The 2026-2027 North Carolina high school athletic season is underway after the first competitions of the new school year kicked off Monday, Aug. 10.
While football, soccer and volleyball take up much of the fall sports spotlight, three more sports across the area have plenty of talent returning in 2026.
Cross country, girls tennis and girls golf are all getting started as the new season ushers in a chance for stars to emerge and experienced athletes to further solidify their spots among the area's best.
On the trails, the first XC event for Wilmington athletes is the Longleaf Cross Country Kickoff on Aug. 20. Girls tennis is underway while girls golf gets started Aug. 24.
Here are 117 Wilmington-area high school athletes to watch in cross country,
girls tennis and girls golf this fall.
- JUMP TO GIRLS TENNIS
- JUMP TO GIRLS GOLF
Wilmington-area high school cross-country runners to watch in 2026
Amelia Medlin, Sr., Hoggard
Medlin headlines one of the area's strongest cross-country programs after a runner-up finish in the NCHSAA 8A girls state championship a season ago.
She's joined by a convoy of young Vikings talent that includes sophomores Valentina Butler, Emily Singer and Alice Jones, who all finished inside the top 10 at the 2025 Carolina Coast Conference championship.
On the boys side, Hoggard will be without one of the best runners in school history after Riley Kiziah moved to Colorado for his senior season.
Still, the Vikings return plenty of talent. Junior Ralph Pfeil and sophomores Ethan Cox and Abram Baker all logged top-10 finishes at the CCC championship in 2025, while senior Gabe Nalepa placed 11th.
Grayson Dill, Sr., Topsail
Dill became the first boys runner in Topsail history to claim a cross-country state title last fall, joining Hoggard's Kiziah as the only boys runners in Wilmington-area history to achieve the feat.
He returns after setting the fastest 5K time in Wilmington-area history (15:10.40) and the third-fastest mile time (4:18.58). He's joined by junior Chase Crucitti and seniors Brennan Johnson and Orin Gray.
The talent doesn't stop on the girls side, as junior Molly Corcoran returns after running the fourth-fastest 5K time in the area last fall. Seniors Sophia Norris and Payleigh Newbill round out a Pirates squad that has consistently been one of the area's top XC programs.
Alexis George, Jr., Ashley
George finished fifth in the CCC rankings among girls 5K runners in 2025. She leads an Ashley squad that also returns juniors Sadie Bass and Hayley Ervin.
The Screaming Eagles didn't have as much success on the boys side last fall, but senior Colten Wescoe still brought plenty of speed, nearly breaking 17 minutes. Junior Porter Cramer and sophomore Gavin Derry round out an Ashley boys squad searching for more success this season.
Emma Rogers, Jr., New Hanover
Rogers claimed second place in the CCC championship a season ago and has consistently been one of the area's top girls runners, finishing 2025 with the third-fastest 5K time.
Senior teammates Antoniesha Brown, Mary Nipper Jeffreys and Adley McCall round out the Wildcats' girls side.
Senior boys runner Michael Enriquez was a top-10 area runner last year, finishing fifth in the NCHSAA 7A East regional and 10th at states.
He's joined by sophomore Nolan Smyth, junior Miles Fitzgerald and senior Jennis Worsley, who each posted top-30 times in the conference last year.
Emma Gibbs, Sr., Cape Fear Academy
Gibbs is one of the area's top returning girls runners after finishing second in the Coastal Plains Independent Conference championship in 2025.
Fellow senior Mauura Stickle also had a top-10 finish at the event. Eighth grader Vivian Luckman should develop into one of the Hurricanes' top runners this fall.
Boys runners Owen Holt and Luke Polock are also back as some of the squad's top returners.
Miranda Short, Sr., Coastal Christian
The Centurions' top girls runner in 2025 is back after placing second in the CPIC championship and ninth at states.
Charlotte Biagini and Katelyn Meaney join her as Coastal's only other senior girls runners this season.
Senior Cole Williamson is back after finishing just outside the top 10 at states.
He's joined by fellow seniors Nykko Kraemer, Charlie Barber and Braxton Tonkin to round out the Centurions' top returning boys runners.
George Adams, Sr., Laney
Laney's top returning boys runner, Adams was a top-10 finisher at last season's CCC championship.
Teammates Fisher Jones, a sophomore, and Ian Denny will look to make big strides in 2026.
On the girls side, Lily Stasio is back after a solid freshman season. Mariel Casper, Natalia Montalban Petatan and Maaike Shaw bring plenty of experience as the Bucs' only seniors.
Nolan Whiteside, Jr., North Brunswick
Whiteside broke 20 minutes in the 5K as a sophomore in 2025. He's joined by senior boys runners Brice Gregory and Carver LaRoche.
On the girls side, the Scorpions have promising young talent in MacKenzie Allen and Lilian Schroeder, who are both coming off productive freshman seasons.
Eduardo Mendoza, Soph., Pender
Mendoza is Pender's top returning runner after finishing second in the East Central Conference championship.
Senior David Montoya and juniors Ernesto Garcia Maurilio and Justice Mullins each finished inside the top 20 at the event.
Junior duo Shelby Mitchell and Lizzeth Paz-Cruz anchor the Patriots' girls side.
