Vote for The Charlotte Observer boys high school athlete of the week (09.01.23)

Jay Edwards, Langston Wertz Jr.
·5 min read

Here are this week’s nominees for The Charlotte Observer boys high school athlete of the week. Readers can vote as often as they want for their favorite. The poll closes Friday.

Vote now. Vote often.

This week’s Nominees

Cole Fiorillo, Corvian Community Charter Cross Country: The Cardinals’ senior ran a personal-best 11:20 to win the Mallard Creek Two-Mile Preview race at Mallard Creek Aug. 22.

Fiorillo’s run helped the Corvian Charter boys’ cross country team to a third-place finish at the same meet.

Jake Glenn, Lake Norman Soccer: The Wildcats’ senior forward scored two goals to lead Lake Norman to a 3-2 win at Charlotte Catholic Aug. 23.

Glenn, who also played solid defense in the victory, has two goals and one assist for Lake Norman (2-0-1) this season.

Blake Nicholson, Christ the King Cross Country: The Crusaders’ junior ran a personal-best 15:57.50 to finish third at the the Carolinas’ Kickoff varsity boys’ 5K championship race at Metrolina Christian Aug. 26.

Nicholson’s time was 46 seconds faster than the same race a year ago.

Nicholson also led the Christ the King cross country team to a 12th-place finish.

Eli Petko, Weddington Soccer: The Warriors’ senior forward scored the game-winning goal in the second half to give Weddington at 1-0 win over North Mecklenburg Aug. 23.

Weddington (3-0-1) also tied Charlotte Country Day on the road Aug. 22.

Petko, the reigning Southern Carolinas’ conference player of the year and all-state pick, has two goals and one assist this season.

Preston Potter, Charlotte Catholic Soccer: The Cougars’ junior forward scored two goals to lead Charlotte Catholic to a 4-0 win over Chapel Hill in the North Carolina Soccer Coaches’ Association Classic Aug. 26.

Charlotte Catholic also tied Franklin Academy 2-2 in the same event Aug. 25.

Potter had an assist in a 3-2 loss to Lake Norman Aug. 24.

Charlotte Catholic is 1-2-1 overall this season.

Phillip Preslar, Charlotte Country Day Soccer: The Buccaneers’ junior scored a goal and had an assist as Charlotte Country Day beat Carmel Christian 4-1 Aug. 24.

Preslar also had an assist in a 2-2 with Weddington Aug. 22.

Preslar has three goals and three assist for Charlotte Country Day (2-2-1) this season.

Dominic Sanchez, Lincolnton Soccer: The Wolves’ sophomore had one assist in a 3-3 tie with North Lincoln Aug. 21.

Two days later, Sanchez scored the lone goal in a 1-1 tie at North Gaston.

Sanchez also kicked two field goals for the Lincolnton J.V. football team in a 28-6 win at North Lincoln Aug. 24.

Sanchez has one goal and two assists for the Lincolnton soccer team (1-1-2) this season. The Wolves’ J.V. football team is 2-0 this season.

Reed Shunkwiller, Ardrey Kell Soccer: The Knights’ junior forward two goals in a 5-1 win over South Point Aug. 22.

The next day, Shunkwiller had the game-winning assist in a 1-0 victory over Cuthbertson.

Ardrey Kell (3-1-1) also beat T.C. Roberson, 1-0 Aug. 25.

Kinton Surface, Cannon School Soccer: The Cougars’ sophomore scored a goal and had an assist in a 3-1 win at Lake Norman Charter, Aug. 22, to get Cannon’s School first win of the season.

Surface also had a goal in a 2-1 overtime win over Christ School Aug. 25.

Cannon School is 2-3 overall this season.

Drew Waller, West Cabarrus Soccer: The Wolverines’ senior scored eight goals in three wins last week.

Waller had three goals and one assist in a 10-1 victory over South Rowan Aug. 22.

The next day, Waller poured in three more goals and one more assist in a 5-0 win over Forest Hills.

Waller capped his week with both goals in a 2-0 win over North Iredell Aug. 24.

Waller has 14 goals and three assists for West Cabarrus (6-0) this season.

Colden Welsh, Covenant Day Cross Country: The Lions’ senior ran a personal and school-record 15:47.20 to win the Carolinas’ Kickoff varsity boys’ 5K championship race at Metrolina Christian Aug. 26.

Welsh’s efforts also helped his Covenant boys’ cross country team to victory in the same race.

Alfred Willie, Cuthbertson Cross Country: The Cavaliers’ sophomore ran a personal-best 17:01.20 to break his own mark by 41 seconds, to earn the top finish for his Cuthbertson team (13th-place overall) in the Carolinas’ Kickoff varsity boys’ 5K championship at Metrolina Christian Aug. 26.

Willie’s run also helped his Cuthbertson boys’ cross country team to a sixth-place finish at the same meet.

** Information published today includes statistics through August 26.

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.

How to vote

To vote in the poll, you must type “yes” into the box below BEFORE the poll will show. After you type yes and hit return, the poll will appear. To vote again, simply refresh the page. You may vote as often as you like.

If you cannot see the box on mobile, click here