1. Indians are no more at NC

Newberry College ended its lengthy battle with the NCAA in May when it officially dropped Indians as its nickname.

The decision ended a three-year battle with the NCAA after the governing body of college athletics put Newberry College on a watch list with 18 other colleges and universities for using nicknames that were “abusive and hostile” towards Native Americans.

The college officially dropped Indians as its mascot following the conclusion of the Spring sports season.

The college had to change logos, including the arrowhead that was prominantly displayed on uniforms and the floor of Eleazar Arena.

The college also had to paint over parts of the billboard that sits outside of Setzler Field.

Had the college chosen not to change its nickname, it would not have been eligible to host any postseason events, including NCAA tournament games.

The college is currently in the process of finding a new nickname and has formed a committee to gauge input from the community and alumni.

Athletic teams are currently without a nickname.

2. Tragedies strike Newberry College

This has been a year of tragedy at Newberry College.

All-American offensive lineman Heath Benedict died suddenly at his family’s Jacksonville, Fla. home of anapparent enlarged heart.

Benedict earned multiple South Atlantic Conference honors and was named the Senior Bowl.

Benedict was projected by many NFL Draft experts as a first-day selection, possibly even high as the second round.

In September, former Newberry College football player John Newell died, and just this week, Newberry women’s basketball player Keena Phillips was killed while coming home from Christmas break.

Newberry College Athletic Director Andy Carter’s young son passed away unexpectedly.

3. A wild softball season

Mid-Carolina had two chances to win Region III-2A, but lost its home finale against Batesburg-Leesville, and lost a walk-off heartbreaker a few nights later at Newberry.

The Rebels were one out away from winning the region that night, but Whitney Clary’s double forced an improbable four-way tie for the Region III-2A championship.

A couple of days after that dramatic victory, the Bulldogs completed their improbable run to a region championship when Larissa Shannon drove in the only run of a 1-0 victory against Saluda.

4. M-C loses coaching icon

Newberry County lost a sports icon when former Mid-Carolina football coach Lon Armstrong passed away in April.

Armstrong coached the Rebels for much of the 70s and 80s and led the team to a state championship in 1985.

He was also the head coach of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team in 1988.

Armstrong was known to sit in the press box during games, but was possbibly best known by many of the younger members of the community as the nice man that mowed the grounds at Mid-Carolina High School — including the football stadium that was named after him

5. Rebels knock off ‘Dogs 21-7, Newberry misses playoffs

The Mid-Carolina football team knocked off Newberry 21-7 for its second consecutive victory against its rival.

The loss ended Newberry’s season at 3-7 — its first non-playoff season since dropping down to 2-A.

Newberry got on board with a halfback pass on the first play of the game, but had trouble containing the Rebels’ double-wing running game.

The Rebels advanced to the second round of the playoffs

6. NHS girls win region title

Much like the Newberry girls’ softball team, the Bulldogs’ basketball team had an bumpy road towards a Region III-2A championship.

The ‘Dogs dropped their first two region games, but won the rest of them, including a come-from-behind victory at Emerald.

The Vikings led by double-digits at the end of the third quarter, prompting NHS coach Ronney Hunter to tell his girls that Emerald was the better team.

The Bulldogs proved their coach wrong, by rallying for the win, and by knocking off Emerald in the region championship game a week later.

7. Boyd, Maybin win state titles

NHS High track runners Jatavius Boyd and Miles Wilson predicted they would finish 1-2 in the 800-meter run at the 2-A state track meet and did just that.

Boyd finished first, followed by Wilson. Both are juniors and expect to again contend for the title.

Newberry’s Delkira Maybin won her second consecutive state title in the 200-meter dash and finished second in the 100-meters.

8. Newberry hoops rally for second

The Newberry High School boys’ basketball team didn’t win another region title, but it did end its season on a high-note.

The ‘Dogs wrapped up second-place in Region III-2A with an overtime victory against Batesburg-Leesville, and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. Newberry was eventually ousted for the second year in a row by Southside. The Bulldogs returned much of that team this season.

9. Ups and downs for Rebels’ baseball team

The Mid-Carolina baseball season was one of highs and unbelievable lows.

One of the highs was a blowout victory against Batesburg-Leesville and future University of South Carolina pitcher James Rawls. Another was a one-hit gem by pitcher Cody Page in a victory against Ninety Six.

But Page had his season end way too soon when he was injured in a boating accident late in the regular season. The junior pitcher did not return for the remainder of the season. The Rebels finished second in Region III-2A and were eliminated in the district playoffs.

10. Post 24 and NC field dispute

A disagreement this summer between Newberry College and the American Legion Post 24 baseball team prevented it from playing its home games at the new Smith Road Complex. An ugly dispute about rental fees and handshake agreements ended with the post playing its home games at Newberry High School.