Who are the top 30 female athletes from Fayetteville of the 21st century?

Fayetteville high schools have produced so many outstanding female athletes since 2000, it’s difficult to pick just 30.

But, we tried.

Were deserving athletes left out? No doubt.

But there is also no denying that these athletes have had remarkable careers, whether in high school, college or professionally, over the last 21 years.

In no particular order, here they are:

Quanera Hayes

Gray's Creek, track (Class of 2010)

Quanera Hayes competed for Gray's Creek in the state championships before going to Livingstone, where she became the first woman from any Division II school to win three straight NCAA outdoor 400-meter titles. She finished her college career with four NCAA championships and 12 NCAA All-American honors. Gold in USATF Indoor National Championships and IAAF World Championships came next and, ultimately, Hayes qualified for the 400m Olympics field. She ran in the Tokyo Games, advancing through prelims and semis to the final where she finished seventh.

LaToya Pringle Sanders

Seventy-First, basketball (Class of 2004)

A two-time first-team all-state and North Carolina Miss Basketball, LaToya Pringle Sanders led Seventy-First to a pair of state championships as MVP, setting a state final record with 28 rebounds in 2003. She also went all-state in volleyball twice. Sanders went on to play at UNC, going to two Final Fours and becoming the Tar Heels' all-time leader in blocked shots with an average of 2.43 per game. She was the No. 13 overall pick by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2008 WNBA draft, and won a WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics in 2019. Sanders was also a member of the Turkish National Team and played in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Haley Cashwell

Cape Fear, softball (Class of 2017)

Haley Cashwell's name is all over the North Carolina High School Assocation record book. A three-time Max Preps All-American, she led Cape Fear to three regional titles and a 2015 state championship, hitting over .500 all four of her high school seasons. She holds state records for career hits (253), runs (227), consecutive at-bats with a hit (22), consecutive at-bats reaching base (23), consecutive games with a hit (38), and ranks second in runs scored in a season (61), third in career batting average (.602), fourth for hits in a season (67), and 10th in season batting average (.675). At Wingate, she was named team offensive MVP in the shortened 2020 season as a junior and led the South Atlantic Conference in stolen bases, ranked second in hits, third in runs and fifth in batting average.

Naomi Graham

Pine Forest, boxing (Class of 2007)

Pine Forest alum Naomi Graham represents the USA as a member of the Army and the US Oympic boxing team. She became the first active-duty female US soldier to compete for Team USA boxing at the Tokyo Games, where she lost her opening fight in the middleweight class. She is a two-time National Middleweight Champion, won silver in her first Pan American games and placed first in the 2020 US Olympic Team Trials for boxing. She was named a team captain for the Olympics.

Carlie Myrtle

Jack Britt, softball (Class of 2021)

Carlie Myrtle's high school career began with a bang a Jack Britt where she led the Bucs to a state championship and committed to UNC as a freshman in 2018. Myrtle won national championship titles playing travel ball with the Carolina Cardinals in 2017 and '18, and finished third at the USA/ASA Junior Olympic Cup in 2020. She was named all-conference, all-county, all-region and all state in three of her high school seasons.

Chinyere Bell

South View, basketball (Class of 2015)

Chinyere Bell is still South View's all-time scoring leader with 1,951 career points. That's just one of the 18 school records she held at graduation. A McDonald's All-American nominee and three-time all-state selection, Bell also holds Tigers records for career rebounds (1,246), points in a season (632), rebounds in a season (333) and single-game points (42) and rebounds (22). She was also a four-time conference champion in shot put and discus, going to states all four years in track & field. She went on to play at UNC Willmington after transferring from George Mason. She's currently an assistant coach for South View's basketball team.

Heather Erickson

Jack Britt, sitting volleyball (Class of 2011)

Born with a bone that prevented her leg from fully developing, Jack Britt graduate Heather Erickson became an amputee at nine years old after 18 failed surgeries. She would go on to become a four-time Paralympic medalist, winning two golds and two silvers in sitting volleyball. Her golds came in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020, with silvers in London in 2012 and Beijing in 2008. She's also won three silvers in World Championships and gold at the Parapan American Games, Euro Cup, WOVD World Cup and ECVD Continental Cup.

Bri Bryant

Cape Fear, softball (Class of 2017)

A two-time all-state, regional MVP and 2015 state champ, Cape Fear's Bri Bryant still holds the state record for RBIs in a season with 72 in 2017. She went on to play at Campbell, and has made the All-Big South first team two seasons after being named to the All-Big South freshman squad. She led the Camels in batting average (.370), hits (68), runs scored (36) and stolen bases (12) as a sophomore. After sitting out a season due to injury, she notched a team-high 40 runs as a junior and got some national attention with a three-homers-in-three-at-bats game that was on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.

