Who’s the ‘People’s Choice?’ Vote now for Charlotte Observer girls athlete of the year
Who is the Charlotte Observer girls high school athlete of the year? Who is the best of the best, for the entire 2019-20 school year? For the first time, you’ll get a chance to pick.
Today, we are releasing the 10 finalists for girls athlete of the year. The Observer covers more than 140 schools in 15 counties. Each was asked to nominate a candidate, though some elected to not participate.
Readers will now be allowed to vote on those finalists to determine a “People’s Choice” winner.
The Observer will also announce its choice for the girls athlete of the year.
Here are the finalists (a full list of nominees, including bios for the finalists, appears below)
Note: poll results may not always be shown but the poll WILL remain open until Wednesday morning, May 13
If you can’t see the poll on mobile, please click here
Observer Athlete of the year nominees
BERRY HIGH SCHOOL
SANU JALLOW, SOPH, CROSS-COUNTRY, INDOOR TRACK: Jallow was all-conference in the SoMECK 7 in cross country. She is a two-time N.C. 4A indoor track champion (500 meters, 3,200 relay) and she won the 300 meters this year as well as running the top 500-meter time all year among 4A runners.
BUNKER HILL
ADDIE WRAY, BUNKER HILL, JR., VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL: Wray started as outside hitter in volleyball and played all six rotations. In basketball, Wray -- who has scored over 1500 points in three years as a varsity starter -- averaged 21.6 points, 4.8 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. She was also a member of the All-District team and was Northwestern Foothills 2A player of the year. Wray was named first-team All Catawba County. In softball, Wray started three out of five games played at shortstop and leadoff batter. She had a batting average of .625 with one triple. She has five runs scored with two RBI.
CANNON SCHOOL
GABBY HOLLOWAY, SR, TENNIS, SOFTBALL: Holloway was 13-3 at No. 2 singles and 7-4 at No. 1 doubles for a NCISAA 4A state semifinalist. In softball, Holloway was 8-for-10 hitting. She threw 12 innings of no-hit ball as a pitcher with 26 strikeouts. She co-captained her team to a 3-0 record. Cannon had outscored opponents 40-0 in a season that was stopped due to the coronavirus outbreak.
CARMEL CHRISTIAN
KELLEY TOPIWALA, SR, GOLF: Three-time NCISAA all-state pick led her team to the 2018 NCISAA state championship and a runner-up finish last fall. Topiwala won the 2019 individual state championship and has signed to play Division I golf at Samford University.
CENTRAL ACADEMY
MAKENNA MELCHOR, SR, SOCCER: In soccer. Melchor was a three time all-conference selection, two time all region selection, and all state player her junior year. She helped lead CATA to back to back Rocky River Conference Championships, and is an alternate for the East/West All Star Game. She will leave CATA as its second-leading scorer all-time with 90 career goals, tied for second all-time with 31 career assists.
CENTRAL CABARRUS
ANIYAH TATE, SR, BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL: Tate is a three-time South Piedmont all-conference pick in basketball, leading her team to three straight regular-season championships as well as NCHSAA Elite 8 and Sweet 16 appearances. She has 1,198 Career Points 938 Career Rebounds 527 Career Steals. This season, she averaged 13 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3. steals. In volleybball, she was twice all-conference and led team to its first playoff appearance in years. She was second on the team in kills (160), digs (179) and serving percentage (90.6). In softball, she led team to 2019 state championship and was batting .417 and eight RBIs this season.
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC
ROSE KENNY, TENNIS, SR: in four seasons, Kenny had a singles record of 93-8 and a doubles record of 63-4. She won three straight N.C. 3A state championships. As a senior, she was 21-0 in singles and 14-0 in doubles and helped lead her team to a state championship. Kenny will play for Villanova.
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN
MARGARET CARLTON, SR, TENNIS: Carlton, a Washington and Lee commit, finished the year with a 13-0 singles record, not dropping a set to an opponent all season while playing in the toughest conference in the NCISAA’s highest class (4A). CISAA All-Conference and NCISAA All-State player all four years. Back-to-back CISAA conference player of the year.
CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY
SOPHIE SPADA, SR, CROSS COUNTRY, INDOOR TRACK & FIELD, OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD: Spada won the NCISAA 4A state cross country individual championship this fall and led Country Day to a fourth-place team finish. In the indoor season, she had the top-ranked time in the state in 800- and 1,000 meters and the second-ranked time in the mile. She also led the 3,200-meter relay team to a victory in the JDL Fastrack Independent School Invitational. Her junior season in outdoor track included NCISAA Division I state championships in the 1,600 and the 3,200 relay. She will run for Alabama next year.
CHARLOTTE LATIN
GRACIE COLOMBO, SR, LACROSSE, FIELD HOCKEY: Lacrosse is Colombo’s primary sport and she is committed to the University of Tampa. In just three games this year, Gracie scored 10 goals, had four assists, five ground balls, and four draw controls. She has been all-conference since her freshman year and all-state since her sophomore year, contributing 71 goals, 17 assists, 30 draw controls, 35 ground balls, and 14 take-aways last season. In field hockey, Gracie was the leading scorer for the Hawks and earned all-conference second team.
CHERRYVILLE
GRACIE HESTER, SR, GOLF, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL: Hester was a regional qualifier in golf; and a “team before self” winner in basketball, where she played point guard. In softball, she was a two-time team MVP who hit .500 as a junior, when she led the team in triples and doubles. Hester played catcher and will try to walk on at UNC-Wilmington next season.
COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF DAVIDSON
EMME NELSON, SR, SWIMMING: Nelson went undefeated in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke this year. In four years, she never lost an individual race in her events. She helped lead the Spartans to their first ever women’s PAC7 Conference title this season. In her final state final meet, Nelson won NCHSAA 1A/2A state titles in the 200 IM and 100 breastroke was voted swimmer of the year for the fourth straight season. Nelson, who will swim at Texas A&M, led the Spartans to their first ever relay state title (200 medley) at the state meet.
COVENANT DAY
JACKIE HAYNES, SR, FIELD HOCKEY: Haynes was selected to the CISAA first team and NCISAA all-state teams in 2018 and 2019. She helped the team improve from 5-9 in is the heart of our team and one of the main reasons we went from 5-9 -1in 2018, to 11-7 this year. We also were ranked 5th in the state in large part because of this young lady and her leadership role. She was a 2-year captain for the team. She plays defensive CM, a striker on attacking corners, and fly on defensive corners. Haynes changes the pace of the game and does HEROIC things on the field.
CUTHBERTSON
ALISON THOME, SO., SWIMMING: Alison was a double state champion and a double state runner up in this year. She was state champion in the 200 IM (Winter Jr. National qualifying time) and the 200 medley relay (swimming breastroke on a team that set a state record with an All-American consideration time). She was runner-up in the 200 freestyle and 400 free relay. A two-time all-conference pick, Thome broke school records in seven different events (200 Medley relay; 200 Individual Medley; 50 Freestyle; 100 Freestyle; 200 Freestyle relay; 100 Breast; 400 Freestyle relay)
DAVIDSON DAY
MALLORIE HAINES, JUNIOR, BASKETBALL: Foothills Athletic Conference Player of the Year and all-state pick led her team to its second straight NCISAA state championship. Haines, an All-Charlotte Observer first team pick, scored a school-record 706 points this season. She averaged 26.1 points per game. A Davidson College commit, Haines has 1,850 career points.
EAST LINCOLN
TAYLOR BARRINEAU, SR., SWIMMING, SOCCER: Barrineau has led the soccer team as captain for past two years and set the single season scoring record with 33 goals while scoring in 18 of 21 games. She was Team MVP her junior year and likely would be team MVP this year. Taylor was all-conference and all-region freshman, sophomore and junior year, when she was all-state. She has been nominated for both the East vs West NCCA all star game and the NCSCA Clash of the Carolinas. Barrineau has committed to Lees McRae College for next fall on a max offer both athletic and academic scholarship. In swimming, Taylor has led the swim team as Captain for past three years, two-time All-State swimmer, and was named 2020 Southfork 2A Conference Swimmer of the Year.
