Coastal Preps Winter 2025-26 Midseason Awards

January 18, 2026, 6:52 pm | by Tim Hower

We’ve reached the midway point of the season in basketball, swimming, and wrestling, and numerous area players and coaches are off to a fantastic start. It’s now up to you to decide the best of the best in several categories.

Voting will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 and results will be posted the following day.

Stats are updated through January 17

VOTE HERE

BOYS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year

Senior guard Kellum Brown, New Hanover: Is averaging 21.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.3 steals. Brown is shooting 51 percent from the field (110 of 216), 38 percent from 3-point range (27 of 72), and 73 percent from the free throw line (58 of 79).

Senior forward Jayden Daniels, South Brunswick: Three-sport standout is averaging 19.5 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 steals. He is shooting 49 percent from the field (93 of 190).

Sophomore guard Trent Davies, Wilmington Christian Academy: The lone underclassman on the list is averaging 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 steals. Davies is shooting 49 percent from the field (118 of 243), 41 percent from 3-point range (28 of 68), and 86 percent from the free throw line (82 of 95).

Senior forward Will Seward, Hoggard: Through 16 games, the versatile senior is averaging 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds. Seward is shooting 59 percent from the field (111 of 188) and 38 percent from 3-point range (15 of 40).

Newcomer of the Year

Sophomore guard Emery Brown, Laney: Has been a breakout star for the first-place Buccaneers by averaging 8.3 points and 3.1 steals. He is shooting 43 percent from the field (45 of 104).

Junior guard Jerrison Dixon, West Brunswick: Transfer from Scotland County is averaging 11.5 points and 3.6 rebounds. Dixon is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range (28 of 76) and 80 percent from the free throw line (36 of 45).

Freshman guard Kingston Rupart, Wilmington Christian Academy: Is averaging 9.6 points and 2.2 steals through 18 games. Rupert is shooting 53 percent from the field (61 of 115) and 46 percent from 3-point range (26 of 57).

Sophomore forward Edward Young, South Brunswick: Another multi-sport star for the Cougars is averaging 14.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. He is shooting 58 percent from the field (77 of 132).

Coach of the Year

Mike Absher, Southeastern Christian Academy: The newest program in the area continues to make great strides. After finishing 13-12 last season, the Warriors are 13-3.

Kyle Cross, North Brunswick: Cross has the Scorpions in contention for the Carolina Coast Conference title. After going 8-16 overall and 4-10 in league play last year, North Brunswick is currently 13-3 and 3-1.

BJ Donnell, Laney: Excellent defense (50.7 points per game allowed) has helped the Buccaneers get off to an 11-5 start. They are alone in first place in the Carolina Coast Conference at 4-0.

Mike Loutzenheiser, South Brunswick: The Cougars are 10-4, which is already the most wins since the 2017-18 season. It’s also a huge improvement from last winter, when the program went 3-22.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Player of the Year

Junior guard Meryn Deutsch, South Brunswick: Averaging an area-best 22.1 points to go along with 6.6 steals, 6.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Deutsch is shooting 47 percent from the field (81 of 173).

Senior guard Milly Kelley, Cape Fear Academy: Kelly averages 21.2 points, 5.5 steals, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. She is shooting 36 percent from 3-point range (48 of 134) and 78 percent from the free throw line (40 of 51).

Senior guard Tristan Shivers, Hoggard: Two-time Coastal Preps Player of the Year is again filling up the stat sheet by averaging 17.3 points, 7.1 assists, 3.6 steals, and 3.5 rebounds. Shivers is shooting 60 percent from the field (99 of 166), 46 percent from 3-point range (18 of 39), and 81 percent from the free throw line (43 of 53).

Senior forward Jazziyah Smith, New Hanover: Has taken her game to the next level by averaging a double-double of 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.8 steals. Smith is shooting 48 percent from the field (76 of 159).

Newcomer of the Year

Freshman guard Laila Ballard, Trask: Is averaging 9.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 steals, and 3.4 assists through her first 14 games.

Freshman forward Angelina Lauver, Southeastern Christian Academy: In her first season with the Warriors, the 6-foot freshman is averaging 8.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks.

Freshman guard Julia Pepper, Laney: Has reached double figures in all but three games during her brief high school career. Pepper is averaging 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 2.0 assists, while shooting 47 percent from the field (60 of 128).

Sophomore guard Mylee Snead, West Brunswick: Averages 5.2 points and has made a team-best 17 3-pointers.

Coach of the Year

Boubacar Aw, Hoggard: A mainstay on this list, Aw has his Vikings off to a 15-1 start. They have beaten all four conference opponents by more than 30 points.

