High school champions

Players

Wayne Davis, Southeast Raleigh, track and field, 2008-09: Set world records and won international and national championships in the hurdles. Holds most NCHSAA hurdles records.

John Wall, Raleigh Word of God, basketball, 2009: The top-ranked boys basketball recruit in the country chose Kentucky.

Gabby Mayo, Southeast Raleigh, track and field, 2006: Won the 100 and 200, the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles in the NCHSAA 4-A championship. A national champion in 100 meters. The 2007 NCHSAA female athlete of the year.

A.J. Davis, Northern Durham, track and field/football, 2002: A nationally ranked triple jumper and long jumper and one of the top football defensive back prospects in the country. The 2002 NCHSAA male athlete of the year.

Nick McCrory, East Chapel Hill, diving, 2006-08: Won three consecutive diving championships. Missed senior year because of international competition and established himself as the best diver ever in the state

Megan Hodge, Durham Riverside, volleyball, 2005: National high school volleyball player of the year.

Adrianne Soo, Durham Academy, cross country, 2006-09: Won three NCISAA cross country championships and six outdoor track championships.

Jacinda Evans, Southern Durham girls track, 2008: Won the 100 and 200, the long jump and the triple jump in the NCHSAA 4-A finals

Shavlik Randolph, Broughton, basketball 2002: A McDonald's All American, a two-time Parade All-American, and a two-time Associated Press N.C. player of the year, Randolph chose Duke to end one of the nation's most intense recruiting battles.

Brendon Todd, Green Hope, golf, 2000, 2002, 2003: Won three state 4-A golf titles during his career

Casey Nogueira, Broughton, soccer, 2005: North Carolina Gatorade player of the year and led Caps to state title.

Weslye Saunders, Durham Riverside football, 2006: Saunders had one of the most remarkable playoff runs in state history while leading the Pirates to the state finals in 2006.

Programs

Cardinal Gibbons volleyball: In the past 10 years, the Crusaders have won eight state titles and finished second twice. Gibbons has a 291-26 record during the decade and never won less than 26 matches or lost more than six in a season.

Enloe boys swimming: Coach Vickie Peoples led Enloe to 4-A titles in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Cary wrestling: The Imps often win two championships a year, sweeping the dual-team title and the team championship in the individual tournament. Coach Jerry Winterton's club won dual-team championships in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and reached the finals five other times. They won the team title in the individual event in 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Green Hope boys golf: The Mustangs won state 4-A title in 2003. Green Hope's Brendon Todd was golfer of the decade with three state titles in four years. Green Hope added state 4-A titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009 and 4-A champions Kevin O'Connell and Michael Cromie.

Broughton girls soccer: The Caps were the benchmark in the first part of the decade. Coach Izzy Hernandez coached teams to high national rankings and state 4-A titles in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006.

East Chapel Hill boys tennis: Coach Lindsey Linker's Wildcats won NCHSAA 3-A titles in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2005 and claimed 4-A championships in 2006 and 2008. Broughton won championships in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Broughton girls tennis: The Caps and East Chapel Hill battled throughout the decade. East won 3-A championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and made it to the 4-A finals twice. Broughton won the dual-team title in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2009 and reached the finals three other times.

Garner football: No area football team has won an NCHSAA title since Clayton's victory in 1989. But no area program has won more games during the decade than the Trojans, who were 104-24 during the 10-year stretch.

Moments

Gabby Mayo and half-brother Brandon Banks win national 100-meter titles: On June 12, 2007, Garner High's Brandon Banks and Southeast Raleigh's Gabby Mayo won 100 meters championships in the Nike Outdoor National Track and Field Championships. No one was prouder than father Daryle McNair.

Wrestler Joey Farnsworth of Cary finishing a near-perfect season: The 103-pound Farnsworth finished 63-0 in 2007 and won the state 4-A title. His biggest accomplishment was allowing only one point all season. It came for using an illegal hold. That same year, Durham Riverside's Colton Palmer set a national mark with a 91-0 record.

Wakefield boys basketball over Winston-Salem Reynolds: Wakefield stunned Reynolds, tall talented and seemingly unbeatable, 45-43 in the 4-A championship at N.C. State's Reynolds Coliseum on March 13, 2004. Some long-time observers believe it was the biggest upset ever in the 4-A final. Two years later, Wakefield knocked off North Mecklenburg, 48-46.

Greg Williams' 484 rushing yards: Enloe runner Greg Williams was inconsolable after rushing for a state-record 484 yards in September of 2005. Enloe lost to Leesville Road 45-42 even though Williams scored on runs of 3, 70, 54 and 13 yards. "I would rather get 50 yards and win than 400 yards and lose," Williams said.

Latest Comment View all comments

Multimedia