Coastal Preps Best of 2022

December 22, 2022, 2:19 pm | by Tim Hower

2022 was a great year for high school athletics in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties. There were team state champions as well as individuals that captured medals. Now, its up to you to decide which teams and athletes stand out among the rest.

Take a minute to read the summaries of each finalist and then choose your winners by clicking the link at the bottom of the page. Voting will remain open until noon on New Year’s Eve and results will be posted later that night!

Best Male Team of 2022

Coastal Christian track & field: The Centurions cruised to their third NCISAA Division II state championship since 2018 by scoring 179.5 points. Runner-up Forsyth Country Day finished with 69.5 points.

Hoggard soccer: Set a new school record for wins by finishing 23-2-1. The Vikings, who outscored their opponents 132-20, claimed the Mideastern Conference title and reached the fourth round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs before suffering a 2-1 loss to eventual champion Cardinal Gibbons.

Laney wrestling: Became the first area team to claim a NCHSAA dual team state championship with a thrilling 32-31 victory over Northwest Guilford. Two weeks later, the Buccaneers became the first area team to have three wrestlers win individual state titles when Devon Bell, Alex Hopper and Mark Samuel all recorded pins in the final. They won the team title there as well with 159 points.

New Hanover basketball: The Wildcats rolled through the regular season with 23 consecutive victories, including 14 in the Mideastern Conference. After claiming an easy win in the opening round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs, New Hanover suffered a loss to eventual runner-up Panther Creek. The Wildcats averaged 65.6 points and allowed only 39.9.

South Brunswick baseball: Reached the NCHSAA state championship series for the second time in school history before falling in three games to South Rowan in 3A. The Cougars finished with a 25-5 record and outscored their opponents 228-83.

Best Female Team of 2022

Ashley volleyball: After suffering losses in four of their first six matches, the Screaming Eagles got on a roll and claimed the Mideastern Conference regular season and tournament titles. Ashley finished the season with a 21-7 record and reached the third round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs before falling in five sets to eventual champion Millbrook.

Cape Fear Academy tennis: The Hurricanes won their second straight NCISAA 3A state championship by a score of 5-3 over Asheville School. It capped a 17-2 season in which CFA finished 48-10 in doubles and 86-21 in singles.

Hoggard soccer: Finished 21-2-1 overall and 14-0 in the Mideastern Conference by outscoring their opponents 108-12. The Vikings easily won four matches in the NCHSAA 4A playoffs to reach the East final before suffering a controversial 3-2 loss to eventual champion Cardinal Gibbons when an incorrect penalty kick was awarded in the 74th minute.

New Hanover tennis: Had one of the best seasons in area history by finishing 21-1 overall and 14-0 in the Mideastern Conference. The Wildcats, who reached the Elite 8 of the NCHSAA 4A dual team playoffs, had victories over a pair of eventual state champions – Cape Fear (NCHSAA 3A) and Cape Fear Academy (NCISAA 3A).

Topsail lacrosse: The Pirates set a new program record for victories in a season by going 19-2 and reaching the fourth round of the NCHSAA playoffs for the first time. Topsail scored 372 goals and allowed only 126.

Best Male Senior Season

Devon Bell, Laney wrestling: Finished the season with a perfect 42-0 record that culminated in a NCHSAA 4A state title at 182 pounds after he pinned A.L. Brown’s Gavin Hartsell in 1:07. Bell recorded 28 pins to go along with six forfeits, two tech fall and two major decisions.

Cameron Burgess, South Brunswick baseball: The ECU signee was one of the best two-way players in the state. He helped South Brunswick reach the NCHSAA 3A State Championship Series by hitting .378 to go along with eight doubles, four home runs, 35 RBI and 22 runs scored. On the mound, Burgess went 8-0 with a 1.09 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings.

Hoku Fisher, Hoggard basketball: Fisher led the area in points per game at 18.3 while shooting 42 percent (137 of 410) from the field and 37 percent (78 of 211) from 3-point range. He also averaged 5.1 rebounds and two assists.

Stone Murrill, Hoggard soccer: Area leader in goals with 46 in 25 matches. Murrill also dished out 17 assists to finish with an area-best 109 points and help the Vikings set a new school record for wins in a season with 23.

