It has been 14 years since Scott Kooistra was wearing the Kelly green and white, but he's still bulldozing defensive linemen to this day.

Kooistra, who graduated from Cary High in 1999, signed with the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League this offseason. He started at offensive guard in the team's second preseason game and is fighting for a roster spot.

After playing his college days at N.C. State, Kooistra was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the NFL Draft in 2003 and spent the next seven seasons there. He was with the Baltimore Ravens but did not see action.

Kooistra has carved out a long career - by NFL standards - by being a back-up. He has started just once in 84 career games.

With Josh Adams, another Cary graduate, not being signed as an undrafted free agent by any NFL team, Kooistra is still the only active NFL player from a Tri-Nine Conference school.

There could be one more in two seasons, as Apex grad Sio Moore is considered one of the top 31 junior outside linebackers in the country by NFLDraftScout.com. Moore starts for the University of Connecticut.

Hepp returns to PC,will teach at school

Things have come full circle for L.J. Hepp.

The former Panther Creek boys basketball coach, who guided the team to a 28-3 record in just its third year, will come back to the school as a teacher at its alternative learning center.

In his three years at Panther Creek, Hepp led the Catamounts to a 44-28 record, two conference tournament titles and one conference regular-season title. In 2009, he left the school to be the director of basketball operations at the University of South Carolina.

After one year there, he accepted a job coaching a professional basketball team in Japan. He was fired from the club during his first year. According to Hepp, ownership blamed him for not retaining American players who quit the team following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of Japanese people.

Hepp said he does not plan on coaching basketball but will help athletics director Todd Schuler with various athletic department needs.

"It's a place I'm very comfortable," Hepp said. "And (my wife and I) love Cary."

Tenuta commits to Wolfpack

Matt Tenuta, a senior pitcher at Apex, has committed to play at N.C. State.

Last year was Tenuta's first at the school, as his family moved to the Triangle when his father John was hired as N.C. State's new linebackers coach.

When Tenuta enrolls next fall, he would be one of four Wolfpack pitchers who played in the Tri-Nine Conference. Athens Drive's Chris Williams, Lee County's Dillon Frye and Holly Springs' Carlos Rodon will begin their freshmen seasons this year.

Last week, Rodon decided to let the deadline to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers pass without signing a contract.

Apex wins first in Tri-Nine golf

Despite Athens Drive returning some of its top golfers from last year's team and Green Hope playing on its home course, it was another team that came away the victor in the season's first conference match last Thursday.

Apex, led by a 33 from Kat Jessick, scored a total of 110 (five-over) to defeat their conference opponents. Cari Albritton (36) and Maria Cassas (41) also shot low scores to contribute to the Cougars' win.

CA a semifinalist in tourney

Cary Academy hosted its annual "Play 4 the Cure" field hockey tournament Friday and Saturday - and the Chargers fared pretty well. Although rival Durham Academy came away as tournament champs, Cary Academy was a semifinalist in the championship bracket.

The Chargers lost to eventual runners-up Charlotte Providence Day in penalty strokes after a 1-1 tie.

Tyler Powell and Jacky Gordon were named to the all-tournament team.

Chargers tennis wins

Cary Academy's girl tennis team won the prestigious Florence Tennis Association girls tennis tournament last weekend in Florence, S.C. The Chargers met conference foe St. Mary's in the championship Sunday and won 6-0.

The 16-team field featured girls high school teams from North and South Carolina, but the Chargers had a familiar opponent in Sunday's championship. The Chargers also defeated three South Carolina schools to move to 5-0 on the season.

Fuquay residents join U.S. soccer program

Dean Rutherford of Fuquay-Varina High School and Conor Donovan of Cardinal Gibbons have been selected for the U.S. under-17 boys soccer National Residency Program and will be leaving for Bradenton, Fla., this week.

Both 15-year-old sophomores play for the 95 N.C. Alliance soccer club.

Rutherford and Donovan will live on the campus of IMG Academy along with 38 other under-17 players. They will train with U.S. coach Wilmer Cabrera in the mornings and attend classes at St. Stephens Episcopal School in the afternoon.

"They grew up playing in the Fuquay-Varina Athletic Association and benefitted from playing in the Triangle," said Henry Gutierrez, the N.C. Alliance coach. "They have been playing since they were very young and have had the opportunity to play against other great players."

Staff Writer Tim Stevens contributed to this report.