2023-24 Farris & Thomas Law Academic All-Area Team as presented by The Wilson Times

Female

YASMINE BULLUCK, Greenfield School

A three-sport captain for the Knights, helped them reach the NCISAA 2-A playoffs in volleyball, basketball and soccer despite dealing with injuries each of her last two years … Twice named to the All-Coastal Plain Independents Conference in soccer with this year’s awards yet to be announced … Twice named Knights offensive player of the year with this year’s awards yet to be announced … Has a 4.73 cumulative GPA at Greenfield while taking all Honors and Advanced Placement courses as well as dual-enrollment classes through Wilson Community College … Is president of National Honor Society chapter at Greenfield as well as the Spanish Club while serving as co-president of Greenfield’s Environmental Club and Diversion, Equality and Inclusion Club … Also a member of Trivia Club … Previously participated in Chick-fil-A Leader Academy and YMCA Leadership Institute at Greenfield … Served as coach in Greenfield Youth Soccer League for a team of players ages 5-7 … Planned, implemented and coached a youth soccer camp at Greenfield for grades 1-5 … Has volunteered at New Hope Elementary and Imagination Station … Greenfield Academic Excellence recipient each of her three years at the school.

KATE CONOLEY, Hunt High School

Key figure in the Warriors’ third consecutive 3-A Quad County Conference girls soccer championship and trip to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs … Led Hunt with 20 assists to go with 16 goals … Finished her career with 45 goals and 65 assists … Twice named to all-conference team as well as all-region by North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association … An original member of the Wilson Youth Soccer Association 06 Explosion that qualified in March for a third straight trip for the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship Series … Owns a 4.2 GPA and ranked in the top 20 of her senior class at Hunt … Takes all Honors and Advanced Placement courses … Is president of the Future Farmers of America club at Hunt … Is a member of National Honor Society and recipient of Academic Excellence award at Hunt … Participates in Student Government Association as well as Student-Athlete Advisory Council at Hunt … Created own service project, “Strings of Hope,” in which drawstring bags filled with essentials were given to homeless individuals … Volunteered at First Baptist Church to assemble food for families in Haiti.

KATELYN DAVIS, Hunt High School

A stellar defender for the Warriors soccer team that won its third straight 3-A Quad County Conference championship … A two-time All-QCC pick with this year’s team yet to be announced … Picked up her second all-conference honor in tennis last fall in helping Hunt to a 15-3 mark and the runner-up spot in the Quad County before bowing in the second round of the NCHSAA 3-A dual-team playoffs … Qualified for the NCHSAA 3-A East Regional with doubles partner Mackenzie Bunn … Named to QCC Academic All-Conference team in soccer … Has a 4.58 GPA at Hunt where she is ranked No. 1 in her senior class while taking Honors and Advanced Placement courses as well as Career and College Promise dual-enrollment classes through Wilson Community College … Is a member of National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Club Unify, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Science Club and Headband for Hope at Hunt … Has served as Special Olympics volunteer … Was a 2023 graduation marshal at Hunt … Works part-time for Wilson Parks and Recreation Department youth sports and also in child care … Attended North Carolina Governor’s School East last summer … Played club soccer for Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association.

ALYSSA HOWELL, C.B. Aycock High School

A member of four teams this year at C.B. Aycock — cross-country, winter track and field, spring track and field and soccer … Earned sprint MVP for the Golden Falcons this winter after being part of the school-record 4×800-meter relay team that was the 3-A Quad County Conference champion … Finished second in the 400 run at the QCC winter championships … Held CBA’s 1,000 run mark for part of winter season … Posted the fastest time for CBA in girls cross-country last fall, the 500 dash this past winter and the 400 and 800 runs this spring … Owns a 4.426 GPA at Aycock, where she is ranked No. 8 in her senior class … A member of National Honor Society; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; Technology Student Association and the CBA Student-Athlete Advisory Council … She is also a CBA Ambassador and a member of the Falcon Frenzy student booster club … Plays club soccer for Wayne United Soccer Club in Fremont … Has served as volunteer for Special Olympics.

