Cast your vote now for the winners of HSOT Honors' 2023 fall sports finalists.
Sport

Cast your vote now for the winners of HSOT Honors’ 2023 fall sports finalists.

Posted on by Matthew Reynolds


As the 2023 high school fall sports season comes to an end, it is now time to announce the finalists for the HighSchoolOT Honors fall sports awards.

This year, the categories for most sports have been increased, and individual sports will have coaches of the year chosen.

Instead of waiting until the end of the school year, voting will occur immediately. The voting period is from noon on Dec. 13 to 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31. You can vote once a day in each category at HighSchoolOT.com/Honors.

During the autumn sports season, we have accepted submissions from the general public. After the season ended, our team gathered to evaluate the submissions and select five finalists for each category. These finalists have been included on the voting ballot for the public to choose from.

The recipients of the autumn sports accolades will be revealed at a virtual ceremony on January 15th.

Nominations for winter sports will commence on January 1st at 12:00 PM.

These are the candidates for the 2023 fall sports awards.

Cross Country Awards

Cast your vote for the Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year!

  • Blake Nicholson from Christ the King has become the first male runner in the school’s history to win the NCHSAA 1A state championship with an impressive time of 15:36.84. He was also the only runner in the 1A category to finish in under 16 minutes, solidifying his first-place win. As a result, Nicholson was chosen for the first-team of the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Dawson Reeves from Christ School placed second in the NCISAA 4A state championship race, clocking in at 15:36.65. He was chosen as a first-team member for the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Gabriel Schmid, representing Orange High School, achieved victory in the NCHSAA 3A state championship by completing the race in 15 minutes and 14.75 seconds. This marked his second consecutive state title and he crossed the finish line more than 30 seconds before the runner-up. As a result, he was chosen to be part of the first-team for the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Tyler Surface, from North Raleigh Christian, achieved victory in the NCISAA 4A state championship by completing the race in 15:21.86. He was recognized for his performance by being selected for the first-team HSOT All-State Team.

  • Noah Valyo, a student at Athens Drive High School, became the NCHSAA 4A state champion with a remarkable time of 15:05.45. This was a historic moment for Athens Drive as it marked their first ever boys cross country state championship. Valyo also set a new record at Ivey Redmon by finishing the race more than seven seconds ahead of the previous record. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the HSOT All-State Team.

Cast your vote for the Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year!

  • Caroline Barton, a junior at Carolina Day, emerged victorious in the NCISAA 2A state championship, clocking in at 18:16.99. She was also recognized as a second-team member of the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Mary Bonner Dalton, representing Myers Park High School, achieved victory at the NCHSAA 4A state championship. She broke the state record with an impressive time of 16:56, surpassing the previous record by almost 30 seconds. This time also set a new course record at Ivey Redmon. Bonner Dalton is the first female cross country runner from Myers Park to become a state champion. She was also selected for the HSOT All-State Team’s first team.

  • Morgan Boonshaft, a senior at Providence Day, won the NCISAA 4A state championship with a time of 17:34.55. She finished almost 38 seconds ahead of her competitors. Boonshaft was also chosen as a first-team member on the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Morgan Boonshaft, a senior at Providence Day, won the NCISAA 4A state championship for First Flight with a time of 17:34.55. She finished with a margin of victory of nearly 38 seconds. She was also chosen as a first-team member for the HSOT All-State Team.

  • Catherine Parker from N.C. Science & Math-Durham emerged victorious in the NCHSAA 2A state championship race, clocking in at 18:32.64. Her impressive performance also led her team to the overall victory. Parker finished 36 seconds ahead of the runner-up and was recognized as a third-team selection for the HSOT All-State Team.

Cast your vote for the Cross Country Coach of the Year!

  • The NCHSAA 3A state championship was won by Croatan’s boys cross country team, led by Andy Buller.

  • The North Lincoln girls’ cross country team achieved their fourth consecutive state championship victory by winning the NCHSAA 3A state championship.

  • Kailyn Lockie (Marvin Ridge) — The Marvin Ridge boys cross country team won the NCHSAA 4A state championship, beating Broughton by 49 points.

  • The girls cross country team from Cardinal Gibbons, led by Nick Mangum, emerged victorious in the NCHSAA 4A state championship, putting an end to Cuthbertson’s five-year winning streak.

  • Zach Marchinko (Jesse Carson) — Jesse Carson finished third in the NCHSAA 3A state championship race and earned an 8th place finish in the final HSOT rankings.

Football Awards

Cast your vote for the Football Defensive Player of the Year!

  • Sa’Mad Bell (Dudley) was a standout player during his senior year, racking up 93 tackles with 35 being for a loss and 19 sacks. He also had 25 quarterback hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble.

