Sharks, Hammerheads, Sea Dogs and Seahawks are not animals. I repeat, not animals. They are some of the areas sports teams. The Sharks are our professional baseball team and they play in the Coastal Plain League, which is sanctioned by the NCAA and MLB. Games are kid friendly, so watch your p’s and q’s! Those Hammerheads won’t bite unless you mess with their soccer balls or their standing with the USL Pro. The Sea Dawgs are the new kids on the block. They play basketball in the Continental Basketball League, which gears up in late spring with games held on the CFCC campus. Also very kid friendly and they are known to be “free-wheeling” and exciting to watch. UNCW is home of the Seahawks. From men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams, to golf, cross country, tennis and volleyball, there is no shortage of great college level athletics. And you never know what rising star you can claim to have watched ‘back in the day’. Heck, Michael Jordon played High School ball at Laney High School. This area is home to Roman Gabriel (NFL), a native son. Willie Stargell (MLB) retired here and Althea Gibson (Grand Slam title 1956) went to Williston High School.

Want to be your own sport legend? There are boxing clubs, fitness centers, skateboard parks, golf courses, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds and other city amenities. You may need to reserve or rent some of these, like baseball diamonds and sporting fields of play and we all pay for a round of golf. Get your kids signed up for summer sports programs, or let them spend hours roller or ice skating (yes, we have ice here too). We even have a rowing club in Wilmington where you can rent a scull for a row or take lessons. Plenty of surfers hit Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher to ride the waves. Water skiers hit the Intracoastal Waterway and Cape Fear River. Swimmers, snorkelers and boogie boarders share space with the surfers and boaters here. Make sure to read all the signs posted at the beach or waterway. It is important to share the space carefully. Boats towing skiers should watch for wake signs and swimmers might avoid the surfer’s turf, and vice versa. The locals know the drill, so feel free to ask around. You might even hit an area sport store to get some equipment and good gossip on where to go for the sport you love.