It’s time to vote on Charlotte Observer athlete of the week (2.19.20).
Finalists for the Charlotte Observer’s athlete of the week award are below. Now, it’s up to you to select a winner.
Readers can vote as often as they like.
Each week, schools can nominate players for the athlete of the week, which includes all sports in season other than football, basketball and baseball. Football, basketball and baseball have separate votes.
The newspaper will select 10 finalists and allow readers to vote.
This week’s vote will end Wednesday. At some point, results will not be shown but the poll will remain open.
Cam Abaqueta, Cannon School Swimming: The Cannon School sophomore had a NCISAA Division I state meet to remember with four podium finishes at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, Feb. 10.
Abaqueta won the 100 backstroke with a NCISAA state meet record of 48.91.
He doubled as the NCISAA state champion in the 50 freestyle in 20.80.
Abaqueta also helped lead the Cannon School 200 medley relay (with Matthew Kroll, Jacob Lafferty and Hayes Leatherman) and 200 freestyle relay (Kroll, Alex Erdin, Jack Christman) to state runner-up finishes.
The Cannon School boys’ swim team finished 3rd (as team) at the NCISAA Division I state championships.
Sarah Barton, SouthLake Christian Swimming: The SouthLake Christian senior also had a standout performance at the NCISAA Division II state championships at Greensboro Aquatic Center, Feb. 10.
Barton won the 200 individual medley state title in a NCISAA state meet record of 2:03.62.
She also won the 500 freestyle state championship in 5:00.45.
Barton led the 200 freestyle relay to a state title with teammates, Sarah Asher, Rachel Bartel and Morgan Razewski.
The same, SouthLake Christian quartet finished as state runner-up in the 200 medley relay.
The SouthLake Christian girls’ team was NCISAA Division II state runner-up.
Keshaun Black, Mooresville Indoor Track: The Mooresville senior had a record-breaking performance at the 4A state indoor championships at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Feb. 15.
Black won the 4A state title in the long jump with a personal-best, 23-2.
Black was 4A state runner-up in the 55-meter dash with a personal-record time of 6.32.
Andy Dorsel, Charlotte Latin Swimming: The Charlotte Latin junior had a record-breaking performance as he helped the Hawks’ boys’ to their 6th, NCISAA Division state championship (as a team) in the last seven years at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, Feb. 10.
Dorsel won the 200 individual medley in a NCISAA state meet record and school record time of 1:51.03.
He also won the state title in the 100 butterfly in 50.88.
Dorsel helped both 200 freestyle relay (with Stephen Kim, Kwame Thornhill and Ethan Bershad in 1:27.23) and 200 medley relay (with Jackson Davis, Kim and Leon Tutovani in 1:35.85) to state titles in NCISAA state meet and school record times.
The 200 freestyle relay of Bershad, Dorsel, Kim and Thornhill has been swimming together as a relay since middle school, according to Latin swim coach, Patty Waldron.
Akala Garrett, Harding Indoor Track: The Harding freshman won the 4A state championship in the 55-meter hurdles in a personal-best 8.03 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Feb. 15.
Garrett’s 8.03 is also the No. 2, 55-meter hurdles’ time run in the state this season.
Hudson Jones, Charlotte Christian Wrestling: The Charlotte Christian sophomore won his second straight, 285-pound, NCISAA state wrestling title at Providence Day, Feb. 15.
Jones is ranked No. 8 in the country in weight class, according to National Preps.
Jones will compete for a national title this coming weekend at Lehigh University.
Amir Joseph, Parkwood Wrestling: The Parkwood senior won the 195-pound, 3A Midwest Regional title at A.L. Brown, Feb. 15.
Joseph beat Carson’s Robert Barringer, 9-4, in the finals. Joseph is 47-6 this season.
Aidan McNally, Cuthbertson Indoor Track: The Cuthbertson junior won three different state titles as he helped the Cavaliers’ boys’ indoor track team to a 3A state runner-up finish in the process at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Feb. 14.
McNally won the 300-meter dash indoor title, running a 34.86.
McNally teamed with Ari Richards, Jacob Koerner and Zach Ross to win the 3A state indoor championship in the 4 X 200-meter relay.
McNally also anchored the 3A state champion, 4 X 400-meter relay squad with Ryan Kobziak, Koerner and Ross.
Dean Omirly, Charlotte Latin Wrestling: The Charlotte Latin junior finished off a perfect 39-0 season by winning the 195-pound, NCISAA state title at Providence Day, Feb. 15.
Omirly’s pin in the state finals helped Latin tie Providence Day for the state championship, giving the Hawks their 9th straight, NCISAA state title in a row.
The nine straight state championships ties the NCISAA state record for consecutive titles in any sport.
Jake Toomey, Weddington Indoor Track: The Weddington senior won two, individual 3A state indoor titles to lead the Warriors’ boys’ team to their third straight, 3A state team championship at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, Feb. 14.
Toomey won the 3A state indoor title in the 1000-meter run with a time of 2:35.99.
Toomey, a N.C. State commit, doubled as 3A state indoor champion in the 1600-meter run, finishing in 4:23.97.
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** Information published today includes statistics through February 16.
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.
