BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

The spirit of camaraderie, celebration, and achievement filled the air on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, as the senior athletes of John A. Holmes High School were honored during the Senior Athletic Banquet. 

Held at Edenton Baptist Church, the event drew a crowd of nearly 200 student-athletes, families, coaches, and community members who gathered to recognize the hard work and accomplishments of this year’s graduating student-athletes.

Holmes’ alumnus Khalil Blount – a three-sport athlete as an Ace – inspired the audience with stories from his high school days, his journey beyond graduation, and the lessons he learned on and off the field.

Blount, a member of the Class of 2017 and a graduate of UNC-Wilmington, teaches at the school. He also serves as an assistant coach on the Aces football team.

He noted that life is just like sports in that getting through life is a team effort.

“You don’t just play for the scoreboard — you play for your teammates, your town, and the pride of representing something bigger than yourself,” said Blount.

He noted that no one wins alone. Student-athletes were encouraged to build their team of mentors, friends, business partners, etc.. Blount said they should invest in their teams because “investing in them is like investing in your own success.”

Blount challenged the Class of 2025 to do the following after graduation:

• Honor their team
• Embrace the knockdowns
• Trust their training

Principal Sonia Rinehart acknowledged the student-athletes’ unwavering commitment. 

“You didn’t just wear a uniform,” she declared, “you inspired your teammates, represented your school with pride, and showed this community what determination and sportsmanship truly look like.” 

Rinehart highlighted how the student-athletes had given “one of the greatest joys” to the school through their talent and hard work. She reminded them that while this chapter closes, their future is bright, encouraging them to carry the lessons learned in sports into their next endeavors.

“Remember what’s true,” she emphasized. “We’ll always be here, cheering you on from the sidelines, proud of the legacy that you leave behind.”

The Athletes of the Year were Maddox Bass and Amaya Cortezano. Cortezano also received a $500 scholarship during the event, the first of an annual scholarship for a cross-country or track athlete administered by the Edenton-Chowan Educational Foundation.

The ceremony also included recognizing scholar athletes, regional and state qualifiers, coaches and players of the year for each sport and all senior student-athletes.

Coach Mo Downing offered a heartfelt prayer, underscoring the spiritual aspect of their achievements and the community’s support. He spoke of the day as one to “rejoice and be glad,” not just for their athletic accomplishments, but for the inherent worth of each individual. 

His prayer for the Class of 2025 was one of protection and guidance, trusting in God to “clear the way for them.”

Aces Booster Club President Cathy Hoggard thanked the unsung heroes who make high school athletics possible. 

A significant portion of her appreciation was directed at Kim Ullom, whose tireless efforts in capturing moments were lauded.

“She spends countless hours not only taking pictures, but also posting them,” the president explained, noting that these images are shared “at no cost to anyone who uses them.”

Ullom’s dedication ensures that every family has a way to remember their child’s athletic journey through photographs.

The recognition continued for other Booster Club members: Kristy Knight, social media coordinator and concession overseer; the officers and members who supported Hoggard’s tenure; and especially Vice President Claire Evans, whose “time and sacrifices” were invaluable. Hoggard also thanked her husband, football head coach Paul Hoggard, for helping stock the concession stand and supporting her through her time as Booster Club President.

Hoggard also thanked the parents, whose “time you give watching them and cheering them on” was fundamental to their children’s participation.

Addressing the graduating Class of 2025, Hoggard offered a final piece of advice as they embark on their “next, new life story.” Whether heading to college, continuing their sports careers, or entering the workforce, the core tenets remain: “work hard to be the best you can be,” “work together as a team,” and “help and serve others.” 

The message was clear: carry the lessons of adolescence and athleticism forward to “make a difference and leave this place better than you found it.”

2025 Senior Athletes

Names provided by the school. Sports listed with number of years of participation in parenthesis.

