Giddings the 3rd Lady Cyclone to Barton
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer
Determination is the signature of standout senior Community Christian School athlete Eulyssa Giddings.
Either a junior varsity or varsity performer in soccer and basketball for the Lady Cyclones since the sixth grade, Giddings will soon learn if that determination is genuine.
Before an assembly of high school students, friends, family members (including grandmother Evon Lathan) and coaches, Giddings signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her soccer career at Barton College.
The daughter of Stephanie Wiley and Maurice Giddings joins classmates Hailey Dail and Jordan London, who announced their decision to play at Barton last week. The CCS trio has been offered positions on a huge 35-player Lady Bulldogs roster.
“I’m excited but a little bit nervous,” the 18-year-old Giddings confessed during an interview that followed the ceremony. “But nerves, for me, turn into determination.”
Giddings doesn’t deny that competing for playing time on a 35-player roster tends to intimidate.
“But it will make you work harder to get better if you are willing to take that challenge,” she reasoned.
Giddings, who is again healthy after being sidelined for more than eight months with a torn ACL incurred during the 2014-15 basketball season, selected Barton over Louisburg College and Virginia Commonwealth University. The possessor of a 3.4 grade-point average, she plans to pursue a degree in biology and embark upon a career in physical therapy.
“When I went on Barton’s campus, I felt like I was home,” the 5-foot-4 Giddings explained her choice. “That was where God called me to be. I didn’t have a feeling like that anywhere else I visited.
“I feel great. It’s a decision that I prayed about long and hard. I’m just honored the coach (Thomas Goines) has given me an opportunity to play for him.”
Giddings is no stranger to all-conference acclaim in soccer and basketball and her soccer teams have thrived. The CCS jayvee team during her sixth-grade year went undefeated and unscored upon.
At the varsity level, the Lady Cyclones have won conference championships all but one year during Giddings’ stay. CCS has reached the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A quarterfinal or semifinals every year except 2015 with Giddings as a varsity member. The Lady Cyclones possess high hopes of emerging state champions in her final season.
Giddings, who has attended CCS since the fourth grade, became a varsity player midway her seventh-grade season, and played outside right back. She migrated toward the center of the field and now excels at stopper back. Because of her proficiency on penalty kicks, she has scored three goals this season.
“Overall, I’ve had a great career,” Giddings reviewed. “I left everything on the field or court and tried to come back better the next year.”
CCS head coach Rhine Sharp praised Giddings’ impact.
“She’s bounced back from that torn ACL and worked her tail off,” he said. “She has determination like nobody I have ever coached. She will have an opportunity to get on the field (at Barton); she knows what she’s got to work on.
“With her pure athleticism, speed and aggressive play, she is perfectly suited for the collegiate game. She’s going to get stronger and her skill set will get to the point it won’t be a hindrance. Eulyssa is an outstanding student and an outstanding athlete. But she’s a better person and a great Christian.”
After Dail and London signed, Sharp encouraged Goines to take a look at Giddings. Barton’s head coach came out, watched and offered Giddings a position on the team. Her goal is to become a scholarship player.
Said Sharp: “Coach Goines told me: ‘She’s got speed — and you can’t coach that. She’s got size — and you can’t coach that. She’s got determination — and you can’t coach that. He said the thing that sold him on Eulyssa was her leadership qualities — she was the most vocal player out there.”
Of freshman-season objectives, Giddings responded: “Play to the glory of God and do the best I can. Anything he needs, I’ll be there to work on and be the best I can be.”
Sharp expects Giddings to continue in the role of a defender and deems Barton an excellent fit.
“And she gets to play with two of her (CCS) teammates,” he pointed out. “That’s pretty cool.”
By Tom Ham
Senior Staff Writer
Determination is the signature of standout senior Community Christian School athlete Eulyssa Giddings.
Either a junior varsity or varsity performer in soccer and basketball for the Lady Cyclones since the sixth grade, Giddings will soon learn if that determination is genuine.
Before an assembly of high school students, friends, family members (including grandmother Evon Lathan) and coaches, Giddings signed a National Letter of Intent to continue her soccer career at Barton College.
The daughter of Stephanie Wiley and Maurice Giddings joins classmates Hailey Dail and Jordan London, who announced their decision to play at Barton last week. The CCS trio has been offered positions on a huge 35-player Lady Bulldogs roster.
“I’m excited but a little bit nervous,” the 18-year-old Giddings confessed during an interview that followed the ceremony. “But nerves, for me, turn into determination.”
Giddings doesn’t deny that competing for playing time on a 35-player roster tends to intimidate.
“But it will make you work harder to get better if you are willing to take that challenge,” she reasoned.
Giddings, who is again healthy after being sidelined for more than eight months with a torn ACL incurred during the 2014-15 basketball season, selected Barton over Louisburg College and Virginia Commonwealth University. The possessor of a 3.4 grade-point average, she plans to pursue a degree in biology and embark upon a career in physical therapy.
“When I went on Barton’s campus, I felt like I was home,” the 5-foot-4 Giddings explained her choice. “That was where God called me to be. I didn’t have a feeling like that anywhere else I visited.
“I feel great. It’s a decision that I prayed about long and hard. I’m just honored the coach (Thomas Goines) has given me an opportunity to play for him.”
Giddings is no stranger to all-conference acclaim in soccer and basketball and her soccer teams have thrived. The CCS jayvee team during her sixth-grade year went undefeated and unscored upon.
At the varsity level, the Lady Cyclones have won conference championships all but one year during Giddings’ stay. CCS has reached the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A quarterfinal or semifinals every year except 2015 with Giddings as a varsity member. The Lady Cyclones possess high hopes of emerging state champions in her final season.
Giddings, who has attended CCS since the fourth grade, became a varsity player midway her seventh-grade season, and played outside right back. She migrated toward the center of the field and now excels at stopper back. Because of her proficiency on penalty kicks, she has scored three goals this season.
“Overall, I’ve had a great career,” Giddings reviewed. “I left everything on the field or court and tried to come back better the next year.”
CCS head coach Rhine Sharp praised Giddings’ impact.
“She’s bounced back from that torn ACL and worked her tail off,” he said. “She has determination like nobody I have ever coached. She will have an opportunity to get on the field (at Barton); she knows what she’s got to work on.
“With her pure athleticism, speed and aggressive play, she is perfectly suited for the collegiate game. She’s going to get stronger and her skill set will get to the point it won’t be a hindrance. Eulyssa is an outstanding student and an outstanding athlete. But she’s a better person and a great Christian.”
After Dail and London signed, Sharp encouraged Goines to take a look at Giddings. Barton’s head coach came out, watched and offered Giddings a position on the team. Her goal is to become a scholarship player.
Said Sharp: “Coach Goines told me: ‘She’s got speed — and you can’t coach that. She’s got size — and you can’t coach that. She’s got determination — and you can’t coach that. He said the thing that sold him on Eulyssa was her leadership qualities — she was the most vocal player out there.”
Of freshman-season objectives, Giddings responded: “Play to the glory of God and do the best I can. Anything he needs, I’ll be there to work on and be the best I can be.”
Sharp expects Giddings to continue in the role of a defender and deems Barton an excellent fit.
“And she gets to play with two of her (CCS) teammates,” he pointed out. “That’s pretty cool.”
