John Smist
Sports Anchor/Reporter
Wilmington, NC
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John joined the WECT sports team in January of 2010 after spending the past six years in Bangor, Maine. He is no stranger to the South, he has worked in Dalton, Georgia and Meridian, Mississippi, and excited to be away from the snow and cold of Maine.
John graduated from Syracuse University in 2000 and is a diehard Orange Basketball, Football, and Lacrosse fan. Over the years he has covered hundreds of sporting events, but his trip to Phoenix, Arizona for Super Bowl 42 to cover the Patriots and Giants has to be his favorite. When John is not working you will find him on the golf course trying to improve his game.
If you have a story idea or event please feel free to email him at jsmist@wect.com
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There is a new voice on the bench for the Cape Fear Community College women’s basketball team.
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Elementary school students in New Hanover County will return to full-time, in-person learning on March 8 following a majority vote by the New Hanover County Board of Education this week.
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The announcement of North Carolina moving into Group 3 of COVID-19 vaccinations didn’t come as a shock to New Hanover County assistant health director Carla Turner.
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High School football teams across the state held their first official practices on Monday.
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When it comes to watching Super Bowl 55, Connor Barth can’t lose.
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A large sum of much-needed money is coming to North Carolina to fight the opioid epidemic.
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February 3rd is national girls and women in sports day, an opportunity to recognize women’s contribution to sports.
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Pender County ranks 98th out of 100 counties in total number of vaccinations per capita received since mid-December.
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Monday marked the first day for the partnership of Novant Health and New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
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The UNCW Athletic Department is doing everything it can to keep student athletes and coaches safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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If it wasn’t for her dog, King, Lacresha Slappy doesn’t think she’d be alive.
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Carolina Beach Police Chief Vic Ward was officially sworn in at the Town Hall on Monday.
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A billboard in Brunswick County caught the eye of Ellen King as she drove by the junction of Highways 904 and 17 in the Grissettown area.
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Security for the Presidential inauguration has increased after the events of January 6 when supporters of President Trump stormed the Capitol building and five people lost their lives.
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Race relations and the treatment of African Americans and non-whites can be a very difficult conversation.
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UNCW women’s basketball assistant coach Matt Lynch was recently named to Forbes 30 under 30 in sports alongside other sports celebrities like NBA star Ben Simmons and NFL receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
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Parents and students in New Hanover County Elementary Schools planned on going back to class full time starting next week, and so did the school system’s operations staff.
A meeting Wednesday resulted in a change in plans for elementary schools in New Hanover County.
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Only six states are slower than North Carolina when it comes to distributing COVID-19 vaccines according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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The UNCW men’s basketball team is looking forward to getting back on the court, the only question is when?
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The New Hanover County Garden Club hosting its annual Art & The Bloom event. This year 28 artists made floral arrangements inspired by artwork from private collections and the Wilmington Art Association. Each arrangement is created with real flowers.
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Saturday at the entrance of the New Hanover County Government Center in Wilmington Citizens Against the Overthrow of Democracy spoke out against those that stormed the Capitol.
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Before the New Hanover County Board of Education’s board meeting on Tuesday, the New Hanover County Association of Educators (NHCAE) voiced their concerns about the county moving into Phase A in elementary schools across the county.
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Not all counties are moving into Phase 1B of the vaccination roll-out at the same time.
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2021 brings traditions and resolutions for people looking forward to a better year.
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In New Years’ past, it would be almost impossible to find a hotel room the day of in downtown Wilmington.
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Financial help is making its way to millions of Americans in the form of a $600 COVID-19 stimulus check.
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Derek Brunson is schedule to fight Kevin Holland at UFC Fight Night on March 20.
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A group of New Hanover County high school students is learning about the world of video games.
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The Associated Press named North Carolina running back Jovante Williams third-team All-American.
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Five-year-old Amelia Scholz was woken from her afternoon nap by the sounds of family and sirens as Santa Claus paid a special visit.
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The coronavirus pandemic has changed many people’s travel plans over the holiday season.
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Forward Ian Steere is no longer a member of the UNCW men’s basketball team.
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Senior guard Mike Okauru led four players in double figures with 17 points as surging UNCW recorded its second straight road victory by handcuffing Campbell, 78-59, early Monday at Gore Arena.
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Road wins are like gold on the college basketball trail and Takayo Siddle’s UNCW squad mined a big one early Friday at Norfolk State’s Echols Hall.
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On Friday afternoon, the Bladen County Board of Education called for a special meeting Monday Dec 21.
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UNCW used a 28-point third quarter to claim the lead over Kennesaw State, but the host Owls answered with a big fourth quarter to secure a 69-59 victory over the Seahawks in non-conference women’s basketball action at the KSU Convocation Center on Friday afternoon.
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While COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the county, UNCW is moving forward with the men’s and women’s basketball seasons.
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President and Chief Financial Officer of Cape Fear/Bladen Healthcare Stephen Fife had no issue rolling up his sleeve to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday.
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First, Governor Cooper lowered capacity limits for restaurants and bars; now, his latest executive order is forcing them to stop serving alcohol at 9 p.m. and to close at 10 p.m.
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New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, and Bladen County Hospital are all on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services list of 53 hospitals that will be getting the first round of COVID-19 vaccines in the state.
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The decision was made Wednesday in a meeting between the high school athletic directors and the superintendent.
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The North Carolina High School Athletic Association NCHSAA released its first draft of the conference realignment plan for 2021-2025 on Thursday.
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Starting Friday under Governor Roy Cooper’s new executive order, last call for restaurants is moving to 9 p.m. and closing comes one hour later.
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Junior forward Jayden Gardner scored eight of his 16 points in overtime and East Carolina survived a monster comeback by UNCW to carve out an 88-78 victory at Monday at Minges Coliseum.
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UNCW women’s basketball earns road win over South Carolina State
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Bladen County Hospital (BCH) applied to receive early shipments of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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