The NCHSAA recently announced its 2019-2020 Winter Sports All-Conference teams, with Chatham County having a number of individuals from four area high schools (Northwood, Chatham Charter, Chatham Central and Jordan-Matthews) recognized for their athletic achievements in men’s and women’s basketball plus wrestling as well as men’s and women’s swimming, where applicable.
Regarding just how successful the winter season was for local teams, it’s interesting to note a total of seven basketball squads advanced to the state playoffs, while five coaches received the distinction of being named “Coach of the Year” in their respective sport.
In the Big Eight 3A Conference, the Northwood men captured the basketball regular-season championship with a record of 13-1 and finished 27-3 overall, advancing to the 3A East Regional Finals. Named to the All-Conference team were Aaron Ross, Jalen McAfee-Marion and Deuce Powell, while Jack Thompson and Alex Snively were selected to the Honorable Mention squad. In addition, Matt Brown was tabbed as men’s “Coach of the Year.”
The Northwood women also claimed the basketball regular-season title with a mark of 13-1 while concluding the year at 22-6 after advancing to the third round of the 3A East state playoff. TeKeyah Bland, Rae McClarty and McKenna Snively were chosen to the All-Conference team, with Chandler Adams and Gianna McManaman named to the Honorable Mention squad. In addition, Cameron Vernon was selected as women’s “Coach of the Year.”
With regard to wrestling, Northwood’s Tyler Tracy (106-pound class) was chosen as the Big Eight 3A Conference “Wrestler of the Year” and was joined on the All-Conference team by Evan Boggess (132), Joe Sipper (138), Montgomery Allgood (160), Ben McGaughnea (285) and At-Large selection Jamison Davis, while William Lake and Chandler Stubbs were named to the Honorable Mention squad. The Charger grapplers finished third in the league standings with a record of 5-2 while ending up 20-4 overall.
With respect to team results in swimming, the Lady Chargers finished third while the men ended up sixth. All-Conference performers included Julia Earnshaw (100-yard Butterfly and 100-yard Freestyle), Mia Corrado (100-yard Backstroke and 500-yard Freestyle), and Suzanne Earnshaw (100-yard Breaststroke), plus the team of Mia Corrado, Gwen Hoeg, Suzanne Earnshaw and Julia Earnshaw (200-yard Freestyle Relay). In addition, Jill Wenstread was chosen female “Coach of the Year.”
In the Central Tarheel 1A Conference, the Chatham Charter men captured the basketball regular-season championship with a mark of 14-0 and finished 32-2 overall, advancing to the 1A East Regional Finals. Named to the All-Conference team were Jordan Hamilton (also tabbed as the league’s “Player of the Year”), along with Cole Milholen and Connor Murphy, while Ryan White and Trevor Golden received Honorable Mention recognition. In addition, Jason Messier was selected men’s “Coach of the Year.”
The Lady Knights also captured the basketball regular-season title with a record of 14-0 and concluded the year at 27-4 after advancing to the third round of the 1A East state playoffs. Morgan Lineberry, Tamaya Walden and Rebecca McGaughnea were named to the All-Conference squad, with Lillian Jones and Olivia Cheek chosen for the Honorable Mention team. In addition, Jennifer Dameron Bridges was selected women’s “Coach of the Year.”
The following Chatham Charter players also received recognition from the NC Basketball Coaches Association as members of the 2020 District 8 All-District team: Jordan Hamilton (men’s first team), Morgan Lineberry (women’s second team), and Tamaya Walden (women’s third team).
Chatham Charter’s Chandler Steele was named to the All-Conference wrestling team and finished state runner-up in the 126-pound class.
In the Yadkin Valley 1A Conference, the Chatham Central men finished in a three-way tie for first place in the final basketball league standings with a record of 14-2 and concluded the year 22-6 overall after advancing to the second round of the 1A West state playoffs. Named to the All-Conference team were Michael Moore and Lucas Skertich, while Phillip Gaines was selected to the Honorable Mention squad.
The Lady Bears tied for third place in the final basketball league standings with a mark of 11-5 and finished 16-13 overall after advancing to the third round of the 1A East state playoffs. Mary Grace Murchison and Danielle Vaughn were chosen to the All-Conference team, while Savannah Stilwell was named to the Honorable Mention squad.
In the Piedmont 2A (PAC 7) Athletic Conference, the Jordan-Matthews men finished sixth in the final basketball league standings with a record of 3-9 and concluded 10-17 overall after advancing to the first round of the 2A East state playoffs, with Camden Fuquay and Lanice Hedgepeth both selected to the All-Conference team.
The Lady Jets finished in a tie for fifth place in the final basketball league standings with a mark of 4-8 and concluded their season 8-16 overall, with Jasmine Scotten and Ellia Wright chosen to the All-Conference squad.
Andre Charles (220) and Esmar Bixcul (113) were named to the All-Conference wrestling team, while Lady Jets’ swimmers finished fourth in the final league standings.
Jennah Fadely was the lone J-M swimmer to receive All-Conference recognition, both in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard Breaststroke.
Congratulations are extended to all these student athletes plus coaches Brown, Vernon, Wenstread, Messier and Dameron Bridges for their accomplishments while representing their respective schools during the winter sports season.