  • During his senior year, Reagan Printy (Hoggard) had a total of 194 tackles, consisting of 100 solo tackles and 94 assisted tackles. He also made 27.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 14 quarterback hurries. In addition, he defended five passes, had one interception, forced three fumbles, and recovered two fumbles. Hoggard’s team was the runner-up in the NCHSAA 4A state championship.

  • In his final year at Wilson Prep, Christian Richardson stood out as a standout player. He led the state with an impressive 14 interceptions, gaining a total of 388 yards and scoring two touchdowns. He also had 104 tackles, defended 18 passes, and recovered two fumbles. On the offensive side, he rushed for 1,359 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on just 92 carries.

  • Jaden Smith, a player for West Charlotte, made a total of 91 tackles, with 62 of them being solo tackles. He also had 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Additionally, he had 14 quarterback hurries, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 punt blocks, 2 field goal blocks, 13 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 2 defensive touchdowns. He has committed to playing for Michigan.

  • Malcolm Ziglar (Fuquay-Varina) — Malcolm Ziglar is a five-star defensive back committed to UNC. As a senior, he recorded 2 interceptions with 8 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recover for a touchdown. He had 19 total touchdowns on the season.

Cast your vote for the Football Offensive Player of the Year now!

  • Jadyn Davis from Providence Day had a successful senior year, completing 204 out of 288 passes for 3,370 yards and 43 touchdowns while only throwing 9 interceptions. He also scored 3 rushing touchdowns. Davis has committed to play for Michigan.

  • Keenan Jackson (Weddington) — Caught 102 passes for 1,704 yards and 19 touchdowns, also recorded 1 rushing touchdown. Helped Weddington win the NCHSAA 4A state championship where he was named the championship game MVP. UNC commit.

  • Tyler Mason from Mount Airy had an impressive performance, rushing for a total of 2,213 yards and scoring 39 touchdowns. He played a crucial role in helping his team claim the NCHSAA 1A state championship for the second consecutive year and was even recognized as the MVP of the championship game. He has committed to playing for Virginia Tech in the future.

  • In 13 games, Johnathan Montague, also known as Clayton, had 1,601 passing yards with 13 touchdown passes and only 3 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,578 yards and scored 41 touchdowns as a quarterback.

  • Jonathan Paylor (Cummings) had a successful season, rushing for 2,378 yards and scoring 30 touchdowns on 169 carries. He also caught 25 passes for 381 yards and 3 touchdowns, and had 12 total returns for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has committed to playing for NC State.

Cast your vote for the Special Teams Player of the Year in football!

  • Javarius Green, also known as Crest, had a total of 638 return yards for UNC after returning 14 kickoffs for 515 yards and scoring 3 touchdowns. He also recorded 22 punts for 123 yards and an additional touchdown.

  • Nolan Hauser (Hough) — ​Finished his high school career as the national record holder for most career field goals with 66. As a senior, made 12-of-15 field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards, and connected on 47-of-48 extra-point attempts. An 69 kickoffs this season, he recorded 59 touchbacks. Clemson commit.

  • Gavin Laton, from Pinecrest, punted 26 times for their team, and 25 of those punts successfully landed inside the 20-yard line. His average punt distance was 37.8 yards, with his longest punt reaching 57 yards.

  • Zachariah Melton, also known as Monroe, had a total of 29 kick returns for 1,165 yards and scored seven touchdowns from those returns. Four of the touchdowns were from punt returns and three were from kick returns.

  • During his second year on the team, Francisco Rodriguez from Cape Fear High School successfully completed 14 out of 16 field goal attempts, with a longest kick of 47 yards. He also made 33 out of 34 extra-point attempts. Additionally, out of 28 kickoffs, he recorded 6 touchbacks.

Vote now for Football Coach of the Year.

  • Weddington High School, led by Andy Capone, achieved their first 4A football state championship this year. This was their fourth title in school history. The Warriors ended the season with a record of 14-2 and were ranked as the top team in the final HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Joe Glass (Hickory) — ​After Hickory went winless three seasons ago, the Red Tornadoes posted a perfect 16-0 record this fall, winning the NCHSAA 3A football state championship.

  • D.J. McFadden of Independence High School led his team to an 11-win season, marking the second consecutive year of such success. This is a significant improvement from the past few years, where the team had not reached double-digit wins since 2014. The Patriots made it to the NCHSAA 4A western regional championship game, but unfortunately fell short to the eventual state champion, Weddington.