Sarah Watson

Gray's Creek, softball (Class of 2014)

An all-state Max Preps Medium Schools All-American, Sarah Watson ranks second in the state record books for RBIs in a season with 61, eighth in season batting average with .693, tied for third with 20 doubles in a season. She was a two-time region player of the year at Gray's Creek and was named 3A East Player of the Year as a senior. Named USA South All-Conference first-team for division champion Meredith in 2017.

Amber Calvin

South View, basketball (Class of 2009)

Amber Calvin won a state championship as a sophomore at South View in 2007, when she was named MVP as the Tiger rallied from a 17-point deficit to complete the first undefeated 4A girls' season since 1987. At NC A&T, Calvin was named to the MEAC All-Rookie Team and she made ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays at NC A&T with a no-look pass to Seventy-First alum Ta'wuana Cook. She was named NC A&T Female Athlete of the Year in 2012 and then transferred to Fayetteville State for her senior season to be closer to home.

Alecia Hardy

E.E. Smith, basketball (Class of 2014)

A true all-around athlete, E.E. Smith's Alecia Hardy was an all-state basketball player who also lettered in cross country, volleyball and track & field. She was named conference player of the year twice in basketball, three times in volleyball, and she was a two-time state finalist hurdler, also making the state finals as a member of a relay team. Hardy went on to play basketball at Charleston Southern for two seasons before transferring to UNC Pembroke.

Qizeah Jackson

Westover, track (Class of 2014)

Qizeah Jackson won three individual state championships and a fourth as a member of a relay team in 2013. She went on to run for NC A&T where she was named All-MEAC second team as a sophomore and was the Aggies' top scorer in the conference indoor championships as a freshman.

Alexandria Scruggs

E.E. Smith, basketball (Class of 2019)

Alex Scruggs won two NCISAA championships in three trips to the finals with Trinity Christian, scoring 48 points in the title game as an eighth-grader. She transferred to E.E. Smith as a senior and was named the 910Preps Girls' Basketball Player of the Year after leading the Golden Bull-ettes to a state championship appearance. She was Wake Forest's top scorer coming off the bench last season as a sophomore.

Tiara Guase

Westover, basketball (Class of 2008)

A regional MVP of the Wolverines' 2008 state champion squad, Tiara Gause also played for the 2006 AAU national championship team and was named an AAU All-American in 2007. She went to Elon where she was named Southern Conference Freshman of the Year.

Marlena Murphy

Jack Britt, basketball (Class of 2004)

As a junior at Campbell, Marlena Murphy led the Atlantic Sun Conference and ranked 21st in the nation with an average of 9.8 rebounds per game. She was first-team all-conference as a senior and is now a member of the Fighting Camels coaching staff. At Britt, Murphy was all-conference in basketball and volleyball.

Jennifer Bonilla

South View, softball (Class of 2003)

An all-state and all-region player for Eddie Dees at South View, Jennifer Bonilla went on to star for UNC Greensboro softball. She graduated tied for first in career hits (227), second in doubles (51), third in RBIs (117) and fourth in home runs. Bonilla was a member of the Puerto Rican National Softball Team in 2007, playing in the Pan American Games and the Olympic Qualifier in Venezuela.

Ona Udoh

Terry Sanford, basketball (Class of 2016)

Ona Udoh averaged a double-double for a Bulldogs squad that notched a 27-game winning streak spanning three months during her senior year. The conference player of the year sparked a run to the regional final as a four-star recruit and she went on to play at Wake Forest.

Sabrina Gregory

E.E. Smith, basketball (Class of 2004)

Currently the director of basketball operations at UNC Charlotte, Sabrina Gregory helped the 49ers win the 2006 Atlantic-10 regular-season title as a guard. A two-time all-conference athlete, she became the 15th player in school history to score 1,000 points and graduated as Charlotte's No. 11 all-time scorer with 1,286 points. She was a two-time conference player of the year for coach Dee Hardy at E.E. Smith.

Lauren Ross

South View, softball (Class of 2004)

A three-time all-conference and two-time league player of the year honoree, Lauren Ross was named all-state as a senior at South View with a career record of 55-7 with 419 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA. She helped the Tigers win four straight league titles and reach the NCHSAA Final Four in 2004 as she recorded the most wins in the state (25) with a 0.26 ERA and 188 strikeouts in 158 innings pitched. She also batted .440, and was a three-time all-conference pick in volleyball. Ross went on to set Western Carolina records for home runs (27) and RBIs (84) and she also had back-to-back 100 strikeout seasons.

