
- Athlete of the Week
Athlete: Emerson Gomez
School: James Kenan
Sports: Boys’ Soccer/Football
Position: Goalie (soccer)/Place kicker (football)
Year: Senior
Hometown: Lempira, Honduras
Parents: Enrique and Lidia Gomez
A multi-sport athlete nicknamed “E-Money” by his teammates, Gomez helped lead the Tigers to East Central 2A regular-season conference championships in boys’ soccer and football this past fall. He collected 56 point-after-touchdown (PATs) for Kenan, which won the program’s first league crown in nearly a decade. Gomez played 10 games between the pipes and filed four clean sheets (shutouts) on the soccer pitch. He logged 52 saves for James Kenan, which reached the fourth round of the 2024 NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A playoffs.
Tigers’ head football coach Tim Grady said, “Emerson was a joy to have on the team. He is extremely humble. After kicking a very important kick [PAT] one night, he said, ‘It wasn’t me. It was God.’ He will be missed by his coaches and teammates.”
Tigers’ head soccer coach Mitchell Quinn said, “In my opinion, the goalkeeper position is not an easy position. Emerson is very good at this position and he’s very effective when coming out to get the ball. He also understands that he’s not going to save every shot and he’s very good at keeping a level head when a shot does get by him.”
- Athlete of the Week
Athlete: Addy Higginbotham
School: North Duplin
Sport: Softball
Position: Second base
Year: Senior
Hometown: Mount Olive
Parents: Jaime Kylis and Joey Higginbotham
A multi-sport student-athlete, Addy Higginbotham signed a national letter-of-intent to play softball at Wingate University. The NC Fastpitch Coaches Association recognized her as the District 2 Player-of-the-Year and All-State 1A East POY. Higginbotham helped lead North Duplin to a fourth consecutive Carolina 1A Conference regular-season championship last spring. The second baseman emerged as the team leader in batting average (.629), plate appearances (78), official at-bats (70), runs scored (37), hits (44) and RBI (25). She cranked out 18 extra-base hits.
Rebels’ head coach Jaime Kylis said, “I’m just proud of her for buckling down, getting her work done on her studies. She’s taking college courses and high school class to be able to continue to be successful in her sports is really great for her to be highlighted for her achievement. You can see there are some great things happening in little Duplin County.”
- Athlete of the Week
Athlete: Heather Alexander
School: Spring Creek
Sport: Girls’ basketball
Position: Center
Year: Senior
Hometown: Goldsboro
Parents: Sherry Creech
A four-year varsity starter, Alexander has entered her final prep campaign with a more aggressive and confidence attitude on the basketball court. She is averaging 12 points, nine rebounds and shooting 67.7 percent from the floor. A multi-sport athlete, Alexander announced she will play volleyball at Lenoir Community College next fall.
Gators’ head coach Paul Hayes said, “She is tough. She doesn’t mind doing the dirty work as in boxing out and rebounding, posting up in the paint and being one of the primary rim protectors. She is passionate when she plays, and a joy to be around on and off the court.”
- Athlete of the Week
Athlete: Yusef Ceballos
School: Southern Wayne
Sport: Wrestling
Weight Class: 215
Year: Senior
Hometown: Dudley
Parents: Rubi Diaz and Tracey Cole
The lone senior on the Southern Wayne roster, Ceballos is off to a 10-2 start this season after a 3-1 performance during the highly-competitive Sass-Holmes Memorial Duals contested at Rosewood High School. He finished third during the Saint Takedown King Invitational at 190 pounds in mid-November.
Saints’ head coach Tori King said, “Yusef works very hard and has gotten stronger … is more comfortable in the wrestling room. He is having his best year so far and we expect big things from him. He is a leader on the team and a captain. He is planning on dropping to 190 [pounds] later [this season], but it’s no surprise to how good of a year he is having. He comes to practice every day, and his practice in the weight room is paying off for him.”
- Athlete of the Week
Athlete: Cal Avent
School: James Kenan
Sport: Football
Position: Running back/Defensive end
Year: Junior
Hometown: Kenansville
Parents: John Bert and Anna Avent
A two-way starter who also sees some time on special teams, Avent has emerged into one of the program’s top “all-around” players this season. He helped guide James Kenan to a share of the East Central 2A football regular-season championship – the program’s first conference title in nearly a decade. Through 11 games, his stat sheet reads 71 yards and four touchdowns rushing; 71 tackles (18 for loss), 2.5 quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Tigers’ head coach Tim Grady said, “Cal is a special player that we are blessed to have. Everyone in the locker room likes and respects him. He is a workhorse! It’s a lot to ask of a kid to play both sides of the ball, but Cal literally stays on the field night. He even plays some special teams.”
