The Sampson Independent ALL COUNTY SPORTS Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 1 Congratulations NewtoNTAILGATE Grove SPECIAL 1380 Harnett-Dunn Highway$31.99 to all our athletes. 910.5943.2218 warsaw 2669 NC | 910.293.2218

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INCLUDES: 8 – Piece Chicken, 2 – Dozen Hushpuppies, 1 – Pt. Bar-B-Q, 1 – Pt. Potato Salad 1 – Pt. Coleslaw, 1 – Gallon Tea ASK ABOUT OUR COME SEE US! Daily Specials BAR-B-Q CHICKEN NEWTON GROVE Sampson Athletes1380 Harnett-Dunn Highway 910.594.0415 2 Pints of Brunswick Stew WARSAW CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL HOBBTON HIGH2669 SCHOOL NC-24 | 910.293.2218 only $8.99 Anna Perry Sinclair Alexis Reid Grade: 10 HARRELLS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Grade: 12 Sport: Soccer 2 Thighs & Fry Sport: Track and Field Positions: Center Midfield Albertonly Thornton$4.99 Positions: Discus and Shot-Put Grade: 11 What is your most memorable Sport: Baseball What is your most memorable game? When we beat Dixon this game? When I broke my personal Positions: Center Field www.scnbnc.com Anna Perry past season in the last 30 seconds to Alexis record by hitting a 29.3 at the meet Sinclair advance to the third round of the play- What is your most memorable Reid with Princeton and Rosewood. offs. game? Chasing down and catching Albert a deep fly ball at Rocky Mount Who do you most admire? My dad. Who do you most admire? My mom because she Thornton Academy in the playoffs. is truly the most selfless and kind-hearted person I What are your plans after High School? I plan know. She will give up anything to come watch me on attending Penn State Beaver to double major in play or get me to practice no matter how long the Who do you most admire? My Criminal Justice and Business Administration and drive. grandmother Ann Thornton for her amazing also play Division III Volleyball. spirit. What are your plans after High School? I plan What motivates you to play your best? My to attend a four-year university and major in sports What are your plans after High School? I mom, brother, and friends are what motivates me medicine with plans to play collegiate soccer. hope to attend NC State to obtain a degree in and always knowing that there are people rooting for Agriculture. me to succeed. What motivates you to play your best? Having ______my coaches and teammates always pushing me to What motivates you to play your best? My play at my highest level no matter the situation. At family motivates me to practice and play my very Amalia Aguilar the start of every game, my ultimate goal is to give best. They have shown me how to walk the walk Grade: 10 110% for 80 minutes for my coaches, teammates, and not just talk to the talk. Sport: Track myself. ______Positions: N/A ______Amber Jones Grade: 10 What is your most memorable Akiya Stywall Sport: Softball game? Conference. Grade: N/A Positions: First Base, Pitcher Amalia Sport: Track and Field Aguilar Who do you most admire? My Positions: N/A What is your most memorable mom. game? Our first playoff game **All-County Questionnaire not What are your plans after High School? Attend submitted** Amber against Faith Christian School was Jones memorable because we played our UNCW and get my bachelors in nursing. Akiya best had fun. Stywall What motivates you to play your best? My ______Who do you most admire? My grandma parents motivate me to do my best. ______For more athletes, see CLINTON page 2 because she was a very strong woman and loved watching me practice pitching. For more athletes, see HOBBTON page 4 What are your plans after High School? Attend UNC and become a nurse.

What motivates you to play your best? By the desire to get better every day and do the best for my teammates. ______LAKEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL UNION HIGH SCHOOL For more athletes, see HARRELLS page 3 Ariyon Bell Autumn Weeks Grade: N/A Grade: 12 Sport: Track Sport: Softball Positions: N/A MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL Positions: Third Base, Right Field What is your most memorable Annalise Register What is your most memorable game? My most memorable game was game? Senior night against Lakewood. when I made my first touchdown in Grade: 10 Ariyon 5th grade. Sport: Track and Field Autumn Bell Positions: High Jump, 4x4 Relay, Weeks Who do you most admire? Anyone 400M Dash that has a good work ethic and strives Who do you most admire? I admire to reach their goals. Russell Wilson. What is your most memorable What are your plans after High School? Attend What are your plans after High School? My Annalise game? The first meet that I did high jump. UNC and major in Exercise Science and travel the plans after High School is to get recruited to a Register world. college and become a Physician. Who do you most admire? Sarah What motivates you to play your best? God, my What motivates you to play your best? I get my Brown. motivation by thinking about getting recruited to a mom, and my teammates all give me the opportunity college. What are your plans after High School? Attend and motivation to play my best. ______a 4-year college. ______Brennyn Rouse Britt Burley What motivates you to play your best? My Grade: 9 Grade: 12 Sport: Softball family and my team. ______Sport: Baseball Positions: Catcher, Outfield Positions: Pitcher, First Base Caden Hodges What is your most memorable Grade: 12 What is your most memorable game? The Union game that last three Sport: Golf game? The North Duplin game at hours but after a couple long innings Positions: N/A home. It was the best we played all Brennyn we won. Britt Rouse Burley season as a team. **All-County Questionnaire not Who do you most admire? My submitted** Who do you most admire? My coaches for taking the time to work with me and my parents because they have always pushed me to play team. They truly believe in us and that’s all I could Caden Hodges my best. ask for from them. ______What are your plans after High School? Going What are your plans after High School? I plan For more athletes, see MIDWAY page 6 to Campbell University and major in Trust and to go to college, hopefully for one of my sports and Wealth Management. major in psychology.

What motivates you to play your best? The What motivates you to play your best? My amount of faith that my parents and coaches have in Coaches and Teammates. me. They always show how much they believe in me ______and I try not to disappoint them. For more athletes, see UNION page 8 ______

For more athletes, see LAKEWOOD page 5

Stop by and shop our summer looks! Monday 10AM–5PM, Tuesday 10AM–5PM, Wednesday Closed, Thursday 10AM–5PM, Friday 10AM–5PM, Saturday Closed, Sunday Closed 910-592-6305 2 Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 ALL COUNTY SPORTS The Sampson Independent Congratulations Athletes!

