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Twin brothers Ethan and Eian Hines signed letters of intent Friday to continue their track and field careers next season at Mt. Olive College.
“This is really a blessing,” said Cedric Mathis, their track coach at East Bladen. “It’s the NCAA. We have gone to a lot of places, but these are the first track athletes that we have sent to an NCAA school.” The Hines brothers are believed to be the first Bladen County student-athletes to earn a track scholarship.
Eian and Ethan compiled exceptional athletic careers at East Bladen. Ethan rushed for 1,913 yards and 24 touchdowns to lead the Eagles into the third round of the football play-offs. Eian was the leading scorer on the Eagle basketball team with a 17 point-per-game average.
The twins were shown interest by North Carolina, N. C. State, UNC-Pembroke, Fayetteville State, Appalachian State and North Carolina A&T. Benedict College in Columbia, SC was very interested in Ethan as a football player.
But separation by sport or by school was not in the twins’ plans. “They wanted to stay together, and we are happy with their decision,” said their father, Eric Hines. “It is a perfect fit for them. They really liked the track program, and the academics.” Eian plans to major in graphic design, while Ethan is undecided at this time.
Mt. Olive won the Division II Conference Carolinas track and field championship last year. The Trojan coaches have indicated that the Hines brothers would continue to compete in familiar events – the long jump, relays and possibly the 100 Meter Dash.
Eian just missed a 2017 state championship by ¾ of an inch in the long jump, and both Ethan and Eian were members of East Bladen’s 4X100 Meter Relay team that finished third in the state meet. Ethan was second in the Mid-East Regional 100 Meter Dash and Eian was third.
Gwen Hines, the twins’ mother, said, “It was their choice but I am pleased with their decision. Mt. Olive is close enough that they can come home on the weekend if they want to.”
East Bladen Principal Jason Wray said, “These young men came here as good athletes but are leaving here as great athletes. They stayed humble; they did the classwork. They had a great work ethic, commitment and focus.”
Wray also lauded the twins as examples to their peers, “These two young men are someone to look up to. We’ve had a few college signings in the two years that I have been here, but these are the first African-Americans – they won’t be the last.”
“I think we will be happy at Mt. Olive,” said Eian. “We really like the program.”
“We wanted to go together,” said Ethan. “We can’t wait to get started.”
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