The Apex Cougar Club is excited to announce this year’s Apex High School/Apex Consolidated 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees:
Ian Boyd
James L. Bullock
Mia Castagnero
Kendall Fletcher
Sheryl Pollard
Shana Mitchell Smith
Mark Trezona
Ian Boyd
Apex High School Class of 2016
Ian Boyd is one of the best all-around athletes to ever attend Apex High School. Ian was a 2016 graduate of Apex High School and a four-year letter winner in basketball and football at Apex High School. He was selected as the 2016 North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association (NCBCA) North Carolina Player of the Year and earned First Team All-State honors his senior year. As a sophomore, he led Apex to the State Championship and was named the 2014 State Championship game’s MVP after scoring 24 points (4 in the first half, 20 in the second!) in Apex’s championship victory over Lake Norman. Ian Averaged 21.7 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game as a junior while being named first-team all-conference. Ian’s sophomore year he earned All-Conference First Team, East All Regional Team, and News & Observer All Metro Basketball team honors. Ian started as a freshman and earned All-Conference Second-Team honors by averaged 12.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game.
Ian is Apex’s most prolific scorer in school history. He scored over 2,000 points, which was something that had not been done in Wake County since the early 1990s by Garner legend Donald Williams. According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s record book, at the completion of his career, Ian was 26th all-time in career points in North Carolina with 2,128 points. “It’s not even close that he’s the most versatile player I’ve ever coached,” said Apex Hall-of-Fame basketball coach David Neal.
Ian was a dual-sport athlete at Apex. In football he received offers from Virginia Tech, Old Dominion, and East Carolina. Boyd was Apex’s starting varsity quarterback as a freshman but played mostly running back and wide receiver during his sophomore through senior varsity seasons. He achieved 4,210 all-purpose yards during his football career (1,775 rushing, 1,312 receiving, 1,123 passing) and he was named SWAC All-Conference in 2014.
After graduating from Apex High School, Ian Boyd played college basketball at George Mason from 2016-2020. During his freshman season, playing 19 minutes per game. The following year, he played in all 33 games and averaged 24.8 minutes per game. Over his career at George Mason, Ian Boyd played in 95 games, averaging 6.3 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game. Boyd had many impressive moments during his time at George Mason, but perhaps none of them can top the end of conference play during the 2017-18 season. Boyd didn’t just hit one buzzer-beater that year. He made three in back-to-back-to-back games. Dubbed “Mr. SportsCenter” by his teammates, Boyd made a three-point shot at Saint Joseph’s, a layup vs. UMass, and a tip-in at VCU, winning the game for the Patriots each time.
When in town, Ian can still be seen at Apex High School games. He has remained loyal to Apex High School and his basketball exploits are legendary.
James L. Bullock
Apex Consolidated High School Class of 1965
James Lovelace Bullock is a 1965 graduate of Apex Consolidated High School where he cherishes his position on the school’s basketball team as a point guard. However, after his graduation from Apex Consolidated, he has become famous for drag racing. First and foremost, Mr. Bullock is grateful the Apex High School / Apex Consolidated Hall of Fame views “car drag racing” as a sport and race car drivers as athletes. He is honored to be nominated and selected as an inductee in the 2022 Apex High School Hall of Fame!
His success stated when racing his 1966 Super Sport. He then started racing both Camaros and Chevelles with an Apex Chevy dealer, Bill Garringer, who provided a Camaro for him to drag at the track. James later teamed with a friend on a 1968 Camaro which was a very fast car that no one else would drive – the Atkins & Bullock, big block Camaro. After becoming friends and car co-owner with Rick Hendrick (owner of the NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports and founder of the Hendrick Automotive Group with car dealerships in Apex), Mr. Bullock relocated to Charlotte to train for NASCAR. After realizing he didn’t enjoy driving in ovals, he went back to drag racing. When Rick Hendrick ordered him a 1985 Corvette with a Reaher & Morrison 530-cu. in. engine and a Lenco trans, allowed James to run an 8.03 run. However, after Hendrick purchased a 615-cu. in. engine from Reaher & Morrison, it gave birth to the first seven second full-bodied care without NOS. In the fall of 1985 at the Rockingham Dragway (¼ mile), Bullock’s elapsed time was 7.70. In the spring of 1987 at the Piedmont Dragway (⅛ mile), he drove the first full-bodied car to run the four seconds with an elapsed time of 4.92. His team was titled “The World’s Fastest Gasoline Corvette.”