Jasmine Jackson Clinton Grade: 12 Sport: Soccer From page 1 Positions: Center Back Alex Evans What is your most memorable Grade: 9 game? East Duplin my sophomore Sport: Baseball Jasmine year. I was thrown into the game Positions: Short Stop, Pitcher, Jackson without warning and it was the first Outfield got game I actually got to play in my high school career. What is your most memorable Alex game? Pitching my first full game Who do you most admire? I’ve admired a Evans against our rivals. lot of people in my life but the ones that have influenced me the most were the ones who shaped Who do you most admire? My me into being a better person on and off the field: parents. My parents. They have always been my biggest supporters and have supported me through all my What are your plans after High School? To ups and downs. Without them, I would not be the attend college and become a dentist. person I am today. The person I looked up to most when I was little was Adam Smith. When he used to What motivates you to play your best? My come over after a long day of life guarding to come dad and how the game keeps both the mental and play and make me a better soccer player. I remember physical in shape. telling myself I wanted to grow up and be as good as ______he is. If it wasn’t for them doing that I would’ve never had the experience to be on the best travel team Ally Sutter Dawson Smith coached by the greatest man, Chris Sutter. And a big Grade: 10 Grade: 9 thanks to Jeff Smith for giving me the best four years Sport: Soccer Sport: Baseball of my high school soccer career. Positions: Midfielder Positions: Catcher, Printer What are your plans after High School? Attend What is your most memorable What is your most memorable UNC-Wilmington to major in Elementary Education. game? Beating Croatan (a very strong game? When I tied the game with a Ally team) in the second round of the Dawson back-side double. What motivates you to play your best? Not Sutter playoffs and scoring the only goal to Smith wanting to let my teammates and coaches down. move us forward. Who do you most admire? My ______parents. Who do you most admire? Coach Adam Smith Johnathon Blackmon for his work ethic and his positive attitude and What are your plans after High School? To Grade: 11 knowledge about the game. He is trustworthy to all, attend college and play baseball. Sport: Track and Field on and off the field. Positions: Shot put and Discus What motivates you to play your best? My dad What are your plans after High School? who pushes me the most and I want to show him What is your most memorable Graduation seems a long ways off since I am just a that I can succeed. game?At East Duplin. I threw a sophomore, but I definitely plan to attend college. I ______Johnathon personal best at this have not decided on a major yet, but have not ruled Blackmon meet in both events that I out the possibility of of continuing to play soccer on Elijah Kirby participated in. some level if given. Grade: 11 Sport: Track Who do you most admire? I admire both of What motivates you to play your best? I am Positions: 4x2, 200, 400 my Coaches for constantly pushing us to be better motivated by supportive coaches (Jeff Smith, Adam athletes and students on and off the field. Smith, and Matt Henderson) and teammates who are What is your most memorable wlays there to lift you up, win or lose. game? At Midway. What are your plans after High School? My ______Elijah plans after high school are to receive a football Kirby Who do you most admire? My scholarship somewhere and major in Agriculture. Andrew Byrd mom. Grade: N/A What motivates you to play your best? My Sport: Golf What are your plans after High School? parents and friends motivate me everyday to try and Positions: N/A Going to college to play football and either study accomplish my goal that i have set for myself. architecture or engineering. ______**All-County Questionnaire not submitted** What motivates you to play your best? Knowing Joshua Lamb that I have my family and friends behind me. Grade: N/A Andrew ______Byrd Sport: Golf ______Positions: N/A Halin Pearson Bailey Spell Grade: 12 **All-County Questionnaire not Grade: 12 Sport: Softball submitted** Sport: Soccer Positions: Third and First Positions: Center Midfielder Joshua Lamb What is your most memorable ______What is your most memorable game? The most memorable game of game? Beating Croatan in the Halin the season was our first conference Lilyanna Wilson Bailey fourth round of the State Playoffs Pearson game against Wallace-Rose Hill. My Grade: 11 Spell my sophomore year. My most vivid grandmother had passed over the Sport: Softball memory of this game was when I weekend, and she always loved being Positions: Pitcher, First Base, Third scored the first goal and just started out on the field to support her grandchildren, so I Base balling, I was so excited! wanted to play for her. We brought home a win that night. What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My parents, Brad and Lilyanna game? My most memorable game was Erin Spell. They have always been my number one Who do you most admire? The person I admire Wilson the last game of the season, against fans, always there to support and encourage me. I the most would have to be my father. He is one of the James Kenan. It was a tough battle for thank my mom and dad for always pushing me to do most hardworking and dedicated people I know. He the team and you could tell the girls my absolute best and to nerver stop when times get introduced me to the sport of softball and stuck by were truly fighting to end the season with a win. tough. my side as a coach along the way. Who do you most admire? I most admire my What are your plans after High School? My What are your plans after High School? After pitching coach, Sterling Holmes, who has helped me plans after high school are to attend East Carolina high school, I plan to attend the University of North prosper in my softball career. Along with my dad as University’s Honors College. I plan to major in Carolina at Chapel Hill to major in psychology. he has been along my side the whole time supporting Biochemistry and minor in Business in hopes of one me with school and travel ball. day coming back to Clinton and opening my own What motivates you to play your best? My dental practice to pursue a career as a Dentist. teammates have always been my motivation to play What are your plans after High School? I plan harder and do my best. I do not believe I would to attend college to get a bachelors degree in biology What motivates you to play your best? The love have stuck with the sport had it not been for my and continue into the PA program. I have always carried for the sport of soccer, the trait teammates over the years. They began to feel like a of being competitive in which I most definitely carry, second family, and they inspired me to be a better What motivates you to play your best? The as well as my parents always pushing me to do my player and not take the game too seriously. coaching staff of my team, the girls motivation on absolute best. ______the field, and in the dugout, and the support from my ______family. Harley Phipps ______Grade: 12 Sport: Softball For more athletes, see CLINTON page 3 Positions: Second Base, Left Field

