Vote for The Charlotte Observer girls’ high school athlete of the week (Oct. 13)

Jay Edwards, Langston Wertz Jr.
·5 min read

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

The poll closes Friday.

You may vote as often as you like.

Note: Poll results may not always be shown.

This week’s nominees

Caroline Alexander, Davidson Day volleyball: The Patriots’ junior libero had 22 digs and six assists to lead Davidson Day to a 3-1 win at Hickory Christian on Oct. 3.

Alexander has 180 digs, 44 assists and 19 aces for Davidson Day (18-3-2) through games played Saturday.

Kami Caraccia, Lake Norman golf: The Wildcats’ freshman shot a 3-over-par 39, to earn medalist honors, while leading the Lake Norman girls’ golf team to victory in a Greater Metro 4A conference match at Rocky River Golf Club on Oct. 2. For the season, Caraccia is averaging a 37.0 per nine holes, with a season-low 33 at Mooresville Golf Club.

Mary Bonner Dalton, Myers Park cross-country: The Mustangs’ senior ran a time of 17:03.15 to win the Wendy’s Invitational White Race 5K at McAlpine Creek Park on Oct. 7. Dalton’s run helped Myers Park to a fifth-place finish in the 36-team field at the Wendy’s Invitational. Dalton is a University of Notre Dame commit. On Saturday, she ran the second fastest time ever by a girl at McAlpine.

Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman cross-country: The Wildcats’ sophomore ran a 19:57.60 to win the Iredell County championship at North Iredell on Oct. 3. Dingman’s run helped Lake Norman win an Iredell County title by 22 points over Mooresville.

Dingman also ran an 18:05.46 to finish fifth at the Wendy’s Invitational White Race 5K at McAlpine Creek Park, where the Wildcats’ girls cross-country team finished 18th on Oct. 7.

Luci Falls, Lake Norman Charter tennis: The Knights’ sophomore won both of her singles’ matches, dropping just one game, to finish the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record.

Falls is a perfect 25-0 overall (9-0 in doubles) for a Lake Norman Charter team that is 18-0 this season. The Knights have won 158 of the 162 matches played this season.

Tina Garafoli, Providence Day field hockey: The Chargers’ sophomore had one assist in a 3-1 win over Marvin Ridge on Oct. 2. The next day, Garafoli had three goals and one assist in a 9-0 win over South Mecklenburg. Garafoli finished off her week with one more assist in a 2-1 victory at Covenant Day on Oct. 5.

Garafoli has nine goals and assists for Providence Day (9-5) through games played Saturday.

Ari Lopez, Cannon School volleyball: The Cougars’ junior had 44 assists, 23 digs, 11 kills and four aces in two matches. Cannon School beat Charlotte Country Day 3-0 Oct. 3, and beat Charlotte Christian 3-0 on Oct. 5.

Through Saturday, Lopez had 438 assists, 180 digs, 75 kills, 57 aces and 11 blocks for a Cannon School team (18-2) that had won 12 straight games.

Ashley Malone, Charlotte Latin volleyball: The Hawks’ senior outside hitter had 16 kills, 12 digs and six aces in a 3-0 win at Covenant Day on Oct. 2. Malone followed that up with 23 kills, 14 digs and three aces in a 3-1 win over Charlotte Country Day on Oct. 5.

Malone has 332 kills, 210 digs and 45 aces for Charlotte Latin (10-9) through Saturday.

Charlie Meadoweal, Palisades volleyball: The Pumas’ senior had 10 kills and 13 assists in a 3-0 win over Olympic on Oct. 3. Meadoweal ahad 14 kills, eight assists and two blocks in a 3-0 victory at Mountain Island Charter on Oct. 4.

Through Saturday, Meadoweal had 149 kills, 246 assists, 144 digs and 29 aces for Palisades (14-4).

Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian cross-country: The Warriors’ junior ran a personal-best time, breaking her own school record, running a 17:59.80 to finish 21st in the Great American Cross Country Festival at WakeMed Park in Cary on Oct. 7.

The Great American Cross Country Festival is one of top races in the country with more than 1,100 runners from 16 different states competing.

Jeslyn Pratiknjo, Marvin Ridge tennis: The Mavericks’ senior won 6-0, 6-1 in singles, and 8-0 with her sister, Eleri Pratiknjo, as Marvin Ridge beat Providence 7-2 on Oct. 2.

The next day, Pratiknjo won her singles’ match 6-1, 6-0 to claim her 100th career victory, while also winning in doubles with her sister.

Pratiknjo is 11-1 in singles and 9-2 in doubles’ play for Marvin Ridge (14-2) this season.

Ava Williams, Butler tennis: The Bulldogs’ senior won 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles and 8-5 in doubles with teammate Ria Patel, to lead Butler to a 9-0 win at Porter Ridge on Oct. 2.

Williams also won 8-0 in singles in a 9-0 win over North Mecklenburg on Oct. 4.

** Information published today includes statistics through Oct. 7.

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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