HS Notes/Players of the week: Sun Valley football star named All-American

Indian Trail Sun Valley quarterback Sam Howell is the first Union County athlete to be named a Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy All-American.

Howell will attend All-American camp in Canton, OH, in July.

It'll be part of a busy summer for Howell, who committed to Florida State this month. Howell will participate in the 2018 Elite 11 quarterback camp. The nation’s top rising senior high school quarterbacks will attend the camp June 1-3 in Los Angeles. The players will receive advanced one-on-one instruction in a competitive setting. The free camp includes on-field drills, classroom instruction and off-field development.

Howell, who is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, has thrown for 10,175 yards and 109 touchdowns in his first three seasons. He is No. 8 in N.C. High School Athletic Association history in career yardage, and is seventh in career touchdown passes.

Union County physician honored for volunteer work

Nine years ago, when Doug Jones was starting as system athletics director in Monroe, he wanted to get free physicals for Union County athletes. Jones had watched a similar program in Mecklenburg County, called Heart of A Champion, blossom.

Jones was told to reach out to Dr. Eric Warren, a UNC School of Medicine graduate who had been practicing at Novant Health in Waxhaw since 2007.

Warren has gone far beyond anything Jones could've imagined.

About six years ago, Warren arranged to have doctors on call at all home Union County football games. Today, Warren puts on a symposium for football coaches on concussion awareness each fall. Union County players now have access to free physicals.

This week, Warren -- who volunteers his time -- won the N.C. High School Athletic Association Elton Hawley Athletic Trainer/Medical Professional of the year. He'll be honored at the NCHSAA annual meeting next month in Chapel Hill.

Warren currently oversees a partnership between Union County Schools and Novant Health that includes paid full-time trainers at all 10 Union public high schools; the free physicals for all middle and high school students including an EKG test; free concussion testing; and a free "black and blue" clinic for injured athletes every Friday night during football teams.

Covenant Day announces three spring signees

Covenant Day had three spring college signees: Coleman Ulry (men's soccer, Calvin College); Caleb Embry (baseball, Lenoir Rhyne); and Elijah Hunt (baseball, Guilford Technical College).

Jay Edwards Boys Spring Athletes of the week

J.T. Killen, Charlotte Christian Baseball: The Charlotte Christian junior outfielder/left handed pitcher went 5-for-7 with a home run, two doubles and nine RBI at the plate, while losing a two-hitter on the mound to help the Knights to three wins last week.

Killen’s best game of the week came in a 10-1 win over Charlotte Latin April 19, when he went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run and five RBI at the plate, while allowing only two hits and one earned run over five inning to earn the victory on the mound in the same game.

Killen, who is also an all-state linebacker on the Charlotte Christian football team, has helped the Knights’ baseball team to 18-7 mark overall, including a 6-0 record in CISAA conference play to date.

Justin Murray, Providence Day Baseball: The Providence Day senior went 6-for-12 with three home runs and five RBI at the plate, while also earning a win on the mound as the Chargers beat Cannon School twice and lost to Porter Ridge in extra innings last week.

Murray was 2-for-4 with a home run and a RBI in the 13-2 win at Cannon School, April 17. Murray earned the win on the mound in the same game with eight strikeouts in six innings of work.

Two days later, Murray was 2-for-5 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI in the game to earn a 13-2 victory over Cannon School at home.

Murray, a Dartmouth College signee, is hitting. 472 with eight home runs, five doubles, 22 RBI and 23 walks, while going 4-1 on the mound with a 1.02 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 41 innings of work this season.

Timmy Townsend, Providence baseball: The Providence senior pitcher had a week to remember on the mound, helping the Panthers to wins in two big games.

Townsend went seven innings against Alexander Central to help Providence to 4-3 victory in 12 innings.

Six days later in Townsend’s next start, he tossed a complete-game (seven innings) shutout to help the Panthers to an 11-0 win at Olympic.

Townsend is 5-0 on the mound this season. He has allowed only two earned runs this season, striking out 50 batters in 44 innings of work.

Townsend, who committed to College of Charleston earlier this month, has also helped Providence (19-2, 9-1 in the SoMeck7 conference) to 11 straight wins overall, including first-place in the SoMeck7 standings.

Jonathon Perez, Lake Norman baseball: The Lake Norman senior had a big week at the plate and on the mound last week.

