Another week of high school sports is behind us, and it’s time to recognize outstanding performances from Cumberland County student-athletes with the 910Preps Athlete of the Week award.
With some spring sports still wrapping up the regular season and some deep into state playoffs, stakes were high last week in local action, and Cumberland County’s top athletes came through.
Check out last week’s top performances and vote in the poll below as often as you like until 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. Results will be announced Friday. Coaches and athletic directors are asked to send nominees to [email protected] each week.
Check in again next week to see the top local performances and cast your vote.
910Preps Athlete of the Week nominees for April 28-May 4, 2025:
- Audrey Bixler, Pine Forest soccer — The senior had a goal and an assist, contributing to both scores in a 2-0 win against Overhills, and then she added five steals in a 6-1 regular-season-ending win over Triton as Pine Forest went 14-0-1 in the All American Conference to claim the league title for the second time in the last four seasons.
- Malachi Bryant, South View track and field — A senior sprinter, Bryant ran a personal-record time of 10.65 seconds to win his fourth 100-meter dash league final, this time at the United 8 Conference championship at Reid Ross. Bryant also set a personal record with his first-place long jump of 22 feet, 6.5 inches, and he won the triple jump with a distance of 42-3.25.
- Brianna Davis, E.E. Smith track and field — The sophomore took first place at the All American Conference championship shot put competition with a throw of 37 feet, 7.5 inches, which qualified as a MileSplit NC Elite Performance. It was her sixth shot put win in league competition this season.
- Jaelyn Green, Pine Forest softball — Green went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Trojans’ All American Conference semifinal upset win over second-seeded Triton, 6-4. The sophomore also drew a walk and stole a base in the Trojans’ 12th victory — the program’s highest win total since 2014 when it reached the third round of state playoffs.
- Grayson Hulen, Gray’s Creek baseball — The senior delivered in a big week for the Bears, who beat Cape Fear in extra innings and then knocked off top-seeded Lumberton to win the United 8 Conference baseball tournament championship for the second time in the last four years. The Colts beat Gray’s Creek in the last two U8 championship games — both by just one run. In last week’s payback win, Hulen held Cape Fear scoreless in five innings pitched as the Bears rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 in eight innings. In the 5-3 championship win over Lumberton, Hulen had an RBI and a pair of sacrifice hits.
- Vanni Intini, Fayetteville Academy girls lacrosse — With a historic senior season as the only girls lacrosse player in North Carolina ever to reach 500 goals, Intini led the unbeaten Eagles with 18 goals and five assists in a 2-0 week to earn the No. 1 seed in NCISAA Division II heading into playoffs. Intini had 11 goals and three assists in a 20-11 win over Arendell Parrott Academy, and then she scored seven goals to go with two assists in a 16-4 win over Cape Fear Academy. Intini averages 7.4 goals and 3.9 assists per game.
- Sophia Mercado, Terry Sanford soccer — A freshman for the Bulldogs, Mercado got her 12th goal of the season in a 1-0 win against Overhills as Terry Sanford locked up second place in the AAC standings behind Pine Forest. She also had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Triton last week.
- Aminata Morgan, Terry Sanford track and field — The senior won the 100-meter dash with a personal-record time of 12.01 seconds at the AAC championship at Reid Ross, recognized as a MileSplit NC Elite Performance.
- Aubrey Multerer, Freedom Christian softball — The freshman hit hard for Freedom in a 2-0 week that set the Patriots up with a No. 2 seed and two-round bye in the NCISAA Division II playoffs after winning the Sandhills Conference for the third year straight. Multerer went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBIs in a three-inning romp over Village Christian, and then she went long against Northwood Temple with her second home run of the season in another mercey-rule win. Freedom has won the NCISAA Division III state championship four times, including last season.
- Jordynn Parnell, South View softball — The Tigers’ junior Duke commit helped them win the United 8 Conference tournament championship, striking out 21 batters in a pair of wins and notching three hits of her own as South View claimed its first league tourney title since 2005. Parnell, who ranks 15th in the state with 188 strikeouts this season, fanned 10 in a 7-2 win over Cape Fear and went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. In a 2-1 win over regular-season champ Gray’s Creek for the tournament title, Parnell struck out 11 and went 2-for-4.
- Emma Parson, Cape Fear soccer — A junior goalkeeper, Parson didn’t allow a goal in a 2-0-1 week for the Colts. Ranked 12th in the NCHSAA 3A East with a 1.11 goals-against average, Parson relieved Lilliana Colon in a 7-0 win over South View, then she played all 80 in tight shutouts against Clinton (0-0) and Gray’s Creek (1-0), making seven combined saves in those games as Cape Fear to lock up the United 8 Conference regular-season championship for the fifth year straight.
