Shining at the Next Level: October 28-November 3, 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): Finished with five tackles, including two for loss, and a quarterback hurry to help the 49ers earn a 34-20 home victory over Middle Tennessee.
R-Jr. LB Jordan Howard, UNC Pembroke (2016 North Brunswick grad): Led the Braves with nine tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and also had a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in a road loss to Newberry.
Soph. QB Josh Jones, UNC Pembroke (2018 Hoggard grad): Completed 16 of 26 passes for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns in Saturday’s 37-34 overtime loss at Newberry.
Soph. P Michael Rivers, N.C. A&T (2018 North Brunswick grad): Put three of his six punts inside the 20 in a 22-20 win at South Carolina State.
North Brunswick graduate Michael Rivers now plays football at N.C. A&T. [N.C. A&T Athletics]
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
***Full list of area men’s cross country runners in college***
R-Jr. Robinson Snider, Mississippi (2016 Hoggard grad): Finished the 8K course in 23:57.6 for a 32nd-place finish at the SEC Championship on Friday. The Rebels won their second straight team title by 55 points over Alabama.
Jr. Clint Turbeville, Lynchburg (2017 Coastal Christian grad): Finished 20th at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference 8K championship meet with a time of 26:20.7 to help the Hornets earn a second-place team finish.
MEN’S SOCCER
***Full list of area men’s soccer players in college***
Soph. F Conley Burk, Bob Jones (2018 Wilmington Christian Academy grad): Took four shots in a season-high 69 minutes of action at North Greenville on Thursday.
Fr. MF/F Walker Henderson, Mars Hill (2019 Coastal Christian grad): Played all 90 minutes and had a team-high three shots in Friday’s 2-0 loss to Tusculum.
MEN’S SWIMMING
Fr. Trey Adkins, Towson (2019 Laney grad): Swam the third leg on the victorious 400 freestyle relay (3:03.11) and also finished sixth in the 50 freestyle (21.87) and 100 freestyle (47.73) in Saturday’s win over UMBC.
VOLLEYBALL
***Full list of area volleyball players in college***
Fr. S Julianna Askew, North Florida (2019 Ashley grad): Surpassed the 1,000 assist mark for the season by finishing with 26 in a sweep at NJIT on Saturday. In two matches, Askew had 48 assists, six digs, five blocks and three aces.
Sr. MB Madi Ford, Limestone (2016 Topsail grad): Tied a season-high with six kills and hit .385 in Saturday’s four-set loss at Lees-McRae.
R-Fr. S Samantha Luscher, Appalachian State (2018 Ashley grad): Dished out 19 assists and had two blocks in Friday’s four-set loss at Troy.
Hoggard graduate Madie Schider now plays volleyball at Hillsdale, Mich. [Hillsdale Athletics]
Soph. OH/RS Sarah Shropshire, Averett (2018 Laney grad): In four matches, Shropshire put down 30 kills to go along with 33 digs.
Jr. OH/RS Ashlynn Willoughby, Ferrum (2017 Laney grad): Finished with 14 kills, 13 digs and four blocks in 10 sets over three matches.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
***Full list of area women’s soccer players in college***
Soph. MF/D Kiley Barr, Francis Marion (2018 Hoggard grad): Had the game-winning assists in the 88th minute to lead the Patriots to a 2-1 win over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday.
Sr. MF/F Baley Edwards, UNCW (2016 Laney grad): Started her 16th match of the season and played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss to James Madison in the CAA Quarterfinals on Friday.
Soph. MF Karen Juarez, Queens (2018 Hoggard grad): Was on the field for 86 minutes and had a pair of shots in a 2-0 win at Newberry on Saturday.
Fr. MF Parker Ormsby, Campbell (2019 Laney grad): Played all 110 minutes and had a shot in Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Presbyterian.
Sr. GK Hannah Wagner, Salem (2016 Hoggard grad): Tied her career-high with 14 saves to earn the clean sheet in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Piedmont. Over her four-year career, Wagner has five double-digit saves performances.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING
Jr. Lauren Birmingham, Bryn Mawr (2017 Cape Fear Academy grad): Helped the Owls pick up victories over Cedar Crest (164-32) and Immaculata (154-36) by finishing in the top 5 in the 200 medley relay (second in 2:12.41), 200 freestyle (third in 2:19.98) and 100 freestyle (fourth in 1:06.16).
Sr. Gabbie Black, UNCW (2016 Topsail grad): Finished sixth in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.30 at the CAA Pod Meet at James Madison over the weekend.
Sr. Helen Duffy, Davidson (2016 New Hanover grad): In Saturday’s meet against Old Dominion, Duffy was second in the 200 medley relay (1:47.59), fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.20), fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:45.87) and fifth in the 200 breaststroke (2:27.63).
New Hanover graduate Brynn Jewell now swims at Old Dominion. [Tim Hower/Coastal Preps]
Fr. Kate Pottle (2019 New Hanover grad): Finished second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.82), second in the 1,000 freestyle (10:47.53) and third in the 500 freestyle (5:12.62) in a meet against Old Dominion on Saturday.
WRESTLING
Jr. Jonathan Miller (2015 Laney grad): Won the title at 141 pounds at the season-opening Georgia Open by going 5-0. Miller had four decisions and a fall. He won 9-4 over teammate Ethan Hnasko in the final.