In 1987 at the fall Nationals in Bristol, Tennessee, James Lovelace Bullock was the first African-American to win “Top Sportsman” with the final run of a .001 reaction time. After this time he went even faster in a 1988 TM built Camaro at Darlington in 1989 with a 7.19 e.t. and 197 MPH. His last pass down the 1/8-track with this Camaro was a 4.53 e.t. and 160 mph with a parachute to stop him!
After retiring from drag racing in 1991, Mr. Bullock was honored with “Trailblazer Award” by the AFMIM (Association for Minorities in Motorsports). Later in October 2007, Mr. Bullock was inducted into the “East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame.” Enjoying his “toy,” a 1941 red Willys for many years, Mr. Bullock says, “I praise the Lord for all that He has provided me and for His shield of protection around me when I was behind the wheel.” Today, Mr. Bullock still enjoys cars and participating in the Town of Apex parades as well as coordinating and being a part of Car Shows in Apex and surrounding areas. He gives back to the Apex Consolidated Alumni Association by contributing to college scholarships.
As a student at Apex Consolidated High School after a weekend day at the races, James says he would lie in bed still hearing the sounds of cars making a Doppler effect passing down the race track . . . and today, guess what? HE STILL DOES!
Mia Castagnero
Apex High School Class of 2015
Mia Castagnero is a 2015 graduate of Apex High School. She was one of the most dominant high school women’s lacrosse players for not only Apex, but in the whole state. Mia’s performances on the field earned her a spot on the News and Observer’s All-Decade Women’s lacrosse team in 2020. Another testament to her dominance is the fact that she was not only a four-time first-team all-conference selection, but she was also a two-time “Conference Player of the Year” winner in both her junior and senior seasons. A natural leader, Mia was also voted as team captain for both her junior and senior seasons at Apex High School.
During Mia’s tenure, the women’s lacrosse team won two SWAC titles and advanced to the State Championship game. Evidence of how important Mia was to this team was the fact that she scored 5 goals and had 2 assists in a 10-9 loss in the 2014 State Championship game. The fact that she was a key part of 7 out of Apex’s 9 total goals in that game earned her the “State Championship Game MVP” award. It was a true show of respect for Mia by the lacrosse community in that she won the MVP Award from the State Championship game despite playing on the team that did not win the game. On top of her local and state accomplishments, she was recognized as an honorable mention All-American as well.
Mia was also a talented multi-sport athlete at Apex. She was a four-year varsity basketball player and was selected to the first team all-conference basketball team for her junior year and second team all-conference during her senior year. She was the Apex High School “Defensive Player of the Year” in 2012 and the team “Most Valuable Player” in 2013 and 2014.
After graduating from Apex, Mia played collegiately at Richmond. During her freshman year at the University of Richmond, Mia led the team in scoring, while earning several “A10 Rookie of the Week” honors. She was also selected to the “A10 All Rookie Team” and honored as Richmond’s “Most Outstanding Female Athlete of 2016-17”. Freshman year success earned Mia an invitation to try out for the US National Team. Sophomore and Junior Years presented new challenges for Mia as she had two foot surgeries. She returned late in her junior year to lead the Spiders through the Championship and she was selected to the all-tournament team. Additionally, Mia earned IWLCA Academic Honor Roll her final two years in college. For her senior year, Mia was selected as a team captain just as she was at Apex High School. During this senior season, with a healthy foot, Mia led the team in scoring, and set a conference record in both the semi-final and finals by scoring 6 goals in each before advancing to the NCAA tournament. After graduating with honors from Richmond, Mia served as an assistant coach to Georgetown Prep. Mia Castagnero’s humility, talent, competitiveness, and leadership will remain lasting memories of an outstanding student, athlete, and person during her time at Apex High School.
Kendall Fletcher
Apex High School Class of 2002
Kendall Fletcher, a 2002 graduate of Apex High School, was an exemplary student and athlete. She attended Apex High School for only three years as she completed her junior and senior year in one year because she was recruited to play soccer at UNC-Chapel Hill.