ARIEL PERRY, Southern Nash High School

Helped the Ladybirds win a third straight 2-A/3-A Big East Conference softball championship and 22 straight games before losing in the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs … Batted .444 and drove in 11 runs … Playing Nos. 4-6 singles for the Ladybirds tennis team, posted a 10-6 singles mark and 8-6 record in doubles … Helped Southern Nash to a 9-6 record and a spot in the NCHSAA 3-A dual-team playoffs … Earned Most Improved award in tennis … Holds a 4.379 GPA at Southern Nash where she is ranked ninth in the senior class … Takes Advanced Placement and Career and College Promise courses … Is a member of the Beta Club at Southern Nash … Has spent 60 hours as a junior volunteer at Nash General Hospital … Has also volunteered for blood drives and softball camp at Southern Nash.

ERIN POPE, Fike High School

After taking up outdoor track last spring and running full-time this year, won her second NCHSAA 3-A championship in the 3,200-meter run, setting a meet record in the process, to close out her brief running career at the state championship match … Also won the 3,200 at the NCHSAA 3-A indoor championships in February … Was the runner-up in the state 3-A cross-country championship in November … Placed third in 1,600 at outdoor state championships … Was regional champion in cross-country as well as 1,600 and 3,200 in the spring … Leaves as Fike girls record-holder in every distance event … Led Fike girls soccer to the third round of the NCHSAA 3-A playoffs and a 19-4-2 mark … Scored 125-plus goals and made more than 100 assists in her career … Expected to be named to the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association all-state team for the third time, making her just the second Fike player to be so honored … Has a 4.5 GPA at Fike, where she is ranked fifth in her senior class … Takes Advanced Placement courses as well as dual-enrollment Career and College Promise classes through Wilson Community College … Is a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Fike … Served as a volunteer for numerous events through NHS.

RUBY M. SANCHEZ-AMAYA, SouthWest Edgecombe High

A four-sport athlete all four years of high school, set the school scoring record in soccer with 40 goals this spring … Was named MVP of Cougars soccer team while earning the Leadership Award for volleyball and the Most Stout-Hearted Award in basketball … Also was on the SWE girls track and field team … Is ranked fourth in her senior class at SouthWest Edgecombe with a GPA of 4.3 … Takes all Advanced Placement and Honors courses … Is president of Student Government Association at SWE … A member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society … Serves as group commander for the SouthWest JROTC program, for which she has worked numerous volunteer hours … Also has volunteered at Pinetops Christmas parade and for school clean-up days … Earned Youth Appreciation Award.

EMILY SCOTT, North Johnston High School

Helped Panthers win 2-A Neuse 6 Conference championships in tennis and softball … Didn’t lose a game in winning the Neuse 6 singles championship in tennis, earning the OrthoCarolina Performance of the Week recognition from the NCHSAA … Led the Panthers to third straight Neuse 6 crown in tennis … Finished the season 16-5 in singles and 12-1 in doubles … Batted .351 with a .529 on-base percentage in helping North Johnston repeat as league champion … Holds a 4.135 GPA at North Johnston, where she ranks 13th out of 179 in her senior class … Takes all Honors courses … A member of National Honor Society as well as Prowl, the North Johnston student booster club … Is highly active in Future Farmers of America, from which she earned her Greenhand degree and has served as junior slate officer and senior slate chaplain officer … Is active as a youth leader at Antioch Baptist Church in Middlesex, where she is a children’s church leader, a vacation Bible school assistant and helps with Operation Christmas Child program … Also volunteers at Free Will Baptist Children’s Home in Middlesex … Plays travel softball.