Cedric Baker Boney, Cape Fear Academy: Boney has turned the Hurricanes into one of the top programs in the area during his short tenure. The Hurricanes are currently 13-2 overall and 4-0 in the conference.

Chris Staton, Wilmington Christian Academy: The Patriots are 15-3 overall and 3-0 in league play. They are averaging 47.6 points and allowing only 23.5.

Karen Wehlage, South Brunswick: The Cougars are well on their way to a winning season for the first time since going 17-10 in 2000-01. South Brunswick is 9-1 overall and 2-0 in Southeastern Conference play.

SWIMMING

Boys Swimmer of the Year

Senior Ryker Eder, Ashley: Has the fastest area time in four individual events – 200 freestyle (1:50.09), 200 IM (1:59.23), 100 breaststroke (58.64), and 100 butterfly (52.49).

Senior Bryson Edwards, Ashley: Has the fastest area time in the 100 backstroke (54.04) and is second in the 200 IM (2:01.43). Edward’s is also in the top 10 in the 100 free (eighth in 50.72), 200 free (seventh in 1:52.65), and 100 butterfly (third in 53.63).

Junior Behrett Petroff, Hoggard: Petroff has the fastest area time in the 50 freestyle (22.45), and is second in the 100 freestyle (50.25) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.57).

Boys Newcomer of the Year

Freshman Michael Best, South Brunswick: Has made an immediate impact with top-10 area times in six events – 100 freestyle (sixth in 50.59), 200 freestyle (fourth in 1:50.92), 500 freestyle (third in 5:03.25), 200 IM (third in 2:02.35), 100 backstroke (ninth in 57.76), and 100 butterfly (10th in 57.42).

Freshman Ethan Ferree, Laney: Ferree has the second-fastest time in the area in the 500 freestyle (5:02.60). He’s also in the top 10 in the 200 IM (fourth in 2:03.48) and 100 backstroke (sixth in 55.26).

Freshman Horace Mayo, Hoggard: His time of 52.76 in the 100 butterfly is the second fastest in the area. Mayo is also in the top 10 in the 100 backstroke (fourth in 55.03) and 200 freestyle (10th in 1:55.90).

Girls Swimmer of the Year

Senior Katie Andrison, Topsail: Area’s top backstroker has the only time under 1-minute (59.98). She’s also top 10 in the 200 IM (fourth in 2:20.10) and 100 butterfly (fourth in 1:01.09).

Junior Heidi Bollenbacher, Laney: Has the top area time in three events – 50 freestyle (25.23), 100 freestyle (55.05), and 200 IM (2:17.01). She is also second in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.31).

Sophomore Peyton Stegman, South Brunswick: Stegman has the second-fastest time in the area in the 200 freestyle (2:01.92). She’s in the top 10 in the 50 freestyle (fifth in 25.72), 500 freestyle (sixth in 5:36.89), 100 backstroke (seventh in 1:03.97), and 100 butterfly (fifth in 1:01.25).

Girls Newcomer of the Year

Freshman Lucy Hastings, New Hanover: It hasn’t taken long for Hastings to become an area standout. She has the top time in the 200 freestyle (2:00.98) and is second in the 50 freestyle (25.35), 500 freestyle (5:30.00), 100 backstroke (1:00.68), and 100 butterfly (1:00.36).

Freshman Brynn Miles, Ashley: Has top-15 area times in the 50 freestyle (seventh in 26.17) and 100 freestyle (12th in 59.04).

Freshman Devin Price, Hoggard: Price has top-10 area times in the 50 freestyle (10th in 26.72), 100 freestyle (10th in 57.77), and 200 freestyle (eighth in 2:07.19).

WRESTLING

Boys Wrestler of the Year

Sophomore Jake Amiott, Topsail: Has a record of 37-1 with 23 pins and nine tech falls.

Senior Mac Kopelman, Laney: Kopelman is 27-2 with 14 wins coming by pins and eight more by tech fall.

Senior Jude Moulton, Hoggard: A year after finishing third at the state championship, Moulton is off to another fantastic start. He is 29-1 with 15 pins and eight tech falls.

Boys Newcomer of the Year

Freshman Thomas Carter, New Hanover: In his first season with the Wilcats, Carter is 33-7 with 19 pins and five tech falls.

Sophomore Ryan Teribury, Topsail: The transfer from New York is 34-7 with 12 pins and four tech falls.

Sophomore Vincent Valentino, Laney: Saw limited action last season, but has become one of the Buccaneers’ top performers this winter. He is 39-10 with 25 pins and six tech falls.