Shining at the Next Level: September 23-29, 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 morning.

FOOTBALL

***Full list of area football players in college***

Jr. OL Alex Halkias, Randolph-Macon (2017 Hoggard grad):In Saturday’s 31-10 win at Ferrum, the started at left guard helped the Yellow Jackets finish with 366 yards of total offense and 19 first downs.

R-Sr. DE Alex Highsmith, Charlotte (2015 Ashley grad): Broke the school season-season record for sacks with his sixth in only five games on Saturday against Florida Atlantic. Highsmith now has 12 careers sacks and is just one behind Larry Ogunjobi for the program record.

Soph. QB Josh Jones, UNC Pembroke (2018 Hoggard grad): Threw for a career-high 287 yards on 26 of 41 passing and also had a pair of rushing touchdowns in a home loss to Limestone.

R-Sr. FB Daniel McRainey, Wingate (2015 West Brunswick grad): Starting fullback helped the Bulldogs Bulldogs run for 232 yards (4.9 per carry) in a hard-fought 13-10 win at Catawba.

Soph. P Michael Rivers, N.C. A&T (2018 North Brunswick grad): Put four of his five punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 55 yards to help the Aggies cruise to a 37-0 home win over Delaware State on Thursday.

Jr. DL Taye Vereen, UNC Pembroke (2017 West Brunswick grad): Tied for a team high with seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in a 41-25 defeat to Limestone on Saturday.

Jr. WR Imeek Watkins, Chowan (2017 Laney grad): Scored a rushing touchdown from 2 yards out in Saturday’s 42-35 loss at McKendree. Watkins had six carries for 18 yards and also caught a pair of passes for 31 yards.

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

***Full list of area cross country runners in college***

Jr. Ben Schmidt, Montreat (2017 Hoggard grad): Finished the 8K course 12th in a time of 25:37 to help Montreat finished fifth in the 43-team field at Friday’s Queen City Invate at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.

MEN’S SOCCER

***Full list of area men’s soccer players in college***

Soph. F Conley Burk, Bob Jones (2018 Wilmington Christian Academy grad): Put home his first goal of the season in the 87th minute to send Tuesday’s game against Pfeiffer to overtime.

Soph. MF Travis Cotton, Cape Fear CC (2018 Ashley grad): In Saturday’s 3-1 victory over USC Sumtmer, Cotton scored a pair of goals. He also put home the lone goal for the Sea Devils on a 4-1 loss to Wake Tech on Monday.

Fr. F Cameron Thayer, Winthrop (2019 Hoggard grad): Scored his first career goal in the 34th minute and then found the back of the net for the game winner in the 103rd minute in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over College of Charleston.

Soph. MF Dominic Toone, UNCW (2018 Ashley grad): Played 55 minutes and dished out his first career assist in the 82nd minute to lead the Seahawks to a 3-1 home win over Northeastern on Saturday.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

***Full list of area women’s soccer players in college***

Sr. MF Alex Butorovich, Belmont Abbey (2016 Laney grad): In Saturday’s 7-1 road victory at Southern Wesleyan, Butorovich dished out her first assist of the season in the 47th minute.

Sr. MF/F Baley Edwards, UNCW (2016 Laney grad): Started and played 72 minutes in Sunday’s 2-0 home victory over Northeastern.

Soph. MF Karen Juarez, Queens (2018 Hoggard grad): Had a pair of shots on goal in 72 minutes of action during a 0-0 draw against Francis Marion on Wednesday.

Soph. GK Delaney Mitchell, Towson (2018 Cape Fear Academy grad): In contests against Northeastern on Thursday and William & Mary on Sunday, Mitchell made 15 saves and only allowed three goals.

Sr. F Anna Rae Porcelli, Greensboro (2016 Laney grad): Put home the game’s only goal in the 52nd minute on Thursday against Ferrum. In Saturday’s 2-1 win at Salem, Porcelli scored again in the 52nd minute on a penalty kick for her fifth goal of the season.

VOLLEYBALL

***Full list of area volleyball players in college***

Fr. S Julianna Askew, North Florida (2019 Ashley grad): In road matches at Kennesaw State and Liberty, Askew had 47 assists, 12 digs, three kills, two blocks and one ace.

Sr. MB Madi Ford, Limestone (2016 Topsail grad): In Friday’s four-set win over Emmanuel (Ga.), Ford hit .556 with five kills on nine swings without and error. She also had a pair of blocks.

Soph. MB Bethany Henry, Virginia State (2018 Hoggard grad): Played in two sets and put down five kills on seven swings with only two errors for a hitting percentage of .429 in a win over Bowie State on Thursday.

Soph. OH/RS Sarah Shropshire, Averett (2018 Laney grad): Put down a season-high 16 kills while hitting .333 and also adding seven digs in a five-set victory over N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday. In three victories, Shropshire had 35 kills, 16 digs and four aces.

Jr. OH/RS Ashlynn Willoughby, Ferrum (2017 Laney grad): Finished with 11 kills and five digs in a four-set loss against Randolph on Wednesday.