State track title, school record, last teams standing up for Athlete of the Week vote
We're almost there.
High school sports for the 2021-22 school year are coming to a close. Last week's state track championships and NCISAA team championships completed the season for many athletes in the area.
There are still title hopes for South Brunswick baseball and Hoggard girls soccer that we'll see play out over the next two weeks, but for almost all of our area seniors, it's time to get that cap and gown ready and march to the next phase of life. For the underclassmen, there are new roles to fill and steps forward to be taken.
All that said, this will be our final StarNewsVarsity Athlete of the Week poll until the fall rolls back around. We'll unveil our spring All-Area teams in June, so be sure to look for those soon.
Without further adieu, here are our final nominees:
TITLE NO. 2?: South Brunswick baseball's past, present collide in new state championship run
STANDOUT PERFORMERS: State track meet wins, NCISAA titles lead high school sports last week
Hannah Grace, Coastal Christian girls track & field: The freshman took home state championships in the pole vault and triple jump at the NCISAA Division II championships over the weekend, lead the Centurions to a second-place finish.
Ella Johnson, Hoggard girls soccer: Had four goals and three assists across the first two rounds of the Class 4A playoffs for the Vikings, who are the top seed in the East Region.
Evan Pena, Hoggard boys track & field: Pena was the runner-up in the 3,200-meter run on Saturday at the NCHSAA Class 4A state championships and ran a leg of the 4x800 relay that set a school record and finished third.
Aubrey Smith, South Brunswick baseball: Smith got the save Tuesday in Round 3 of the 3A baseball playoffs vs. Croatan, then threw a two-hitter and drove in four runs on Friday vs. West Carteret to send the Cougars into the East Regional final series this week.
Dan Spears is the sports editor for the Wilmington StarNews, and Southeast Regional sports editor for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at Dan.Spears@StarNewsOnline.com or on Twitter @DanSpears.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington-area high school Athlete of the Week for May 16-21
