Best of Laney: Girls No. 6, 5 and 4

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 next school to have their 10 top athletes revealed is Laney. A total of 17 people voted and the results will be released throughout the week.

Monday, Aug. 3: Boys and Girls 10, 9, 8 and 7 as well as honorable mention (anyone else who received votes)

Tuesday: Aug. 4: Boys 6, 5 and 4

Wednesday, Aug. 5: Girls 6, 5 and 4

Thursday, Aug. 6: Boys 3, 2 and 1

Friday, Aug. 7: Girls 3, 2 and 1

Girls Honorable Mention

• Jenson Edwards and Charlene Thompson (22 points)
• Caroline Cahill (19 points)
• Kelli Gottry (18 points)
• Maddy Bullington and Taylor Chism (14 points)
• Haley Shand (13 points)
• Tristen Horrell and Jayla Rogers (11 points)
• Courtney Dwertman, Jessica Figgins and Jenna Grill (4 points)
• Paulette Addison and Madi Johnston (3 points)
• Brookes Musser and Lisa White (2 points)
• Amber Doniere (1 point)

Girls No. 10

Janae Baker (32 points)

Class of 2008

Click here to read more about Janae

Girls No. 9

Nikki Lynch (35 points)

Class of 2009

Click here to read more about Nikki

Girls No. 8

Eryn Teague (49 points)

Class of 2006

Click here to read more about Eryn

Girls No. 7

Amber Spolarich (64 points and 1 first-place vote)

Class of 2007

Click here to read more about Amber

Girls No. 6

Natalie Tyner (78 points and 4 first-place votes)

Class of 2019

Tyner will go down as one of the greatest distance runners in Wilmington history. She won the Mideastern Conference Cross Country Championship four straight times and captured the 2017 4A state title by 27 seconds. As a senior, Tyner finished second at the state championship. In track & field, Tyner claimed an amazing 11 MEC titles and earned 30 points to help the Buccaneers claim the team title in 2017, 2018 and 2019. She capped off her terrific prep career by winning the 3,200-meter run as a senior by 33 seconds. Tyner is continuing her running career at UNC.

“Natalie is an amazing person and athlete. She truly walks the walk, but lets her performances do the talking for her. She’s always humble and graceful.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 5

Saniya Rivers (79 points and 1 first-place vote)

Class of 2021 (at Ashley)

Rivers is the only athlete to appear on two lists. Before transferring to Ashley, she spent two seasons at Laney and shined in basketball and track & field. Rivers burst onto the basketball scene as a freshman by averaging 15.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 3.2 steals and 3.1 blocks to help the Buccaneers go 28-3 and reach the 4A East final. In her final season at Laney, Rivers averaged 24.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 4.5 steals and 2.2 blocks. With Rivers leading the way, the Buccaneers went 28-2 overall and 14-0 in the Mideastern Conference. On the track, Rivers won the MEC title in high jump as a freshman and sophomore and finished sixth in the state both years. She recently committed to South Carolina for basketball.

“Saniya is one of if not the most talented female players that we have had the pleasure to watch play. Her physical gifts are a delight to observe, but I was amazed most by the leadership qualities she possessed at such a young age. She makes every player on the team better with her basketball IQ and most of all her unselfishness. Her game will further expand as she plays with even better players, which means that the best is yet to come.” – Anonymous voter

Girls No. 4

Qwedia Wallace (87 points)

Class of 2007

Wallace was an outstanding four-year basketball player for the Buccaneers, who finished her career with 1,308 points. She is still third in program history behind Shatara Jackson and Tamera Young. Wallace helped the Buccaneers go 88-20 and claim four straight Mideastern Conference Tournament titles. As a senior, she averaged 14.5 points, 6 rebounds and 4.7 assists to lead Laney to a 28-2 record and a berth in the 4A East final. She was a three-time MEC First Team selection and was inducted into the Laney Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. Wallace continued her career at Temple, where she finished 12th in program history in career scoring with 1,190. She also broke the school record for 3-pointers with 162. She went on to play professionally in Spain, Portugal and France.

“Qwedia’s talent on the court is obvious and can’t be denied. When you add to that her incredible intelligence for the game and work ethic to be even better, you end up with one of the best that has ever played not only at Laney but in Wilmington.” – Anonymous voter