Walton to succeed Lane as Augusta Christian's coach

When Forrest Wimberly suggested to his Augusta Prep girls soccer team that they could wear pink jerseys for their home opener, he said they were ecstatic.

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The Cavaliers girls will play host to Augusta Christian on Tuesday for an event Augusta Prep officials are calling Cavaliers Kick Cancer. The match will be the first-ever official meeting between the schools. The Cavaliers and Lions scrimmaged before last season.

"That's going to be a neat thing, to have another local opponent other than just Westminster," Wimberly said.

Wimberly's team will wear pink jerseys to highlight the American Cancer Society and its breast cancer awareness programs. American Cancer Society brochures will be included in the programs.

The event was initially designed to raise awareness, not funds. But Prep officials decided to waive admission and instead accept donations on behalf of the American Cancer Society. Wimberly said the purpose of the event would be to spark conversation and let people know about the American Cancer Society's programs available in the area.

"I didn't even know all the neat programs they offer in our community," said Wimberly. "It's just neat to get these conversations started. It's working already."

Wimberly said the idea came from a conversation with a fellow coach who saw the same thing done at Irmo High School in Columbia. The team wore pink jerseys on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

"I said, 'Wow, that's a great idea,'" Wimberly said. "Everybody was on board with it."

Walton moves up to replace Lane

Augusta Christian wasted little time finding a replacement for departing football coach Bruce Lane.

Keith Walton, an assistant to Lane for seven years and the Lions' girls basketball coach, was named last week as the Lions' next football coach.

"My recommendation was that the school hire Keith as the head football coach," Lane said. "As far as how much that went into the final decision, certainly Keith stands on his own merit. He had my 100 percent support."

Walton served as the Lions strength coach and coached the offensive line in addition to his title as assistant head coach.

"He has a great rapport with kids," Lane said. "He knows his football. He is certainly very deserving of this opportunity."

Lane said he thought the school's board was making progress with its search for an athletic director, a position Lane will hold until the end of the year.

Also, Augusta Christian baseball coach Craig Johnson, who led the Lions to three consecutive SCISA Class AAA titles will depart after the season.