**All-County Questionnaire not submitted** Harley Phipps ______

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Lockamy/Tek Wishing the Hobbton Wildcats Insurance Agency, Inc and all Sampson County teams 1940 Hobbton Hwy. 701 N Good Luck this season Clinton, NC 910.592.4700 Hannah Cole Clinton Harrells Grade: 11 Sport: Softball From page 2 From page 1 Positions: Short Stop

Payson King Ann Holland Bell What is your most memorable Grade: 12 Grade: 12 game? When we played Faith Sport: Baseball Sport: Soccer Christian in the first round of the Positions: Short Stop, Pitcher Positions: Defender and Goalie Hannah Cole playoffs and won. What is your most memorable What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My game? Having the winning hit against game? Our game against Rocky Mount grandma because she is one of the most kind, Payson Spring Creek on Senior Night. Ann Academy because they are a good team patient, and loving people I know. King Holland and we playoed one of our best games. Who do you most admire? My Bell What are your plans after High School? I hope parents. Everything I do in life, I do it Who do you most admire? My to attend college and study psychology. to make them proud of the son they raised. mom because she always fights through the toughest battles and is a positive What motivates you to play your best? My What are your plans after High School? influence to me. coaches and teammates because they always have my To continue my academic and athletic areer at back and encourage me. Methodist University. What are your plans after High School? I plan ______to attend ECU and major in Speech and Hearing What motivates you to play your best? My Sciences in hopes of becoming a Speech Pathologist. Hudson Griffin mother because she never lets me know when I play Grade: 8 good. I always have to meet her expectations. Also What motivates you to play your best? Not Sport: Golf myself because I truly believe I owe it to myself to wanting to let my teammates down. Positions: N/A play my best. ______Brianna Carr What is your most memorable Spencer Westerbeek Grade: 9 game? When we won by 18 Strokes at Grade: 12 Sport: Softball Hudson River Landing and be co-champs in the Sport: Track Positions: First base and catcher Griffin conference. Position: N/A What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? Colby **All-County Questionnaire not game? The first round of the playoffs. Stoppelbein because of how he led our team this year. submitted** Brianna Who do you most admire? My Spencer Carr What are your plans after High School? Play Westerbeek grandma. ______golf and pursue golf as a profession. What are your plans after High School? Attend Ta’Shawnna Green college and do something in the medical field. What motivates you to play your best? The Grade: 11 reward of putting in hard work and all the accolades Sport: Soccer What motivates you to play your best? By how that come with it. Positions: Forward strong my grandma is. ______What is your most memorable Isabella Rumbold Grade: 11 game? Third round game against Chloe Bowles Sport: Softball Ta’Shawnna Croatan when they were on our half of Grade: 8 Positions: Pitcher, Catcher, and Green the field most of the game but yet we Sport: Soccer Third Base won. Positions: Left and Right Wing, Striker Who do you most admire? My grandmother even What is your most memorable game? Playoff game when we won though she is not here anymore. What is your most memorable Isabella against Faith Christian. game? The first playoff game. Rumbold What are your plans after High School? Chloe Bowles Who do you most admire? My Hopefully go to UNC-Chapel Hill or over seas to Who do you most admire? Molly parents and grandparents because they work very study and major in Neuroscience. Hilton because she is a soccer star and hard to make it to all my games. my assist partner. What motivates you to play your best? Knowing What are your plans after High School? Play that my grandma would be proud of me and having What are your plans after High School? I hope college softball and earn a degree to pursue a career my boyfriends name on my cleats. to play soccer in college. ______in the medical field. What motivates you to play your best? My family. What motivates you to play your best? My Trent Sumner ______Grade: N/A parents because they always push me to work hard. ______Sport: Golf Colby Stoppelbein Positions: N/A Grade: 12 Laura Katherine Glover Sport: Golf Grade: 11 **All-County Questionnaire not Positions: N/A submitted** Sport: Soccer Positions: Left Forward Trent What is your most memorable Sumner game? Senior night where I got to What is your most memorable ______play alongside one of my best friends Colby game? When I scored two corner kicks Stoppelbein and teammate, Hudson Griffin. Tyler Reeves Laura in one game. Grade: N/A Who do you most admire? My Katherine Who do you most admire? My dad Sport: Golf coaches because of everything they do for our team. Glover Positions: N/A because he is always supportive and wants the best for me. What are your plans after High School? Attend **All-County Questionnaire not UNCW this fall. submitted** What are your plans after High School? To go to Meredith College and become a CPA. Tyler What motivates you to play your best? My Reeves family along with every one else who supports me. ______What motivates you to play your best? My team ______because we are all like family. ______Zyon Simpson Ethan Spell Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Lekea Boney Sport: Track Sport: Baseball Positions: N/A Positions: Catcher Grade: 12 Sport: Softball **All-County Questionnaire not What is your most memorable Positions: Center Field submitted** game? When we came back from 7-1 Zyon against Fayetteville Academy. What is your most memorable Ethan game? Our playoff game against Simpson Spell ______Who do you most admire? Grice Lekea Faith. We played as a team and bell because he always worked to get Boney advanced to the second round. better. Who do you most admire? Coach Derek Other All-County Athletes: What are your plans after High School? Go to Mobley because even though we didn’t have the Cristal Ortiz, Track college and get a degree in Sports Science. best record he encouraged us to work harder and Carrie Jordan, Softball get better. What motivates you to play your best? I always want to help my team win. What are your plans after High School? ______Attend UNC-Charlotte and become a pediatrician.

