Halftime ceremonies Sept. 22 at Kenan featured official presentations to winners of the Wells Fargo Cup for the 2011-12 academic year, symbolic of the best overall interscholastic sports program in the state: Kernersville Bishop McGuinness and Durham North Carolina School of Science and Math, who tied in the 1-A classification; Carrboro among 2-A schools; Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons in the 3-A classification; and Green Hope High School of Cary in the 4-A class.

In addition, the newest members of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame will be recognized.

The day marked the founding of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in 1913, a year after University of North Carolina professor Louis Round Wilson approached university president Francis P. Venable about starting a university Extension Division. UNC earmarked $200 for the beginning of a high school athletic association, which would help standardize regulations and ensure fairness. A university committee was to control the association’s operation, which was part of the Extension Division.

In June of 2010, the NCHSAA became an independent organization no longer affiliated with the university. (Much to the relief of UNC’s many collegiate rivals in the state.)

The Simon F. Terrell Building, which houses the Association offices, is located adjacent to Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill.

It was completed in 1978, and the new wing opened during the 1994-95 academic year.

The NCHSAA now has 390 member schools, divided into four classifications; it certifies the eligibility of well over 150,000 athletes annually and hosts championships in varied high school sports from baseball, basketball and football to men’s and women’s lacrosse

A check of the North Carolina and East Carolina rosters provided an example of NCHSAA student-athletes playing at the next level. More than 100 of the players at the two schools played high school football at a North Carolina High School Athletic Association member school.

Romar Morris of Salisbury, who has seen more extensive playing time with the injury to Tar Heel running back Gio Bernard, was the winner of the 2010-11 Pat Best Memorial Award, which goes to the top male and female athlete in the NCHSAA.