Sportsmanship Recognition for NCHSAA Student-Athletes As “Heart Of A Champion” Winners Named

CHAPEL HILL—A total of 19 student-athletes from North Carolina High School Athletic Association member schools will be honored for their outstanding sportsmanship as winners of “Heart of a Champion” recognition.

The students will be honored Saturday at a luncheon at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel.

The sportsmanship recognition is part of the program offered by the NCHSAA Student Services Division and is sponsored by the North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. Mark Dreibelbis, NCHSAA assistant commissioner, and assistant director for student services Chiquana Dancy administer the program.

Each of the NCHSAA member schools had the opportunity to nominate one male and one female student-athlete for the recognition. The students must have participated in at least one varsity sport or activity, including cheerleading, during the 2014-15 school year, have not been ejected from any contest, and must have demonstrated outstanding citizenship and sportsmanship during their high school careers.

The students filled out an application questionnaire and then a school official, such as the principal or athletic director, also provided an evaluation.

“We are proud of the achievements of this select group of student-athletes,” said NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield. “With recognitions such as these, we are continuing our emphasis on sportsmanship and the important lessons high school athletics teach.”

North Carolina Farm Bureau Heart of a Champion 2014-15 Honorees:

Student Athlete               School                  Nominator
Jaylen Barnes                 Durham Jordan           Shelba Levins
Sophia Bhalla                 Lincoln Charter         Joshua Williams
Kyran Bowman                  Havelock                Daniel Griffee
Candice Corcoran              Eden Morehead           Daniel Villa
Lauren Davis                  Asheville Clyde Erwin   David Ball
Haylee Gee                    West Iredell            Buck Gannon
Sydney Gilliam                Hendersonville          B.J. Laughter
Hannah Harvey                 North Iredell           Darla Cline
Amity Ikard                   Maiden                  Jessica Frye, Debbie Moose, Miranda Rowe
Stephen Mabe                  North Wilkes            Michael Greene, Marty Behrens
Micah Marcin                  Durham Jordan           Shelba Levins
Sophia McFarlane              Central Cabarrus        Brandon Blalock
Tyler McHargue                West Iredell            Buck Gatton
Andrew Moore                  Mount Airy              Cody Atkins
William Myers IV              Asheville Clyde Erwin   David Ball
Amber Stallings               Perquimans              Laura Moreland
Parker Williams               West Rowan              Todd Bell
Kaitlyn Wood                  Smoky Mountain          Eric Toedtman
Taylor Wyatt                  North Wilkes            Michael Greene,Marty Behrens