What motivates you to play your best? I know that I’m playing for the glory of God ______

For more athletes, see HARRELLS page 4 Clinton City SChoolS Good SportSmanShip pride Commitment DARK horSeS team mentality SCholar athleteS Whatever It Takes! dark horSe StronG (910)-592-3132 • www.clinton.k12.nc.us 4 Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 ALL COUNTY SPORTS The Sampson Independent

Carlos Aguilar Harrells Grade: 12 Sport: Track From page 3 Positions: Discus Michael Dale Williams What is your most memorable Grade: 9 game? First time I witnessed Donnie Sport: Golf Carlos Davis throw a discus. Positions: N/A Aguilar Who do you most admire? My What is your most memorable mother, she means the world to me. game? The State Championship Michael because I played the best round had What are your plans after High School? Two Dale played all year. years at community college and then transfer. Williams Who do you most admire? My What motivates you to play your best? There’s teammate Colby Stoppelbein. He was alwats someone out there putting in more work, why the only senior on the team and stepped up to lead can’t it be me? the team all the way to the end. ______Will Morgan What are your plans after High School? I hope Grade: 8 Daniel Britt to go to college for an agriculture degre and play Sport: Golf Grade: 12 college golf. Positions: N/A Sport: Baseball Positions: Pitcher, Centerfielder What motivates you to play your best? If one of What is your most memorable our players has a bad day I have to play my best to game? State Qualifier. What is your most memorable back up the team. game? All of them so far. ______Will Morgan Who do you most admire? Colby Daniel Stoppelbein. Britt Who do you most admire? My Rebekah Bryan mom, she’s always taught me to work Grade: 8 What are your plans after High School? I want hard and she’s an example of it. Sport: Soccer to play College Golf. Positions: Right Back and What are your plans after High School? Defensive Mid What motivates you to play your best? I want to Attend SCC and get an electrical license and HVAC make my family proud. Certification. What is your most memorable ______game? Our Rocky Mount game. What motivates you to play your best? All of my Rebekah teammates. Bryan Who do you most admire? Our ______seniors because of how much work Hobbton they have put into our team. Erick Soza From page 1 Grade: 12 What are your plans after High School? To go Sport: Track Anna-Cater Meyer Positions: N/A to college and maybe even play soccer. Grade: 12 Sport: Softball What is your most memorable What motivates you to play your best? My future Positions: Catcher plans. game? The meet at Princeton with Rosewood. ______What is your most memorable Erick game? When we played against Soza Sam Hope Who do you most admire? My dad Anna-Cater Princeton and I made a diving catch. Grade: 11 because he makes me do my best. Meyer Sport: Baseball Who do you most admire? My What are your plans after High School? To go Positions: Pitcher, Short Stop, parents and grandparents. Third Base to college. What are your plans after High School? Attend What motivates you to play your best? My What is your most memorable UNC-Chapel Hill to become a radiologist. game? When I hit a homerun against competition. Sam ______Hope Wayne Country Day. What motivates you to play your best? My dad and how much work he’s put in so I can play well. Gracie Jones Who do you most admire? Coach ______Grade: 10 Johnson because he cares for me and wants me to be Sport: Softball the best I can be. Baylor Harris Positions: Third Base Grade: 11 What are your plans after High School? Go to Sport: Track and Field What is your most memorable college and get a degree in Business. Positions: Sprints and Long Jump game? Our first Lakewood game. What motivates you to play your best? If I play Gracie What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My my best, I might be able to go to college and play Jones game? My first conference track mom because she always pushes me to baseball there. Baylor meet. It was my first time running do better. ______Harris the 4x4 and I remember being so nervous because I was the first leg. What are your plans after High School? To Taylor Grace Register My teammates and friends all told me attend a university and become a nurse. Grade: 9 it wasn’t going to be horrible but it wasn’t until I Sport: Soccer finished running my leg and saw that our team had a What motivates you to play your best? Support of Positions: Right Wing and Forward huge lead did my nerves go away. my family and friends. ______What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My best friend Anna game? When our team won our first Miller. She is the reason why I joined track in the Hayden Whaley Taylor home playoff game in HCA History in first place and she has been my biggest supporter. Grade: 12 Grace three overtimes. This season will be my first one running without her Sport: Golf Register by my side but her constant love and support is one Positions: N/A Who do you most admire? My of the reasons why I continue to push myself to be friend Anna Edwards because she is a better. What is your most memorable good person and is a beast at soccer. game? Second match at Timberlake What are your plans after High School? I plan Hayden because of the wind and difficulty of What are your plans after High School? To to attend college and major in film and minor in the course. hopefully play college soccer and get my degree in history. Whaley orthopedic medicine. Who do you most admire? My What motivates you to play your best? My father because he is the one that got me started. What motivates you to play your best? My dad younger siblings motivate me to play my absolute because he is always there to support me on the field best. When one of us wins we all win and seeing What are your plans after High School? Go to and helps me strive to be a better player. Also, my their smiling faces when I make a play or beat my college for an Associate Degree in Business. mom because she always motivates me to play my personal records is the greatest motivation there is. best and to be the best version of myself. ______What motivates you to play your best? The ______competition between other schools and the team. Ben Langston ______Ty Mathis Grade: 12 Grade: 10 Sport: Baseball Ian McCullen Sport: Baseball Positions: Catcher Grade: 11 Positions: Third Base, Short Stop, Sport: Track and Field Pitcher What is your most memorable Positions: Shot Put game? Beating Rosewood for the first What is your most memorable Ben time earlier in the season. What is your most memorable game? When we came back and won Ty Langston game? The meet that I got 37 feet for Mathis against Fayetteville Academy. Who do you most admire? My the first time. father. Ian McCullen Who do you most admire? My dad. Who do you most admire? My What are your plans after High School? I plan throwing team because we work hard What are your plans after High School? Attend on going to NCSU to major in Ag Science. and build each other up. trade school to become a lineman. What motivates you to play your best? My urge What are your plans after High School? I plan What motivates you to play your best? My Dad. to win. on going to college for welding. ______What motivates you to play your best? Every Bennett Darden Walker Ward time I see my numbers go up I get excited and Grade: 10 Grade: 10 motivates me to improve. Sport: Baseball Sport: Baseball ______Positions: Pitcher, First Base, Positions: First, Pitcher Outfield What is your most memorable For more athletes, see HOBBTON page 5 What is your most memorable game? When I hit the walkoff against Walker game? Our last home game when Bennett Rosewood for the first game of the Ward senior Hill Lanier was honored. Darden season. Who do you most admire? My Who do you most admire? My coaches. Grandpa.

