The fans have spoken. Your picks for the 2021 Charlotte-area athlete, coach of the year
The readers have spoken.
After nearly 170,000 votes, Charlotte Observer readers have decided on the 2021 high school boys and girls athlete of the year and the coach of the year.
There were 32 athletes and 15 coaches nominated. Players who graduated in June were not considered.
Eligible nominees played a sport in 2021, and that includes the winter sports that began in late 2020. Nominees were named by the Observer’s sports staff.
Here are the winners:
Seth Christmas, Hopewell: The Observer’s male athlete of the calendar year is a baseball star who was a N.C. baseball coaches association all-state pick. Christmas, who plays shortstop, was named I-MECK 4A player of the year. He hit .545 with 19 RBIs and three home runs.
Alexis Wolgemuth, Fred T. Foard: The Observer’s female athlete of the calendar year closed out her career this fall with a 3A state tennis title. She won a state championship (two 2A doubles, one 2A singles) in each of her four high school seasons. Wolgemuth will attend Marshall on a soccer scholarship. She will play goalie.
Stuart Belizaire, Olympic: The Observer’s coach of the calendar year led his team to its second NCHSAA 4A championship in school history and first in 21 years. Olympic won one event, the 1,600 relay, but had great balance to win the team crown.
