- Athlete of the Week
Player: Marissa Bernal
School: North Duplin
Sport: Volleyball
Year: Junior
Hometown: Mount Olive
Parents: Tiffany and Luis Bernal
Bernal has found her identity as the team’s libero this season. She’s recorded a team-leading 196 digs, including a career-high 30 against Lakewood last Thursday. Bernal has recorded double-digit performances in eight of the Rebels’ 10 matches this season. At the service line, she has collected 36 aces, which is second-most on the team.
Rebels’ head coach Heather Best said, “Marissa is the type of player that is always striving for perfection. [She] is willing to come early and stay late for practices to improve her game. She is very dependable and a team player. It has been an honor to coach her and I look forward to continuing our season with her as well as looking forward to having her next year.”
- Athlete of the Week
Player: Addison Cobb
School: Spring Creek
Sport: Volleyball
Year: Junior
Hometown: Goldsboro
Parents: Rosalie and Chad Cobb
Expected to emerge as one of the team leaders this season, Cobb had a breakout game against American Leadership Academy of Johnston with a career-high 13 kills, four blocks and two service aces. Since that performance, she’s steadily improved for the youth-ladened Gators, who continue to find their identity as a team.
Gators’ head coach Chad Kirby said, “Addison has grown so much over the last three years. She’s becoming a floor leader. She’s taken the younger ones under her wing … a hard-working athlete, but most important, a hard-w0rking student in the classroom. She’s a great asset to our team and this school. The only flaw I keep telling her she has is how hard she is on herself. She holds everyone accountable for their actions, but to herself, sometimes can be a little too hard.”
- Athlete of the Week
Player: Avery Jennette
School: Southern Wayne
Sport: Girls’ golf
Year: Senior
Hometown: Mount Olive
Parents: Brian and Brandy Jennette
Jennette is a newcomer to the Saints’ program who had never played golf until this season. In her second match of the season, she shot a 55 during a nine-hole round at Southern Wayne Country Club. Her scorecard included a bogey on No. 1 and a par in the same round. She is a member of the National Honor Society and served as Junior Marshal at Southern Wayne’s 2024 commencement exercises. In her second match of the season.
Saints head coach Trae McKee said: “In girls’ high school golf, an average score of 55 over the best five matches will qualify them for regional play. Avery is a very hard worker as shown by her grades and progress so far early this season.”
- Athlete of the Week
Name: Tyrone “TJ” Oates
School: James Kenan
Sport: Boys’ Basketball
Year: Junior
Parents: Melsheena Wilson and Tyrone Oates
Hometown: Warsaw
Oates helped lead the Tigers to 14 victories and an appearance in the NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A state playoffs. He averaged 12.5 points a game and earned all-East Central 2A accolades. Oates has a 3.4 grade-point average in the classroom.
Tigers head coach Taylor Jones said, “TJ is an excellent young man. He is positive and works hard every day. He’s well liked by his teammates and peers, and works hard in the classroom.”
- Athlete of the Week
Name: Austin Duff
School: North Duplin
Sport: Baseball
Year: Junior
Parents: Wendy and Michael Duff
Hometown: Faison
A returning all-Carolina 1A performer, Duff has hit safely in four of five games this season. He’s batting .471 with eight hits, seven RBI, seven runs scored and three stolen bases. Behind the plate, Duff has recorded 39 putouts and one assist with just one error in 33 innings.
Rebels head coach Colton Chrisman said, “Austin is a hard worker and a true competitor on and off the field. [He’s] always looking for opportunities to help when he can. On the field, he takes control of the game from behind the plate as a three-year starter for us.”
