Vote for The Charlotte Observer high school athlete of the week (11.08.24)

Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer’s high school athlete of the week. The poll closes at noon Friday.

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This week’s nominees

Caitlyn Frisch, Lake Norman Charter girls’ golf, sophomore: The Knights’ sophomore shot 84 and 80 to finish tied for eighth at the 3A state championships at Longleaf Golf Club in Pinehurst on Oct. 28-29. Frisch’s play helped the Lake Norman Charter girls’ golf team to 3A state runner-up finish by just one shot to Belmont at the same event.

Keegan Gittao, Porter Ridge boys’ soccer, junior: The Pirates’ junior forward scored two goals and had one assist in a 5-0 win at Jay M. Robinson on Oct. 28. Gittao also had the game-winning goal in overtime in a 2-1 victory at Sun Valley on Oct. 30. Porter Ridge is 18-6 overall this season.

Matthew Kulyak, Ardrey Kell boys’ soccer, junior: The Knights’ junior scored all three goals in a 3-0 win over Palisades on Oct. 31. Ardrey Kell also beat Olympic, 4-0, on Oct. 29. Kulyak has 22 goals and seven assists for Ardrey Kell (16-2-5) this season.

Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson girls’ cross-country, freshman: The Cavaliers’ freshman clocked 18:13.90 to finish fifth overall at the 4A state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 2. McCollum, who had the highest finish for a Union County freshman since 2018, also helped the Cuthbertson girls’ team to a 4A state runner-up finish at the same meet.

Blake Nicholson, Christ the King boys’ cross-country, senior: The Crusaders’ senior clocked a 16:16.87 to finish third at the 1A state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 2. Nicholson was also Catawba Shores’ 1A/2A conference, cross country champion and finished fourth at the 1A Midwest Regional earlier this season.

Madison Pruden, South Point girls’ golf, junior: The Red Raiders’ junior made the 3A state championship-winning putt to help the South Point girls’ golf team to a one-shot victory over Lake Norman Charter at Longleaf Golf Club in Pinehurst on Oct. 28-29. Pruden shot 77 and 81 in the two-day event to finish fifth individually at the state tournament.

David Rivlin, Marvin Ridge boys’ cross-country, senior: The Mavericks’ senior ran a 15:31.74 to finish fourth individually at the 4A state championships at Ivey Redmon Sports’ Complex in Kernersville on Nov. 2. Rivlin’s efforts also helped the Marvin Ridge boys’ team to a 4A state championship at the same event.

Elizabeth Rudisill, Myers Park girls’ golf, senior: The Mustangs’ senior shot a 74 and 67 to finish three-under par overall to earn the 4A state runner-up at the 4A state championships at Pinehurst No. 6 on Oct. 28-29. Rudisill’s play also helped the Myers Park girls’ golf team a fifth-place finish at the same meet. Rudisill, a Vanderbilt University commit, is the No. 1 junior player in the state, according to the Tar Heel Youth Golf Association (TYGA).

Antonio Suarez, Hough boys’ soccer, senior: The Huskies’ senior forward exploded for three goals and four assists in a 10-0 win against Harding on Oct. 28. Hough also beat Hopewell, 1-0, on Oct. 30. Suarez has 22 goals and 20 assists for Hough (14-7-3, 12-1-1) this season.

Kemp Walters, Myers Park field hockey, senior: The Mustangs’ senior forward scored the lone goal in a 3-1 loss at defending state champion Cardinal Gibbons on Oct. 29. Walters finished with 10 goals and 10 assists for Myers Park (12-5) this season.

Information published today includes statistics through November 2.

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