CHLOE VILLAVERDE, Wilson Christian Academy

As a three-sport standout, played on six NCCSA 2-A championship teams in the last four years … Named to the NCCSA all-state teams in soccer and basketball as a senior … Twice earned Defensive Award in soccer and once in basketball while also picking up soccer MVP … Part of four NCCSA 2-A East Region champions in soccer and in basketball … Libero on the volleyball team … Is ranked No. 4 in her senior class at Wilson Christian … Has a 4.876 GPA while taking Honors and Advanced Placement courses … Served as class secretary as a junior and senior and as the school’s National Honor Society treasurer this year … Has volunteered at NHS functions and also at the Whirligig Festival … Has played for Wilson Youth Soccer Association and Pitt-Greenville Soccer Association teams.

GRACELYNN WOLZEN, Hunt High School

An exceptional performer in all three sports she played at Hunt … Helped the Warriors win a third consecutive 3-A Quad County Conference volleyball championship … Earned All-QCC honors as a junior and senior … Named to the North Carolina Volleyball Coaches Association’s all-state second team … Registered 403 kills as a senior … Helped the Warriors finish second in basketball in the Quad County, earning all-conference acclaim in the process … As a high jumper and thrower, helped Hunt girls track and field to a runner-up finish in Quad County in winter and spring as well as the Scott Jones Memorial Classic title … Holds a 3.65 GPA at Hunt while taking dual-enrollment courses through Wilson Community College … Is the Student Government Association president at Hunt … Also is the vice president for Hunt’s chapter of Future Farmers of America and a member of the National Technical Honor Society … Earned honors for her ACT WorkKeys test scores … Has volunteered as concession stand worker at Hunt athletic events and at Frederick Douglass Elementary School field day … Is a member of Faith RXD Fitness in Rocky Mount … Has played travel volleyball since middle school.

Male

TURNER ADAMS, Adams Academy

Home-school student who played baseball for Wake County Warriors and basketball for Downeast Association of Sports for Homeschoolers (DASH) … Helped the Warriors win 19 games, including the North Carolinians for Home Education Athletic Commission championship and finish as the Homeschool World Series runner-up … Voted to the Homeschool World Series Division I All-America team … Batted .250 with 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored to go with seven stolen bases in 28 games for the Warriors … Named top defensive player for his DASH varsity boys basketball team … Holds a 4.49 GPA after completing the Classical Conversations curriculum as well as through dual-enrollment Career and College Promise courses … Is active in his Word and Deed youth group at Wilson Presbyterian Church of America … Has served on a mission trip to Vietnam … Works part-time at Victory Fitness … Has played travel baseball for years.

QUINTIN BLAKE, Greenfield School

A standout on the baseball diamond and soccer pitch, also was a solid contributor to the basketball team … Led the Knights to the NCISAA 2-A semifinals and a 15-6 final record … Was the Greenfield leader in batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.603), RBIs (24), stolen bases (17), doubles (6) and slugging percentage (.720) … Scored seven goals and made two assists for the Knights soccer team … Helped Greenfield reach the NCISAA 2-A championship game in basketball … Owns a 4.7 GPA at Greenfield while taking all Honors and Advanced Placement courses along with dual-enrollment Career and College Promise classes through Wilson Community College … Vice president of National Honor Society at Greenfield … Co-president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Club at Greenfield … A charter member of Greenfield student newspaper staff in 2021-22, served as co-editor-in-chief the last two years … Recipient of Citizenship Award at Greenfield … Has served as volunteer for Meals On Wheels and Habitat For Humanity as well as Greenfield youth soccer and basketball camps.

ETHAN CARLYLE, C.B. Aycock High School

Concluded an impressive tennis career with his second 3-A Quad County Conference singles championship … Claimed QCC Player of the Year after going unbeaten in singles this spring … Earned third straight trip to the NCHSAA 3-A championships, where he lost in the second round to eventual three-time champion Drew Hedgecoe of Fayetteville Terry Sanford … Posted more than 100 career wins at CBA … Ranked second out of 238 members of his senior class at C.B. Aycock, where he holds a 4.5 GPA … Is a member of National Honor Society and the CBA Student-Athlete Advisory Council … Named Student of the Month for April … Is a member of the Goldsboro Mayor’s Youth Council … Volunteers at Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County and for Abilities Tennis of North Carolina … Works part-time at Walnut Creek Country Club tennis courts.

