The torrential downpour couldn’t drown their determination.
More than 100 children were drawn to Kinston High School Saturday morning for Quinton Coples’ football and basketball camp. When it started to rain, it didn’t stop youth from learning drills and scrimmaging on the football field.
For the second annual Quinton Coples Community Weekend, Coples decided the camp would be a positive addition.
“I wanted to do something besides just stand up and speak to (the kids),” he said. “We were out there in the rain and getting it in, so it was a blessing to see that they still had the same intensity they did before even with the rain. That was something that stood out to me.”
Coples, along with volunteers and Kinston High coaches, led drills on a soggy football field. The football camp was broken into an offense and defensive period before a 7-on-7 scrimmage. The basketball camp participants also played elimination games after dribbling and layup drills.
Dozens of volunteers helped man the camp. The activity was available to those who registered by 10 a.m. Saturday, bringing families down from as far as Raleigh and Greenville.
After running through football camp, Zadeie White, 10, learned to “always stick to your man no matter what.”
“(I liked) that we got to do mostly everything we wanted to,” said White, who also plays basketball. “We came out here and had fun.”
Daryl Campbell, a volunteer who worked the football camp, said the activity was important because it gives back to the children.
“This is somebody who actually grew up here and they found a way to make it,” he said. “That gets a child to go and strive for big goals that they have in athletics and sports, any sport.”
Coples hoped the impact would encourage youth to work hard towards their goals.
“(The camp) gives kids an opportunity to see that their dreams can come true,” he said. “They can actually get out here, work hard and accomplish their goals in life.”
He said the camp will continue each year, annually adding a new “twist” that will impact the youth.
“It was a great turnout,” Coples said. “At the end of the day, these kids had fun. They enjoyed each and every drill that they did. It was a lot of positive feedback, so it was a great time and great event.
“I enjoyed it a lot.”
The weekend continued at Kinston High with a pair of basketball games Saturday night. It wraps up today with a community cookout at Southeast Elementary School.
“It was a great turnout,” Coples said of the camps. “My whole goal is to make sure that I at least impact one person each year.”
Free Press Photographer Zach Frailey contributed to this report. Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.r