Mark Samuel, Laney wrestling: Became the first area wrestler to claim three straight state titles after recording pins in all four matches at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. All 43 of the Roanoke signee’s victories came by bonus points (29 pins, 5 tech falls, 4 major decisions and 5 forfeits).

Best Female Senior Season

Annalyse Askew, Ashley volleyball: Askew put down 311 kills and hit .231 in 97 sets for the Mideastern Conference champion Screaming Eagles, who also reached the third round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs before falling in five-sets to eventual champion Millbrook. The Arizona State beach volleyball signee added 254 digs, 74 aces and 30 blocks.

Kaitlyn Obremski, Topsail cross country: In her final season with the Pirates, Obremski earned five victories, including her fourth Mideastern Conference title. She had six of the seven fastest times in the area, including the top two. Obremski placed second at the NCHSAA 4A East Regional and 10th at the state championship a week later.

Callie Parkes, Hoggard swimming: Became the first Hoggard swimmer to win a state championship in 10 years by claiming the NCHSAA 4A title in the 50 freestyle with a season-best time of 23.19. The Akron signee finished seventh in the 100 freestyle, while also anchoring the 14th-place 200 freestyle relay and 17th-place 200 medley relay.

Tatum Riggins, Topsail lacrosse: Scored 97 goals and dished out 18 assists for the Mideastern Conference champions, who finished 19-2 and outscored their opponents 372-126. Riggins led the team with 44 ground balls and also finished with 23 caused turnovers and 65 draw controls.

Allie Royal, Hoggard softball: Royal hit .435 with five doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 26 RBI and 19 runs scored. The UNCW signee walked more times (11) than she struck out (10) and also committed only one error in 159 total chances at first base.

Best Male Junior Season

Alex Hopper, Laney wrestling: Went 49-2 with 37 pins and six tech falls en route to claiming the 170-pound NCHSAA 4A state title. The N.C. State signee avenged an earlier-season loss to Hickory Ridge’s Tomas Brooker by pinning him in 3:40 in the title match.

Walker Jenkins, South Brunswick baseball: Was named the N.C. Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year following a remarkable season that saw him hit .527 with 13 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 18 stolen bases, 40 RBI and 49 runs scored. Jenkins had 17 multi-hit games, including three in the NCHSAA 3A State Championship Series.

Eric Mosley, North Brunswick football: Led the area with 1,479 rushing yards on 201 carries and added 12 touchdowns to lead the Scorpions to an 11-2 record and a berth in the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Malakahi West, Hoggard football: West recorded 73 tackles, including 37.5 for loss, and forced four fumbles from his defensive end position. He led the area with 18 sacks to anchor a Hoggard defense that allowed only 12.7 points per game.

Best Female Junior Season

Marlee Cook, Ashley volleyball: The talented setter led the area with 763 assists in 99 sets played. Cook also finished with 225 digs, 117 kills, 60 aces and 31 blocks to guide the Screaming Eagles to Mideastern Conference regular season and tournament titles.

Anya Massey, Hoggard girls basketball: Wingate signee helped the Vikings finished 26-4 and reach the third round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs by averaging 12.8 points, 5.3 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals. Massey shot 42 percent from the field (126 of 299), 43 percent from 3-point range (83 of 194) and 88 percent from the free throw line (36 of 41).

Riley Nee, Topsail lacrosse: Nee dished out a remarkable 105 assists and scored 26 goals in 21 contests. The Stetson commit had at least five assists in 14 games, including a season-high of 10, to lead the Pirates to a 19-2 record and a berth in the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs.

Zoey Vincent, Topsail softball: The Pirates’ standout leadoff batter led the Mideastern Conference with a .556 batting average to go along with four doubles, one triple, 19 stolen bases, 10 RBI and 26 runs scored. The Mount Olive commit struck out only four times in 87 plate appearances and finished with an on-base percentage of .586.

Best Male Sophomore Season

Augie Ballantine, New Hanover tennis: Compiled a 29-3 record (13-1 in singles and 16-2 in doubles) while playing mostly No. 2 singles and doubles. Ballantine teamed up with Alan Dimock for a second straight Mideastern Conference doubles title. The duo reached the NCHSAA 4A East Regional final and made the quarterfinals at states.

