WORTON — It’s easy to understand why Mary Jane “MJ” Joiner and Noah Iacona were selected as the outstanding athletes in the Kent County High School Class of 2026.
They are the “total package” — as athletes, displaying outstanding sportsmanship and performing at the highest level with integrity; as scholars, consistently demonstrating academic rigor; and on and off the field, as leaders, role models and influencers who set a positive example.
MJ and Noah each earned 12 varsity letters while also maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale.
MJ lettered four times each in soccer, swimming and lacrosse, and was the team MVP in all three sports. Her résumé includes school records in swimming in the 200 and 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Her academic accomplishments include being a STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Math] Completer and a Dual Completer [Career and Technology Education plus Spanish 1 and 2] while graduating with Distinguished Honors with a cumulative GPA of 3.67 or higher.
MJ has started the next chapter in her athletic career as a freshman at Roanoke College in Virginia where she was recruited to play lacrosse. Fall ball starts next week.
She is majoring in environmental studies.
Noah lettered four times each in baseball, soccer and wrestling, and was a state qualifier in the latter.
As a senior he received the team sportsmanship award for soccer, was the Coach’s Choice Award recipient on the wrestling team and repeated as the team MVP in baseball.
Noah joined the work force immediately after graduation as a mate on a charter boat.
