Spring Sports Preview: ‘Sweet 16’ tennis, track, wrestling and baseball players, teams

The final high school sports to begin in the 2020-21 high school sports season start this week.

Here is a look at a “Sweet 16” list of top athletes and teams for wrestling, girls tennis, track and baseball.

Julia Abrams, Mooresville Tennis: The Blue Devils’ No. 1 player enters his final high school season as the three-time I-Meck 4A conference player of the year.

Abrams, who was undefeated in singles’ play in the 2019 season, also teamed with Natalie White to win the 4A Midwest Regional doubles’ title. The pair was the 4A state runner-up in doubles’ play (2019), with their only loss (20-1) in the state final.

Abrams, an N.C. State signee, now looks to make another championship run in conference, regionals and states in her final high school season.

Kaylyn Brown, Mallard Creek track: The Mavericks’ sophomore had a reputation to live up to before she ever competed in a high school meet after running a 53.14 to finish second at the AAU Junior Olympics in Greensboro in 2019 as an 8th-grader.

The following winter, Brown was a part of Mallard Creek’s 1,600-meter 4A indoor state championship relay as well as the 800-meter 4A state runner-up. She also posted the fastest 55-meter hurdles in the Charlotte Observer area in that indoor season, running a 7.03.

Charlotte Catholic Girls’ Tennis Team: The three-time defending 3A state champions are loaded once again with juniors Maggie Gehrig and Ava Tan back to lead the way.

Gehrig and Tan were a combined 93-0 in singles and doubles’ play in 2019. They also paired up to the win 3A state doubles’ title.

Charlotte Catholic coach Jo Cabana has watched her team win 67 straight games (dating back to 2017).

Fred T. Foard Wrestling Team: The Tigers were 47-0 last year on their way to the 2A state wrestling championship, their fifth title since 2011.

This year, Fred T. Foard is loaded with again, led by senior Landon Foor (Appalachian State commit), a three-time 2A individual state champion at 182 pounds. Foor is 158-2 in his high school career.

The Tigers returns two more state placers from a year ago in sophomore Brock Carey, the 2A state runner-up at 126 pounds as a freshman; as well as classmate Zane Birtchet, was the 160-pound 2A state runner-up in 2020.

Akala Garrett, Harding Track: The Rams’ sophomore proved she was the fastest girls’ in the state as a freshman, winning the 4A state title in the 55-meter hurdles.

But after missing out on the her first high school outdoor season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Garrett has burst onto the national scene, as she is already amongst the nations’ best runners in several events. She turns 15 May 5.

Garrett ran the No. 2 time in the nation indoors in the 400-meter dash (54.41), while also posting the No. 1 time in the nation outdoors in the 400-meter hurdles (58.76) earlier this month, just two seconds short of the time required for U.S. Olympic Trials.

Cody Hardy, Parkwood Wrestling: The Wolfpack junior has had a historic career at Parkwood from the time he took the mat, going 35-14 in the heavyweight class (285 pounds) to become the first freshman to be a state qualifier in school history.

As a sophomore, Hardy went 48-5, finishing third at the 3A state championships as a heavyweight.

Last fall, Hardy was one match away from earning All-American status at the Super 32 Tournament in Myrtle Beach.

Hardy is also a standout on the Parkwood football team, where the defensive end/tight end already has Division I scholarship offers from both Army and Navy, according to Parkwood wrestling coach Chris Linthicum.

Matt Heavner, North Lincoln Baseball: The Knights’ junior shortstop/pitcher hit .457 with 19 RBI and 34 runs scored as a freshman on the 2019 2A state championship team.

Two years, later Heavner is a veteran on a Knights’ team eager to prove they can contend for another ring.

Heavner, a N.C. State commit, is a National Honor Society member with a 4.25 grade-point average.

Ben Hodge, Crest Baseball: The Chargers’ senior shortstop/pitcher has played a key role on one of the best teams in the last two years. Crest is 31-1 in that span.

Hodge hit .338 while going 2-0 on the mound for a 2019 Crest team that was 26-1, with their only loss coming in the 3A state playoffs to Marvin Ridge.

Last year, Hodge hit .364 while also going 2-0 on the mound on a Crest team that was 5-0 before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown the season.

Hough Girls’ Tennis Team: The 2019 4A state runner-up returns the core of that team with seniors Jessica Brannon, Valentina and Virginia Jimenez and junior Jessica Brannon back in the lineup.

Brannon and Espinoza will look to defend their 4A state doubles’ title, while coach Laura Taylor and her team look to put themselves back in position to compete for a 4A state championship in 2021.

Noah Julian, South Rowan Track: The Raiders’ senior has improved in each of season as a distance runner in the South Rowan track program.

Julian won the 3,200-meter run at the Rowan County championships as a freshman.

As a sophomore, Julian won the Central Carolinas’ conference cross country title, while also winning both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs at the Rowan County championships, while winning the same two events at the league (Central Carolinas’ conference) outdoor championships.

Julian won his third straight Central Carolinas’ conference, cross country title in December, before finishing 14th at the 2A state cross country championships in January.

Wesley Larson, Weddington Track: The Warriors’ senior has proven he is among the elite distance runners in the state at multiple distances, finishing third-place at the 2021, 3A state cross country meet and in the 1,600-meter run at the 2020 3A state indoor championships.

This outdoor season, Larson hopes to help coach Rick Spencer and the Weddington boys’ track team win their fouth straight 3A outdoor state championship in a row.

Titus Phillips, Kings Mountain Track: The Mountaineers’ senior proved he was one of the best long jumpers in the state in 2019, going 22-5.75 to finish as 3A state runner-up.

Phillips was also the 3A West Regional runner-up and Big South conference champion in the long jump.

But he also showed his versatility, going for a personal-best 6-2 in the high jump to win the event at the Cleveland County Track and Field Championships.

He also was the Big South conference champion in the triple jump.

Providence Baseball Team: Providence baseball coach Danny Hignight and his Panthers’ baseball program have proven to be amongst the state’s elite teams every year in the past decade-plus.

This year, Providence should have another strong team with two preseason All-Americans in junior pitchers Michael Forret (East Carolina commit) and Eli Jerzembeck, who both are already being projected as potential Major League draft prospects in 2022, according to Hignight.

Providence was 25-4 in 2019 winning the both the SoMeck7 conference regular season and tournament titles.

Hannah Sherrill, Maiden Tennis: The Blue Devils’ senior has been a standout player for Maiden the last three years as she has gone 86-15.

Sherrill, a four-year varsity player, helped Maiden to the 2A state championship as a team as a sophomore playing No. 5 singles.

As a junior, she was 25-1 overall, including a perfect 13-0 in singles’ play, while making it to the 2A state doubles’ tournament with teammate, Gracie Arrowood.

This year, Sherrill will be swinging to help Maiden win their fourth consecutive conference title on their way to the state tournament.

Richard Treanor, Hough Wrestling: The Huskies’ senior has had a standout high school wrestling career going 141-7, including 49-2 last year (2020), when he won his second straight 113-pound 4A state title. He helped Hough team win its first 4A state championship in school history.

Treanor is a six-time All-American and Army commit.

Ryan Walker, Newton Conover Wrestling: The Red Devils’ senior was 51-1 on his way to the 2A state heavyweight championship last year.

This year, the UNC Pembroke commit looks for a repeat performance.

Walker was also a standout on the Newton Conover football’s team offensive and defensive lines.

This story was originally published April 27, 2021 at 6:00 AM.