Vote for The Observer’s high school athlete of the week
Here are the nominees for The Observer’s boys’ high school athlete of the week. Nominees come from games played from Aug. 20-22.
Read more Vote for The Observer’s high school football defensive player of the week
The poll will close at noon Friday.
Gemma Berry, Ardrey Kell field hockey: A senior captain and midfielder, Berry had one goal and 18 interceptions in a 4-3 win over Asheville Aug. 17. She had three goals and nine interceptions in 4-2 win over Hough on Aug. 19.
Zeb Engstrom, Covenant Day soccer: Engstrom scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Winston-Salem Christian, scoring the game-winner with 16 seconds left. Engstrom has five goals in two games for the Lions.
Sarah Haskell, Charlotte Catholic field hockey: Haskell had four goals in two wins last week. She had three scores in a season-opening 8-0 win over Cuthbertson and she added another in a 4-1 win over Charlotte Country Day.
Keven Lopez, Monroe soccer: Lopez is a senior captain who was all-conference and all-region last season. He had a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Union Academy last Wednesday. He also had a goal in a 2-0 win over Olympic. Lopez also went 4 for 4 on PATS and a had touchdown saving tackle in a football game with Hoke County Thursday.
Emery Lund, Weddington field hockey: Lund has sparked the Warriors to a 3-0 start. She scored four goals in two games last week. That included a hat trick and game-tying goal against Ardrey Kell, leading to a win. Weddington is 3-0 for the first time in school history and Lund has five goals in those three wins.
Ava Nadeau, Charlotte Latin volleyball: A senior outside hitter, Nadeau had 79 kills last week and a .354 hitting percentage. She also had 51 digs and seven aces as the Hawks went 6-0 for the week and won the Sun Valley Tournament of champions. Nadeau, who had 19 kills versus Metrolina Christian on Aug. 20, has sparked Latin to an 11-0 start.
Julia Pacitto, Lake Norman Charter volleyball: Pacitto had 55 kills and nine blocks last week, helping her team to an 8-0 start.
Maddie Potter, Forestview volleyball: A junior for the Jaguars, Potter had 45 kills and 42 digs in three matches last week. Those performances included Potters’ 11 kills, 11 digs game against Chesnee (SC) and a 25-kills, 23-dig outing against Stuart Cramer in a 5-set thriller.
Read more Vote for The Observer’s high school football offensive player of the week
Emily Riordan, Myers Park field hockey: Riordan, a Houghton University commit, is a senior forward for the Mustangs. She had four goals in an 8-1 win over South Mecklenburg last week and scored twice in a 3-2 loss to defending state champ Cardinal Gibbons of Raleigh.
Alexandria Thompson, Palisades volleyball: A sophomore outside hitter, Thompson had four aces on 16 serves in a 3-1 win over Independence. She made no errors and had 18 kills on 40 attack attempts.
Kaylee Ward, West Lincoln volleyball: Ward helped her team to a 2-0 start last week with four aces, 31 serve receives, 12 kills, 33 digs and nine assists.
Mallory Watson, South Iredell volleyball: Watson has moved into a new position for her junior year, playing libero. In her team’s first three matches, she’s averaged a 2.0 serve-receive ratio and has 52 digs. In a win over West Rowan last week, Watson had 22 digs and four assists.
Evelina Wilson, Union Academy: A sophomore, Wilson took a big win at No. 6 singles, 8-4, against Central Academy last week. On August. 10, she got an 8-0 singles win and an 8-0 doubles win against Monroe. Wilson is 2-1 in singles and 1-1 in doubles this season.
Reagan Young, Mooresville volleyball: A senior libero, Young played three matches last week and had 33 digs, 96 receptions, seven aces and five assists. For the season, in nine matches, she’s got had 82 digs, 153 receptions, 14 aces and 12 assists for the Blue Devils (4-6).
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This story was originally published August 24, 2026 at 8:39 PM with the headline “Vote for The Observer’s high school athlete of the week.”
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