WILLIAM DRAKE, Greene Central High School

Capped his brilliant Rams tennis career as the NCHSAA 2-A runner-up in singles … A three-time NCHSAA 3-A East Regional champion, reached the state 2-A semifinals in singles the previous two years as well … Three-time 2-A Eastern Plains Conference singles champion and player of the year … Voted to All-EPC by league coaches all four years of high school … Thrice earned North Carolina High School Tennis Coaches Association all-state recognition … Led Rams to 2-A Eastern Plains title and the NCHSAA 2-A dual-team playoffs … Holds a 4.517 GPA at Greene Central while also taking Career and College Promise dual-enrollment courses … Is a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society at Greene Central.

NOLAN GAMWELL, Beddingfield High School

A year-round runner for the Bruins, qualified for the NCHSAA 2-A championships in cross-country last fall and outdoor track and field this spring … A four-time all-conference runner, it was the third trip to states in both … Finished seventh in 4:41.92 in the 1,600-meter run at the state 2-A meet … Set a personal record at 2-A East Regional meet of 4:38.84 in the 1,600 … Won 2-A Neuse 6 Conference championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 this spring … His time of 18:00.32 in the NCHSAA 2-A cross-country championships was good for 34th out of 136 runners … Placed fifth at 2-A East Regional with a time of 17:45 … Is No. 5 in his senior class at Beddingfield with a GPA of 4.20 while taking Honors courses … A member of National Honor Society. formerly was in Student Government Association at Beddingfield … Played in Bruins marching band from ninth to 11th grade … Served as Performing Arts Summer Camp counselor … Served numerous roles for Act! For Youth, including the most valuable crew member as well as on-stage roles in productions.

SNYDER PEARSON, Fike High School

Had one of the best years in Fike boys tennis history … Helped the Golden Demons reach the NCHSAA 3-A dual-team championship for the first time, losing 5-3 to Belmont South Point … Teamed with younger brother, Collins, to finish second in state 3-A doubles championship as well as 3-A East Regional … Playing No. 1 singles for the last three years, finished career as Fike wins leader with more than 140 … Led Demons to fourth straight conference championship, including three straight in three years of 3-A Quad County Conference play … Won QCC doubles crown with Collins … Captain of tennis and soccer teams at Fike … Two-year starter for Fike soccer, ranked second in goals (12), assists (12) and points … Ranked No. 6 in his senior class at Fike while posting a 4.607 GPA in the AP Capstone program … Is a member of National Honor Society and recipient of Fike’s Academic Excellence honor … Is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Young Life and Student Booster Club at Fike … Volunteers with Abilities Tennis of North Carolina … Played for the Wilson Bulldogs that won the Junior Team Tennis U-18 state championship last summer … Is active at First United Methodist Church in its Bed-Building Ministry and Rise Against Hunger campaign.

ASUN PENDER, Beddingfield High School

One of the best all-around athletes in the Times readership area, finished his career by finishing second in long jump and triple jump at the NCHSAA 2-A track and field championships … Won both events at the 2-A East Regional meet … Took first place in long jump and triple jump at the NCHSAA 1-A/2-A indoor track and field championships in February … Is ranked in the top 10 overall statewide in both events … A Wilson Times All-Area selection in football, was named to 2-A Neuse 6 Conference all-conference team for football and baseball … Voted defensive MVP in football as well as the “Captain America” award for playing multiple positions on offense, defense and special teams … Proclaimed Harvey Reid Jr. Boys MVP after leading Bruins to the Farris & Thomas Holiday Tournament championship in December … Accorded All-Neuse 6 and Times All-Area honorable mention in basketball … Bruins captain in football, basketball and baseball … Ranks No. 9 out of 114 members of his senior class with a 4.0 GPA while taking Honors courses and one Advanced Placement course that he had to attend at Fike … Also enrolled in Career and College Promise classes through Wilson Community College … Named Beddingfield Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the recipient of the Faculty Cup … Served as treasurer for Beddingfield’s chapter of National Honor Society and parliamentarian for the school’ Future Farmers of America … A member of Gentleman’s Agreement … Has volunteered for Whirligig Festival, Fresenius Kabi Community Building, FFF plant sale and FS Series Triathlon … Works part-time at Jersey Mike’s.