Perez, a UNC Asheville signee, was 4-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, a double and seven RBI in back-to-back conference wins over Hopewell.

Perez’ best came April 17 at Hopewell, where he was 3-for-4 hitting with a home run, a double and five RBI, and also earned the win on the mound with eight strikeouts, one hit allowed and no earned runs in four innings of work.

Perez is hitting .346 with two home runs and 15 RBI, while going 3-2 with 41 strikeouts on the mound this season.

▪ Lake Norman (19-2, 11-1 in the I-Meck 4A conference) is tied with Hough for the top spot in the I-Meck 4A conference and has won eight straight contests.

Noah Dolhare, Adam Habas, Jason Krell and Christian Landis, Providence Day Track: The Providence Day quartet set a school record, running a combined 17:56 to win the 4 X 1600-meter relay at the Apex Lions’ Relays, April 21.

The 17:56 was the No. 8 time in state history and the No. 2 time in Mecklenburg County history, according to Providence Day track coach Ben Hovis and ncpreptrack.org.

All four Providence Day runners excelled in the relay, with freshman Christian Landis setting the tone with 4:34 in the opening leg of the race.

Meanwhile, Chargers’ senior Noah Dolhare (Furman University signee) ran a 4:24 on the second leg to help Providence Day take the lead.

Providence Day sophomore Adam Habas kept the lead with third leg run of 4:35, while his classmate, Jason Krell set a personal-best by eight seconds, running a 4:21 on the final leg of the relay to give the Chargers’ the school record and victory.

Emerson Douds, Weddington Track: The Weddington junior ran the state’s No. 1, 200-meter dash this outdoor season, posting a personal-best 21.23 to win the event at the Warriors’ home meet, April 18.

Douds also won the 100-meter dash in a personal-record of 10.71 seconds. His 100-meter dash was the seventh-best time in the state this outdoor season.

Michael Sanders and Michael Childress, Cannon School Golf: The Cannon School duo both had weeks to remember.

Sanders started the week with a bang on Monday, when the Cannon School senior was selected to the four-man, United States’ team that will compete in the 2018 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan this summer.

Sanders will join Jacob Bridgeman (Clemson commit), Ryan Burnett (North Carolina commit) and Reid Davenport (Vanderbilt commit) at the event, June 10-15, at the Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course in Toshitomo-cho Fukada, Toyota-shi, Japan.

The United States’ team looking to win its third straight Junior Golf World Cup.

Meanwhile, Sanders’ Cannon School teammate, Michael Childress, excelled on the course, leading the Cougars’ team to co-medalist honors (with Pinecrest High) at the Pinecrest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 8, April 19.

Childress, a University of Richmond signee, was also the individual co-medalist at the same event, shooting a 73 in windy conditions with up to 40-mile per hour gusts, according to Cannon School golf coach, Pat Whisenant.

Thomas Eubanks, Myers Park Golf: The Myers Park junior has had a big couple of weeks on and off the golf course.

Eubanks started last week, shooting a 74 (tied for 15th) to lead his Mustang team to victory in the Carmel High School Challenge at Carmel Country Club, April 16.

Three days later, Eubanks shot a 75 in brutal conditions to finish tied for fourth at the Pinecrest Invitational at Pinehurst No. 8. Eubanks was named to the all-tournament team for his efforts.

Eubanks also committed to play golf at the University of Maryland earlier this month.

Drew Hackett, Charlotte Catholic Golf: The Charlotte Catholic junior won the Southern Carolinas’ conference (SCC) tournament title, firing a three-under par, 69, at Firethorne Country Club, April 19.

Hackett, who led the SCC with a 36.6 scoring average (per nine holes) in nine league matches, was named SCC player of the year for his efforts.

Hackett also helped the Charlotte Catholic golf team to victory (302), as the Cougars were 10 shots better than the field as a team.

Charlotte Catholic sophomore Jack Heath finished as SCC runner-up with an even par 72.

Girls’ Athletes of the Week

Kathryn Carson, East Carolina Golf (Former Lake Norman Golfer): The former Lake Norman girls’ golf standout, now at East Carolina, was named the American Athletic conference women’s freshman golfer of the year April 20.

Carson became the fifth East Carolina golfer to earn rookie of the year honors in program history.

Carson had six top 20 finishes and was in the top 22 in nine of the 11 events she played, averaging a 74.2 per round.

