CHAPEL HILL – East Bladen senior Gabe Barber has been named as a winner of the 2020 Wilburn Clary Medal Scholarship that is given by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. He will receive a one-time $2,000 scholarship and a commemorative plaque.
The scholarship is given annually to recognize an outstanding male and female student-athlete that participates in at least two NCHSAA-sanctioned sports. The award is based on the individual’s excellence in athletic participation, extra-curricular activities, and community service. Kayla Yang of Clinton was the female winner.
Barber has been a 3-sport athlete in baseball, football and soccer at East Bladen and was selected as a team captain for both baseball and football in his junior and senior years.
On the soccer field Barber led the Eagles to their 3rd straight Three Rivers Conference Soccer Championship and was named the 2019 TRC Player of the Year. He topped the Eagle scoring with 24 goals, dished out 22 assists and was credited with 423 steals as East Bladen set a school record with a 17-game winning streak.
“Gabe was a heck of a leader and a player. He came through in big moments throughout the year and made himself standout amongst the best in the state,” said Eagle Coach Jay Raynor.
Barber also received All-Conference, All-Region and All-State honors and was recognized as one of the Fayetteville Observer’s “Best of 910 Preps Soccer All-Stars.”
“I’m super proud of Gabe and his accomplishments,” continued Coach Raynor. He has helped make history for us on the field and is one of the most selfless players and people that I have ever coached.”
On Fridays during soccer season, Barber handled the kicking duties for the Eagle football team. He connected on 28-of-33 extra point kicks and boomed 14 kick-offs into the end zone for touchbacks. Barber split the uprights with 38 of 40 extra point kicks in 2018 and added a field goal.
Although Barber’s senior baseball season was stopped after 3 games by the coronavirus, in 2019 he batted .305 with 18 hits, 14 runs scored and 14 runs batted in as the Eagles reached the Class 2A Eastern Semi-finals.
Barber has also excelled in the classroom. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Government Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Bladen Community College Sigma Kappa Delta English Honor Society. Gabe also enjoys playing the guitar and plans to pursue a degree in civil engineering.
Gabe is the son of George and Sonya Barber of the Lisbon community.
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