- Brannon Quinton, Cape Fear boys lacrosse — Quinton had a season-high seven goals and an assist, and the Colts needed every one of them to beat Terry Sanford 15-14. The senior put up 14 points with nine goals and five assists as Cape Fear went 1-1 against the Bulldogs, avenging a 17-9 loss earlier in the week and giving the Colts a half-game lead for third place in league standings.
- Michael Rice Jr., Douglas Byrd track and field — Already crowned an indoor state champion this year with his NCHSAA 3A 500-meter title and time of 1:04.48 ranked third in North Carolina and 14th in the nation, Rice ran to two more wins at the U8 championships. The senior won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.19 seconds, and he won the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.80.
- Bella Ross, Jack Britt track and field — The junior set a personal record in 100-meter preliminaries with a time of 12.07 seconds and then she won the U8 championship with a 12.08. Ross also took first place in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 5.5 inches.
- Ellison Sherrill, Terry Sanford girls lacrosse — The senior put up eight goals in a 17-4 win over Cape Fear, netting her season high, and then added a goal in a 7-3 win over Jack Britt as the Bulldogs took third place in the conference.
- Jalen Turner, Pine Forest track and field — At the AAC championship meet, Turner took first place in the 400-meter dash with a personal-record time of 49.18 seconds. He also ran a personal record in the 200-meter dash and finished second with a time of 21.93. The junior also anchored Pine Forest’s second-place 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams.
- William Walters, Gray’s Creek golf — The Bears junior shot a 71 for low round at the U8 tournament at Baywood and he qualified for the NCHSAA 4A championship at Pinehurst.
910Preps Athlete of the Week Award winners for 2025:
- Hailey McFarley, Gray’s Creek softball
- Amari Adams, Cape Fear softball
- Madisyn Norton, Jack Britt softball
- Maddy Clark, South View softball
- Kaylen Sprague, Jack Britt soccer
- Isabella Hernandez, Jack Britt wrestling
- Desaya Ellis, Jack Britt basketball
- Michael Rice Jr., Douglas Byrd track & field
- Jordynn Parnell, South View basketball
- Kaygan Draughon, Terry Sanford swimming
- Logan Stafford, Trinity Christian basketball
- Karsten Swinney, Freedom Christian basketball
- Devin Tew, Pine Forest swimming
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 910Preps Athlete of the Week April 28-May 4, 2025 spring playoffs
Another week of high school sports is behind us, and it’s time to recognize outstanding performances from Cumberland County student-athletes with the 910Preps Athlete of the Week award.
With some spring sports still wrapping up the regular season and some deep into state playoffs, stakes were high last week in local action, and Cumberland County’s top athletes came through.
Check out last week’s top performances and vote in the poll below as often as you like until 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. Results will be announced Friday. Coaches and athletic directors are asked to send nominees to [email protected] each week.
Check in again next week to see the top local performances and cast your vote.
910Preps Athlete of the Week nominees for April 28-May 4, 2025:
- Audrey Bixler, Pine Forest soccer — The senior had a goal and an assist, contributing to both scores in a 2-0 win against Overhills, and then she added five steals in a 6-1 regular-season-ending win over Triton as Pine Forest went 14-0-1 in the All American Conference to claim the league title for the second time in the last four seasons.
- Malachi Bryant, South View track and field — A senior sprinter, Bryant ran a personal-record time of 10.65 seconds to win his fourth 100-meter dash league final, this time at the United 8 Conference championship at Reid Ross. Bryant also set a personal record with his first-place long jump of 22 feet, 6.5 inches, and he won the triple jump with a distance of 42-3.25.
- Brianna Davis, E.E. Smith track and field — The sophomore took first place at the All American Conference championship shot put competition with a throw of 37 feet, 7.5 inches, which qualified as a MileSplit NC Elite Performance. It was her sixth shot put win in league competition this season.
- Jaelyn Green, Pine Forest softball — Green went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in the Trojans’ All American Conference semifinal upset win over second-seeded Triton, 6-4. The sophomore also drew a walk and stole a base in the Trojans’ 12th victory — the program’s highest win total since 2014 when it reached the third round of state playoffs.
- Grayson Hulen, Gray’s Creek baseball — The senior delivered in a big week for the Bears, who beat Cape Fear in extra innings and then knocked off top-seeded Lumberton to win the United 8 Conference baseball tournament championship for the second time in the last four years. The Colts beat Gray’s Creek in the last two U8 championship games — both by just one run. In last week’s payback win, Hulen held Cape Fear scoreless in five innings pitched as the Bears rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 in eight innings. In the 5-3 championship win over Lumberton, Hulen had an RBI and a pair of sacrifice hits.