What are your plans after High School? Play What are your plans after High School? baseball at a college or university. Hopefully to continue my baseball career and become an engineer. What motivates you to play your best? My family and my dreams to play baseball after high What motivates you to play your best? My love school. for the game and to be the best I can be. ______The Sampson Independent ALL COUNTY SPORTS Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 5

Miriam Mendieta Courtney Mozee Hobbton Grade: 12 Grade: 12 Sport: Soccer Sport: Track and Field From page 4 Positions: Center Back Positions: 100M, 200M, 4x1

Joseph Rose What is your most memorable What is your most memorable Grade: 11 game? Our win against Princeton at game? Going to States and placing 3rd Sport: Golf Miriam home. Courtney in the 100M Dash. Positions: N/A Mendieta Mozee Who do you most admire? My Who do you most admire? Shelly- What is your most memorable parents. Ann Fraser-Price game? Playing in the Regionals What are your plans after High School? Major What are your plans after High School? I’ll be Joseph in Psychology at UNCW. attending Barton College to major in Nursing. Rose Who do you most admire? My step-dad, Kevin Brown. He has been in my life since I was five and has taught What motivates you to play your best? I was What motivates you to play your best? Wanting me so much about life. He is a great father figure and always taught to do my best on and off the field. to be the best and making my family proud. I really appreciate and look up to him. ______

What are your plans after High School? I plan Nate McLamb Gracie Godbold to attend Community College but not positive about Grade: 11 Grade: 12 what I want to do. I really hope to continue playing Sport: Baseball Sport: Softball golf. Positions: Short Stop Positions: Catcher, Pitcher, Third

What motivates you to play your best? I enjoy What is your most memorable What is your most memorable the game and the friendly competition more than game? When I hit my first varsity game? My last high school game triple against Neuse Charter anything. I am a shy person in general but the game Nate Gracie against Hobbton. We never gave up of golf has helped me come out of that a little. I’m McLamb Godbold and came from behind to win. always motivated to do my best and make my parents Who do you most admire? I admire proud. my dad because he encourages me to Who do you most admire? My ______give 100% in all sports mom and dad for always pushing me to be my best.

Kelvin Stevens What are your plans after High School? My What are your plans after High School? To Grade: N/A plans are to attend a 4-year University. attend Barton College where I will continue my Sport: Track softball career. Position: N/A What motivates you to play your best? My teammates because they are family. What motivates you to play your best? Always **All-County Questionnaire not ______have a good attitude on the field and never give up. submitted** ______Nicole Hernandez Kelvin Grade: 10 Hannah Register Stevens ______Sport: Soccer Grade: 10 Position: N/A Sport: Softball Makenzie Maynor Positions: Pitcher, Short stop, third Grade: 12 **All-County Questionnaire not Sport: Softball submitted** What is your most memorable Positions: Pitcher Nicole game? Our last game against Hobbton Hernandez because everyone played really hard ______Hannah What is your most memorable Register and it was my last game with some game? When we played Lakewood and girls that I have played softball with for Makenzie I had 14 strikeouts. Richard Warren years. Maynor Grade: 12 Who do you most admire? My dad Sport: Baseball Who do you most admire? My mom because she because he pushes me to be the best Positions: Pitcher, Third, and First pushes me to do my best at everything. athlete I can be. What is your most memorable What are your plans after High School? I plan What are your plans after High School? To game? Beating Rosewood for the first to attend a four year college to major in forensic science. go to Emmanuel College and major in Elementary Richard time in six years. Education. Warren Who do you most admire? My What motivates you to play your best? I am What motivates you to play your best? The father because he was the one who really hard on myself which tends to motivate me to support of my family. pushed me and made me who I am today. play my best. ______What are your plans after High School? Attend Mariana Sada ECU and major in Engineering. Hunter Powell Grade: 10 Grade: 12 Sport: Track What motivates you to play your best? Not Sport: Baseball Positions: Runner, Jumper letting my teammates down and wanting to be the Positions: First, Third best I can be. What is your most memorable ______What is your most memorable game? Last year’s winter track game? Against Union in 2019 when I Ruben Espino conference meet. I participated in Hunter hit my first high school home run that Mariana Grade: 12 Sada three events and received three Powell began a rally in which we scored seven medals. I knew track was going to be Sport: Track and Field runs after being down 10-3 in the sixth an amazing opportunity for me. Positions: Discus and Runner inning. We ended up losing 11-10 but it showed our coaches, parents, and us that we could Who do you most admire? My older sister What is your most memorable overcome any bad situation. Denisse. She inspires me and motivates me to be the game? Third meet - threw over 100ft best athlete possible. I can always look up to her for Ruben standing. Who do you most admire? My family is really a advice academically and in sports. Espino big part of my life so I admire my mom and dad the Who do you most admire? Elon most. They have always been there when I needed What are your plans after High School? Attend Musk. them and push me to do my best each and every day. a four year university as a STEM Major. What are your plans after High School? I have What are your plans after High School? To go What motivates you to play your best? My many plans. play baseball and get a degree in Exercise Science teammates who cheer me on when I am running my first four years and then receive my doctorate to or jumping. Their motivation makes me give 100% What motivates you to play your best? When eventually become a physical therapist. effort in my events. people tell me “You can’t do that.” ______What motivates you to play your best? The ones that look up to me as a positive influence in McKenna Thornton their lives because I know one day they will have Grade: 9 people looking up to them as a positive influence in Sport: Softball their lives. Positions: First Base Other All-County Athletes: ______Monica Hernandez, Soccer What is your most memorable Makayla Esquivel, Soccer Kollin Hunter Mireya Ramirez, Soccer game? Our first Lakewood game. Grade: 10 Sport: Baseball McKenna Positions: Catcher, Short Stop, Thornton Who do you most admire? My mom, stepdad, and teammates. Pitcher What is your most memorable What are your plans after High School? To go game? Rosewood at home for fighting to college and play softball at UNCW. Kollin throughout the entire game. Hunter What motivates you to play your best? My Who do you most admire? My family and teammates. parents because they push me to give ______my all in everything I do.

