About Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams.
Home Grown highlights hometown athletes who embody the spirit of their community wherever they go. Each episode revisits former high school stars now competing at the college level — athletes who grew up on local fields, courts, and tracks and continue to represent the places that shaped them.
Through candid, unfiltered conversations, they share their journeys of grit, growth, and gratitude. Home Grown isn’t just about sports — it’s about pride, roots, and the people who make our community what it is. No matter how far they go, these athletes remain true to their roots.
What Do You Owe The Place That Built You? | Payton Jensen | Home Grown Your home doesn’t disappear when you leave—it travels with you. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams, we sit down with Payton Jensen, a Swansboro standout whose journey from local fields to Shenandoah University softball was built on travel ball, family, and the kind of mindset that holds up under pressure. From early mornings and tournament weekends to long car rides that quietly build...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Lovina Teel
What If Your Biggest Advantage Is Starting Late She didn’t grow up in a volleyball town. She didn’t start early. And she didn’t take the easy path. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., we sit down with Lovina Teel, a Jacksonville High School ('24) athlete who found volleyball in eighth grade—and turned a late start into a Division I opportunity. Now, after a breakout junior college career, Lovina has officially signed to play Division I volleyball at the...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Tymir Brown
What Happens When Your Roots Call You Back | Tymir Brown | Home Grown Sometimes the biggest plays don’t start on the field—they start with where you come from. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams, we sit down with Jacksonville, North Carolina standout Tymir Brown to break down the journey behind a game-changing moment—a 45-yard interception return touchdown built on film study, preparation, and trusting what he saw. But this story goes deeper than one pla...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Tristan Shapiro
One Dropped Pass Doesn’t Define You | Tristan Shapiro | Home Grown A dropped pass can haunt you for years — or rebuild you from the inside out. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., Jacksonville native Tristan Shapiro shares the moment a potential game-winning touchdown slipped through his hands — and how his teammates responded with the kind of brotherhood that changes a player’s mindset forever. That story opens the door to a deeper conversation about J...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Nate Mahouchick
Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable | Nate Mahouchick | Home Grown The jump from high school star to college athlete isn’t smooth—it’s fast, physical, and sometimes painful. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., Methodist University midfielder Nate Mahouchick shares the journey from growing up on the sidelines of Jacksonville High School watching his dad coach to earning minutes at the next level. Nate opens up about the moment the college game hit him—lit...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Anthony Cooper
Small Battles. Big Results A lot of athletes talk about “the grind.” Anthony Cooper can point to the exact reps that changed his life. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams, we sit down with Jacksonville, North Carolina native Anthony Cooper, a midfielder who built his game from the ground up—starting lacrosse in eighth grade, expanding his skillset at Northside High School, and earning his way to play college lacrosse at Coker University. His story is abou...
24 Apr 2026
Home Grown: Miles Parker
Miles Parker’s journey from Jacksonville, North Carolina, to East Carolina University football is what “trust the process” actually looks like in real life. This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s the work behind it. In this episode of Home Grown, Miles breaks down what it takes to earn your way at the Division I level, from late recruiting exposure to grinding on the scout team and building trust inside a college football program. If you’re a high school athlete, parent, or coach trying to unde...
15 Mar 2026
Home Grown: Kaydence Daniels
No Warm-Ups. No Breakfast. No Doubt Some championships start with perfect preparation. This one didn’t. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., Jacksonville track standout Kaydence Daniels shares the chaotic morning that led to one of the biggest moments of her career. She missed breakfast. She missed warm-ups. And on her final attempt, she jumped 18 feet, 10½ inches to win the state championship. Now competing at North Carolina Central University, Kaydence re...
15 Mar 2026
Home Grown: Bo Koebbe
It Only Works If You Do It Small-town gyms can build big-time purpose. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., we sit down with Jacksonville native Bo Koebbe, a standout from Living Water Christian School who turned hard lessons, strong mentorship, and relentless work into a path to Milligan University basketball. Bo shares how expectations shaped him early—growing up in a tight-knit school community where his family helped build the culture—and how basketball...
15 Mar 2026
Home Grown: Shane Shapiro
Next Play, Next Rep, Next Level Consistency isn’t loud. It’s built. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., we sit down with Jacksonville native Shane Shapiro, a wide receiver at Guilford College, whose journey started with backyard battles and hand-me-down pads. Shane shares how growing up competing with his brother and learning the game from his dad helped shape the mindset that carried him from Jacksonville High School to college football. We break down: 🏈 ...
15 Mar 2026
Home Grown: Jordan Goss
Built, Not Hyped: A Fifteen-Year-Old’s Leap Into IMG Basketball Leaving home at fifteen isn’t normal. Neither is chasing elite basketball development at one of the most competitive prep academies in the country. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., Jacksonville native Jordan Goss shares what it really takes to level up at IMG Academy. Jordan opens up about the moment he realized the opportunity was real, the difficult decision to leave home, and the discip...
15 Mar 2026
Home Grown: Peyton Eckert
Confidence Is A Pitch You Learn To Throw The jersey tells you where an athlete plays. The name on the television screen tells you where they came from. In this episode of Home Grown: Real Athletes. Real Stories. Big Dreams., Division I pitcher Peyton Eckert shares her journey from a hesitant young player in Swansboro, NC, to competing against some of the nation’s best hitters. A standout at Swansboro High School, Eckert dominated the circle with hundreds of strikeouts and earned the chance to...
29 Jan 2026
Home Grown: Kate Wilson
Kate Wilson didn’t just join a program—she helped build one. From launching Croatan High School’s girls lacrosse team to becoming the first player in school history to sign a Division I scholarship, Kate’s path is rooted in leadership, resilience, and doing the work when no blueprint exists. In this episode of Home Grown, she breaks down how teaching teammates sharpened her own game, why culture matters more than stats, and how a state championship was won long before the opening draw. We div...
29 Jan 2026
Home Grown: Tyler Jones
One eagle putt can win a tournament. It can’t build a career. In this episode of Home Grown, Western Carolina golfer Tyler Jones strips the game down to what actually matters. Before the wins came early mornings, redshirt frustration, and a choice to keep working when progress wasn’t guaranteed. Raised around his grandparents' driving range in the Half Moon community of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Tyler learned early that talent opens doors—but discipline keeps them open. He talks honestly ...
29 Jan 2026
Home Grown: Amaire Caines
Amaire Caines didn’t wait for a moment—he worked until one showed up. From Swansboro to the next level, Amaire’s journey is built on early mornings, bruising reps, and a mindset that refuses shortcuts. In this episode of Home Grown, he opens up about the pressure of carrying hometown expectations, balancing academics with football, and the quiet grind that happens long before anyone’s watching. We talk adversity, accountability, and the moments that test whether you really love the work. This...
29 Jan 2026
Home Grown: MacKenzie Morrow
MacKenzie Morrow’s path from Jacksonville High School to the U.S. Naval Academy proves that hometown roots can launch national dreams. In this episode of Home Grown, the JHS soccer standout reflects on growing up in a community that shaped her work ethic, leadership, and love for the game. MacKenzie shares what it took to balance high-level academics with elite soccer, navigate the recruiting process, and earn the opportunity to compete at one of the most demanding institutions in the country...
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