- Vanni Intini, Fayetteville Academy girls lacrosse — With a historic senior season as the only girls lacrosse player in North Carolina ever to reach 500 goals, Intini led the unbeaten Eagles with 18 goals and five assists in a 2-0 week to earn the No. 1 seed in NCISAA Division II heading into playoffs. Intini had 11 goals and three assists in a 20-11 win over Arendell Parrott Academy, and then she scored seven goals to go with two assists in a 16-4 win over Cape Fear Academy. Intini averages 7.4 goals and 3.9 assists per game.
- Sophia Mercado, Terry Sanford soccer — A freshman for the Bulldogs, Mercado got her 12th goal of the season in a 1-0 win against Overhills as Terry Sanford locked up second place in the AAC standings behind Pine Forest. She also had a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Triton last week.
- Aminata Morgan, Terry Sanford track and field — The senior won the 100-meter dash with a personal-record time of 12.01 seconds at the AAC championship at Reid Ross, recognized as a MileSplit NC Elite Performance.
- Aubrey Multerer, Freedom Christian softball — The freshman hit hard for Freedom in a 2-0 week that set the Patriots up with a No. 2 seed and two-round bye in the NCISAA Division II playoffs after winning the Sandhills Conference for the third year straight. Multerer went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBIs in a three-inning romp over Village Christian, and then she went long against Northwood Temple with her second home run of the season in another mercey-rule win. Freedom has won the NCISAA Division III state championship four times, including last season.
- Jordynn Parnell, South View softball — The Tigers’ junior Duke commit helped them win the United 8 Conference tournament championship, striking out 21 batters in a pair of wins and notching three hits of her own as South View claimed its first league tourney title since 2005. Parnell, who ranks 15th in the state with 188 strikeouts this season, fanned 10 in a 7-2 win over Cape Fear and went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. In a 2-1 win over regular-season champ Gray’s Creek for the tournament title, Parnell struck out 11 and went 2-for-4.
- Emma Parson, Cape Fear soccer — A junior goalkeeper, Parson didn’t allow a goal in a 2-0-1 week for the Colts. Ranked 12th in the NCHSAA 3A East with a 1.11 goals-against average, Parson relieved Lilliana Colon in a 7-0 win over South View, then she played all 80 in tight shutouts against Clinton (0-0) and Gray’s Creek (1-0), making seven combined saves in those games as Cape Fear to lock up the United 8 Conference regular-season championship for the fifth year straight.
- Brannon Quinton, Cape Fear boys lacrosse — Quinton had a season-high seven goals and an assist, and the Colts needed every one of them to beat Terry Sanford 15-14. The senior put up 14 points with nine goals and five assists as Cape Fear went 1-1 against the Bulldogs, avenging a 17-9 loss earlier in the week and giving the Colts a half-game lead for third place in league standings.
- Michael Rice Jr., Douglas Byrd track and field — Already crowned an indoor state champion this year with his NCHSAA 3A 500-meter title and time of 1:04.48 ranked third in North Carolina and 14th in the nation, Rice ran to two more wins at the U8 championships. The senior won the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.19 seconds, and he won the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.80.
- Bella Ross, Jack Britt track and field — The junior set a personal record in 100-meter preliminaries with a time of 12.07 seconds and then she won the U8 championship with a 12.08. Ross also took first place in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 5.5 inches.
- Ellison Sherrill, Terry Sanford girls lacrosse — The senior put up eight goals in a 17-4 win over Cape Fear, netting her season high, and then added a goal in a 7-3 win over Jack Britt as the Bulldogs took third place in the conference.
- Jalen Turner, Pine Forest track and field — At the AAC championship meet, Turner took first place in the 400-meter dash with a personal-record time of 49.18 seconds. He also ran a personal record in the 200-meter dash and finished second with a time of 21.93. The junior also anchored Pine Forest’s second-place 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams.
- William Walters, Gray’s Creek golf — The Bears junior shot a 71 for low round at the U8 tournament at Baywood and he qualified for the NCHSAA 4A championship at Pinehurst.
910Preps Athlete of the Week Award winners for 2025:
- Hailey McFarley, Gray’s Creek softball
- Amari Adams, Cape Fear softball
- Madisyn Norton, Jack Britt softball
- Maddy Clark, South View softball
- Kaylen Sprague, Jack Britt soccer
- Isabella Hernandez, Jack Britt wrestling
- Desaya Ellis, Jack Britt basketball
- Michael Rice Jr., Douglas Byrd track & field
- Jordynn Parnell, South View basketball
- Kaygan Draughon, Terry Sanford swimming
- Logan Stafford, Trinity Christian basketball
- Karsten Swinney, Freedom Christian basketball
- Devin Tew, Pine Forest swimming
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 910Preps Athlete of the Week April 28-May 4, 2025 spring playoffs
