Shining at the Next Level: October 14-20, 2019
New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties produce a large number of athletes that continue their careers at the next level. Each week, this list will feature a number of area athletes who are finding success in the college ranks.
Check back for weekly updates each Monday.
FOOTBALL
***Full list of area football players in college***
R-Sr. DE Alex Highsmith, Charlotte (2015 Ashley grad): In Saturday’s 30-14 loss at Western Kentucky, Highsmith had six tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He also had 1.5 sacks for 11 yards and a forced fumble. Highmith is now Charlotte’s all-time leader in sacks with 13.5.
R-Jr. LB Jordan Howard, UNC Pembroke (2016 North Brunswick grad): Led the Braves in tackles with eight in Saturday’s 48-38 defeat at Wingate.
North Brunswick graduate Jordan Howard now plays football at UNC Pembroke. [UNC Pembroke Athletics]
Soph. QB Josh Jones, UNC Pembroke (2018 Hoggard grad): Completed 22 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown and also had nine carries for 48 yards on Saturday against Wingate.
Jr. DL Taye Vereen, UNC Pembroke (2017 West Brunswick grad): In Saturday’s 10-point loss to Wingate, Vereen made seven tackles and had a quarterback hurry.
Jr. TE Garrett Walston, UNC (2016 New Hanover grad): Hauled in a career-high four catches for 29 yards in Saturday’s wild 43-41 loss at Virginia Tech that went to six overtimes.
Jr. WR Imeek Watkins, Chowan (2017 Laney grad): Caught nine passes for 108 yards and the first touchdown of the game and also had 34 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries in a 41-34 loss at Virginia Union.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
***Full list of area men’s cross country runners in college***
R-Jr. Robinson Snider, Mississippi (2016 Hoggard grad): Finished 12th in the 8K race at the Pre-National Invitational at Indiana State’s LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course on Saturday by completing the course in a career-best 25:16.80.
Hoggard graduate Robinson Snider (center) now runs cross country at Mississippi. [Mississippi Athletics]
MEN’S SOCCER
***Full list of area men’s soccer players in college***
Soph. MF Charles Barkman, Cape Fear Academy (2018 Wilmington Christian Academy grad): Helped the Sea Devils cruise to a 15-1 win over Southwest Virginia on Saturday by scoring a goal and dishing out an assist.
Soph. MF Travis Cotton, Cape Fear CC (2018 Ashley grad): Scored a pair of goals and assisted on another in a lopsided 15-1 victory at Southwest Virginia on Saturday.
Fr. D Ryland Hawksby, Cape Fear CC (2019 South Brunswick grad): Dished out three assists in Saturday’s 15-1 win at Southwest Virgina.
Soph. MF Tyler Keser, Cape Fear CC (2018 Laney grad): Put home the lone goal for the Sea Devils in the 58th minute in a 2-1 defeat to USC Sumter on Wednesday. Keser also found the back of the net once in Saturday’s lopsided win at Southwest Virginia.
Fr. MF Moss Lewis, USC Upstate (2019 New Hanover grad): Played all 180 minutes and had one shot in road losses to Radford (3-0 on Wednesday) at Presbyterian (3-1 on Saturday).
Soph. D Wyatt Williams, Appalachian State (2018 Hoggard grad): Made his first career appearance and played 53 minutes on Saturday in a 4-2 loss to Coastal Christian.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
***Full list of area women’s soccer players in college***
Soph. MF/D Kiley Barr, Francis Marion (2018 Hoggard grad): Assisted on the first goal of the game in the 37th minute in a 4-0 victory at Albany State (Ga.).
Jr. MF/F Tess Cairney, Appalachian State (2017 Ashley grad): Played a total of 164 minutes and had three shots in contests against Louisiana Monroe (3-0 win on Thursday) and Arkansas State (0-0 draw on Sunday).
Sr. MF/F Baley Edwards, UNCW (2016 Laney grad): Was on the field for all 110 minutes and had three shots in a 1-1 draw at Hofstra on Sunday.
Soph. MF Karen Juarez, Queens (2018 Hoggard grad): Helped the Royals pick up a 6-0 home victory over Coker by scoring an unassisted goal in the 80th minute.
Fr. MF Parker Ormsby, Campbell (2019 Laney grad): Started and played a total of 176 minutes and also had four shots in wins over Longwood (2-1 on Wednesday) and Radford (1-0 on Saturday).
Laney graduate Anna Rae Porcelli now plays soccer at Greensboro College. [Greensboro College Athletics]
VOLLEYBALL
***Full list of area volleyball players in college***
Fr. S Julianna Askew, North Florida (2019 Ashley grad): In a total of 12 sets over three matches, Askew dished out 140 assists while also adding 22 digs, 11 kills and five aces. Her best match came in a four-set win over North Alabama on Friday when she hit .462 with six kills, 54 assists and nine digs.
Soph. MB Bethany Henry, Virginia State (2018 Hoggard grad): Put down a total of 12 kills and added four digs and four blocks in a pair of four-set losses to Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State on Sunday.
Soph. RS/MB Taylor Long, Cape Fear CC (2018 Ashley grad): Helped the Sea Devils win three matches by finishing with 25 kills, nine blocks, seven digs and two aces in a total of 11 sets.
Soph. OH/RS Sarah Shropshire, Averett (2018 Laney grad): In three wins, Shropshire finished with 22 kills and seven digs in 10 sets.
Hoggard graduate Emily Steyskal now plays volleyball at Cape Fear CC. [Photo courtesy of Rodney Williams]
Soph. DS/L Callie Weaver (2018 Coastal Christian grad): Finished with 31 digs and eight aces in victories over Fayetteville Tech (3-1 on Tuesday), USC Salkehatchie (3-1 on Thursday) and Davidson County CC (3-0 on Saturday).