While at Apex High School, Kendall played basketball for four years (two JV & two varsity). Kendall loved playing basketball at Apex High School. Her freshman year the JV team went undefeated. In her sophomore and Junior/Senior year, she made varsity and brought passion and enthusiasm to the team. She loved the camaraderie and positive team dynamics enjoyed on these teams. Kendall appreciates all that Coach Holmes and Coach Campbell did to make that experience so enjoyable..
Kendall is the most highly decorated female soccer player in our program’s history. Playing for legendary Hall-of-Fame coach, Kevin Todd, Kendall was a two-time All-American (2001 & 2002) and she played in the State Championship in 2002. Furthermore, she was also named as a Parade All American in 2002 as well as being selected as the NC Gatorade Player of the Year in 2002.
At UNC, Kendall was a three-year starter and her team was ACC Champions for three years and National Champions during her sophomore year. While at Carolina, Kendall received the Most Improved Award, the Gift of Fury Award, the Defender of the Year Award, and the 3-Dimensional Leadership Award.
Kendall was on the U-19 National Soccer Team which won the 1st ever U-19 Women’s World Cup (World Champions) in 2002. She was also on the U-21 National Soccer Team that won the Nordic Cup Championship in 2004 (Sweden) & 2005 (Norway). She also was the Captain on the U-23 National Soccer Team in 2006 (Finland). In 2009 she played for the US Women’s National Team and received her 1st National Team Cap at the Algarve Cup. Later, she continued to be part of the US Women’s National Team Player Pool in 2008-2009
Professionally, Kendall went on to be an incredibly successful soccer player in the US, Sweden, and Australia Professional Soccer Leagues. In 2014 and 2015, she was considered one of the Best XI players in the NWSL. She continued this all-star tradition when she went to Australia, because in the A-League, the top league in Australia, she was selected as a part of the “Women’s Team of the Season” in 2020-2021, one of the top 22 players playing in the league in Australia.
One would think that she was always successful, however, she struggled at many levels before achieving success. When speaking to groups she shares that she learned the most through her failures and difficult times. Kendall showed great perseverance and determination to be successful. Kendall has a passion for ministry and mission. After graduating from UNC-CH, she has since completed her Master of Arts and Religious Studies. She has always wanted to volunteer to help others, enjoying mission trips.
According to former UNC Coach, Anson Dorrance, “Kendall Fletcher is a principle centered woman. In a program that values its Core Values and the conduct of everyone on the roster, Kendall Fletcher was a motivational North Star. She was caring, she was spiritual, and she was a role model every year for me collegiately. She was also a fantastic leader that held her teammates accountable in practice and in games. To say I am proud of her is too passive of a statement. I am inspired by her as so many players were that she trained here and played with along the way.”
Kendall is overall an amazing person and world class athlete and she was proud to be an Apex High School athlete and student.
Sheryl Pollard
Apex Cougar Club 1997 – 2005 (President 2001 – 2004)
Sheryl Pollard is the first person ever elected into the Apex High School / Apex Consolidated Hall of Fame in the role of volunteer. Mrs. Pollard was a member of the Apex Cougar Club from 1997-2005 and she was the president from 2001-2004. Some of her accomplishments include starting the “Coaches Appreciation Night,” running the Homecoming Barbeque, and establishing a championship ring tradition. A fixture at the high school for many years, Sheryl also coordinated pre-game varsity football meals and coordinated the annual football awards banquet. However, a listing of accomplishments is no way to really explain how much she meant to Apex High School. Her willingness to serve, her drive, determination, loyalty, and self-sacrifice are characteristics that are not measurable with her true motivation being to help the athletes at Apex High School and Make things better for them.
She was awarded the “Mike Hooks Volunteer of the Year” award, but she was never comfortable taking credit. Although her contributions were monumental, Sheryl would say that she was just a small part of a bigger group who wanted to make things better for Apex High School. Along with her role with the Cougar Club, Sheryl remained as the “Football Team Mom” for 14 years and for the last six of those years, she did not have a child at Apex High School. Sheryl is an active member member of United Church in Apex. Our school and community are stronger because of her efforts.