Melvin Cinto What are your plans after High School? Play Grade: 12 football at a 4-year university. Sport: Track Positions: Mid-Distance What motivates you to play your best? The expectations of my teammates and coaches. What is your most memorable Lakewood ______game? The 4x800m Relay, setting a Melvin personal best for my relay team and From page 1 For more athletes, see LAKEWOOD page 6 Cinto gaining first place. Cooper James Who do you most admire? My Grade: 11 family. Sport: Baseball Positions: Third, Second What are your plans after High School? Attend community college and transfer. What is your most memorable game? Rosewood after coming off an What motivates you to play your best? My Cooper injury and fighting through the game. coaches and uncle who have trained me to work hard James and for the people who have been by my side. Who do you most admire? My ______family.

What are your plans after High School? Go to college.

What motivates you to play your best? Playing for my teammates and my family. ______6 Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 ALL COUNTY SPORTS The Sampson Independent Proud of all our athletes for a job well done

Sara Teasdale Lakewood Grade: 11 Midway Sport: Track From page 5 Positions: 1/10 Meter Hurdles, 300 From page 1 Meter Hurdles, High Jump, 4x400 Madelyn Ammons Meter Relay Caden Wilson Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Sport: Softball Sara What is your most memorable Sport: Baseball Positions: Short Stop, Third Teasdale game? My most memorable game Positions: Catcher would have to be when we went to What is your most memorable regionals my freshman year with the What is your most memorable game? The game against Neuse girl 4by400 Meter Relay team. game? East Duplin. Charter when me, Gracie, and Payton Madelyn Caden all hit dingers. Who do you most admire? I most admire my dad Ammons Wilson Who do you most admire? My because he is a great role model, and he pushes me to Parents. Who do you most admire? My do my best and be the best person I can be. father because he always works hard and does his What are your plans after High School? I want best which makes me strive to like him. What are your plans after High School? After to go to a four year university. high school my plans are to attend a four-year college What are your plans after High School? I plan program to further my dream in becoming a doctor. What motivates you to play your best? The to take a year off to do some job shadowing to gain amount of work we put in. We put in too much work more knowledge about the work force. I already have What motivates you to play your best? What to not play our best. my associates degree so this will help me figure out motivates me best is my passion for winning because ______what I would like to do for my career. I do no like losing. ______Chloe Baggett What motivates you to play your best? My Grade: 12 competitiveness makes me continuously try my best. Tate Naylor Sport: Softball Everyone says it’s okay to lose when you have fun but Grade: N/A Positions: Third/Pitcher I’m not having fun when I’m losing. Sport: Golf ______Positions: N/A What is your most memorable game? Conference championship Ramon Schorea What is your most memorable against East Duplin because it was Grade: 11 game? It was our second match at Chloe Baggett such an intense game. Sport: Track and Field Tate Lakewood playing with another guy Positions: Shot Put, Discus Naylor from Rosewood and Princeton. It was a Who do you most admire? My solid round and I struck the ball well. I mom. She is the strongest person I know and she What is your most memorable never lost hope and gave it my all. always turn a bad situation into something positive. game? When I got my first 1st place in Ramon Discus. Who do you most admire? The person I most What are your plans after High School? Attend Schorea admire is my dad. He taught me to be the man I am UNC-W to major in Exercise Science. Who do you most admire? My today. Left me with the determination to give my all uncle. in anything I do. What motivates you to play your best? My family and the girls I play with always motivates What are your plans after High School? Work at What are your plans after High School? Further me to play my best because I don’t want to let them a good job. my education and enter the work force. down. ______What motivates you to play your best? My What motivates you to play your best? My family. I do it for them. family. ______Colin Avery Grade: 12 Reagan Holmes Sport: Baseball Grade: 12 Trent Tanner Positions: Short Stop Sport: Softball Grade: 11 Positions: Pitcher, Outfield, Infield Sport: Baseball What is your most memorable Positions: Short Stop, Third, game? Our last game against East What is your most memorable Pitcher Colin Duplin. game? Our last game against Hobbton. Avery Who do you most admire? My Reagan The whole team played their hearts What is your most memorable out and we actually hit the ball the mom. She is the most hardworking Holmes Trent game? Rosewood when I them to one whole game and won. run until the sixth inning. woman I know and will always put others before Tanner herself. Who do you most admire? My mom and dad for Who do you most admire? God, always pushing me to never quit even when things the one I strive to be a true believer of. What are your plans after High School? I plan get hard. to attend UNCW in the fall. What are your plans after High School? Attend What are your plans after High School? I plan Lineman School at Cape Fear Community. What motivates you to play your best? My to go to SCC and get my associates degree in nursing family and friends. and transfer to Campbell to complete my bachelor’s What motivates you to play your best? My ______degree in nursing. friends and family watching. ______Dawson Wiggins What motivates you to play your best? My mom Grade: 12 and dad because they are my biggest supporters in Trey White Sport: Baseball everything. Grade: 11 Positions: RHP, Third, Utility ______Sport: Baseball Positions: Short Stop, Pitcher What is your most memorable Sabrena Hogan game? The game against Clinton Grade: 9 What is your most memorable Dawson where we beat them 7-0 and I had 11 Sport: Track and Field game? Rosewood at home whe we Wiggins strikeouts. Positions: Triple jump, Long jump, fought throughout the whole game. 200 m, 400m x 100m Trey Who do you most admire? My White Who do you most admire? My Dad. What is your most memorable parents for pushing me to showcase Sabrena game? The very first track meet the talents God blessed me with. What are your plans after High School? Going Hogan because I was extremely nervous. to Ferrum College for Business Management and What are your plans after High School? playing baseball. Who do you most admire? My Continue my athletic career and become and parents because they have shown me how to be environmental engineer. What motivates you to play your best? My strong and keep pushing on. coaches and my parents push me hard every day to What motivates you to play your best? My get better as a player. What are your plans after High School? To go family and teammates. ______to college, and become a psychologist and on the side ______I want to open a vegan allergy free bakery. For more athletes, see MIDWAY page 7