GASTON DAY
SIDNEY BING, SR, VOLLEYBALL: As a setter, Bing totaled 970 assists, 218 digs, 73 kills, and 28 blocks in leading Gaston Day to the NCISAA 2A state finals. The Spartans finished 33-6 including winning the Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC) regular season and tournament titles without dropping a set. Bing was voted All-State and All-Conference as well as All-Tournament Team for the Cougar Classic, Byrnes Invitational, and Hub City Classic. She was named to the AVCA All-Region Team for Region 2 (NC, SC, GA, TN, AL, FL) and first team All-Charlotte Observer. Bing plays club volleyball for Upward Stars (#32 ranked team in the United States) and has signed to play volleyball for Catawba College where she has been admitted to the Honors Program.
HOUGH
KENSLEY MERRITT, SR, SWIMMING: Helped the Huskies to a second place finish at the N.C. 4A state championship for the second straight season. She won the individual state championship in the 200 free for the second year in a row and was the anchor on the winning state championship 400 free relay team. Runner up in the 100 back. I MECK Conference girls swimmer of the year won the 100 free, 100 back, and anchored the winning 400 free relay team in conference finals. She helped her team win the girls 4A West regional meet by winning 100 back and leading off the winning 200 freestyle relay. She went undefeated in every individual event this season and is school record holder in the 100 back. She’s been part of two N.C. 4A state championship teams in 2017, 2018. Committed to swim at Auburn in the fall of 2020.
HUNTER HUSS
RAVEN RUDISELL, SR, VOLLEYBALL, TRACK: Rudisell was 2017 and 2018 girls track MVP. She was a regional qualifier in the long jump outdoors from 2017-19 and indoors in 2018 and ‘19. She was also a regional qualifer in the 200 meters, 400-meter relay, 800-meter relay. She was Big South overall MVP in 2018 and won the rising star track award in 2017. In volleyball, she was twice named most improved player.
LAKE NORMAN
KAYLA RINALDI, SR, LACROSSE: Rinaldi, a Virginia Tech recruit, was first-team all-conference her first three seasons. She’s been an all-state and All-American pick the past two seasons and is a two-time Brine National team member. Rinaldi had the most assists in North Carolina last season, when she scored the second-most points in the state. She led her team in assists during her freshman, sophomore and junior years. She led the team in goals and ground balls during her sophomore and junior years.
MALLARD CREEK
NEVAEH BROWN, SR, BASKETBALL: Brown, a Wake Forest recruit, averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks. this season leading the Mavericks to the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship game. She was selected to the North-South and East- West All star games. Brown was named to the I-Meck all conference team and all-tournament teams. She scored more than 1,000 career points.
MOORESVILLE
MEGAN BORNKAMP, SR, GOLF, BASKETBALL: Bornkamp is a two-time state qualifier in golf. In basketball, she was a unanimous all conference selection after averaging 12.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, five assists and one block per game. In soccer, she’s a Clemson signee and played for the U20 national team in Spain. In softball this season, she would’ve been a big contributer on a team with eight college signees.
MOUNTAIN ISLAND CHARTER
ZAHRA BICHARA, JR, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, TRACK: Bichara was all conference in basketball. In Volleyball, she had 86 sets played, 125 kills, 183 digs, 15 total blocks and 10 aces. In indoor track and field, she qualified and competed in the N.C 1A/2A Indoor State Championship in the 55-meter dash, 300 and long jump. In basketball, she averaged 19.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.2 steals. She also reached 1,000 points for her career. In outdoor track and field, she qualified for the 1A Regionals in the 100, 200 and the long jump. She broke the Mountain island Charter school record in the 200 meter dash on March 11th.
MYERS PARK
KILEY WILHELM, FR, SWIMMING: Wilhlem won the state championship in the 200 IM in the first state meet of her high school career. This earned her an All American Automatic. She finished second in the 100 fly at states, earning her another All American Automatic. She was a member of the second place 200 Medley Relay and the sixth place 400 Free Relay teams at the state meet. At regionals, she finished second in the 200 IM, fourth in the 100 fly and was a member of the winning 200 Medley Relay team.