  • Bunker Hill High School, led by Albert Reid, achieved their first football conference championship since 1989 this season. The team had a perfect 7-0 record in the Catawba Valley 2A Conference and finished with a strong 13-1 overall record. Unfortunately, they were defeated by eventual state champions Reidsville in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 2A state playoffs.

  • LaMonte Williamson (West Columbus) — West Columbus made the best run in school history, advancing to the NCHSAA 1A eastern regional championship game before losing to perennial power Tarboro. The Vikings were 12-2 overall and won the Waccamaw 1A/2A Conference with a 6-0 record.

Golf Awards

Cast your vote for the Girls Golfer of the Year!

  • Victoria Davis, representing Cary Christian School, emerged as the champion in the NCISAA Division II state competition with a total score of 3-under 147 over the course of two days. Despite being only in 8th grade, she displayed impressive skill and talent.

  • Leah Edwards, representing Northwest Guilford, made school history by becoming the first female golf state champion. In a playoff hole, she defeated Elizabeth Rudisill, the defending NCHSAA 4A state champion.

  • Jillian Fatkin from South Brunswick emerged victorious in the NCHSAA 3A state championship with a total score of 9-over 153. This makes Fatkin the first female golfer from South Brunswick to claim the state title.

  • Jenna Kim, a student at Durham Academy, achieved her second consecutive victory at the NCISAA Division I state championship this autumn. She successfully defended her title from when she was in 8th grade. Kim achieved a two-day score of -4, with a total of 140 points. She finished 14 strokes ahead of the runner-up and also led Durham Academy to win the team title.

  • Malerie Lague, a student at Christ the King, emerged victorious as the NCHSAA 1A/2A girls golf state champion with a final score of +3 (147) after two days of play. After being a runner-up in 2022, Lague now holds the title of the first ever girls golf state champion for Christ the King.

“Cast your vote for the Girls Golf Coach of the Year!”

  • Leah Edwards of Northwest Guilford led her team to a second-place finish at the NCHSAA 4A state championships in girls’ golf, with Pinecrest taking the top spot by a margin of 10 strokes. Despite this, Edwards claimed the individual championship after winning a playoff hole against the previous year’s title holder.

  • Jordan’s girls golf team, led by Tim Mahon, placed fourth in the NCHSAA 4A state championship. Their total score of 466 over two days was 17 strokes behind first place team Pinecrest. Emerson Dever from Jordan also had a strong individual showing, finishing in third place with a score only one stroke behind the top two players.

  • The girls golf team from South Central, led by Cotton Nicholson, achieved their first state championship victory at Foxfire Golf Club. They finished with a 32-stroke lead over the runner-up team in the NCHSAA 3A tournament.

  • Durham Academy, led by Kevin Wicker, claimed their second consecutive NCISAA Division I state championship by a dominant 61 stroke lead over North Raleigh Christian. Their freshman golfer Jenna Kim also defended her individual title.

  • Jamie Williams from Pinecrest High School led the girls golf team to victory once again as they claimed their second consecutive NCHSAA 4A state championship this autumn. The team triumphed by a margin of 10 strokes at Pinehurst No. 6 and has now secured three out of the last five state titles. With this win, they have also equalled the record for the most team titles in NCHSAA history, at six.

Soccer Awards

Vote now for the Offensive Player of the Year in Boys Soccer.

  • Desmond Bullard of Gray Stone Day had a successful season, scoring a total of 34 goals and 24 assists in 25 games. He ended the season with a total of 91 points and a perfect record of 6-for-6 on penalty kicks. Bullard was recognized for his achievements by being selected for the all-state team by the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association on his way to winning the NCHSAA 1A state championship.

  • John Franck from New Hanover had a successful season, scoring 62 points in 24 games with 26 goals and 10 assists. He had an average of 2.6 points per game for the Wildcats and was recognized as an all-state player by the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.

  • Fernando Hernandez was the top scorer for Southwestern Randolph during his sophomore season this autumn, tallying 124 points in 23 games. He netted 49 goals and had 26 assists, averaging 5.4 points per game. He was also chosen to be a part of the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team.

  • In his senior year of 2023, Dylan Swinehart from Charlotte Country Day achieved a total of 56 points in 22 games with 23 goals and 10 assists. His average points per game was 2.5, earning him a spot on the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team.

  • In his final year of high school, Drew Waller from West Cabarrus accumulated a total of 102 points in 25 matches. He successfully scored 43 goals out of 127 shots and also had 16 assists, leading to him being recognized with all-state accolades by the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.

Cast your vote for the Defensive Player of the Year in Boys Soccer!

