Athletics and Richmond County are no stranger to one another. If you meet someone who has never visited our community, but is familiar with it, chances are stock car racing or the Richmond Raiders are responsible. While racing is currently a shadow of what it once was in Richmond County, high school sports are bigger than ever.
Youth sports have almost become an obsession in our county. Scholastic sports at all levels, travel ball, little league, and even country club sports are all steadily increasing in both quality and prestige. The rising interest by athletes, families and fans combined with the growing culture of connectivity via social media creates opportunities to shine a spotlight on youth sports like never before.
In the midst of those promoting these young athletes is Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy teacher and Richmond Observer sports editor Kyle Pillar. When it comes to the athletic programs within the Richmond County School system, Pillar’s commitment to complete coverage of all sports is unparalleled.
“I definitely admire Kyle’s dedication to covering all sports in Richmond County,” said fellow Richmond County educator Mica Way. “He really goes out of his way to try to make sure that each team is covered, from middle school to high school.”
Pillar’s efforts aren’t limited to simply writing post-game reviews and highlighting exceptional in-game accomplishments, but he has become a recognizable and welcomed presence at every field, court and gym in the county. He is accepted by every fan base and may as well be included on every roster. He’s just part of the team at this point.
Because of his personal connection with the players, coaches and parents, his writing provides a more in-depth look at each event as well as the impact that the accomplishments and shortcomings are having on these young men and women.
“His passion for sports and this community radiates through his writing,” said Jordyn Pillar, his wife. “He cherishes the relationships he has with the athletes and their families by following their journeys through school and after graduation.”
Pillar graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (located northeast of Pittsburgh) in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications Media and Journalism. He spent several months as a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in 2014 and 2015 covering high school sports.
After moving to Richmond County in Jan. 2015, he coached baseball and cross country at Ellerbe Middle School. When the Richmond Observer went live in 2017, he used his education and experience to evolve the relationship between media and team into something truly special.
Nearly every single Richmond Senior High School and middle school athletic program (more than 50 annually) gets some attention from Pillar. This can come at a great cost as he sacrifices his time and freedom in order to shine a positive light on each and every team in the county.
“Kyle has brought much needed coverage for Richmond County athletics,” explained Danny Lampley. “He goes above and beyond missing out on personal vacations, time away from wife and family, and his own hobbies to make sure we are covered properly and carries himself in a professional manner. We are truly lucky to have him in our community.”
Pillar’s above-and-beyond efforts include driving more than two hours to cover a softball scrimmage, getting locked into Purnell Swett High School’s campus while working on a football write-up in his truck, writing stories for as many as six different games in one evening, and posting more than 1,000 articles in less than two years. To put that into perspective, he is averaging almost two stories per day over the last 22 months.
The athlete of the week, letter of intent and academic award features all highlight the success of Richmond Senior High School athletes in sports as well as in the classroom. It would be challenging to find another sports writer in the state of North Carolina who works so diligently to provide complete coverage of junior varsity and middle school sports. He has also become one of Richmond County’s biggest sports fans who is often caught clapping and cheering on area teams.
“Kyle works so hard and absolutely loves what he does,” Jordyn Pillar closed. “Whether he is on the Raiders’ football sideline or in the dugout, he always has a smile. I love to watch him follow his dream.”
