GREENVILLE, S.C. – Barton College's
Sawyer Rigdon has been named the Conference Carolinas Women's Flag Football Offensive Player of the Year.
Rigdon, a freshman quarterback from Wilmington, N.C., has passed for 3,235 yards and 60 touchdowns in addition to a team-high 279 yards rushing and two scores. Rigdon was also a two-time league offensive player of the week.
Earning all-league first-team honors for the Bulldogs were freshman wide receiver
Saron Merid (Charlotte, N.C.), freshman defensive backs
Zahnia Long (Charlotte, N.C.) and
Alexa Wheaton (Raleigh, N.C.) and freshman athlete
Valerie-Ange Batta (Durham, N.C.).
Merid leads the team in receptions (94), yards receiving (1,241) and touchdown catches (21) while Long has nine interceptions and Wheaton ranks third on the team in tackles (68) in addition to six quarterback sacks.
Batta ranks first on the team in total touchdowns (27) in addition to 82 catches for 1,112 yards receiving. Under center, Batts has thrown for 663 yards and 11 scores and picked off 15 passes as a defender with five of those returned for touchdowns.
Long, as a receiver, and defensive back
Alyssa Taylor (Holly Springs, N.C.) garnered second-team all-conference accolades. Long has 56 receptions for 710 yards and 12 scores while Taylor has totaled 36 tackles and five interceptions on the season.
Barton (10-2) is the No. 4 seed in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Flag Football Championship and will face fifth-seeded Emmanuel (9-7) in the quarterfinal round on Friday, April 17, at 2:15 p.m., Durham County Memorial Stadium in Durham, N.C.
2026 All-Conference Carolinas
Flag Football Teams
FIRST TEAM
Quarterback – Payson Shreeve, Ferrum
Running Back – Jhenelle Francis, Wingate
Wide Receiver – Gianna Brown, Emmanuel
Wide Receiver - Natalia Hernández de León, Lees-McRae
Wide Receiver – Saron Merid, Barton
Wide Receiver – Alyssa Ramos, King
Center – Shayne Cooper-Riley, Emmanuel
Rusher – Evonne Bruestle, Wingate
Linebacker – Madison Kean, Mount St. Mary's
Linebacker – Caroline Small, King
Defensive Back – Alyssa Ramos, King
Defensive Back – Zahnia Long, Barton
Defensive Back – Alexa Wheaton, Barton
Defensive Back – Zamarah Rawls, Mount Olive
Specialist – Addison Cadwell, Wingate
Athlete – Valerie-Ange Batta, Barton
SECOND TEAM
Quarterback – Makenzie Hicks, Lees-McRae
Running Back – Macy Taylor, Ferrum
Wide Receiver – Gwen Carter, Emmanuel
Wide Receiver – Kennedy Vannoy, Lees-McRae
Wide Receiver – Zahnia Long, Barton
Wide Receiver – Evonne Bruestle, Wingate
Center – Hailey Mescall, King
Rusher – Da'Moijah Flowers, Emmanuel
Linebacker – Mackenzie Walker, Lees-McRae
Linebacker – Kennedy Vannoy, Lees-McRae
Defensive Back – Jamiese Spivey, Emmanuel
Defensive Back – Anastasia Rogers, Ferrum
Defensive Back – Alyssa Taylor, Barton
Defensive Back – Kaylee Montalvo, Wingate
Specialist – Evelisse Martinez, Mount Olive
Athlete – Gwen Carter, Emmanuel
Athlete – Jhenelle Francis, Wingate
Player of the Year
Payson Shreeve, Ferrum
Offensive Player of the Year
Sawyer Rigdon, Barton
Defensive Player of the Year
Evonne Bruestle, Wingate
Freshman of the Year
Alyssa Ramos, King
Coach of the Year
Joe Schlager, Wingate