• Ashlynn Babbitt: JV Volleyball (2), Varsity Volleyball (2)
• Janyrah Basnight: JV Baskeiliall (1), Varsity Basketball (3)
• Nasir Basnight: JV Football (1), Varsity Football (3)
• Trevor Basnight: Soccer (3), Tennis (1), Cross Country (T)
• Maddox Bass: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (2), JV Baseball (1), Varsity Baseball (3), JV Football (1), Varsity Football (2)
• Kurshauna Blount: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (2), Outdoor Track (4), Indoor Track (3), Cross Country (1), Soccer (1)
• Zaylee Campbell: Cross Country (1), Swimming (4), Soccer (3), Tennis (1)
• Leslie Carpeitte: Cross Country(1), Swimming (4), Soccer (4)
• Brandon Cherry: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (1)
• Heather Clayton: JV Cheerleading (1), Varsity Cheerleading (2), Swimming (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Jordyn Colon: JV Cheerleading (2), Varsity Cheerleading (2)
• Amaya Cortezano: Indoor Track (3), Outdoor Track (3), Cross County (2)
• Kori Cortezano: Marching Band (3), Swimming (3), Softball (1)
• Elijah Davis: Varsity Football (4), Outdoor Track (1)
• Zi’Kiven Dillard: JV Faotball (1), Varsity Football (2), Qutdoor Track (3), Indoor Track (2)
• Ayanna Dixon: JV Basketball (3), Varsity Basketball (1), Soccer (3), Indoor Track (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Torah Downing: JV Cheerleading (2), Varsity Cheerleading (2), Outdoor Track (3)
• A’Ziyah Eason: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (2), Soccer (1)
• Jaemikle Etheridge: Varsity Football (3), Varsity Basketball (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Kate Foster: Tennis (3), Varsity Basketball (3), Soccer (3)
• Daniel Thomas Hare: Varsity Football (4), Varsity Baseball (4)
• Christian Hawks: JV Baseball (2), Varsity Baseball (1), JV Football (1), Varsity Football (3)
• Mia Hoffer: Softball (4), JV Volleyball (1), Varsity Volleyball (2)
• Dyamond Holley: Outdoor Track (4), Indoor Track (3), Cross Country (1)
• Amaree Jackson: JV Football (1), Varsity Football (3), Outdoor Track (1)
• Kavion Jackson: JV Football (2), Varsity Football (2), Outdoor Track (2), JV Basketball (1)
• Caden Knight: JV Football (1), Varsity Football (3), Indoor Track (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Aubre’anna Lewis: JV Cheerleading (2), Varsity Cheerleading (2), Outdoor Track (2), Indoor Track (1), Marching Band (1)
• Hector Melchor-Cisneros: Cross Country (1), Soccer (2)
• Landon Morgan: JV Football (2), Varsity Football (2), Wrestling (2), JV Baseball (2), Varsity Baseball (2), Indoor Track (1)
• Darius Oliver: Varsity Baseball (4)
• Joshua O’Neil: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (2), Outdoor Track (1)
• Ainsley Parrish: JV Volleyball (1), Softball (4)
• Emma Parrish: JV Volleyball (2), Varsity Volleyball (1), Indoor Track (4), Outdoor Track (4), Soccer (4), Softball (1)
• Gavin Pierce: Varsity Football (4), Wrestling (4), JV Baseball (2)
• Shy’Najia Rollins: JV Basketball (1), Varsity Basketball (2), Soccer (4), Tennis (3)
• Khamari Sanderlin: Varsity Football (4), Wrestling (3), Outdoor Track (1)
• Ty’Yonna Sanderlin: Cheerleading Manager (1), JV Cheerleading (1), Varsity Cheerleading (2), Outdoor Track (2). Indoor Track (1)
• Willisha Sessoms: Basketball Manager (1)
• Te-Jayce Simpson: JV Football (1), Varsity Football 2), Indoor Track (2), Outdoor Track (2)
• Ke’Shon Tripp: Varsity Football (4), Outdoor Track (2), Indoor Track (1), Varsity Baseball (2)
• Zach Walston: JV Basketball (2), Varsity Basketball (2), JV Baseball (2), Varsity Baseball (2)
• Jordan Ward: Hunter’s Safely (3), Softball (4)
• Tyler Wells: Swimming (3), Golf (2), Cross Country (1), Indoor Track (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Naijhir White: Varsity Football (4), Varsity Basketball (4), Outdoor Track (2)
• JaVighyia Wilkins: JV Cheerleading (1), Varsity Cheerleading (2)
• Hunter “Frog” Williams: JV Baseball (2), Varsity Baseball (2)
• Ke’Monte Wilson: Varsity Basketball (2), Varsity Football (1), Outdoor Track (1)
• Tamya Wilson: Sports Medicine (4), Basketball Manager (1)

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