NEWTON-CONOVER
CHYNA CORNWELL, SR, BASKETBALL: The Charlotte Observer, Catawba County and MaxPreps N.C. player of the year, Caldwell also was named Ms. Basketball for North Carolina. Signed to play Rutgers, Caldwell finished her career with more than 2,000 points and 2,000 rebounds. She scored 81 points in a game once and was ranked No. 62 in the ESPN Top 100.
NORTH IREDELL
JONNA STRANGE, CROSS-COUNTRY, TRACK: 2019 cross-country champ is a three-time North Piedmont cross-country runner of the year and a two-time N.C. High School Athletic Association state athlete of the week. Strange won the indoor and outdoor 3,200 meter championships during her career.
NORTH MECKLENBURG
JESSICA TIMMONS, JR, BASKETBALL: First-team All Charlotte Observer pick led the Vikings to a 20-8 record and a third round berth in the N.C. 4A state playoffs. This season, Timmons averaged 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. She has scored more than 2,000 career points and was the I-MECK 4A and District player of the year.
PINE LAKE PREP
CARLY SCHOLL, SR, BASKETBALL, SOCCER, LACROSSE: Scholl led Pine Lake’s basketball team with a 15.1 points per game average and was named PAC-7 all-conference. She was also the goalie for the soccer team and was the leading goal scorer on the lacrosse team this spring. She had scored 13 goals in three games prior to the season being suspended.
PORTER RIDGE
NICOLE CRISTY, SR, GIRLS SOCCER: Cristy was a three-time all-region pick and was named to the East-West All-Star team. She’s a four-year varsity starter at centerback/forward. In her career, the Wingate University recruit has 46 goals, 20 assists.
PROVIDENCE DAY
JALA WRIGHT, PROVIDENCE DAY, SR, SOFTBALL: Team captain was CISAA All-Conference and NCISAA All-State as a junior, when she was named CISAA conference player of the year as well as Max Preps’ “Best in the State” for North Carolina. Batting average: 542; Slugging average: 938; On base: 639; RBI’s: 11; Stolen bases: 39; Strike outs (as a pitcher): 145. She has committed to playing softball at Michigan State.
ROCKY RIVER
DELAYZHA DIXON, SR, BASKETBALL: Two-time all-conference pick led the Ravens in scoring (19.3 points) and rebounding (13.3) this season while also averaging five steals and three assists.
SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN
SARAH BARTON, SOUTHLAKE CHRISTIAN, SR, SWIMMING: NCISAA Div II state champion in the 200 Individual Medley and 500 Freestyle. She swam anchor for a third state title in the 200 freestyle relay. Barton holds two NCISAA state and two USA Swimming Open records. Also won a 2019 NCISAA state title in the 100 Backstroke. Barton is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All American who has signed to swim and study at Nebraska.
SOUTH MECKLENBURG
JENNA THOMPSON, SOUTH MECK, SR., TENNIS: Thompson won the state championship for the fourth straight season and finished her career with a record of 80-0 in singles. She’s been ranked No. 1 in North Carolina since was 10 and is No. 18 in the nation. Named a high school All-American and a Southern Winter Championship winner in 1A.
UNION ACADEMY
SAVANNA BROOKS, UNION ACADEMY, JR, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL: During the 2019 softball season, Brooks hit .786, best in North Carolina, with an on-base percentage of .842, which also led the state. She had 33 hits, eight home runs and 41 RBIs along with 25 stolen bases while recording only one fielding error. In basketball in 2019-20, Brooks averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.7 assists. She was the team’s offensive MVP. In volleyball in 2019, she had 81 kills, 19 blocks, 153 digs and 44 aces with a serving percentage of 91.1. Brooks was named Team MVP for the season and was a PAC-7 All Conference selection. Brooks served as team captain for all three sports.
VANCE
KEYONNA MORGAN, VANCE, SR, BASKETBALL: Four-year starter on the 2019-20 N.C. 4A co-state champions. This season, the team’s top defensive player and All Charlotte Observer pick averaged 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists. The Radford recruit, named the Observer’s defensive player of the year, had more than 1,200 career points.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:29 PM.
