North Duplin enjoyed a tremendous year in athletics and had more than 100 student-athletes earn all-conference honors in 13 different sports. (Contributed photo)
CALYPSO — To say North Duplin enjoyed a “banner and historic” athletic campaign during the 2023-24 school year is an understatement.The Rebels captured six regular-season championships and three tournament crowns. Most notably, the varsity boys’ basketball team secured the “double” – regular-season and tournament crowns – for the first time since 1994.
Head coach Jeff Byrd watched his Rebels secure the program’s first regular-season crown since 1997 and claim a playoff victory for the first time since 2007.
“Like I told my boys [in the locker room], we have nothing to be ashamed of … nothing,” Byrd said after the team’s season-ending loss last winter. “Usually, at the end of the year, I’m kind of down a lot, but I have no regrets from this year. They’ve done things this year that haven’t been done in a long time. Our seniors ought to be proud and enjoy what we’ve done this year.”
Coach Kody Kennedy’s squads hoisted Carolina 1A trophies in boys’ cross country, boys’ indoor track and boys’ outdoor track. His outdoor track squad also secured the program’s first-ever Mideast 1A Regional championship.
Softball “four-peated” as the regular-season champ, while the girls’ basketball team secured its third consecutive Carolina 1A tournament title.
Football emerged as co-champ with Lakewood.
Despite key losses to graduation in 2023, third-year head baseball coach Colton Chrisman directed his team to regular-season and tournament runner-up finishes.
In all, more than 100 student-athletes earned all-Carolina 1A Conference recognition in 13 sports. Outdoor track led the way with 15 honorees, followed by indoor track (14), football (12) and softball (10).
Here is a list of the award winners:
Football: All-Conference — DuJuan Armwood, Trashawn Ruffin, Oscar Romero-Hernandez, Isaac Davis, Ethan Turnage and Branden Reyna. Honorable mention — Wesley Holmes, Khamari Leak, Austin Wolfe, Carrell Phillips, Jacob Kelly and Colby Holtz.
Volleyball: All-Conference — Reece Outlaw and Lilly Fulghum. Honorable mention — Addy Higginbotham, Eva Quintanilla.
Cross Country: All-Conference — Luis Avilez, Luke Holland and Roselin Orozco.
Boys’ Soccer: All-Conference — Henry Gonzalez, Juan Chavez Juarez and Jonathan Ramirez Bartolo. Honorable mention — Jair Quintana Borbonio, Nilmar Cabrera Lopez and Henry Lopez Ramirez.
Cheerleading: All-Conference — Ingrid Olvera, Daniella Jaco, D’Andrea Morrisey and Sumer Barksdale. Honorable mention — Addyson Holloman, Janiya Kennion.
Boys’ Basketball: All-Conference — DuJuan Armwood, Micah Lesesane and Donovan Armwood. Honorable mention — Trashawn Ruffin, Brady Byrd, Branson Martin, Thomas Morrisey, Luke Kelly and Dylan Tyndall.
Girls’ Basketball: All-Conference — Addy Higginbotham and Reece Outlaw. Honorable mention — Meghan Martin, Tateyawna Faison and Lilly Fulghum.
Softball: All-Conference — Addy Higginbotham, Reece Outlaw, Lala Overton, Lilly Fulghum and Ady Spence. Honorable mention — Marissa Bernal, Sara Thomas Tucker, Abigeal Norris Brown, M’chelle Jaco and Gabriela Zamudio.
Baseball: All-Conference — Tanner Kornegay, Austin Duff, Garris Warren and Hunt Pate. Honorable mention — Holden Williams, Esteban Santos Clark, Wesley Holmes and Hayden Miller.
Outdoor Track: All-Conference — DuJuan Armwood, Anthony Kornegay, Kyree Hill, Khamari Leak, Marcus Hill, Trashawn Ruffin, Luis Avilez, Tateyawna Faison and Saniah McNeill. Honorable mention — Carell Phillips, Christopher Kornegay, Jair Quintana Borboni, Jayden Clemmons, Janiya Kennion and Valaja Wallace.
Indoor Track: All-Conference — Victor Lara Mata, Luis Avilez, Jaden Clemens, Jerson Lopez Lopez, Genaro Pacheco, Marcus Hill, Douglas Torres, Isalas Santos, Jair Quintana Borbonio, Henry Lopez, Rubinho Godinez, Roselin Orozco and Saniah McNeill.
Boys’ Golf: All-Conference — Carson Barwick. Honorable mention — Gavin McClenny and Nathan Grantham.
Girls’ Soccer: All-Conference — Tristen Stemmler, Jisel Jimenez Hernandez and Valencya Stemmler. Honorable mention — Genesys Holguin, Judith Rangel, Ana Serna, Michelle Matute-Sosa and Giselle Mejia.