Lane Durham, Cape Fear Academy swimming: Recorded four top-10 finishes (second 400 freestyle relay, third 200 freestyle relay, fifth 200 IM and seventh 500 freestyle) at the NCISAA Division II State Championship to help the Hurricanes place third in the team standings. Durham was the only area swimmer to break the two-minute mark in the 200 IM (1:59.20 on Feb. 15).

Logan Ponnett, Hoggard baseball: Quickly became one of the area’s most feared hitter, finishing his season with a .366 batting average and a .471 on-base percentage. Ponnett hit four doubles and two home runs to go along with 21 RBI and 27 runs for the Vikings, who went 18-6 and reached the third round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.

Hampton Roderick, Laney football: In his first season on the varsity roster, Roderick hauled in 48 catches for an area-leading 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had four 100-yard games, including a season-high 175 yards and two scores in a 45-0 victory over South Brunswick on Oct. 14.

Best Female Sophomore Season

Lillian Austin, Topsail lacrosse: Set a new school record with an incredible 103 goals in 21 matches to help the Pirates finish 19-2 and reach the fourth round of the NCHSAA playoffs for the first time. The Elon commit added 35 assists, 39 ground balls, 27 caused turnovers and 172 draw controls.

Sophia Catino, New Hanover tennis: Helped the Wildcats finish 21-1 and reach the Elite 8 of the NCHSAA 4A dual team playoffs by going 18-0 in singles and 22-3 in doubles. Catino didn’t drop a set while playing No. 1 singles, winning 24 sets by a 6-0, 6-1 or 8-0 score.

Ellie Hildreth, Hoggard golf: Hildreth captured medalist honors at all seven 18-hole Mideastern Conference matches, finishing under par in four of them. She had a season nine-hole stroke average of 36.6. Hildreth won the MEC title for a second straight season, finished second at the NCHSAA 4A East Regional and 13th at the state championship.

Ella Johnson, Hoggard soccer: Johnson scored 15 goals to go along with 10 assists despite missing the first six matches while still recovering from ACL surgery. The Clemson commit had six goals and six assists in the NCHSAA 4A playoffs to lead the Vikings back to the East final for the eighth time since 2010.

Best Male Freshman Season

Rodmik Allen, New Hanover basketball: The floor general had an impressive debut season by averaging 5.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Allen shot 45 percent (53 of 119) from the field and was one of the area’s top on-ball defenders. The Wildcats went 24-1 overall and 14-0 in the Mideastern Conference.

Tanner Berry, Ashley baseball: Berry hit .435 with six doubles and 14 RBI as the starting catcher for the Screaming Eagles. He had 10 multi-hit games, including three in a row to begin his career.

Corban Cazier, Coastal Christian cross country: Recorded two of the area’s top 20 times, including a season best 16:19.70 that resulted in a fifth-place finish at the NCISAA 3A State Championship. Cazier was third at the Coastal Rivers Conference Championship and fifth at the New Hanover County Championship.

Ian Fritz, Topsail wrestling: Burst onto the scene in a big way by going 43-3 en route to a fourth-place finish at 120 pounds at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. Fritz finished with 30 pins, five forfeits, two tech falls, two major decisions and four decisions.

Best Female Freshman Season

Emmy Clark, Topsail softball: Guided the Pirates to a 17-5 overall record and 11-1 mark in Mideastern Conference play by hitting .549 with three doubles, four triples, 18 RBI and 25 runs scored. Clark drew the same number of walks (six) as strikeouts.

Kina Davis, South Brunswick softball: Davis was instrumental in one of the best turnarounds in area history, as the Cougars went from finishing 2-12 in 2021 to 16-8 in 2022. She hit .473 with 16 extra-base hits, 10 RBI and 26 runs. In the circle, Davis was 9-4 with a 1.72 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 89 1/3 innings.

Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian track & field: Grace burst onto the scene in a big way back in the spring by winning NCISAA Division II state titles in triple jump and pole vault while finishing third in high jump and long jump. She had the best performances in the area in high jump (5-1), long jump (17-3.25) and pole vault (12-5, which set a New Hanover County record).

Karina Peat, Ashley soccer: Tied for fifth in the area with 44 points (19 goals and six assists) while playing up top for the Screaming Eagles, who recorded 16 victories and reached the second round of the NCHSAA 4A playoffs.