What motivates you to play your best? My brothers, I want them to see me doing good and try Other All-County Athletes: to do better than me, so they can be successful in life. Diany Marcias, Soccer ______Kiashely Wright, Soccer Gensis Santiago, Soccer Stephanie Lopez, Soccer Jenny Calderon, Soccer

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Kevin McCray Grade: 12 Midway Sport: Track From page 6 Positions: N/A Devin McCray **All-County Questionnaire not Grade: 12 submitted** Sport: Cross Country Kevin Positions: Runner McCray ______What is your most memorable Jega Dapuyen game? Regionals Kris’Shyia McKoy Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Devin Sport: Softball Sport: Soccer McCray Who do you most admire? My Positions: Catcher parents because they push me to be my Positions: Wing and Striker best person. What is your most memorable What is your most memorable game? The 2021 Conference game? When we played against James What are your plans after High School? Attend Championship against East Duplin. I Wake Tech for civil engineering. Jega Kris’Shyia Kenan, 2-1. We were down but made Dapuyen believe this game was a special game the goal to tie the game. for all the players on the team. For McKoy What motivates you to play your best? If I run me, it was not only one of the most Who do you most admire? fast enough, the quicker I can go get something to intense games I’ve ever played in, it marks itself as eat. Assistant Coach Brad - He taught me what I need to one of the games that was not only physically tolling, know about soccer. ______but emotionally as well. The thrill and intensity of the game were high and it was good to see my team What are your plans after High School? I do not Devin McLamb members let this be such a driving factor to win. Our know yet but I do want to go to college and study Grade: 12 team’s heart and passion played within this game kinesiology and earn my degree. Sport: Track specifically portray one of the reasons why I love Positions: 800M, Mile, Relay softball. What motivates you to play your best? My teammates. What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My dad for the ______game? My freshmen year we I got commitment he has put into softball for me. He Devin thrown into 4x2 and we won. encouraged me throughout all 11 years of softball. Lainey Hughes McLamb Even when there were times I was struggling with Grade: 10 Who do you most admire? My my hitting or fielding and was having a hard time Sport: Softball parents. having faith in myself, he was there to give me Positions: Second his small pep talk every time. I admire my dad for What are your plans after High School? Attend putting up with all of my ups and downs of softball. What is your most memorable Sampson Community College. game? Conference Championship What are your plans after High School? I game against East Duplin. What motivates you to play your best? My Lainey first plan to go to Sampson C.C. and complete my Hughes parents and friends. CNA’s then get my Associates Degree in nursing. Who do you most admire? My ______After, I hope to go on and complete my BSN and my parents for making me push myself Doctorate in Nursing at UNC-W. to do my best in every game and I admire them for Heather Norland pushing me to do my best on and off the field. Grade: 12 What motivates you to play your best? Sport: Soccer Something my mom always says. She tells me to do What are your plans after High School? To go Positions: Midfield the best in whatever I do. Taking this mentality onto to college to be a physical therapist. the field and into the game of softball, I hope to be What is your most memorable the best that I can be and never slack off. I never What motivates you to play your best? I tell game? Our very last game. After want to go below what I can do and always push the myself to put forth my best effort on and off the field Heather working hard as a team all season, limit of my best each time. I believe this mentality and I also tell myself that I must do my best in every Norland we were full prepared for our last helped me grow not only as a softball player but game I play. game. We worked hard one last time pushed me to grow overall as a person. ______all together and made our last few ______moments together count. When we all ran together Logan Atkins at the end of the game and set off a confetti bomb, it John Michael Best Grade: 10 was a game to remember! Grade: 12 Sport: Golf Sport: Golf Positions: N/A Who do you most admire? Coach Anna. Now Positions: N/A matter how many problems we went through as a **All-County Questionnaire not team, she was always there for us, rooting for us to **All-County Questionnaire not submitted** do our best. Standing on the sidelines, she cheered submitted** Logan us on whether we lost or won. I hope my motivation John Atkins throughout life is the same as her motivation when ______Michael pushing us in a game. Best ______Lynda Rios What are your plans after High School? I am Grade: 10 going to UNC-Chapel Hill to become a dentist. Jonathan Cooper Sport: Track Grade: 12 Positions: 800M, Mile, 2 Mile What motivates you to play your best? Not Sport: Baseball wanting to let my team down. A team can only win Positions: Outfield What is your most memorable if we work together which is why I feld the need to game? My first meet when I ran my do my part. Also, my parents, because I know they What is your most memorable Lynda best mile time. would want me to play my best. game? Spring Creek because I hit the Rios ______Jonathan winning runs in to run-rule them. Who do you most admire? My Cooper coaches and family. Who do you most admire? My Jackson Lee parents. Grade: 12 What are your plans after High School? Go to Sport: Golf college and become an engineer. What are your plans after High School? Attend Positions: N/A Campbell University for Engineering. What motivates you to play your best? Being the **All-County Questionnaire not best and helping my team win. What motivates you to play your best? Having submitted** ______the chance to win a State Championship. Jackson ______Makenzi Hudson Lee Grade: 12 ______Kerrigan Brown Sport: Track and Field Grade: 10 Positions: Discus, Shotput Jaden Bradshaw Sport: Soccer Grade: 11 Positions: N/A What is your most memorable Sport: Cross Country and Spring game? Each meet brings new Track **All-County Questionnaire not competition and a new set of Positions: 800, Mile, Relay Makenzi submitted** Hudson memories. My most memorable have been those at the regional leve where I What is your most memorable Kerrigan Brown get to widen my competition. Jaden game? 2021 Cross Country Regionals. ______Bradshaw Who do you most admire? My parents because Who do you most admire? Austin the support everything I do and are there when no Hargrove. Kerrigan Brown Grade: 10 one else is. What are your plans after High School? Sport: Track Positions: N/A What are your plans after High School? Attend Something in the science field. NC State to earn my Bachelor’s in Animal Science and my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. What motivates you to play your best? The **All-County Questionnaire not submitted** competition. What motivates you to play your best? My love ______Kerrigan for the sport and my desire to get better every meet. Brown ______For more athletes, see MIDWAY page 8 “We are Available to Help You!” Call in, Drive Thru, Delivery, and Curbside! MaTThews healThMarT 408 Northeast Blvd., Clinton | 592-3121 Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday: 8 AM-7 PM | Saturday: 8:30 AM-5 PM | Sunday: 1 PM-4 PM 8 Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021 ALL COUNTY SPORTS The Sampson Independent