  • Paddy Eagan, a student at Cardinal Gibbons, had a successful senior year as a goalkeeper with a record of 13 wins, 7 losses, and 3 ties. He saved 126 out of 155 shots on goal, resulting in a save percentage of 80%. His average goals allowed per game was 1.2 and he achieved 9 shutouts in 23 games. For his impressive performance, Eagan was selected for the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team.

  • Cole Freeman, a junior at Ardrey Kell, had an impressive season in goal this fall. He achieved a record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and 4 ties, and managed to keep a clean sheet in 13 out of 22 games played. He only allowed 10 goals out of 63 shots on goal, averaging less than one goal per game. His outstanding performance earned him all-state recognition from the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association.

  • Daniel Martin of Cox Mill is a senior defender who received recognition from the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team this season. He also contributed one goal on the offensive end.

  • Paul Northcutt (South Mecklenburg) — ​As a senior in goal this fall, Northcutt recorded a record of 11-3-1, helping South Mecklenburg to the 4A state championship. He allowed just 13 goals and made 93 saves. The average goals scored against Northcutt was just 0.674.

  • Kai Reece, the leader of the First Flight boys soccer team, played a crucial role in helping the Nighthawks achieve a remarkable 22-0-1 record and win the NCHSAA state championship. Throughout the entire season, First Flight only conceded 6 goals. For his exceptional performance, Reece was selected for the N.C. Soccer Coaches Association All-State Team.

Cast your vote for the Boys Soccer Coach of the Year now!

  • Foster Kyei from Southern Durham led his school’s boys soccer team to their first ever conference championship. The team ended the season with an impressive 20-3-2 record, going undefeated in their conference with a 13-0-1 record. Their success included a victory against Carrboro, breaking the Jaguars’ 56-game conference winning streak.

  • Franklin Academy, led by Austin Latta, emerged as the victor of the NCHSAA 2A state championship after defeating Community School of Davidson with a score of 5-0. The team ended their season with an impressive 20-4-3 record and dominated their opponents in the playoffs with a score margin of 38-2. As a result, Franklin Academy secured the No. 9 spot in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • David Miller, the boys soccer coach of Jacksonville, had a successful final season with a record of 19 wins, 5 losses, and 2 ties overall. He also had a 10-1-1 record in the Big East 3A/4A Conference. Miller will be retiring after this season.

  • Juan Ramirez, representing First Flight, led his team to victory in the NCHSAA 3A state championship. They ended the season with a perfect record, only conceding 6 goals throughout the entire season. As a result, the Nighthawks were ranked first in the HighSchoolOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Eric White from South Mecklenburg led his boys soccer team to victory as they claimed the No. 24 seed in the 4A West and won the NCHSAA state championship with a 1-1 (6-5) victory against Apex Friendship. This was an impressive feat as the Sabres became the lowest-seeded team in any sport to win a NCHSAA state title. With a record of 17-6-3, South Meck finished the season strong and was ranked No. 3 in the HSOT Top 25.

Tennis Awards

Vote now for the Girls Tennis Player of the Year.

  • McKinley Battle, representing Rocky Mount, became the state champion in girls’ tennis as a junior by defeating Rennie Liu from Forestview with a score of 3-6, 6-0, 6-1. This victory comes after being eliminated in the first round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs last year. McKinley is the first girl from Rocky Mount to win the state championship in tennis and had a perfect record of 27-0 this season.

  • Allison Harris (Broughton) — ​Broughton’s Allison Harris defeated Jordan’s Samantha Slowik 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the NCHSAA 4A singles state championship match, becoming Broughton’s 16th individual champion. Harris finished the season with a 26-1 record.

  • Reworded:
    Eliza Perry, a senior from Hendersonville, was part of the NCHSAA 2A doubles state championship team. This fall, she achieved a perfect 17-0 record. This marked her and Ramsey Ross’ second consecutive doubles title.

  • Teagan Reilly of Myers Park had a successful season, ending with a 28-1 record. Her only defeat was in the NCHSAA 4A singles semifinals against eventual state champion Allison Harris from Broughton. Reilly was defeated 6-3 6-4.

  • Brianna Viets, a member of Triangle Math & Science, achieved great success as a senior on the NCHSAA 1A state championship team. With a perfect 8-0 record, Viets and her partner Sasha Korjova defeated Mount Airy’s Carrie Marion and Ella Brant 6-1, 6-1 in the final match. As the first players from Tigers to win an individual girls tennis title, it was a historic moment for the team.

Choose now for Girls Tennis Coach of the Year!

  • Heather Bell, also known as Franklin, was the runner-up in the 3A West division this season and was ranked 24th in the HSOT Top 25 rankings. They had an overall record of 18-1 in the fall.

