APA's title-winning soccer team recognized at DEWD game

The Arendell Parrott Academy soccer team was recognized before Thursday’s Down East Wood Ducks game at Grainger Stadium. The Patriots won the first state championship in the sport in school history. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News

By Junious Smith III

A historic season for Arendell Parrott Academy’s soccer team was recognized at Grainger Stadium Thursday.

The Patriots were recognized in a ceremony before the Down East Wood Ducks took on the Potomac Nationals Thursday. APA defeated Carolina Day School 2-0 on May 18 for the school’s first ever championship in soccer, adding another accomplishment to the 2019 dossier.

Parrott set school records in number of goals in a season (99) and wins (16) while sharing the EPIC regular-season conference title with Cary Christian, the Patriots’ first.

“Kinston has been known as a title town, and we’re thankful to have been able to add another one here outside of basketball, baseball and football,” APA coach Shivar Person said. “We’ve had a lot of people send congratulations throughout the week and this is a great way to cap everything off.”

Patriots midfielder Annabelle Averette said she could feel the championship coming as Gisell Cervantes’ goal with 14:20 left broke a scoreless tie.

“After that first goal, it felt like we were going to take it home,” Averette said. “It really gave us hope because it was scored so late in the game.”

Patriots forward Megan Blair and defender Holland Killinger assisted on Cervantes’ goal, followed by Alex Melk scoring with five minutes remaining. Shortly after Melk’s clincher, Blair — who played the last two games with a cast due to a broken wrist — said the moment overwhelmed her.

“This meant literally everything,” Blair said. “I couldn’t put it into words — I was crying with three minutes left and Coach actually took me out because I couldn’t stop crying. I’m so thankful for everyone who came out to the game and felt good being recognized (at the Wood Ducks’ game.)”