Winston-Salem’s first indoor football team makes big announcement
By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle
Although the Winston Wildcats don’t officially begin play until 2016, the team had a very productive weekend.
The Wildcats is Winston-Salem’s first professional indoor football team and on Saturday, Oct. 17, the team held its first official open tryout. The tryout was open to anyone over age 18 who has already completed high school.
Less than 24 hours before the tryouts were scheduled to begin, the Wildcats announced that offensive lineman LaVance Ginyard would be joining the program. Ginyard is from Charlotte and is expected to play a big role in the Wildcats’ first season.
The news was announced on the Wildcats official Facebook page on Friday, Oct. 16. The post reads: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached contract terms with another player for the upcoming football camp and season.”
Ginyard is the eighth player to sign with the Wildcats since officials from the AIF League (American Indoor Football League) announced they would be joining the league in late June.
During the tryout, coaches evaluated Wildcat hopefuls while they completed drills that showed their speed, strength and overall knowledge of the game. The drills were similar to drills that NFL coaches use to evaluate college prospects.
The AIF League was started in 2005 and has teams in a number of major cities around the nation, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. The Wildcats will compete in the league’s Southern Division, which is the league’s largest division.
John Morris, CEO of the AIF League, said the team and the league will play a major role in the community and will continue to spread indoor football across the South.
The League is expected to add another team in North Carolina in the coming season.
“We feel that with this addition and with the previously announced teams, that the AIF blueprint for league success is further cemented,” said Morris. “We will play a major role in the community and will lead the way for indoor football in the region.”
The Wildcats will hold another open try out on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. Tryouts are held inside the D1 Sports Training Facility, 1901 Mooney St.