  • Susan Brady (Terry Sanford) — ​Terry Sanford finished the season with an 18-1 record and was the NCHSAA 3A runner-up, falling to undefeated Lake Norman Charter in the championship. Terry Sanford finished ranked No. 8 in the HSOT Top 25.

  • Jennifer Coleman, representing New Hanover, achieved the title of NCHSAA 4A state runner-up this year with a successful 25-1 record. The team’s only defeat was in the state championship against the undefeated Myers Park. The Wildcats were ranked No. 3 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings at the end of the season.

  • Ed Flynn from Myers Park High School led his team to victory in the NCHSAA 4A state championship against New Hanover, in a highly anticipated match between two undefeated teams. The Mustangs ended the season as the top-ranked team in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Luke Graham (Mount Airy) — ​Mount Airy completed an undefeated season and successfully defending its NCHSAA 1A state championship this season. With a 25-0 record, the Granite Bears finished No. 5 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

Volleyball Awards

Vote now for the Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year.

  • Macy Bolyard (Northern Guilford) – In her final year, Macy Bolyard achieved a total of 322 kills with a success rate of 55.4%. She also had 86 aces and 444 assists.

  • Kiki Horne, a player from Millbrook, was named the Gatorade North Carolina Player of the Year and has committed to UCLA. This season, she had 392 kills, 48 aces, 29 blocks, and 263 digs for her team. Her kill percentage was 48.8%.

  • Sally Perez, a player for Middle Creek, was part of Team USA and has committed to UCLA. Throughout the season, she achieved 479 kills with a kill percentage of 48.6%. She also had 47 aces, 42 assists, 24 blocks, and 149 digs, contributing to her team’s win as state champions.

  • Laynie Smith, a senior at Chapel Hill, had 353 kills and a kill percentage of 64.6% during the fall season. She also contributed 41 aces, 33 blocks, 75 digs, and 8 assists for the Tigers.

  • Asia Thigpen of Green Level High School had an impressive performance this past season, recording 364 kills with a kill percentage of 48.1%. In addition, she also contributed 26 aces, 10 assists, 160 digs, and 9 blocks. Thigpen has committed to play college volleyball at the University of Kentucky.

Cast your vote for the Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year now!

  • Meleah Foster, a middle hitter from Brevard, received the MVP title for the NCHSAA state championship.

  • Mallory Jenkins (Fike) has officially committed to playing college volleyball at Tennessee Tech, standing tall at 6-foot-4.

  • Gabby Nichols (Reagan) — ​As a junior at Reagan, Gabby Nichols recorded 95 total blocks and 47 digs. She added 247 kills with a kill percentage of 61.4%, 14 aces, and 6 assists. Nichols is committed to Penn State.

  • During her final year at Southwestern Randolph, Coley Shiflet tallied 595 digs, along with 96 assists and 42 aces.

  • As a senior, Mikayla Taborn from Franklinton achieved 229 total blocks, 46 digs, 207 kills, 8 aces, and 4 assists for the Rams.

Choose the Best Volleyball Coach of the Year — CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY

  • Orange High School’s volleyball team, led by Hope Heverly, made it to the NCHSAA 3A state championship game but unfortunately lost in five sets to Kings Mountain. The Panthers had a successful season with a 27-5 overall record, winning the Central 3A Conference title with a 13-1 record, and ranking No. 11 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Molly Hill, representing Polk County, led her team to victory in the NCHSAA 1A volleyball state championship against Falls Lake Academy. With a record of 28-3, Polk County ended the season strong and ranked at No. 17 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Dalton Lewis, representing Ashe County, led the volleyball team to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3A state playoffs. Unfortunately, they were defeated by North Iredell in a five-set match. Despite this, Ashe County ended the season with an impressive 21-4 record, secured the Northwestern 3A/4A Conference title, and was ranked No. 16 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Heather Pasour from Kings Mountain led her team to victory in the NCHSAA 3A volleyball state championship, winning in a five-set match against Orange. Their impressive record of 34-1 secured them the title. Additionally, the Mountaineers dominated the Big South 3A Conference with a perfect 14-0 record and were ranked fourth in the final HSOT Top 25 rankings.

  • Middle Creek High School’s volleyball team, led by Jodi Scoggins, achieved a remarkable feat by winning the NCHSAA 4A state championship in a clean sweep against Cox Mill. Despite the absence of their star player Sally Perez, who was representing USA Volleyball at the time, the Mustangs had an impressive record of 26 wins and only 1 loss. They also claimed the Southwest Wake 4A Conference title with a 13-1 record. As a result, Middle Creek was ranked #1 in the HSOT Top 25 rankings at the end of the season.

Source: highschoolot.com