Best of Coastal Christian: Boys and Girls athletes No. 10, 9, 8 and 7

In an effort to determine the best 10 male and female athletes at each Wilmington school (Ashley, Cape Fear Academy, Coastal Christian, Hoggard, Laney, New Hanover and Wilmington Christian Academy), I selected a panel of qualified individuals to vote. The participants included: former and current coaches, administrators and ADs, media members and even fans. Each individual voted anonymously with their No. 1 athlete receiving 10 points, No. 2 athlete receiving 9 points and so on. 

The first school to have their 10 top athletes revealed is Coastal Christian. A total of 11 people voted and the results will be released throughout the week.

Monday, June 22: Boys and Girls 10, 9, 8 and 7 as well as honorable mention (anyone else who received votes)

Tuesday: June 23: Boys 6, 5 and 4

Wednesday, June 24: Girls 6, 5 and 4

Thursday, June 25: Boys 3, 2 and 1

Friday, June 26: Girls 3, 2 and 1

Boys Honorable Mention

• Marquise Dark (11 points)
• Brian Cooke and Jackson Garrett (10 points)
• Miles Butler and Richard Wetherill (8 points)
• Brian Howell and Tommy Murphy (7 points)
• Ricardo Jones (5 points)
• Dylan Smith (4 points)
• Cheeto Keeter (2 points)

Girls Honorable Mention

• Jordan Murphy, Abby Parker and Anna Dudley Wetherill (13 points)
• Nicki Huntley (10 points)
• Shelby Smith (8 points)
• Autumn Montague (6 points)
• Callie Weaver (2 points)

Boys No. 10 (tie)

Walker Henderson (19 points)

Class of 2018

Henderson was a four-year soccer standout who helped the Centurions make back-to-back NCISAA 2A State Championships appearances in 2016 and 2017. He finished with 28 goals and seven assists as a sophomore, 32 goals and eight assists as a junior and 21 goals and eight assists as a senior. His six goals in a game is still a school record. Henderson currently plays at Mars Hill. 

“Walker was never the biggest or strongest athlete on the field, but he made up for it with incredible heart, speed, determination and skill. He was an instrumental part of the success of the program during his four years.” – Anonymous voter

Ben Schram (19 points)

Class of 2015

Schram competed in soccer and track & field for the Centurions. Finished eighth in the state in the 800-meter run at the 2015 NCISAA 1A/2A State Championship to help Coastal Christian finish fifth as a team. He is seventh in school history with a time of 2:09.11. Schram was also on the 4×800 relay team that placed sixth.

“Ben’s athleticism was only surpassed by his leadership and character.  He left an indelible mark on the CCHS soccer program.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 10

Maya Insley (18 points)

Class of 2020

Insley was a three-sport standout who competed in tennis in the fall, basketball in the winter and track & field in the spring. She helped the tennis team finish with a school-record 11 wins and a playoff berth as a senior. In basketball, Insley was a force on the defensive end. As a senior, she set school records in steals in a single game (13) and season (121). Insley holds the school record in triple jump (30-11) and as a member of the 4×100 relay (54.0) and 4×200 relay (1:55.01) and is second in long jump (14-10.75).

“Maya had a significant impact on our athletic program in the last three years. Through her toughness and athleticism, she has helped take female Coastal athletics to the next level.” – Anonymous voter

Boys No. 9

Skyler Davies (24 points)

Class of 2020

A standout basketball player, Davies was also an integral part of the Centurions’ back-to-back state championship track & field teams in 2018 and 2019. As a senior, he led the basketball team in points (13.1), rebounds (8.9), assists (2.4), steals (2.1), field goal percentage (48 percent) and free throw percentage (69 percent). On the track, Davies is second in program history in the 110-meter hurdles (16.04) and 300-meter hurdles (41.04). He placed second in the state in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles as a junior. Davies will continue his basketball career at Brunswick Community College.

“Skyler really grew as a basketball player between his sophomore and junior years and was one of the area’s top players as senior. Nobody could ever question his passion for the game or Coastal Christian.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 9

Carson Fuller (27 points)

Class of 2019

Fuller is a rare athlete who competed in four sports at some point during her high school career. She shined on the volleyball court as a middle blocker. As a senior, she led the team with 47 blocks (including a school record 15 in a match) and was second with 117 kills. That helped her sign a scholarship to continue her career at Coker. Her size also helped her on the basketball court, where she led the team in rebounds over her final two years (10.9 per game as a junior and 8.9 per game as a senior). She holds the school record in rebounds in a single game with 21. Fuller also saw time in several soccer matches as a goalkeeper and is third in school history in shot put (24-7) and fifth in discus (58-10).

“Carson takes you by surprise because she looks sweet (and she is!), but she is tough and doesn’t back down from anything.” – Anonymous voter

Boys No. 8

Justin Lehn (25 points)

Class of 2014

Lehn had a terrific cross country and track & field career and also doubled up in the fall to compete for the soccer team. He still holds the school records in the 800-meter run (1:56.19), 1,600-meter run (4:28.72) and 3,200-meter run (9:55.60). He’s the only Coastal Christian athlete to break the 10-minute mark in the 3,200. Lehn was the NCISAA 1A/2A state champion in the 800 and 3,200 and runner-up in the 1,600 as a senior. He was also on the third place 4×800 relay to help the Centurions finish third as a team. Lehn finished 12th in the state in cross country his senior year with a time of 17:42.44.

“Justin set the standard for runners in the early days at Coastal, paving the way for the success we enjoy today. He is a multiple individual state champion and holds several school records.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 8

Ali Duncan (36 points and 1 first-place vote)

Class of 2011

A three-sport standout who competed in tennis, basketball and soccer. Duncan guided the Centurions to the NCCSA 1A state title in basketball her senior season, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the finals. She finished her career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 956 points before being surpassed by her sister, Lauren. Duncan scored 34 points against Temple Christian in 2011 and it stood as the school record until Brooke Barton scored 35 last season. On the soccer field, Duncan still holds the program record for career assists with 34.

“Without Ali, the athletic programs at Coastal wouldn’t be the same. She helped shape them into what they are today. From basketball to soccer (yes, even boys soccer!) to tennis, she was there from the beginning.” – Anonymous voter

Boys No. 7

Isaiah Arnold (46 points)

Class of 2022

In just two years, Arnold has already secured his spot among the greatest athletes in school history. Arnold claimed the NCISAA 3A cross country state title as a sophomore with a school record time of 16:16.50. He also helped the track & field team claim a second straight state title during his freshman campaign by placing second in the 800-meter run and running the opening leg on the victorious 4×800 relay. Arnold is part of the school’s fastest 4×800 relay (8:06.22).

“Isaiah is an incredibly tough competitor leading our cross country and track programs to new heights. Winning the cross country state championship as a sophomore is only the beginning of what he will accomplish in the next two years.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 7

Anna Grace Holdford (39 points)

Class of 2018

Holdford is unquestionably the greatest setter in Coastal Christian history and arguably one of the top five setters to come from Wilmington in the past 20 years. She started all four years and totaled 3,000 career assists, including 833 her senior year. She holds the program record in career assists as well as assists in a match with 56. Holdford signed a scholarship with Campbell and appeared in 69 sets over 22 matches during her freshman season.

“AG ran the offense all 4 years of her career on the varsity volleyball team. Her talent and ability helped to build the program to what it is today.” Anonymous voter