The 2022-23 winter sports season was one of unprecedented success for Chatham County. Not only did three athletes win individual state championships, but numerous others made deep runs in their individual state tournaments — all while the Northwood boys, Seaforth girls and Chatham Charter girls were making their way to the basketball state finals.
On Feb. 4 at the NCHSAA girls wrestling championships, Northwood senior Dream Walker took first place in the heavyweight division. And one week later on Feb. 11, Northwood sophomore Abby Emrich (200 freestyle) and Seaforth sophomore Will Cuicchi (1,000-meter) won state titles on the same day at the 3A swimming and 2A indoor track championships, respectively.
The season closed earlier this month on March 11, as the Knights, Hawks and Chargers all fell in the finals of their respective state basketball tournaments. Despite the sour end to the year, the three schools between them had 32 players named all-conference, while Northwood junior Drake Powell and Seaforth junior Jarin Stevenson were also named first-team all-state by the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association.
Here’s a list of Chatham County athletes who earned all-conference honors for their performances during the winter. The list includes first- and second-team players, honorable mentions as well as Player of the Year and Coach of the Year award winners.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Central Tar Heel 1A
Tamaya Walden, senior, Chatham Charter
Emerson Clark, senior, Chatham Charter
Meah Brooks, junior, Chatham Charter
Lilly Jones, senior, Chatham Charter (Honorable mention)
Caroline Mitchell, junior, Woods Charter
Maddie Sparrow, senior, Woods Charter (Honorable mention)
Player of the Year: Tamaya Walden, Chatham Charter
Coach of the Year: Jeff Patterson, Chatham Charter
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A
Gabby White, sophomore, Seaforth (1st)
Peyton Collins, sophomore, Seaforth (1st)
Katie Leonard, freshman, Seaforth (1st)
Jocelyn Gesner, freshman, Seaforth (2nd)
Hannah Ajayi, junior, Seaforth (2nd)
Jaylee Williams, senior, Chatham Central (1st)
Karaleigh Dodson, sophomore, Chatham Central (1st)
Livvy Brooks, senior, Chatham Central (2nd)
Kailey Green, senior, Chatham Central (2nd)
Katherine Gaines, junior, Chatham Central (2nd)
Reagan Smith, junior, Jordan-Matthews (1st)
Alyssa Bick, senior, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Brooklyn Quee, junior, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Patience Cox, freshman, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Player of the Year: Gabby White, Seaforth
Coach of the Year: Charles Byrd, Seaforth
Central 3A
Te’Keyah Bland, senior, Northwood
Skylar Adams, junior, Northwood
Natalie Whitaker, sophomore, Northwood
Neah Henry, freshman, Northwood
Player of the Year: Te’Keyah Bland, Northwood
Coach of the Year: Kerri Snipes, Northwood
BOYS BASKETBALL
Central Tar Heel 1A
Adam Harvey, senior, Chatham Charter
Aamir Mapp, senior, Chatham Charter
Jackson Brown, senior, Chatham Charter
Ardan Allred, junior, Chatham Charter
Jonah Ridgill, junior, Chatham Charter
Beau Harvey, sophomore, Chatham Charter
Brennen Oldham, sophomore, Chatham Charter
Jamir Wright, senior, Chatham Charter (Honorable mention)
Caden Watson, junior, Woods Charter
Alex Karali, senior, Woods Charter (Honorable mention)
Eli Hutter-DeMarco, junior, Woods Charter (Honorable mention)
Player of the Year: Adam Harvey, Chatham Charter
Coach of the Year: Jason Messier, Chatham Charter
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A
Jarin Stevenson, junior, Seaforth (1st)
Kooper Jones junior, Seaforth (1st)
Noah Lewis, sophomore, Seaforth (1st)
Lochlan Haddix, junior, Seaforth (2nd)
