SCS Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis stands next to West Stanly track and field standouts Phoenix Hendy, Jonathan Moran Sanchez and Darrell Bynum, along with West coach Warren Jackson. Photo courtesy Stanly County Schools

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ALBEMARLE — A group of seven 1A and 2A NCHSAA state championship winners from two Stanly County high schools were honored at the Stanly County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night.

Stanly County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis introduced the local track and field athletes to the school board and meeting attendees, allowing them an opportunity to shake hands with the members of the school board.

The seven recognized athletes were Albemarle High’s Amari Baldwin (girls’ track triple jump) and Dre Davis (boys’ track 100m and 200m), along with West Stanly High’s Dominik Danzy, Jonathan Moran Sanchez, Darrell Bynum, Phoenix Hendy (boys’ 4x200m) and Owen Grismer (boys’ discus).

Baldwin, Davis, Sanchez, Bynum and Hendy each attended the meeting in person to accept their public honor.

The two Albemarle Bulldog standouts were the first to be addressed by the county superintendent.

“We do want to recognize some state champions from a couple of our schools,” Dennis said. “Miss Baldwin is the winner of the 1A state championship in the triple jump. Mr. Davis here won the 200 and the 100, and you’re the past defending 100 champion — that’s outstanding.”

Next up, three West Stanly Colt champions approached the front of the room to be honored.

“These gentlemen were on the 4x200m relay team that won the state this year, and you ran a school record in the 4x100m as well,” Dennis added. “It was a really good race, because Monroe had a pretty good team, and you edged them out. You did a fantastic job. It was a very good group of athletes that you competed against, and you came through and won the state championships.”

West track coach Warren Jackson then surprised his Colt star athletes by presenting them with their indoor state championship rings from their performances back in February.

“We have two that are going to serve our country, and one is going to college at Pfeiffer,” Jackson said. “This is the last chance I get these guys together as seniors. Last week, the indoor state rings came in, so I wanted to give them their rings today.”

Pfeiffer University Athletics announced in a May 30 statement that Sanchez has decided to join the Falcons’ track and field team: “We expect Jonathan to come in and have an immediate impact in our program. We are excited that Jonathan chose Pfeiffer. We know he will make our track and field family even stronger!”

After the school board meeting, West coach Brandon Morton confirmed that Danzy and Grismer — who were both unable to attend the meeting — will receive their state title rings and be honored at a home event during the 2025-26 school year.