head coach at the school effective immediately.   Honeycutt compiled a career record of 89-14 in her six seasons at the school.    She coached three state champions in her six years (Kaitlin Burns won in singles in 2006 and 2007, and Burns teamed with Maggie Dickens to win the doubles title in 2008).   Her teams advanced to at least the third round of the 4-A dual team state playoffs for five consecutive years from 2005 to 2009.   Her 2008 squad reached the eastern finals.   "Gwen Honeycutt is a class act as a coach and a person.   She made great sacrifices to coach the women's team at Hoggard for six years with never a complaint.   Her teams were always among the best in eastern North Carolina in tennis and in sportsmanship.   It has been a pleasure to know her," said North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association president Donald L. Clark.   Hoggard men's tennis coach Michael Bowen will be taking over the Hoggard women's tennis program in the fall of 2010.   Bowen has compiled a 61-11 record in four seasons as the men's tennis head coach at Hoggard, winning conference titles every year.   Hoggard reached the eastern finals in men's tennis in 2009 before falling to eventual state champion Raleigh Millbrook.   Top-seeded McKayla Zupan is one of five starters returning for the Hoggard women's team next fall.