Tyshawn Davenport, Seaforth (2nd)
Reid Albright, sophomore, Chatham Central (1st)
Brandon Toomer, senior, Chatham Central
Wesley Clewis, junior, Chatham Central (2nd)
Devonte Johnson, junior, Chatham Central (2nd)
Dallas Richardson, senior, Jordan-Matthews (1st)
Elijah Hughes, sophomore, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Neil Wiley, junior, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Player of the Year: Jarin Stevenson, Seaforth
Coach of the Year: Jarod Stevenson, Seaforth
Central 3A
Max Frazier, senior, Northwood
Kenan Parrish, senior, Northwood
Drake Powell, junior, Northwood
Jake Leighton, junior, Northwood
Fred Whitaker, junior, Northwood
Player of the Year: Drake Powell, Northwood
WRESTLING
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A
Gabe Rogers, Seaforth (1st)
Josh Miller, Seaforth (1st)
Layne Armstrong, Seaforth (1st)
Maddox Cody, Seaforth (1st)
Judge Lloyd, Seaforth (1st)
Harrison Compton, Seaforth (1st)
Roger Eubanks, Seaforth (1st)
Alex Hinchman, Seaforth (1st)
Palmer Moad, Seaforth (1st)
Ben Johnson, Seaforth (2nd)
Caden Brewer, Seaforth (2nd)
William Bass, Seaforth (2nd)
Brady Phillips, Chatham Central (1st)
Collin Evans, Chatham Central (1st)
Stephen Silhan, Chatham Central (2nd)
Aidan Holton, Chatham Central (2nd)
Jaxon Globushutz, Jordan-Matthews (1st)
Jaden Gorham, Jordan-Matthews (1st)
Jakari Blue, Jordan-Matthews (1st)
Kevin Duncan, Jordan-Matthews (2nd)
Wrestler of the Year: Josh Miller, Seaforth
Coach of the Year: Ryan Armstrong, Seaforth
Central 3A
Jake Dunning, senior, Northwood
Cliff Davis, senior, Northwood
Ronald Walker, senior, Northwood
Coltrane Northington, junior, Northwood
Ethan Kuball, sophomore, Northwood
SWIMMING
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A
Sydney Burleigh, Seaforth
Abigail Motteler, Seaforth
Charlie Ann George, Seaforth
Sydney Haire, Seaforth
Alexandra Smith, Seaforth
Charley Howard, Seaforth
Jade Brown, Seaforth
Marison Lawler, Seaforth
Jackson Vaughn, Seaforth
Evan Hepburn, Seaforth
Benjamin Lajoie, Seaforth
Colton Roberts, Seaforth
Broden Jones, Seaforth
Mikel Kokas, Seaforth
Jesse Eskelund, Chatham Central
Sarah DeKaney, Jordan-Matthews
Samantha Wieber, Jordan-Matthews
Ainsley Canipe, Jordan-Matthews
Clara Rojas, Jordan-Matthews
Calvin Conroy, Jordan-Matthews
Buck Thornton, Jordan-Matthews
Alexis Sanchez Lara, Jordan-Matthews
Christian Canela Ortiz, Jordan-Matthews
Rodrigo, Maciel Lopez, Jordan-Matthews
Girls Swimmers of the Year: Sydney Burleigh and Abigail Motteler, Seaforth
Boys Swimmers of the Year: Evan Hepburn and Jackson Vaughn, Seaforth
Coach of the Year: Amanda Peele, Seaforth
Central 3A
Abby Emrich, Northwood,
Bianca Perez, Northwood,
Lauren Emrich, Northwood
Holly Thesing, Northwood
Wiley Sikes, Northwood
Jesse Sikes, Northwood
Christian Smith, Northwood
Morgan Turner, Northwood
Jacob Garrett, Northwood
Boys Swimmer of the Year: Wiley Sikes, Northwood
INDOOR TRACK
Mid-Carolina 1A/2A
Malana McLean, Seaforth
Cali O’Neill, Seaforth
Claire Morgan, Seaforth
Arnette Benitez, Seaforth
Lily McFall, Seaforth
Katie Johnson, Seaforth
Maja Boer, Seaforth
Abbie Lehman, Seaforth
Juliette Van Olinda, Seaforth
Drew Parker, Seaforth
Will Cuicchi, Seaforth
Nathan Smith, Seaforth
Henry McFall, Seaforth
Thaddeus Hudec, Seaforth
Daniel Andros, Seaforth
Asher Aldridge, Seaforth
Harry Mendlovitz, Seaforth
Joseph Palmer, Seaforth
Jason Antler, Seaforth
Jack Anstrom, Seaforth
Jasmine Basillo, Jordan-Matthews
Anny Palma, Jordan-Matthews
Macy Beavers, Jordan-Matthews
Logan Gunter, Jordan-Matthews
Elian Harrera, Jordan-Matthews
Marvin Harrera Jordan-Matthews
Carlos Galeana, Jordan-Matthews
Alex Morgan, Jordan-Matthews
Christian Torres, Jordan-Matthews
Andre Viena, Jordan-Matthews
Boys Coach of the Year: Tommy Johnson, Seaforth