LOGAN SAUNDERS, Southern Nash High School

A four-sport athlete for the Firebirds, excelled in football and track … Helped Southern Nash win the 2-A/3-A Big East Conference championship at quarterback after starting the season at safety … Moved under center when senior teammate Jake Cooper was injured early and led the Firebirds to 10 wins … Earned All-Big East and Wilson Times All-Area acclaim … Team captain in basketball and senior on baseball team … A member of Southern Nash’s 1,000-Pound Club in weightlifting … Qualified for NCHSAA 3-A Mideast Regional in track and field in the 800-meter and 4×800 relay races … Holds school record in 800 … Helped Firebirds three-peat as Scott Jones Memorial Classic champions … Ranked seventh out of 248 members of his senior class with a 4.41 GPA while taking Advancement Placement classes and Career and College Promise dual-enrollment courses through Nash Community College … Is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Works part-time as umpire for Top Gun Sports games … Volunteers time doing lawn maintenance at Shenandoah Baptist Church in Rocky Mount … Has a part-time job mowing lawns.

DYLAN SKINNER, Fike High School

Team leader and standout performer in all three sports he played for the Golden Demons this year … Sparked Fike to the NCHSAA 3-A boys tennis dual-team championship match after the Demons three-peated as 3-A Quad County Conference champions … Reached the NCHSAA 3-A tournament with doubles partner Zachary Hill after finishing second at the QCC tournament and 3-A East Regional … Picked up All-QCC and Wilson Times All-Area honorable mention in basketball … Claimed Fike’s QCC Sportsmanship Award in hoops … Holds a 4.5 GPA at Fike where he is ranked No. 8 in his senior class ,.. Takes Advanced Placement courses as well as Career and College Promise dual-enrollment classes through Wilson Community College … Is a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Has numerous volunteer hours through NHS … Is active at First United Methodist Church.

KEEGAN WALLACE, Southern Nash High School

A football and baseball standout for the Firebirds, earned 2-A/3-A Big East Conference three times in each sport … As offensive lineman, paved the way for the Firebirds to run for 4,002 yards (333.5 per game) in winning the Big East title … Twice named to The Wilson Times All-Area team in football ,,, Batted .288 with 13 RBIs and 20 runs scored this spring in baseball … Finished his career with a .340 batting average, 53 RBIs and 50 runs scored … Owns a 4.3 GPA with a top-20 ranking in his senior class at Southern Nash … Takes all Honors and Advanced Placement courses … Works at travel softball umpire on weekends … Plays travel baseball for the EC Diamondbacks.

Honorable Mention

C.B. Aycock: Martin Gunn, Connor Piwowarski, Taylor Stewart

Community Christian: Faith Jones

Greene Central: Brady Anderson, Derek Carillo, Owen Dyer, Josiah Sheppard

Greenfield: Pranaav Patel

Hunt; Rodrick B-loftin, Alex Ellis, Kaitlyn Hansen, Josie Harrell, Jordan Scott

North Johnston: Laney Caviness, Brayden Cuddington, Brayden Lee Lawhorn, Mudian Mustafa, Gavin Syverson

Southern Nash: Daniel Collie, Frank Gonzalez, Payton Holland

SouthWest Edgecombe: Caleb Allen, Ramzie Paige Bryant, Aidan Anthony Knudsen

Wilson Christian: Izzy Barnes, Parker Bunn, Grace Farmer, Brayden Joyner, Allie Smith, Ava Zander

Wilson Prep: Khristian Woodard

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