CHAPEL HILL— The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) has named Courtney Willis of Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville and Manny DeShauteurs of Brevard High School as winners of the 2000 NCHSAA Athlete of the Year awards.
These are the top athletic awards given by the NCHSAA to honor the most outstanding male and female high school athletes in the state. They were presented at the Dean Smith Center on the University of North Carolina campus during the NCHSAA's Annual Meeting.
Both Willis and DeShauteurs were nominated by member schools and selected by a special panel of media representatives from across the state. They were each presented with the Pat Best Memorial Trophy, named for the former Goldsboro High principal and president of the NCHSAA who died unexpectedly in 1988.
"We congratulate these fine student-athletes on their great achievements during their high school careers," said Charlie Adams, executive director of the NCHSAA. "Both Courtney and Manny have tremendously impressive credentials along the lines of the previous outstanding winners of this award. We certainly wish them the best in the future."
DeShauteurs was a three-sport star at Brevard. He holds the Western North Carolina career record for rushing with 6,632 yards, which is good for fifth all-time in North Carolina prep history. His rushing mark this year of 2,983 yards is the fourth-best all time in the state. A two-time conference player of the year, DeShauteurs scored 91 touchdowns in his career but also had almost 200 tackles and eight interceptions as a defensive player.
In wrestling, he is a four-time all-conference selection and a four-time regional champion. He won the 189-pound championship in his classification this year and finished his mat career with an overall record of 109-7. And in track, he competed in four events in the recent regional track meet.
Willis was also a three-sport star, in volleyball, basketball and soccer. She held lead the Terry Sanford volleyball team to its best finish in school history and had 221 kills for the season. Perhaps she is best known for her basketball prowess as she helped lead her team into the state 4-A championship game. He averaged 19.2 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, blocked 63 shots and shot 58 percent from the field. She also had a game record 24 points in North Carolina's victory over South Carolina in the coaches' associations' post-season all-star game.
In soccer, she is an outstanding defender as she is a starter at sweeper . Willis will be attending East Carolina in the fall on a basketball scholarship.
Contact: Rick Strunk (919-962-7786)
