Vote for the Charlotte Observer high school athlete of the week (11.5.21)
Here are the nominees for the Charlotte Observer’s high school athlete of the week.
Readers can vote as often as they like until Friday, around noon, when the poll will close.
Boys’ Soccer
Matthew Griffin, Carmel Christian: The Cougars’ star scored the lone goal in a 1-0 NCISAA state semifinal victory over Wesleyan Christian Oct. 26.
Griffin also “played great defense,” in the same victory, according to Carmel Christian soccer coach, Jeff Dresser.
Carmel Christian (15-2-1) lost 1-0 to Rabun Gap Nacoochee in a state championship game that went three overtimes, Oct. 30.
Jake Magnuson, Lake Norman Charter: The Knights’ junior forward scored two goals and had three assists as Lake Norman Charter beat Northwest Cabarrus and South Rowan.
Magnuson had a goal and two assists in a 6-1 victory over South Rowan Oct. 26.
He added one more goal and one more assist in a 4-1 win at Northwest Cabarrus Oct. 28.
Magnuson’s goal against Northwest Cabarrus gave him 23 scores this season to break the single-season school record.
Lake Norman Charter (14-4-1) has won six straight games before Monday.
Cole Wilson, Cox Mill Soccer: The Chargers’ junior had four goals in win over Hickory Ridge and South Iredell.
Wilson had two goals in the first eight minutes and added another first half score to lead Cox Mill to a 7-0 win over South Iredell Oct. 28.
He also had a goal in a 2-1 win at Hickory Ridge Oct. 26.
Wilson has 15 goals and one assist for a Cox Mill team (17-1-3) that tied Lake Norman for the Greater Metro 4A conference regular-season title.
If you can’t see the poll on mobile, click here
(To vote multiple times, refresh the page)
Cross Country
Patrick Gibbons, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ senior ran a 15:46.80 to win the 4A West Regional title at McAlpine Creek Park Oct. 30.
The South Meck 4A conference champion also led his Ardrey Kell boys’ cross country team to a third-place finish at the regional championships.
Alyssa Preisano, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ junior ran a 18:19.17 to win the 4A Midwest Regional title at Ivey Redmon Park in Kernersville Oct. 10.
Preisano was the sixth straight Cuthbertson girls’ runner to win the regional championship, while leading her Cuthbertson girls’ cross country team to their fifth straight regional crown.
Harper Shaw, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ senior ran a personal-best 19:08.50 to help the Charlotte Country Day girls’ cross country team to their first NCISAA 4A state championship in school history at Olsen Park in Wilmington Oct. 29.
Shaw, a three-time all-state runner, was joined in the top 10 by her teammates Kasey Cone (state champion), Linde Fonville (third-place) and Abby Kerrins (eighth-place).
Lily Yampolsky, Lake Norman: The Knights’ sophomore ran a 20:39.31 to win the 3A Midwest Regional title at Salisbury Community Park Oct. 30.
Yampolsky also won the South Piedmont 3A conference title Oct. 19.
If you can’t see the poll on mobile, click here
(To vote multiple times, refresh the page)
Girls’ Golf/Volleyball/Tennis
Reese Coltrane, West Lincoln golf: The West Lincoln junior shot a two-day total of 166 (85-81) to finish eighth at the 2A State Golf Championships at Longleaf Golf Club in Pinehurst Oct. 25-26.
Coltrane helped her West Lincoln girls’ golf team to a fifth-place at the state championships.
Coltrane is also a varsity cheerleader for the West Lincoln basketball and football teams.
Elizabeth Rudisill, Myers Park golf: The Mustangs’ freshman shot an even par,144 (71-73), to finish as 4A state runner-up at the 4A State Golf Championships at Pinehurst No. 5 Oct. 25-26.
Rudisill had seven birdies and one eagle in the two-day event.
She was also 4A West Regional runner-up, shooting a 71 at Stonebridge Golf Club Oct. 19.
Alexa Allison, Newton Conover tennis: The Red Devils’ junior finished 20-1 in singles’ play this season with her only loss coming to Research Triangle High’s Olivia Hankinson in the 2A state quarterfinals at Ting Park in Holly Springs Oct. 30.
Allison is a three-time conference singles’ champion and won the 2A West Regional title Oct. 23.
Jacy Noble, South Stanly tennis: The South Stanly senior won the 1A state singles’ title beating Bishop McGuinness’ Lindsey Bergelin, 6-2, 6-3 in the finals at Cary Tennis Park Oct. 30.
Noble also beat Jones’ High, Marion Jones, and Thomas Jefferson Academy’s Claudia DeArment in straight sets in her state tournament run.
Brooke Scheffler, Watauga volleyball: The Pioneers’ junior outside hitter had 51 kills and 24 digs as Watauga won three playoff games over Mallard Creek, T.C. Roberson and Western Guilford this week. Watauga (22-4) was scheduled to play a state semifinal at Ardrey Kell Tuesday.
If you can’t see the poll on mobile, click here
(To vote multiple times, refresh the page)
Field Hockey
Caroline Lostetter, Charlotte Country Day Field Hockey: The Buccaneers’ junior forward scored the lone goal to give Charlotte Country Day a 1-0 win over Providence Day to earn the NCISAA state championship, Oct. 30.
Lostetter played the entire game with a broken finger on her right hand, which she suffered in practice the previous day.
Charlotte Country Day (16-4) also beat Covenant Day 4-0 in the NCISAA state semifinals, Oct. 26.
Marisa Montione, Charlotte Catholic Field Hockey: The Cougars’ senior defender helped Charlotte Catholic to playoff wins over Asheville and Marvin Ridge as the defense allowed only one goal in the two postseason games this week.
Montione helped Charlotte Catholic to an 8-0, shutout win over Asheville, Oct. 25.
Charlotte Catholic also beat Marvin Ridge, 2-1 in the state quarterfinals, Oct. 28.
Montione has three goals and five assists for Charlotte Catholic (10-6-2) this season.
Branson Walters, Myers Park Field Hockey: The Mustangs’ senior forward had seven goals in two playoff wins over South Mecklenburg and Weddington this week.
Walters had three goals in a 9-0 first round playoff win over Weddington, Oct. 26.
She was even more productive with four goals in a 10-1, state quarterfinal win over South Mecklenburg, Oct. 29.
If you can’t see the poll on mobile, click here
(To vote multiple times, refresh the page)
** Information published today includes statistics through Oct. 30.
Want to nominate an athlete?: Athletes of the week highlights high school players with outstanding performances. The goal is to recognize all athletes in all sports, both the most accomplished and the underrated or underappreciated players. If you want to suggest someone to be included in the Athletes of the week column, send email to Jay Edwards at edwardswork23@gmail.com. Please include the athletes’ name, school, class and applicable game performance statistics. Coaches must be willing to verify information.
