Three local high school athletes were able to test themselves against the best in the state at this week’s AHSAA North South All-Star Games.

Athens High School soccer players Sean O’Connor and Mary Arlin Bunnell played in the boys and girls soccer games, respectively while West Limestone pitcher Bailey Browning played in the softball game.

O’Connor and Bunnell helped their North teams defeat the South while Browning’s North team split a doubleheader against the South team.

The games are part of AHSAA All-Star Week in Montgomery, where numerous sports have games between rising seniors selected from schools located in the north half of the state and rising seniors selected from schools in the southern half of the state.

Players arrived on Monday and spent a day getting acclimated with their new teammates and having a practice before Tuesday’s games.

O’Connor usually plays as a midfielder for Athens, but was a defender in the All-Star game, and helped his North team to a 5-2 win.

“I really enjoyed the experience,” O’Connor said. “It was just good to be able to play with some of the top athletes in Alabama, and overall the week was very fun.”

Bunnell also plays defender for Athens, and helped her North team defeat the South 4-1.

“I was honored to be able to go and play with the best players in the state,” Bunnell said. “The game was very intense but it was a good time. I was happy to be able to represent Athens High School. I’ll always remember it.”

Browning’s North squad won the first game against the South 12-6 before losing the second game 11-1. Browning pitched in both games, striking out a total of six batters in five total innings of work. She also drove in a run with a bunt single in the first game.

“There were some really great players at that game on both teams,” Browning said. “A lot of the players are committed to Division I schools. There were a lot of college coaches there too, so it was a great experience for me.”

Browning said she was also proud to represent West Limestone, which hasn’t sent a lot of players to All-Star Week through the years.

“I don’t think there’s been anyone selected from West Limestone for the past 10 to 15 years,” Browning said. “There were a lot of girls from 7A and 6A schools there, so it was really great to be able to represent not only West Limestone, but all of Limestone County.”

All-Star Week continued Wednesday with the boys and girls cross country meets and boys and girls basketball games. Athens High girls basketball standout Alexis Woods played for the North in the girls basketball game.

All-Star Week closes today with volleyball and football games. Tanner’s Dexter Fuqua will represent Limestone County in the football game.