Sam Ramirez

South View, basketball (Class of 2007)

An all-state player at South View who averaged 18.7 points, Samantha Ramirez graduated as the Tigers' all-time leading scorer and 3-point shooter. As a senior, Ramirez led South View to a 32-0 record and a state championship, where she was named Most Outstanding Player. She went on to play at Appalachian State where she was named SoCon Player of the Year as a senior.

Whitney Allen

South View, softball (Class of 2005)

A three-time all-conference and all-region softball player at South View who won two regional championships and also played volleyball and ran cross country, Whitney Allen went on to play at UNC. She started as an outfielder for the Tar Heels.

Kendra Bell

Terry Sanford, basketball (Class of 2001)

Ranked the No. 1 high school basketball player in North Carolina as a senior at Terry Sanford, Kendra Bell chose to play for Kay Yow at NC State over UNC, Florida, Virginia Tech, UNC Charlotte and ECU. As point guard, she helped the Wolfpack get back into the AP Top 25 after a four-year absence.

Lisa Suggs

Terry Sanford, tennis (Class of 2003)

Playing for Gil Bowman at Terry Sanford, Lisa Suggs was named all-state and all-conference three times, earning conference and regional player of the year honors twice. Winning regional and conference titles in singles and doubles, Suggs was ranked in the top 100 nationally by USTA and No. 1 in North Carolina. She played at UNC Greensboro in the No. 1 singles spot.

Belinda Barrera

Jack Britt, softball (Class of 2003)

Belinda Barrera won two conference player of the year awards as Jack Britt won three league titles. She also pitched for the Carolina Fames, who finished as runners-up at the 2003 Pony Nationals and won two NSA state championships. In her first year at East Tennessee State, Barrera became the program's single-season strikeout leader with 164. She also held opponents to a .212 batting average, also a program high.

Courtney Patterson

Jack Britt, track (Class of 2003)

Courtney Patterson finished 11th at the 2002 Junior Olympics and ran on Britt's state champion 4x100 relay team, with was ranked 10th nationally. A two-time conference runner of the year, she went on to NC State where she posted a school-record time of 7.57 in the 60. She was on the ACC champion and All-East Region 4x100 relay team as a freshman.

Rachel Yepez

Terry Sanford, soccer (Class of 2005)

Terry Sanford alum Rachel Yepez graduated as one of the most prolific scorers in Louisiana State soccer history. She was an All-American honorable mention by TopDrawerSoccer.com in 2007, and a two-time all-region forward. Yepez graduated as LSU's third-leading goal- and point-scorer of all time. She was a member of the most successful senior class in Tigers history, winning three SEC division championships and making three NCAA Tournament appearances. Yepez led Cumberland County in goals and points as a junior and played for the Region III Olympic Development Program Team.

Ta'wuana Cook

Seventy-First, basketball (Class of 2006)

After winning back-to-back state championships at Seventy-First, Ta'wuana "Tweet" Cook became the first player in the history of NC A&T women's basketball named MEAC Rookie of the Year. She graduated as the Aggies' second all-time leading scorer, all-time leader in assists and steals, and among the top 10 in rebounding.

Kristie King

Terry Sanford, soccer (Class of 2014)

Kristie King was all-conference all four years at Terry Sanford. She went on to play soccer and basketball at Meredith, where she was named the most valuable defensive player three years in soccer, All-USA South first team and All-East first team as a senior for the East Division champs. She's now a member of the Meredith soccer coaching staff.

Leah Jones

Cape Fear, softball (Class of 2010)

Leah Jones played golf, basketball and softball at Cape Fear, and went on to play softball at NC State. A two-time all-state honoree, Jones was named a Gatorade Max Preps All-American as a senior, and she set a state record with 18 home runs in a season. With the Wolfpack, Jones had 435 putouts her junior year, second-most in school history for a single season.

Sidney Cook

South View, basketball (Class of 2012)

An AP All-State selection who scored more than 1,000 points in her two years at South View, Sidney Cook was recruited by former US women's national team coach Anne Donovan to play at Seton Hall. She made the Big East all-freshman team, then transferred to Virginia Tech where she was the Hokies' leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as a junior. She averaged 13.1 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior as Virginia Tech broke into national rankings. She played professionally in Israel.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville NC top female athletes of the 21st Century