Sydney Williams Dylan Coats Midway Grade: 12 Grade: 11 Sport: Softball Sport: Baseball From page 7 Positions: Center Field Positions: Short Stop Miranda Holmes What is your most memorable What is your most memorable Grade: 12 game? Beating East Duplin in 10 game? When we played North Duplin Sport: Softball Sydney innings to become Conference Dylan at home. We showed improvement that Positions: Pitcher Williams Champions. Coats game. What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? My Who do you most admire? My dad game? The game against East grandma. I hope to someday be half as caring, loving, because I have learned a lot about farming and other Miranda Duplin that led us to be Conference and hardworking as she is today. trade skills from him. Holmes Champions. It was a close game that went on for 10 innings. What are your plans after High School? Attend What are your plans after High School? I have UNC-P to play softball and study nursing. always wanted to be a farmer but I plan to go to SCC Who do you most admire? My parents. for welding. What motivates you to play your best? The What are your plans after High School? Attend feeling I get after the game knowing that I gave it my What motivates you to play your best? My Barton College to play softball and major in exercise all and walking off the field seeing all of the proud family that comes to watch all my games and my science. faces from my friends and family. teammates. ______What motivates you to play your best? I want to be the best player I can be in order to help my team. Tim Maynor Hailey King ______Grade: 12 Grade: 9 Sport: Track Sport: Softball Nate Smith Positions: Discus, Sprinter Positions: Pitcher, Infield, Outfield Grade: 11 Sport: Baseball What is your most memorable What is your most memorable Positions: Third, Second, Pitcher, game? The first time I went to game? When we played Hobbton and Short Stop Tim regionals. Hailey Lakewood and I hit my career high in Maynor King strikeouts. What is your most memorable Who do you most admire? Devin Nate game? Eastern Wayne. McLamb. Who do you most admire? My Smith pitching coach Lauren and Odicci Alexander. Who do you most admire? Coach What are your plans after High School? Become Carroll. a machinist/welder What are your plans after High School? To play college softball and attend nursing school. What are your plans after High School? Go to a What motivates you to play your best? “If you 4-year university to play baseball. aren’t first, you’re last.” What motivates you to play your best? My ______family and myself because both remind me to play What motivates you to play your best? My dad. my best every game. ______Yami Fernandez ______Grade: 12 Raven Willard Sport: Soccer Lane Wells Grade: 10 Positions: N/A Grade: 12 Sport: Track and Field Sport: Baseball Positions: 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, **All-County Questionnaire not Positions: Catcher, Second Base and 4x4 relay submitted** Yami What is your most memorable What is your most memorable Fernandez game? When we played Lakewood and Raven game? My first meet when I got ______Lane I hit a bomb over the center fielders Willard through 300 hurdles for the first time. Wells head. Who do you most admire? Sarah Who do you most admire? Both Brown. of my grandpas. They have been through so much in their life but they are still here today. What are your plans after High School? Go to a 4-year college. What are your plans after High School? I plan to finish my welding degree and attend fire fighter What motivates you to play your best? To make school. my dad proud. ______What motivates you to play your best? My mom, she is my No. 1 fan and has always made sure I Rylie Heath was at every practice and game. She cheers for all of Grade: 10 us win or lose. Sport: Soccer ______Positions: N/A McKenzie Taylor **All-County Questionnaire not Grade: N/A submitted** Union Sport: Softball Rylie Positions: N/A Heath From page 1 ______**All-County Questionnaire not Cameron Poole submitted** Rylie Williams Grade: N/A McKenzie Grade: 11 Sport: Softball Taylor Sport: Softball Positions: N/A ______Positions: Short Stop **All-County Questionnaire not Trey Hayes What is your most memorable submitted** Grade: 12 game? Conference Championship win Sport: Baseball against East Duplin. Cameron Positions: First Base Rylie Poole Williams ______Who do you most admire? My What is your most memorable older sister Sydney. Darren Newkirk game? When we played Lakewood at Grade: 12 Trey home. We grew as a team and I had a What are your plans after High School? I plan Sport: Baseball Hayes great game. to go to a 4-year university and play softball. Positions: Third, First, Pitcher Who do you most admire? My dad What motivates you to play your best? My family What is your most memorable because he was the first person to get me interested and God. game? The game we scored for the in sports. ______first time against North Duplin. It was Darren What are your plans after High School? I plan Newkirk a good game for the whole team and brung us closer as a team. on attending FSU to earn my degree in fire science and become a firefighter. Who do you most admire? My parents because they have always been there for me and push me to What motivates you to play your best? My be great. family and teammates. ______What are your plans after High School? To get my pilot license and pursue flying.

What motivates you to play your best? I try to Other All-County always do my best at whatever it may be. On top of Athletes: that, my family and friends push me to be the best I Chloe Smith, Softball can be. ______

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