Shana Mitchell Smith
Apex High School Class of 1988
Shana Mitchell Smith graduated from Apex High School in 1988. During her first two years at Apex, Shana put Apex on the map as one of the first great female track and field athletes. She established school records in the 100 meter high hurdles (14.82) and the 300 meter intermediate hurdles (43.97) at the NCHSAA State 3A-4A Championships in 1986. Remarkably, both of those records still stand as of 2022. She placed 2nd at the state championship in the 300m hurdles in both 1985 & 1986. Shana was a state champion in the indoor 60 yard hurdles in the first-ever NCSHAA State Indoor Championships in 1987 as well as the runner-up in that same meet in the 300 meter dash. During her Apex career, she set 17 school records in individual or relay races and showed phenomenal overall range in doing so. At one point, Shana held the school record from 100 meters up to 800 meters, as well as both horizontal jumping events. In addition, she was the #1 ranked hurdler in the state of North Carolinain both the 100 and 300 hurdles. Outside of the high school season, Shana continued to run with a local track club and she qualified for three races for the national championships after both her freshman and sophomore seasons. She placed in the top six nationally in all three events in both years. Furthermore, at nationals she competed in the 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, and heptathlon both years. In 1985, she placed 3rd in both the 400m hurdles and the heptathlon.
Unfortunately, Shana suffered severe knee injury at the Triangle 3A Conference Track & Field meet during her junior year. However, she was cleared to return to running in the fall of her senior year where she joined the Cross-Country team halfway through the season in time to lead Apex to the conference championship and to personally finish as the runner-up at the Triangle 3A Conference meet. She then concluded her cross country career for Apex by finishing 15th and leading the Cougars to a 5th place finish in the NCHSAA State 3A meet.
Following high school Shana ran for Brown University where she was selected as 1989 All-Ivy League in the 4×400 Relay and the 4×800 relay. After Graduating from Brown in 1993 with a BA in Biology, she later received her BS in nursing in 2002 from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Today Shana lives in Oklahoma with her husband Sherman Smith (Apex class of 1988). She also has two sons: Sullivan is a second year medical student and Kai is a rising high school senior and an accomplished soccer player.
Shana would like to express her gratitude to her coach, Roy Cooper. She says, “He encouraged and supported me as both an athlete and a person. He was a dedicated coach, and his love for track and field showed.” She would also like to thank her parents, “who attended every one of my school and club track meets from the age of nine until I graduated high school. They sacrificed many summer weekends to drive me all over the state and beyond for competitions.”
Despite her injury, Shana Mitchell Smith’s accomplishments have gone beyond her era and stood the test of time as an all-time great runner and athlete for Apex High School.
Mark Trezona
Coach (Track & Field, Football)
Mark Trezona has coached multiple sports at Apex High School since 1990. After moving to Apex from Fort Pierce Westwood High School in Florida, Coach Trezona’s Apex tenure started in 1990 as a defensive coordinator for the football team then as a track and field coach in the spring of 1991. After 1994, Coach Trezona focused solely on track and field where he has overseen the men’s and women’s sprints and jumps athletes. During Coach Trezona’s career, the Apex High school track and field teams have won 73% or more of their dual meets, won 23 conference championships and have achieved a combined 32 top ten finishes in the state indoor and outdoor championships. Still, this pales in comparison to the record that Mark has garnered in coaching individual athletes and relay teams.
As a technician of track and field, Coach Trezona has a keen eye for detail and he has an unparalleled ability to identify and teach potential athletes how to perfect their craft. Thought of by many as the premiere high school pole vault coach in the state, Mark has coached 18 different men and women to conference championships, with 7 of those individuals going on to achieve a state championship. Altogether Coach Trezona has coached 7 individual state champions in men’s outdoor track and field, 10 individual state champions in outdoor women’s track and field, 5 men’s state champions in indoor track and field, and 10 individual state champions in women’s indoor track and field. Added to this is the fact that he has coached 132 athletes to individual conference championships and 32 relay teams to conference championships in outdoor track.
Coach Trezona’s family has been a fixture at Apex High School for over 3 decades. He and his wife Kim have three children, Sarah, Caroline, and Sam who all graduated from Apex High School. Coach Trezona is an ambassador for track and field. He can often be seen at meets giving encouragement and tips to opposing teams in a consistent show of sportsmanship that defines his character.