Vote for The Charlotte Observer boys high school athlete of the week (9.30.22)

Jay Edwards, Langston Wertz Jr.
·3 min read

Here are the nominees for The Charlotte Observer’s boys high school athlete of the week.

Readers can vote as often as they want in the polls until Friday.

NOTE: Poll results may not be shown during the entire week.

This week’s nominees

Corbin Esquivel, Union Academy soccer: The Cardinals’ senior scored two goals in 9-0 win at South Stanly Sept. 19.

He also had two goals and three assists in a 10-1 victory over Albemarle.

Union Academy (7-2-1) also lost 5-0 at Sun Valley Sept. 23.

Andrew Hempe, Covenant Day cross-country: The Lions’ senior ran a personal-best 16:11.21 to finish sixth individually at the Greensboro Cross Country Invitational at Hagan Stone Park Sept. 24.

Hempe’s time, which was the second fastest in school history, also helped the Covenant Day boys’ cross country team to a fifth-place finish.

David Hoyle, West Lincoln soccer: The Rebels’ senior striker scored a goal, had an assist and 17 steals in a 4-4 tie that went in double overtime, Sept 19.

Hoyle also had a goal, two assists and 18 steals in a 3-2 win over Bessemer City Sept. 22.

West Lincoln (3-8-1) also lost 9-0 to Newton Conover Sept. 21.

Gus Mendieta, Carmel Christian soccer: The Cougars’ senior captain accounted for all six goals with five scores and an assist in a 6-0 win at Legion Collegiate Sept. 23.

Carmel Christian soccer coach Jeff Dresser said Mendieta is the first Carmel Christian player to score five goals in a game in his tenure.

Carmel Christian (9-1) has won seven straight games through Sunday.

Pete Pignetti, Charlotte Country Day cross-country: The Buccaneers’ senior ran a personal-best time for the second straight week, this time running a 16:15.3 to finish eighth at the Greensboro Invitational at Hagan Stone Park Sept. 24.

Pignetti’s run also the Charlotte Country Day boys’ cross country team to an seventh-place finish.

Jaanai Ravenell, North Mecklenburg soccer: The Vikings’ junior forward had one goal and two assists in a 7-2 win at Julius Chambers Sept. 19.

Ravenell also had both goals in a 2-1 win at Olympic Sept. 22.

North Mecklenburg (9-4-1), which has won five straight games through Sunday, also beat Hopewell 1-0 Sept. 21.

Ravenell is also a ECNL/Charlotte Soccer Academy club player and a Division I soccer recruit, according to North Mecklenburg soccer coach Adam Roach.

Philip Riddle, North Iredell cross-country: The Raiders’ senior ran a 17:42.77 to win a North Iredell home meet by nearly 44 seconds over the field Sept. 20.

The North Iredell boys’ cross country team also won the five-squad event.

Caleb Roesch, South Mecklenburg cross-country: The Sabres’ senior ran a 15:52.59 to win the Hough Invitational at Fisher Farms’ Park in Davidson by nearly seven seconds over the field, Sept. 24.

The South Mecklenburg boys’ cross country team finished third overall at the same event.

** Information published today includes statistics through Sept. 24.

If you 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.

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