Carson started with a bang, finishing her first collegiate event at the Minnesota Invitational, with a five-under par score (70-69-72), tying for 10th place.

Mary Elliott McCabe, Charlotte Latin Soccer: The Charlotte Latin all-state senior forward had four goals in three wins last week to give her 100 scores in her Hawks’ soccer career.

McCabe scored the milestone goal (100th) on an assist from senior Claudia Dickey in a 3-1 win over archrival Charlotte Country Day, April 19.

Two days earlier, McCabe had a hat trick (three goals) and one assist to lead Charlotte Latin past Covenant Day, 5-1.

McCabe also helped the Hawks (12-1-1, 6-0 in the CISAA conference) knock off previously unbeaten and nationally-ranked Providence Day (1-0) April 16.

McCabe, a University of North Carolina signee, has 26 goals and 10 assists this season.

Courtney Reavis, North Iredell Soccer: The North Iredell senior forward had back-to-back, hat tricks to lead the Raiders to two critical, North Piedmont conference (NPC) road victories last week.

Reavis had all three goals in her team’s 3-0 win at East Rowan, April 16.

Two days later, she poured in three more goals to lead North Iredell to a 4-0 victory at Carson, and put North Iredell (9-3, 4-2 in the NPC) in second-place in the league standings behind rival, South Iredell.

Reavis’ six goals give her 22 goals for the season, and a school-record 74 goals for her career.

Helen Summerell, West Iredell Soccer: The West Iredell junior forward scored all eight goals in three Warriors’ wins last week.

Summerell started her week with all three goals to lead West Iredell to a 3-0 victory over North Lincoln, April 16.

The next day, she had the lone goal in a 1-0 win at East Burke.

Summerell finished off the week with a hat trick (three goals) a 3-0 victory over St. Stephens, April 19.

Summerell now has a school record 41 goals in 14 games, smashing her own record of 32 goals last year.

West Iredell 10-4-2 overall, is also 6-2 in the NPC, good for third in the league standings.

Providence Softball Team: The Providence softball team completed a dramatic 7-6 comeback at Olympic, April 20, to clinch their first conference title (SoMeck7 this time) in 18 years.

Panthers’ coach Beth Baxley and her team found themselves in a 4-1 deficit going into the sixth inning.

But senior co-captain Rileigh Bryant sparked the rally with two-RBI triple in sixth inning, igniting the comeback.

Providence junior Jenna McCauley also put the Panthers on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning.

Providence (16-3, 10-0 in the SoMeck7) has now won 13 straight games since a March 17 loss to Sun Valley.

Providence also beat A.L. Brown (7-4, April 18) and West Mecklenburg (19-0, April 17) last week.

Brianna Grant, Independence Softball: The Independence junior centerfielder also had a big week going 4-for-8 with two home runs and five RBI at the plate.

Grant was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in a heartbreaking 9-7 loss at Butler, April 17.

Two days later, Grant was again 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in a 9-5 win over Weddington.

Grant, a Tennessee State University commit, is batting .417 at the plate this season and leads Independence (10-7, 6-6 in the Southwestern 4A conference (SW4A0) in home runs (2), RBI (20), doubles (8), and slugging percentage (.791).

Maegan Garrison, Hickory Ridge Softball: The Hickory Ridge junior was 5-for-9 with a home run and 8 RBI last week.

Garrison’s best performance of the week came when she was 2-for-4 with a grand slam home run and five RBI to help the Ragin Bulls (11-4, 9-3 in the SW4A, tied for second in the league)) to a 10-3 win over Butler, April 20.

Two days earlier, Garrison went 2-for-4 with three RBI in an 8-7, loss to Myers Park.

Garrison is hitting .486 with a home run, eight doubles, 20 RBI and 25 runs scored this season.

Kylie Skovira, Charlotte Catholic Lacrosse: The Charlotte Catholic junior attack/midfielder had 10 goals to help the Cougars (9-3, 3-0) to two victories last week.

Skovira started her week with four goals and three groundballs in 19-3 win over Cuthbertson, April 18.

Two days later, Skovira finished strong with six goals, one assist, three groundballs and one takeaway in a 16-9 over Kell (GA). The Catholic-Kell game was tied at five at halftime.

Want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school athletes with outstanding performances. Information published today includes statistics through April 22. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.

This story was originally published April 24, 2018 at 10:06 PM with the headline "HS Notes/Players of the week: Sun Valley football star named All-American."