Ashnaan Isaacson, Soph., South Brunswick
Isaacson is the Cougars' top returning runner in 2026 after running the second-fastest time in the Southeastern Conference in 2025.
He's joined by Jacob Brown, who finished ninth in the SEC championship.
Lucas Booney, Noah Edwards and Maximus Olfano are a junior trio that returns as some of South Brunswick's more experienced boys runners.
Several of the Cougars' top girls XC runners have graduated, but Hanna Lovell returns. Juniors Gracie Yopp, Annemarie Long and Alice Menzel could also have big seasons.
Sophia Gough, Jr., Trask
Gough finished sixth in the East Central Conference championship and 11th at regionals.
She returns alongside juniors Nayeli Ramirez and Leslie Cruz Lopez. Louise Medeiros is also back after a strong freshman season in 2025.
Trask trio Stevie Braune, Gissel Perez Escalante and Viviana Reyes are the Titans' only senior girls runners.
Junior Sawyer Davis headlines the boys side after an eighth-place conference finish. He's joined by seniors Maddox Leigh, Christopher Luis Carbajal and Arturo Martinez.
Bryce Bytnar, Soph., West Brunswick
Just a freshman in 2025, Bytnar was the Trojans' second-best runner, finishing with the third-fastest time in Brunswick County.
Juniors Bronson Knott and Jason Berado could develop into some of West Brunswick's top boys runners.
The Trojans' senior boys runners include Christopher Bui, Jonah Hewitt, Braylen Marlowe and Conner Ruane.
Senior Abbi Davis remains the team's top girls runner after finishing second only to South Brunswick's Kennedy Gordon in county competition.
Justis Sterowski joins her as West Brunswick's only other senior girls runner.
Ella Hill, Ashley Lopez and Allyson Berado also return after strong freshman seasons.
James Dawson, Jr., Wilmington Christian Academy
Dawson was a top-50 runner in New Hanover County last fall.
He's joined by eighth grader Charlie Fuerst and juniors Alex Hammerschmidt, Jahsiyah Rhodes and Oliver Roberts.
On the girls side, sisters Olivia, Naomi and Alicen Johnston are all back.
Senior Sadie Price and junior Emma Ennis round out the Patriots' girls side.
Girls tennis
Braelyn Roberson, Soph., Hoggard: The reigning StarNews All-Area Player of the Year went 24-2 across all competitions as a freshman, helping lead Hoggard to a conference title and the program's first state championship appearance. The nationally ranked Viking's only losses came in the 8A individual state final and dual-team state championship.
Zannah Roberson, Soph., Hoggard: Went 12-1 at No. 2 singles and a perfect 8-0 at No. 1 doubles alongside twin sister Braelyn during a standout freshman season.
Zoe Ten Brink, Soph., Hoggard: Made an immediate impact as a freshman, going 19-6 across all competitions and earning first-team StarNews All-Area honors.
Elizabeth Sifly, Sr., New Hanover: Led the Wildcats with a 25-9 overall record as a junior, helping New Hanover finish second in conference play and earning first-team All-Area honors.
Layine Fortun, Jr., New Hanover: Finished 27-11 across all competitions as a sophomore, including a 7-3 record at No. 2 singles, to earn first-team All-Area honors.
Kenzie Lee, Soph., Hoggard: Returns after earning second-team StarNews All-Area honors in 2025 for a Hoggard team that reached the state championship.
Allie Sauer, Jr., Hoggard: Earned second-team All-Area honors last fall and returns to a Hoggard lineup that lost just once on its run to the state championship.
Rynley Elvington, Jr., Cape Fear Academy: An All-Area second-team selection, Elvington went 12-1 at No. 3 singles in 2025.
Claire Furmidge, Sr., Cape Fear Academy: Went 7-1 at No. 6 singles for the Hurricanes last fall.
Girls golf
Susan Davis, Jr., New Hanover: The reigning StarNews All-Area Girls Golfer of the Year finished second in the NCHSAA 7A East regional and 13th at the state championship. Davis was also the medalist in five of seven conference matches and the CCC tournament.
Alexis Ogden, Fr., Cape Fear Academy: Established herself as one of the area's top young golfers as an eighth grader, finishing fifth in the NCISAA Division II state championship.
Allie Casey, Jr., Laney: Finished seventh in the NCHSAA 8A East regional championship as a sophomore and won two CCC matches while finishing second in two others.
Reese Brinkman, Jr., Topsail: Earned first-team StarNews All-Area honors as a sophomore after finishing 10th in the NCHSAA 7A East regional championship.
Emma Cowgill, Soph., Coastal Christian: Turned in an impressive freshman season, finishing 18th in the NCISAA Division II state championship and earning first-team All-Area honors.
Sister Caitlyn Cowgill tied for 19th in the NCISAA Division II state championship as a junior to earn first-team All-Area honors.
Elliott Walters, Soph., Hoggard: Returns after earning second-team StarNews All-Area honors in 2025 for the CCC champion Vikings.
Teammates Guerlain Gilbert and Lulu Rivera also earned second-team All-Area honors last fall as part of a Hoggard team that captured another conference championship.
McKenna Roberson, Jr., Topsail: Returns as one of Topsail's top golfers after earning second-team StarNews All-Area honors last season.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 117 Wilmington cross country, tennis and golf athletes to watch in 2026
